Staff writer
Marion County Commissioners directed Department on Aging Director Gayla Ratzlaff to work with Noxious Weed Department Director Rollin Schmidt to share employee Lanell Hett between the departments.
Commissioners made the decision Friday after meeting with Ratzlaff in closed session for 20 minutes.
Senior Citizens of Marion County board chairwoman Lila Unruh asked commissioners to keep Hett in the Department on Aging full time. State and federal agencies are reducing services for senior citizens, making county services more important, she said.
Hett does a good job working with senior citizens, Unruh said. Ratzlaff is out of the office frequently attending meetings elsewhere, so having Hett at the office allows county residents to receive services.
Unruh asked if commissioners had looked at personnel in other departments. Commission Chairman Randy Dallke said the board has and has made changes in other departments.
Commissioner Dan Holub said he supported the idea of sharing employees, but he didn’t want to cut services for senior citizens. The commission should be careful with its decisions, he said.
Commissioner Bob Hein said he expected Schmidt would work with Ratzlaff to determine a schedule that worked for both departments.
Ratzlaff said she was willing to try, but she expected it would result in a loss of services.
County adds snowplows
The county will purchase three snowplows from Truck Parts and Equipment, Inc. of Wichita for $30,966. The price includes installation on three Road and Bridge Department trucks.
The extra equipped trucks will allow the county to reopen roads in shorter time following a snowstorm, shop foreman Tom Holub said.
Victor L. Phillips Co. of Wichita bid $34,372, and Kansas Truck Equipment Company of Wichita bid $40,841.
In other business:
- Cardie Oil Company, of Tampa, and Cooperative Grain and Supply, of Hillsboro, split bids to provide fuel. Cardie Oil had the low bid for two tanks totaling 2,950 gallons at $6,295. Cooperative Grain and Supply had the low bid for two tanks totaling 3,600 gallons at $7,803.
- Commissioners voted to increase the stipend road grader operators receive to plug in equipment at home from $100 to $150 per year. The rate had been the same for at least 10 years, Road and Bridge Superintendent John Summerville said. The decision affects 11 employees.
- USD 410 Superintendent Lee Leiker requested a house students built for a class be added to the neighborhood revitalization program. Leiker was not aware of the program until the house was under construction. Commissioners approved the request.
- Commissioners approved a request to add Marvin and Debra Hamlin’s garage at Marion County Park and Lake to the revitalization program. The couple didn’t know about the program until it was completed.
- Sales tax receipts for November 2009 sales were $43,488. That was $2,989 less than the same time in 2008.
The next commission meeting will be Monday morning.