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Fair association receives county support for 2006 years ago

Staff reporter

Marion County Commission offered the same support Monday to Marion County Fair Association in the upcoming budget year as in previous years.

More than $17,000 is given to the association each year by the county — $10,000 from sales tax revenue; $4,707 from the county's general fund; and the county pays an annual lease-purchase payment of $2,982 for bleachers.

Board president Chuck McLinden and secretary-treasurer John Reznicek presented an annual budget report to the commission.

Total revenue was $51,529. Total expenses were $60,978, causing a loss of $9,485 for the year.

However, revenue received from the county resulted in a positive balance of $3,612.

Reznicek said the board wanted to do some renovations and install air conditioning in the 4-H building. Estimates for a system were noted at $28,000.

Commission chairman Bob Hein asked the results of the association-sponsored demolition derby during a Hillsboro festival Memorial Day weekend. Reznicek said the association made $4,100 profit from the event.

In other business:

— Michele Abbott-Becker, county director of communications, reported installation was occurring this week of equipment to provide latitude and longitude of cell telephone calls. She said when the mapping portion is integrated with the county appraisal's system, dispatchers will be able to view a map with the location of the caller.

Radio and 911 installation will occur in June. Installations of other upgrade equipment will follow.

— The commission approved Abbott-Becker to purchase, if needed, a power back-up system from Great Plains Computers & Networking, Marion, for telephones in dispatch.

The telephone system is separate from the courthouse and will use its own power. However, there might be a delay between power shortage and being able to use the phones.

Funds to make the purchase would come from the 911 fund, Abbott-Becker said.

— Emergency communications statistics for the last half of May and first half of June were distributed.

There were 2,373 incoming calls. Of those, 911 were from cell phones.

— The commission signed a management letter from auditors Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk & Loyd regarding an annual budget review.

— County clerk Carol Maggard distributed information regarding the distribution of a $189,961 refund from Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

A percentage will be distributed to employees who pay for health insurance for spouse and family, and to retirees who are paying their own coverage.

The majority will be deposited in the county's employee benefit fund.

— Salary changes were approved for Woody Crawshaw and Jamie Shirley in the ambulance department. Crawshaw was promoted to office manager and Shirley went from part-time billing clerk to full-time.

— Hein was appointed as a voting delegate to select a Kansas representative to the board of directors of National Association of Counties.

— A letter was reviewed by the commission from Harvey County regarding support by the county in declaring the Newton area as being medically under-served.

Maggard suggested more research be conducted to determine if Marion County was considered in the Newton area and other pertinent information.

— Maggard advised the commission of an increase in unemployment claims from previous year.

— A demonstration of automated voting booths for those with disabilities will be held in Junction City. Maggard plans to attend and invited the commission to attend.

Federal mandates will require a minimum of one ADA voting booth at each polling site in the county. Maggard said she will provide a spreadsheet at a future meeting of voters' numbers at each polling site to determine if all polling sites are necessary.

— County noxious weed director Bill Smithhart requested and received a 10-minute executive session to discuss personnel.

When the meeting reconvened, the commission approved part-time noxious weed department employee Michele Gonzalez to full-time status.

— The commission entered two separate executive sessions to discuss personnel.

The first session was to review applications for road and bridge superintendent position.

The second session was to conduct department head evaluations.

The commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.

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