Uniform shirts approved for county road employees
Staff reporter
Marion County road and bridge employees will have uniform shirts.
Marion County Commission approved a trial period for the 36 employees to have uniform shirts provided and washed at a cost of $2.95 per week per employee at an annual cost of $5,522.
Commissioner Dan Holub originally asked acting road and bridge superintendent Jim Herzet to check into costs for uniforms because he wanted the crew to be neat in their appearance and easily identifiable by the public.
Herzet said there was a vendor that did not require a long-term contract.
Prior to the approval of the trial period, commissioner Randy Dallke said he had heard complaints from other county departments regarding the road crew having uniforms.
In other road business:
— Dallke asked Herzet about various county roads per complaints he's received from residents. Dallke suggested FEMA funds be used to rock roads.
Commission chairman Bob Hein said residents need to be patient and wait their turn.
— Herzet reported the county has obtained the allotted millings from U.S.-77 reconstruction.
— No decision was made regarding a plaque on a new bridge being built near Marion Reservoir.
The previous commission declined the $270 expense. Dallke asked if the plaque served any purpose, especially 50 years from now. Herzet said information about county bridges is available in the road and bridge office.
— Herzet requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Later in the meeting, Dallke asked the status of the road and bridge superintendent Gerald Kelsey. County clerk Carol Maggard said she would check and report at the next meeting.
Dallke indicated he would like to address a permanent solution.
Dallke said he wanted to know the manner roads are inspected.
Holub said he wanted the road and bridge maintenance operation restructured with better supervision of grader operators.
In other county business:
— Maggard distributed reports from county treasurer Jeannine Bateman.
The total cash position of the county as of March 31 is $6,866,476, which is about $400,000 more than last year at this time and $100,000 more than two years ago at this time.
County general has a cash balance of $1,821,748 and road and bridge has $1,209,768.
Interest earned as of March 31 is $27,935 with an average monthly interest of $9,278.
— Vehicle operating fund, also supervised by Bateman, expended $1,269 in March, leaving a balance of $91,801.
— The cost estimate to run a fiber optic line from the ambulance department at the annex building to the courthouse will cost $1,000, reported Maggard. Lloyd Davies of Great Plains Computers & Networking of Marion recommended the line be installed to provide faster Internet service to the ambulance department.
A written estimate will be obtained and presented to the commission.
— A letter from county attorney Susan Robson was approved to a property owner regarding the owner removing survey stakes.
— April was recognized as fair housing month by the commission.
— The commission also recognized National Public Safety Telecommunications Weeks, April 10-16.
— A 15-minute executive session was conducted for attorney-client privilege with attorney Steve Pigg regarding the former county landfill. Following the teleconference call, no decisions were made.
— A 10-minute attorney-client executive session was held with the commission and Robson. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Bill Smithhart, county noxious weed and household hazardous waste director, reported five people participated Saturday in a hazardous waste pickup in Durham.
He also reported Kansas Department of Health & Environment did an inspection and requested wording be changed on a sign.
Smithhart requested and received a five-minute executive session with the commission to discuss personnel.
The meeting reconvened and it was announced Lashell Bell was hired as a part-time employee at $7 per hour.
The next commission meeting will be 9 a.m. Monday at the courthouse.
