Thursday, October 25, 2012

Riley County Commission October 25, 2012





Joan Strickler, observer
Commissioners Johnson and Lewis present, Johnson presiding.

County Attorney Barry Wilkinson reported his office will handle a murder case next week.  Homicides tend to take a long time to run through the legal system.  The judges have requested that the County offer a new wireless network, the Westlaw system, to accommodate   attorneys since the judges plan to discontinue the use and support of a law library.  The judges are willing to pay the monthly cost for the internet services required (approximately $80 a month).   The judges would also like to use iPads to expedite warrant requests.  One judge lives in Clay Center which makes distance even more a factor in obtaining timely approval.  Wilkinson said they are reviewing security issues since any such system must meet federal requirements.  The judges have agreed to pay for the iPad service as well (approximately $40 a month).

Information Technology/GIS Director Robert Nall referred also to the issues involving the requests from the judges and will be working with Wilkinson and the court personnel.  Nall said the combining of Information Technology and GIS is resulting in greater efficiency.  Nall expressed some concern that his office will run over salary costs in the amount of $40,000 due to absorbing the IT staff at the Health Department.  The fact that this would occur was recognized by the Commissioners at the time the decision was made to move the responsibility to the County.  Nall asked for permission to go over budget in consideration of the situation.  The Commissioners agreed to that request.

Nall said the voting satellite at the K-State Union is working well.  According to County Clerk Rich Vargo, however, voting there is running slower than last year.

County Extension Director Jennifer Wilson said elections will be held for positions on the extension council beginning October 29 and ending on November 2.  Voting will take place in the County Extension Office from 8 am to 5 pm each day. 

 

 

 

 

Monday, October 22, 2012

Riley County Commission October 22, 2012





Riley County Commission October 22, 2012
Joan Strickler, observer
 

Commissioners Johnson and McCulloh present, Johnson presiding.  Commissioner Lewis was attending a meeting in Washington D.C. and joined in by conference call for the section of the meeting devoted to employee health plan options.

Emergency Management Director Pat Collins said narrow banding radios now are used by most responders in the County.  He recommends, however, that the emergency sirens not be upgraded to narrow banding since they are simply receivers and can work quite well without the upgrade.  Collins suggests that the County’s public works employees move to the same system due to efficiency and dependability. A Med Zip system was used for years specifically by ambulance and hospital personnel, but seems unnecessary today with the availability of cell phones and radios.  He recommends the County cease using the Med Zip system which will save 12 to 13 thousand dollars a year.

Susie Kufahl, Director of the Riley County Health Department, said her department has started on its community health assessment with the help of Envisage Consulting.  The assessment is a necessary evaluation as the RCHD prepares for an upcoming review for accreditation.  The Health Department is continuing to hold flu clinics.  A recent clinic in which free pumpkins were given brought in more than 100 children and adults.  Kufahl also discussed 2012 revised budget estimates.

Tim Hegarty, with the Riley County Police Department, cautioned drivers to avoid driving too close to other vehicles, particularly in construction areas. 

Pawnee Mental Health Director Robbin Cole updated Commissioners on KANCARE, the State’s move toward a new managed care system for recipients of Medicaid health services.  The system is supposed to be in effect as of January l, 2013.  Yet, to date, only one of the three designated managed care organizations chosen by the State to serve clients has its provider manual completed.  Pawnee has signed a contract for one service from one provider, but does   not feel comfortable in signing any other contracts until provider manuals are complete.  The different providers may have different standards for what mental health services will be authorized and for billing procedures to be met.   For instance, all three may have different screening requirements prior to authorizing admission to a hospital.   As of the first of the year, clients needing mental health services will automatically be assigned one of the providers if they have not previously selected one—a difficult decision without completed manuals specifying service options.

The KANCARE system is predicted by State officials to save $1 billion in health care costs over the next five years.  An estimated 375,000 Kansans are affected by the changes.

Scott Cooper, with the Riley County Fire Department, cautioned people to get their chimneys swept prior to using wood burning fire places.

County Clerk Rich Vargo said in person advance voting begins tomorrow, October 23, both at the Courthouse and at the K-State Union.  The K-State voting option is available, not only to students and faculty, but to all Riley County residents.

Cindy Volanti, Human Resource Manager, conducted a discussion of the State Health Insurance Plan C.

 

Saturday, October 20, 2012

BOCC Oct 18, 2012

BOCC 10/18/12
 
All commissioners present, Johnson presiding

During the Business Meeting contracts were signed with five attorneys who will be on the Indigent Defense Panel.
The Commission went into executive session until 9:45. At 9:50 bids were opened for the Walnut Creek bridge replacement.

Then there was a break until 10:15

Brad Schoen, RCPD Director discussed the recent outbreak of bicycle thefts. The number and value of the bikes suggests these are not random thefts but perhaps more organized.
He also mentioned the RCPD's social media site on Twitter which has quite a number of followers.

MontyWedel, Planning/Special Projects Director presented the new zoning amendments for billboard signs. These changes were developed by the Urban Area Planning Board and the county's billboard advisory board.. They will only affect the county . These changes are to bring the rules into conformity with state regulations.
Digital signs along county highways will be illegal and the rules for size and spacing of billboards have been changed. Existing billboards will be "grandfathered" in. New laws also prohibit doubledecker billboards. The proposed changes were accepted by the Commission.
 
Julie Merklin, Observer

Monday, October 15, 2012

County Commission 10/15/12

County Commission did not meet as scheduled for lack of a quorum. 
Julie Merklin

Sunday, October 14, 2012

BOCC Oct. 11, 2012

Commissioners McCulloh and Lewis present.

Outside of the usual business – minutes, tax roll corrections, etc. the only activity of note was Eileen Kings’s presentation of the Monthly financial reports from the Treasurer’s office.

She reported that the sales tax revenues have been ahead of the previous year by $20,000 to $30,000 except for July when they were only $3,500 higher. Two factors may have caused this. First, the car show which is usually held in July at Bramlage Coliseum did not occur. This has, in the past, brought thousands of dollars into the county. The other factor may have been the triple digit temperatures which lessened activities in general. Reporting on vehicle taxes, King said that 91.07% of motor vehicle taxes have already been collected- higher than either of the last two years.


Julie Merklin, observer

Thursday, October 4, 2012

USD 383 Board of Education

Oct. 3, 2012
Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

Dr. Robert Seymour, Associate Superintendent, reported that the district's enrollment numbers on Sept. 20th showed an increase of 93 students, 30 of which were preschool students.

The board held a public hearing to provide citizens with the opportunity to comment on whether MHS should continue to have "open" lunch, meaning students are allowed to leave campus over lunch, or whether lunch should be "closed," and students would have to stay on campus.  Prior to the public hearing, parents, students, faculty, and staff had the opportunity to complete an online survey as to their preferences.  Lunch is currently "closed" at MHS East Campus, and the majority of respondents preferred to keep it that way.  Fifty-seven percent of parents and 99% of students favored continuing to have "open" lunch at MHS West Campus.  Reasons for continuing to have "open" lunch included it develops student responsibility, food options are better outside of school, "open" lunch provides stress relief, there's not enough cafeteria space to seat all students, and some suggested modifications, like only allowing juniors and seniors to leave campus.

Reasons provided by survey respondents for having "closed" lunch included it's safer at school, negative behaviors occur when students are away from campus, school cafeteria food is healthier, and concerns about students driving over lunch.

MHS Principal Terry McCarty said he supported continuing to have "open" lunch because it teaches students time and fiscal management.  Doug Messer, Director of Transportation, favored going to "closed" lunch because he felt allowing students to leave campus creates a safety issue for the district.  He also suggested that maybe 10th grade students should not be allowed to leave campus and possibly only juniors and seniors should have the privilege.  Kari Quiton, Drug and Alcohol Prevention Coordinator, expressed concerns about substance abuse occurring while students are away from campus during lunch.  Gordon Thornton, special education teacher, favored "open" lunch because he was concerned about the cafeteria's capacity to hold all of the students if they were not allowed to leave.  If lunch were "closed," he thought there might need to be three lunch periods instead of the current two.  He also wondered how allowing only juniors and seniors to leave campus would be enforced.  Parents who spoke supported continuing to have "open" lunch, and high school students who addressed the board all expressed the opinion that "open" lunch helps students to learn responsibility and develop time management skills.

The board plans to make a decision about open/closed lunch at its Oct. 17th meeting.