All Commissioners present. Rich Vargo gave Year to Date Budget and Expenditure reports. Overall spending is well under control. He commented that the new professional health management organization contracted by the County is already proving its worth in managing health services to jail inmates.
Cameramen from Channels 13 and 27 (Topeka) arrived and began setting up for the big news to come.
Chris Welchhans, GIS Director, reported on his department's activities. They added only one new subdivision; They have updated center-line roads. aTa Bus starts tomorrow (2-15). At a meeting with Township officers, someone suggested they would like individual maps of townships for the graders. Welchhans complimented the person on an excellent idea and they will now provide such maps on PDS access.
Leon Hobson announced what had already been covered in the MERCURY, that the completion of the K-18 project (last phase, Wildcat Creek Road to Scenic Drive) is one of the first three projects now to be immediately done. Work can probably begin by April. The other three projects in preferred status are I-435/69 interchange in Overland Park and work on US 50 in Reno County.
Gregg Eyestone said the Manhattan Area Garden Show is Feb 26-27 at Pottorff Hall. They will have ten seminars on garden interests, give away free gardening gloves, sell plants, and have a silent auction that ends at 3:00 on Sunday.
Andrea FeldKamp, 4-H Extension Specialist, announced that Wildcat 4-H Club has been selected to receive a $2,500 award from Monsanto--America's Farmers Grow Communities. The Club will use the funds to contribute to their local community, Keats. Ceremony is tonight at Keats United Methodist Church in Keats.
Rich Vargo discussed the election on April 5. No primary is necessary. Advance voting by mail begins March 6. In-peerson advance voting voting begins March 22 and closes noon April 4.
Ms McCulloh and Jennifer Wilson, Extension, proclaimed America Saves Week. Focus this year if on saving. Theme:Is your lunch eating your lunch? They encourage brown-bagging once a wk and depositing what is saved in a bank account.
About 30 people had arrived to witness the important event of the day: proclamation of today (2-14-11) as Jordy Nelson Day. This event will undoubtedly be shown on Channels 13 and 27 tonight. Much applause. Nelson briefly spokethanking Commission and people who had helped him. A long line of autograph seekers was accommodated in the adjoining room.
Mary Jo Harbour, President of the Board of RC Council on Aging, reported on the meals provided in Riley County. Each of the cities in RC has a program for seniors, some only once a week, others every day. Between 14 and 30 eat at the Manhattan Senior Center every day. between 100 and 125 meals are delivered to seniors in their homes every day. They have a good cook, who works hard in spite of low pay. They need drivers to deliver the meals. CHANCE TO VOLUNTEER! Call 587-2462.
Leon Hobson updated Commission on projects.The natural gas backup generator system for IT has been tested and works well. Maximum delay would be 10 seconds.
Clancy Holeman discussed two Legislative issues and the petition to rescind the City's amendment of the Civil Rights (discrimination) policy. His office is charged legally with checking such petitions for legality of wording and format.
Cheryl Collins, Historical Museum, said the sesquicentennial celebration of Kansas Statehood continues. There will be broadcasts on local radio. She said that in 1917-18 there were 50,000 soldiers living mostly in tents at Ft Riley. It was a major training station. Young and healthy males were prime victims of the flu epidemic because of peculiar function of the immune system. Collins said Riley County has benefited a lot from the Kansas Arts Commission ($36,000 directly , much more indirectly last year). Travel and Tourism is moving from Commerce to Wildlife and Parks. This may not affect the promotion of Tourism very much. The State Historical Museum, after losing 40% of its staff last year,is now cut 5% more.
Dennis Peterson, Noxious Weed Director, gave his annual report (2010). Their ending balance was $11,970, which was returned to General Fund. Kansas has 12,355 acres with noxious weeds in them. The four worst weeds are musk thistle, bind weed, Johnson grass, and ceresus lesperis (sp?)Peterson said herbicides are tightly controlled. Any purchaser is listed with type of poison, where applied, and weed targeted. Commission approved his report (by law submitted to the State) 3-0.
In absence of Johnette Shepek, who is ill, Rich Vargo presided over discussion of the costs of consolidation of dispatch services. Among those consolidating are EMS, Rural Fire, City Fire and Police Department. Five alternative plans for paying for the consolidation were presented, mostly a question of percentage paid by City and County. County prefers 80/20, at least eventually. Everyone is in agreement that it must be done regardless of who pays. Representatives of the services were present. All are concerned that staffing for dispatch needs to increase to cover emergencies.
Adjourned. Submitted by Lyndal Nyberg
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