Pay increases may be considered for officials
Staff reporter
With the annual reorganization of Marion County Commission, Randy Dallke was appointed chairman of the board and Bob Hein as vice chairman.
Dallke referred to a Marion County Record news story about government wage increases. County clerk Carol Maggard clarified that county non-elected employees received raises up to 75 percent of the median income of the same positions of similar-size counties and following individual employee evaluations. Elected officials received a three percent increase but no pay increases were budgeted in 2007.
Dallke asked the commission to consider pay increases for elected officials after comparisons with other counties are completed.
Maggard said she was concerned about doing pay raises just for elected officials. Dallke pointed out that non-elected employees were brought to 75 percent but elected officials were not.
— An inter-local agreement was approved between the county and the City of Lincolnville for allow the sheriff's department to enforce city ordinances.
Third class cities in the county can enter inter-local agreements with the county for assistance with nuisance and other municipal issues.
— The commission renewed property and vehicle insurance with EMC Insurance Company through local agents at a cost of $96,275, a $600 increase from the previous year.
Richard Nickel of The Insurance Center of Hillsboro, Alex Case of Case and Son Insurance of Marion, and John Balthrop of Peabody, presented the information.
The premium increase included an increase of vehicles from 79 to 82 and an increase in property values.
The county has an $8.8 million blanket coverage and a $2 million umbrella for liability.
— Hoch Publishing Company, publisher of the Marion County Record, Hillsboro Star-Journal, and Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, was appointed the official newspaper of the county.
The three newspapers are the only ones in the county that are subscription-based and meets state statute for legal notice requirements.
— A maintenance contract with KVK was approved for $3,243 per year for two boilers on the courthouse campus. It was a $294 increase and the first increase since 2002.
— Maggard distributed copies of an e-mail from Marion City Administrator David Mayfield regarding the City of Marion and City of Hillsboro being placed on the Jan. 29 agenda to discuss connecting links. Holub said those two cities weren't the only ones involved. It was determined to wait until a later date to discuss.
— A conference call with Jack Chappelle will be held at Tuesday's commission meeting regarding Kansas Department of Health and Environment requiring an additional water monitoring well be placed at the former landfill site.
An e-mail from Chappelle indicated he will recommend the county abandon a well because there is no water there. Dallke said he was concerned about that because the county was experiencing a drought and didn't know if there would be water in the well with normal rainfall.
— Gail Whiteman was appointed clerk of Gale township following a recommendation by Gale Township Treasurer Marvin Meisinger and Trustee Garry Vogel.
The next commission meeting is at 9 a.m. Tuesday because the courthouse is closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.
A special public hearing to discuss the bond issue for a new justice center will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the court room at the courthouse.
