Informatin needed for judicial district request
EMS director proposes increase in 2005 budget
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission denied the approval Monday of an interlocal agreement between the county and the Eighth Judicial District community corrections and the district's Juvenile Justice Authority (JJA).
County attorney Susan Robson presented the agreement which called for the county to pay a 15 percent share of worker's compensation, unemployment insurance, and liability insurance for members of the district who work in Marion County. No specific dollar amount was provided in the agreement.
"Previously Geary County paid for the insurance," Robson said. It was discovered that employees working in Marion County were not covered, she added.
The commission suggested Maggard send a copy of the agreement to the county's insurance carrier for an opinion. Maggard said the insurance company would not cover anyone who is not an employee of the county.
Commissioner Howard Collett commented the agreement stated the county would pay a portion of the premium, not provide the insurance.
The agreement also stated a community corrections advisory board was being formed which raised the question of county representation on the board.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta asked why the county had to pay for Geary County's experience rating for the insurance.
"Why are we going under Geary County's insurance?" Wetta asked. He suggested the newly formed advisory board "stand alone" and provide insurance as a separate entity.
Robson will make contact with the appropriate person regarding the commission's questions and concerns.
The commission instructed commissioner Bob Hein to make initial contact with solid waste consultant Jack Chappelle regarding an estimate of engineering fees for landfill closure.
This motion was passed following a 10-minute executive session with the county's solid waste attorney Steve Pigg via teleconference.
The commission noted the county has a contracted engineer but wants to get a second opinion on available options for final closure of the county's former landfill.
County emergency medical services director Darryl Thiesen presented a proposed budget increase of $55,506 for 2005. The 2005 budget proposed a total budget amount of $452,597, compared with $397,091 for 2004.
The increase would include $55,000 toward capital outlay with $40,000 earmarked for a new ambulance. Currently there is $60,000 in the capital outlay line item. A new ambulance will cost approximately $100,000, Thiesen said. The last ambulance purchased was in 2002 at a cost of $93,212.
Thiesen reported the aging ambulance fleet needs to be rotated. The new ambulance would be located in Marion with Marion's ambulance replacing a 1979 ambulance in either Ramona or Lincolnville, Thiesen said.
In addition to two 25-year-old ambulances in Ramona and Lincolnville, Durham's ambulance is a 1985 model, Goessel 1987, Burns 1989, the back-up or reserve ambulance was purchased in 1991, Marion 1995, Hillsboro 1997, Tampa, 1999, and Peabody 2002. The EMS director's vehicle is a 2001 Dodge Durango and the county's rescue truck was purchased in 1989.
County park and lake manager Dale Snelling reported the lake's solid waste hauler, City of Florence, had notified the county of an increase in fees. The City of Florence had provided trash service for the past 20 years with no increases, said Snelling.
The significant increase indicated a need for Snelling to solicit bids from other carriers. An ad will run in the county's newspaper, the Marion County Record, and Snelling will make contact with known haulers in the county.
Collett commented he would not like to see the business go to an out-of-county hauler but supported the commission in soliciting bids.
The letter from the City of Florence was dated June 3 but was not received by the county until July 1. The new rates would go into affect Aug. 1, Snelling said.
On behalf of county sanitarian David Brazil, county clerk Carol Maggard requested and received approval and signatures for a grant agreement between the county and Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The agreement would continue the annual grant program for LEPP, Local Environment Protection Program. The grant amount was similar to last year's at $7,349.
Maggard distributed information from county treasurer Jeannine Bateman regarding the county's cash position.
As of June 30, the county has cash on hand of $7,359,583, and increase over the past two years at $6,461,775 for 2003 and $6,022,076 for 2002.
Special auto funds had expenses in June totaling $3,257.
Maggard also distributed the June budget report with no significant notations made.
In other business:
— County public health administrator Diedre Serene requested and received an increase in salary following a 15-minute executive session with the commission.
A misunderstanding had occurred at the time Serene was hired regarding compensation for loss of benefits and retirement due to being a part-time employee. The salary increase was in compliance with the county's employment policy.
— Collett reported a local grain hauler had been cited by the sheriff's department for 79,000 pounds of grain on a county road. The commission determined the agreement with local haulers was they would be allowed to haul up to 80,000 pounds on county roads if not using county roads required the driver to reroute more than five miles.
— The commission signed agreements between the county and Dickinson County and Morris County for the county to continue to administer the WIC (Women, Infants, Children) supplemental program.
— County noxious weed and hazardous household waste director Bill Smithhart reported he was soliciting bids for an all terrain vehicle. He also noted he had requested a chemical bid from two vendors on Friday and had only received one bid by Monday's meeting. The commission suggested he wait until the following Monday's meeting to allow sufficient time for the vendor to supply a bid.
— Jim Herzet, county road supervisor, and Beverly Cooper, county road and bridge office manager, requested and received a 10-minute executive session with the commission to discuss personnel. Following the session, the commission approved the appointment of Herzet as acting superintendent of roads in the absence of Gerald Kelsey.
— Representatives from the soil conservation district presented the proposed budget for 2005. The district requested the same amount from the county as was given in 2004 — $28,790.
The funds are used with grant funds and other funds to provide various programs that promote conservation.
— Maggard reported Senator Jim Barnett had responded to the commission's letter regarding the algae problems at Marion Reservoir. She distributed copies of Barnett's letter to the commission. A return letter will be sent.
— Collett said Helen Beckham of Marion County Park and Lake and organizer of the Civilian Conservation Corps statue fund, had contacted him regarding the commissioners' names being listed on the statue's plaque. Collett said he declined the request. Hein and Wetta agreed and declined the request of their names on the plaque.
— The commission reviewed county job descriptions and made necessary changes before the descriptions are sent to Kansas League of Municipalities for final review.
