All Commissioners present.
Rich Vargo gave the Year-to-Date budget and financial reports. There are still a few bills yet to be paid for 2011, none of which will cause budget violations. There are no "red flags" from January 2012.
Eileen King, Treasurer, gave monthly financial reports. In only one month, there are no discernible trends. The rate on CDs is 1.3%. Ms. King said people from other counties say they are not doing any better. Tax receipts are mostly up. Overall, receipts are 2.7% over budget. Someone mentioned that the "Big Red One" from Ft. Riley will be deployed to Afghanistan in March. That will have an effect on sales taxes and car registrations. When asked how many drivers' licenses her office is now processing, King said quite a few. This is a new responsibility for her office. They do only standard renewals. Many people appreciate not having to wait so long as they would at the DMV.
Scott Hagemeister, RCPD, discussed the Citizen Academy that will begin this Thursday, Feb. 16. It will consist of 10 weekly sessions, with a break for Spring Break. They will cover such topics as administration, training procedures, specialist units (such as dogs and bicycles), etc. Participants may choose to fire a gun or voluntarily be tased.
Monty Wedel, Planning, said the Riley County Planning Board will discuss recent public input on Vision 2025 on Thursday, Feb. 16th, in the RCC meeting room. This is to firm up the proposed amendments to planning regulations.
Cheryl Collins, Museum Director, said she will be the speaker at the Riley County Genealogical Society's meeting on Sunday, Feb. 19th, at 2:00 p.m., at the Public Library. She will talk about life in Manhattan and Riley County in 1912, and compare issues, interests, and activities of today with those of 100 years ago. She also announced that the Rocky Ford School at Tuttle Creek Blvd and Barnes Road, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The RCHS is now raising funds for renovation.
Gregg Eyestone, Extension, announced the Manhattan Area Garden Show at Pottorf Hall, CiCo Park, on Saturday, Feb. 25th, and Sunday, Feb. 26th. There will be seminars hourly in the Clover Room from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Master Gardeners will be present to give advice. There will be 22 booths, a food stand with light lunch, and door prizes.
Rich Vargo announced the Riley County Offices will be closed for Presidents' Day, Monday, Feb. 20.
Leon Hobson said KDOT will meet with local officials Wednesday, Feb. 15th, to discuss traffic challenges during the next phase of construction on K-18. There will be traffic diversions at different times for east-bound and for west-bound traffic. Entrance to and exit from Ft. Riley will be affected, as will some access to the airport. Scenic Drive, Eureka Drive, and Wildcat Creek Road will be utilized at various times. If you can, you should take I-70. If you need access to Ft. Riley or the airport or other businesses in the area, leave early, drive slowly, and be patient. Hobson said KDOT had told him that it will be "great" when it is finished.
After an executive session (personnel matter), Clancy Holeman, Counselor/Director of Admin. Services, conducted an administrative work session. Commissioners agreed by consensus that they do not support a bill putting term limits on county commissioners. They said limits are better left to the voters. Another bill, which would require County Commissions to change the mill levy in accordance to changes in assessed valuation, might thus produce what could become a "Tabor-like" tax bill, which does not take into account the reality of how things actually are done. New construction was exempted, but no provision was made for staffing, heating or lighting. Commissioners agreed by consensus that such tax matters should be left to individual county bodies. After brief mention of other matters, Commissioners went again into executive session.
Cheryl Collins, Museum Director, said that their Archive Library is available to all members of the public, even from out of State. They strive to serve everyone's needs for research. It is a non-circulating research library, available only by appointment, because an archivist must be present to find the materials (no card catalog). Some of the materials are very rare and others are fragile, so they may need trained people to handle them. This may be frustrating to people in a hurry or with deadlines, so they make every possible effort to be accommodating. They try to reach a sensible balance between accessibility and preservation. Ms. Collins mentioned that sometimes users of the library contribute additional valuable information to the archive.
Submitted by Lybdal Nyberg
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