Commission approves equipment purchase
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission approved computers and equipment Monday for various county departments.
Lloyd Davies of Great Plains Computers & Networking, Marion, was asked by the commission to compile bids for the equipment in an effort to get group discounts for the same equipment.
Unfortunately, when all of the information was gathered, it was determined that each department required specific functions. When all was said and done, the commission approved the equipment purchase from Great Plains Computers & Networking for a total of $17,868.
Other bids were solicited from different manufacturers and most were less than the local vendor but the department heads wanted local service.
It was explained to the commission by Davies and county clerk Carol Maggard that when Great Plains participated in the bidding process, that bid was presented to Maggard before the other bids were solicited.
Noreen Weems, director of the department for elderly, expressed her frustration in having to wait for these bids to be gathered and reviewed before she could purchase new computers.
County appraiser Cindy Magill said support issues were important because most out-of-town vendors would not be as responsive as Great Plains in repairing equipment.
In other business:
— Magill informed the commission that there are 244 informal hearings to protest valuations scheduled. She said some property owners are upset with the valuations. She also told the commission that she may not be available whenever a landowner comes to her office because she and two other employees are conducting hearings Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of each week.
She advised the commission if it received telephone calls from constituents, to ask if the landowners had talked with Magill.
— Dallke asked the commission to consider changing the county's policy regarding the discharge of fireworks for Independence Day. Currently residents have to receive permission from the commission for fireworks displays. Dallke asked the commission to consider allowing fireworks to be discharged by landowners on their own properties.
He also wanted the sales of fireworks to be allowed in the county. Vendors would be required to provide proof of liability insurance to sell products.
Maggard will provide information to the commission regarding current policies.
— The commission reviewed costs, $50,000-$60,000 per year, associated with an employee longevity plan. Dallke said he wasn't sure if tax money should be spent in that manner.
Maggard asked the commission for direction regarding pay increases and employee evaluations.
The board agreed it wanted to review employee evaluations with department heads before the employees were presented with the information.
Maggard also was instructed to obtain an updated salary comparison.
Merit raises are included in the budget.
— Marion County will reduce the number of polling sites due to new equipment. Dallke noted that Sedgwick County had eliminated 146 voting sites because of costs to update voting equipment.
— The commission said complaints were made to the county because an abandoned home in the county with a swimming pool did not have a fence around the pool. Dallke apologized to the neighbors on behalf of the county. A fence was to be erected during the weekend.
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
