Riley County Commission mtg 9-10-12

All Commissioners present. Rich Vargo, County Clerk, gave Year-to-date budget and expenditures report. All funds are nominal, with no budget violations. He commented that 2012, being en election year, the County Clerk's office will have higher than normal expenditures.

Cheryl Collins, Museum Director, and two Museum employees, discussed the processes by which the current temporary exhibition at the Flint Hills Discovery Center was put together. It is a partnership of the RC Historical Museum; U.S. Cavalry Museum, Fort Riley; Environmental Division, DPW, Fort Riley; Historic Costume and Textile Museum, KSU College of Human Ecology; Morse Department of Special Collections, KSU Libraries; and the Discovery Center. These six entities worked together for one-and-a-half years to narrow down a list of 100 historical objects related the theme: "Forces: The Shaping of Manhattan, Fort Riley and Kansas State University" to 75 objects and then finally to the 60 objects used. They cooperated on research, photography, and the great task of re-labeling objects, some of which were originally labeled 90 years ago. One interesting object is a cabinet belonging to Seth Child, the postmaster, who regularly rode a horse to Leavenworth to pick up the mail. All objects were prepared, then wrapped for transportation, then carefully transported and put on display. The exhibition opened September 7 and will continue through January 13, 2013. More information is available on the web site: www.rileycountyksgov/museum. The site is constantly being updated and added to. Major funding for the project is from the Kansas Humanities Council. Saturday, September 22, is being made a free day by the sponsorship of Farm Bureau.

At the press conference, Ms Collins reiterated the significance of the Discovery Center exhibit and announced other activities planned by the Historical Society and Museum. Sept ll, Author Day will be celebrated at the Public Library from 4-6:00 p.m. Speakers and other activities are planned. Ms Collins will conduct a walking tour of historic downtown Manhattan on Sept 13, beginning at 6:00 p.m. from the Courthouse Plaza. On Sept 23 at 2:00 p.m. at the Public Library, William D. Keele, a professor of German at KU, will present "Hurrah, Frei Kansas! Germans Struggle Against Slavery in Kansas Territory, 1854-1861!" This program is also funded by the Kansas Humanities Council.

Kristen Garcia, Extension, said the Kansas State Fair began on Friday, Sept 7. There are 11,489 4-H entries, many of which are from Riley County. Sunday was K-State Day--a sea of purple, organized at the behest of KSU president Kirk Schultz. October 1 is the beginning of the 4-H year. Oct 20 is project kick-off at Pottorff Hall in Ci/Co Park. 4-H will hold a gigantic garage sale next week: Friday Sept 21 6-8:00 and Saturday Sept 22 8-11:00 a.m. at Pottorff Hall. Donations accepted Thursday and Friday a.m.

Greg Lund said the Dog Park at the NW corner of Ci/Co Park is now open. It is approximately one acre, fenced in so dogs can run leash-free. A "pet waste clean-up station" is included.

Ginny Barnard, Extension, said September is National Food Safety Month. She distributed a brochure about fighting food-borne bacteria. Extension will hold food safety training sessions at Pottorff. On October they offer a 1-hour class for employee-level for $10. On November 13, they will offer a manager-level course of 8 hours, for $100. This includes a book and the exam. Courses are approved by the Kansas Restaurant Association.

Eileen King, Treasurer, gave monthly financial reports. Investment income is not exciting. Sales tax revenues are healthy, currently at 77.27% of Budget estimates. Current collection rates are up from, last month, from August of last year, and from year to date 2011. Overall, collections are 4.96% over budget. A small number of very large ad valorem delinquencies brings down the surplus in variance to budget.

Clancy Holeman, Counselor/Dir of Admin. conducted an administrative work session. County has requested two stops for the ATA bus: one at Ci/Co and one at the Health Department.

The Indigent Defense contract is finalizing. The Law Library lease expires at the end of Sept. Commissioners will receive on Thursday a resolution to amend a small error ("end" instead of "expire") for the half-cent sales tax question. Other matters briefly discussed. Meeting adjourned. Submitted by Lyndal Nyberg.