Joan Strickler, observer
Commissioners
Boyd, Wells and Lewis present, Boyd presiding.
During the “Commission
Comments” section Commissioners discussed the advisability of establishing a
watershed district to deal with flooding problems on Wildcat Creek. Apparently residents in the area are not
showing much support for the idea. Watershed districts become permanent once they
are established, have taxing authority, and may take care of a current problem
but lead to others in the future.
The
Commission is in the process of developing the budget for 2015. Actions taken by the Kansas Legislature this
past session, such as eliminating counties’ abilities to tax mortgage registration fees,
have caused a drop in Riley County’s anticipated income. Yet needs are expected to increase.
According to
Human Resource Manager Cindy Volanti, the Department of Labor posted the
Consumer Price Index at a calculated 1.60% increase. Average step increases among all County
employees for 2014 would amount to 3%.
Going with the previously adopted procedures for salary increases this
would mean an average total increase for personnel of 4.6%.
EMS Director
Larry Couchman said, with the growth in the community and the growing volume in
ambulance calls, he would like to have authorization to hire six additional
personnel to staff another ambulance for 24 hour shifts. This would require adding $95,000 to his budget
request.
Couchman and
Captain Kurt Moldrup spoke of anticipated needs as Country Stampede gets
underway this upcoming weekend. This
Stampede is expected to bring the largest crowds ever. The weather may be a problem with rain in the
projections.
No comments:
Post a Comment