Rich Vargo gave year-to-date budget and expenditure reports. The county is at 91.67% of its annual budget at the end of November. This is satisfactory. No departments are in budget violation.
Cindy Volanti, Human Resources Manager, explained the McGrath Classification process and outcome for the Health Department. This is the instrument whereby the Health Dept. employees will be brought into equal status in pay, leave, and time off policies with other county employees of equal rank and responsibility. Each employee's pay was ranked on a scale. If an employee was outside 40-60% of the average "minimum market," (compared to other comparable counties) he/she was classed as either overpaid or underpaid. Underpaid employees will be brought up. Overpaid employees will not have cuts but will be somewhat "frozen," except for a 4% raise each year. These figures do not include employees classed as "exempt." Susanne Kufahl, Director of the Health Department, was present and felt the process was a fair one, and she was basically in agreement with the outcomes. She said her staff is very eager to be informed of their status, since the change take place January 1. Commissioners accepted the report, assuming further details will be discussed later.
Robbin Cole, Pawnee Mental Health Services, updated Commissioners on the latest blows mental health has received in Kansas. Although the budget and size of the service has grown enormously in 55 years, it has fewer employees and a smaller budget now than 4 years ago. The Kansas Medicaid plan has been changed by gubernatorial decree as of January 1, 2013. Instead of contracting with Kansas Health Solutions (for substance abuse) and Value Option (for mental health), Pawnee will deal with a large all-inclusive managed-care corporation, which will operate three managed-care mental health plans. This will add to administrative costs. Recipients will have to be educated and assisted in selecting the best plan for themselves (similar to Plan D decisions for Medicare). Since the state has announced its intention to slow the trajectory of more expense for mental health each year, services will have to be cut. Patients have already been cut from 50 visits to 14 visits to their therapists per year. Mental health services have been moved from SRS to the Dept. on Aging.
Gregg Eyestone said "real" Christmas trees should be kept watered, and if the needles become brittle, the trees should be disposed of.
Leon Hobson announced that sections of Purcell Road will be closed intermittently from Dec. 12 to 22. He also said Wildcat Creek is very near completion. They cannot guarantee pemanent markings applied from December to March, but Hobson said people are already moving the barriers and driving on the surface. He requested permission for the contractor to be paid to apply temporary markings to improve safety, which was granted 3-0. He also reported progress on sales tax projects on West 40th, Winkler, Casement, North Otter Creek, and Jerusalem Road. Washington County has been billed for its share of the cost of a bridge in both counties (11%).
Clancy Holeman, Counsel, reviewed some zoning violation cases. He said the lease for the RCPD site in Aggieville was up for renewal. The owner is asking for an increase from $770 to $800 per month for the coming year.
Cheryl Collins, Museum Director, said the Rocky Ford School at Barnes Road and Tuttle Creek Blvd., has been nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Collins has been asked by the governor to serve on the Council for Tourism. She was happy to accept, as she feels it is important for museums and attractions to be represented. The Board of Trustees of the Riley County Museum will meet tomorrow (Dec. 13), and not again until the second Tuesday of March. Three trustees' positions are expiring, and suggestions for filling the positions are welcome. Collins said that the Historical Society works with the Visitors and Tourists Bureau, Freedom's Frontier organization, and the Discovery Center.
Cindy Volanti presented plans for the staffing of an IT position. The Commission chose the plan of hiring the present IT/Emergency Response person as the full time IT and allowing the Emergency Response position to be filled by another employee. The Director of IT for the county said that all of his employees would be trained in special procedures for HIPA (privacy of health information) techniques and principles.
Commissioners voted 3-0 to shift custodial duties of all county buildings to county employees rather than contract labor. This will require hiring 2 custodians, one facilities person, and one parks department person. Ms. Collins said she has had a contract with the same custodial service for 30 years and does not like the idea of simply turning them away. The county employee plan will cost enough less compared to contracted work to nearly make up for the new hires. The possibility for direct contact and direct input with employees was mentioned. Another person mentioned that, however, there might not be backup for absent employees. This issue will be revisited. Ms. McCulloh reiterated that this is not a good time to be hiring new employees, but because of the present conditions, it was unavoidable.
Submitted by Lyndal Nyberg.
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