Riley County Commission June 25, 2015

Joan Strickler, observer

Riley County Commission June 25, 2015

Commissioners Wells, Boyd and Wilson present, Wells presiding.

In general comments the Commissioners expressed a great deal of frustration with the actions taken in the Legislature during the current session.   They tended to doubt that the tax limitation placed on the counties would gather the votes in the veto session to eliminate the problem.  Reportedly Pottawatomie County Commissioners are threatening to declare “Home Rule” and ignore the law.   A question was raised about the possibility of avoiding the limitation problems by passing a county budget in June (the current fiscal year) to avoid coming under the new restrictions voted for FY 2016.

It has been reported that the Kansas Department of Transportation will have no money to fund any asphalt overlays in the coming year.

Assistant County Engineer Gary Rosewicz recommended a cost increase of $2 a ton to handle the Municipal Solid Waste disposal delivered to the County site. The increase is needed to keep the facility self-funded.  The Commissioners voted to approve the increase beginning August l.

It was agreed to name a small group of knowledgeable people to come up with recommendations on how to proceed with a new RCPD shooting range training facility.  Commissioner Wilson will serve on the committee.  The committee will be staffed by the Planning/Special Projects Director Monty Wedel.  It is hoped that the objections of area residents near the proposed facility can be addressed positively.

A budget work session focused on requests from those services providing agencies not part of the County government such as the Crisis Center, Pawnee Mental Health etc.   It was suggested a 10% cut be made to all the agencies requests, but instead agreed that each should be dealt with individually.