Sheriff ponders how to handle Pilsen overflow
Staff writer
An upcoming event in Pilsen has sheriff Robert Craft looking to figure out how to handle what his department will need to do.
Craft told county commissioners Monday that his force will be stretched thin when Father Emil Kapaun’s remains are brought in procession Sept. 25 from Eisenhower Airport to Pilsen for two days before services for the priest at Wichita’s Hartman Arena.
“It’s going to take all we have and then some to deal with the Pilsen part of it,” Craft said.
Craft said he didn’t yet know when the procession would reach Marion County.
“I’m hoping to get that soon,” he said. “It’s going to be a large event, and I don’t know how many people will be coming in to the county.”
Craft said he didn’t know where people would park.
“We’re going to see if we can find some volunteers to help out with this,” he said.
Craft said he was asking around to determine whether officers from other counties might be available to help.
Hillsboro police chief Dan Kinning said he would provide resources if he got approval from the city.
In other business, commissioners conducted a two-hour budget planning session with accountant Scot Loyd.
Loyd recommended moving several budget line items into the general fund for more flexibility.
“The way the general fund works, is we can have anything we want to do as long as we don’t go over that spending authority,” Loyd said. “I always say, with the general fund, as long as it’s extremely healthy, you’re in good shape.”
He said he needed more definitive numbers for planned road and bridge work.