Thursday, February 26, 2015

Riley County Commission February 26, 2015


Joan Strickler, observer



Riley County Commission February 26, 2015

Commissioners Wells, Boyd and Wilson present, Wells presiding.

Commissioner Wells said he would like to have the Commission check with other related entities to determine the cost of building shooting ranges.  The County is looking into building such a range for training law enforcement personnel.

County Attorney Barry Wilkerson reported his office is wrapping up a murder trial.  Current staffing appears adequate to meet the needs in his office.

Kevin Houser, IT/GIS director, said his office has now incorporated flood plane data on the GIS website.  The 2015 County appraisal values have been added as well.  Currently staff is working with the Health Department on getting the medical records on-line system up and running.

Human Resources manager Cindy Volanti announced the County payroll process is now totally automated.  Each employee is responsible for posting his or her hours and the system takes over to complete the job.   

 A considerable amount of time was spent discussing the employee position review process.  As positions change and evolve they need to be reevaluated for position description and appropriate salary level.  The department heads supported a system in which the HR Manager presents the reclassification request to the McGrath consulting firm for a point factoring to decide placement on the salary schedule.  McGrath has developed the overall system for the County in the past.  Commissioner Boyd questioned the need for paying the $150 per person fee for the recommendations in all cases.  After a lengthy discussion in which all the department heads spoke in favor of using McGrath for the determinations, the Commissioners all voted to support the request.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Riley County Commission Feb.23, 2015






Riley County Commission February 23, 2015

Commissioners Ron Wells and Ben Wilson present, Wells presiding. Commissioner Boyd was absent.

During the review of the minutes of the February 19th meeting, regarding a letter submitted by Counselor Clancy Holeman expressing some concerns about a bill that might adversely affect public building commissions, Commissioner Wilson said the minutes should reflect that he was not in favor of the letter and, essentially, not in agreement with the other Commissioners positions on public building commissions.

Robin Cole, director of Pawnee Mental Health Center, discussed problems at Ossawatomie State Hospital.  In reaction to overcrowding at the hospital federal officials have taken steps that could cause OSH to lose up to 25% of its Medicaid income.  The hospital now is refusing all voluntary admissions – situations in which the individual knows he or she is mentally ill and a danger to self or others and is willing to seek treatment at the hospital.  Only involuntary admissions are now allowed – where the individual refuses treatment but is deemed to be a threat to self or others.

Following the first investigation, federal officials conducted a second investigation that found that situations existed at the hospital which could be harmful to patients.  The hospital has undertaken a $3 million upgrade to come into compliance.  According to Cole the problems have been caused by negligence occurring over many years.  Another full inspection will be underway again shortly.

SB 123 is a bill that is of concern to physicians and mental health centers.  It essentially would remove decisions as to appropriate medication for patients with mental illness from the patient’s physician and put it in the hands of Kansas’ three managed care organizations.  The concern is that the patient’s physician knows how that individual reacts to a medication while the managed care organization likely would choose medications without ever seeing the patient.

Riley County Health Department nurse Patti Grub provided an excellent presentation on the importance of vaccines.

Allen Todd in the appraiser’s office reported a 3% overall increase in sales prices for real estate.  The median cost for houses has grown over the past year from $172,000 to $175,000.

County Clerk Rich Vargo said the mail vote for the April 7 Riley County election closes at noon on Tuesday.  He noted an increase in the number of voters due to the ease of mail-in voting.
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I am adding a statement attached to the Final Minutes of February 9, as written and submitted by Commissioner Wilson.  The vote was on signing an agreement to accept funds for the Meals on Wheels program.

“I very much appreciate programs like Meals on Wheels that make it affordable for seniors to live independently with access to good food.  But we always have to ask, ‘who is paying for it?’ And whenever we’re talking about tax dollars, the answer is ‘everyone’.  Those of us who are pretty well off may be happy to pay a few extra dollars for a good cause like this, but too often we forget about our other neighbors who are struggling to get by and literally can’t afford it. I would be happy to spend my own money or volunteer my own time to support these programs, but ultimately we are talking about other people’s money and compassion can’t be coerced.   I would much rather see community organizations like charities and churches along with families, friends and other individuals voluntarily provide services to those in need rather than the federal government getting involved and forcing people to pay.  I realize that it will take a lot of volunteer work on someone’s part to organize this and raise the necessary funds, and I can understand arguments that the government shouldn’t be cutting funding to programs like these without first ensuring adequate private funding.  But as long as I prefer local, private support over government bureaucracy I can’t in good conscience ask the federal government to spend more tax money in this area.”

Friday, February 6, 2015

USD 383 Board of Education

Feb. 4, 2015

The board discussed budget reduction planning and proposed legislation that would impact education funding.  The district's Budget Advisory Committee has met twice and is being asked to look at reductions that represent 2%, 6.3%, and 8.5%.  Dr. Bob Seymour, Assoc. Superintendent, reported that legislation was passed this week that would keep the state solvent for the next 2-3 months, and the legislation included delaying payments until June that would equalize capital outlay funding.  Another bill under discussion would reduce funding for the Local Option Budget.  Board member Curt Herrman commented that the latter bill seems to be aimed at forcing districts to spend down their contingency funds, which districts maintain for emergencies and for things like being able to make payroll when state payments have been delayed.

Dr. Seymour reported on the district's mid-year enrollment.  Kindergarten had increased by 23 students, which amounts to one additional classroom of students.  First grade had increased by 10 students.  Other grades had experienced various increases or decreases, such that the net for grades K-12 was an increase of 9 students.

Board members also discussed possible topics for the retreat scheduled for Feb. 25.  Topics to be discussed included the update to the Manhattan Urban Area Comprehensive Plan, utilization of classroom space, and the 2015-16 budget.

Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer

USD 383 Board of Education

Jan. 21, 2015

In light of state budget shortfalls and the impact that will have on education funding, the board discussed plans for reducing the budget.  A Budget Advisory Committee will begin meeting to examine possible budget reductions and to make recommendations.  Proposed reductions in state funding for education included elimination of some or possibly all weightings and reduction in block grant funding by $127 million for operating funds.  The impact to USD 383 would result in a projected reduction of $1,755,000.

The board also discussed a proposed agreement with the City of Manhattan for an easement to create a bicycle pathway along the vacated portion of Houston Street that runs through the campus of MHS-E.  The board had approved the easement on first reading at the previous meeting but had had a number of questions.  Questions included wanting to know who would be responsible for maintaining the bike path, could signage be included that would warn cyclists that they are entering a parking lot, signage requesting that cyclists yield to pedestrians, will school administrators have the authority to ask loitering cyclists to "move along," etc.  Peter Clark, with the City of Manhattan, answered board members' questions and indicated that requested signage could be included and that the city will be responsible for maintaining the bike path.  Board members approved the agreement 7-0.

Kathy Dzewaltowski, observer