Riley County Comission August 29, 2013

 Joan Strickler, observer

 

Commissioners Wells, Boyd and Lewis present, Lewis presiding.

Rebecca Bishop, Extension Associate in Agricultural Economics, presented her findings in a report comparing county revenues and expenditures in 13 Kansas counties generally comparable to Riley.   In summarizing her report Bishop found that, of the 13 counties in the study, Riley had the lowest per capita expenditures and revenues in 2011, the year studied.  Riley spent slightly less than the 13 county average on road and bridge expenditures.  Riley spent the least among its peers on public safety due to the consolidation of County and City law enforcement.

Of all the counties studied, Riley had the lowest property tax revenues per capita in 2011.  She credits the County’s low mill levy and assessed valuation most likely in explaining that result.

Brenda Nickel, Director of the Health Department, described her department’s Raising Riley Right program focused on children’s early learning activities.  The program is funded with dollars made available through the tobacco settlement.  The department has the funds, but needs permission to fill the additional position required.  The permission was granted.

County Counselor Clancy Holeman held a work session on requirements of Kansas’ Open Meetings Act.  While the Act itself is relatively brief, numerous decisions from the Attorney General’s office must be taken into consideration in determining how the Act applies.  It does not just apply to formal meetings.  It applies any time a majority of the governing body discusses business.  When the majority of the body engages in communications while together, over the phone, through email or even on Facebook, a violation can occur.  If the purpose is to “subvert the Act” by avoiding an open meeting, a violation has occurred.  This would include using an intermediary person to carry messages from one to another.

The only notice requirements of the Act pertain to persons who request the information.  No actual requirement exists for the giving of public notice.