County officials want to maintain control of lake
The last official meeting for Marion County Commissioners Howard Collett and Leroy Wetta was similar to the last day of school — some business and some pomp.
Following a reception in the main hallway of the courthouse, the commission attended to business.
Dale Snelling, Marion County Park & Lake superintendent, encouraged incoming commissioners Dan Holub and Randy Dallke to attend a meeting with fish and game officials of Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks.
Snelling said the meeting will discuss the county's options regarding programs and services currently being offered by KWP. He said he believed the fish and game department wants to take over some operations of city and county lakes.
According to Snelling, KWP wants the county to discontinue the requirement of county permits for fishing and fishing boats. He said he thinks KWP wants a person to be able to fish anywhere in the state and only pay a state fee.
To lure county and city lakes, Snelling said KWP might offer $1 to $1.50 per county dollar spent for fishing and related expenses as a means to gain control of fishing.
Federal grant money may be obtained, Snelling said, to cover KWP's expenses.
"What will happen if the grant money is no longer available?" Snelling asked. "Where does that leave us?"
Collett agreed that maintaining county control over the local lake was important.
"Once we lose control, how do we get it back?" Collett asked.
Snelling said he was not aware of any county or city lake that did not charge a local fee.
In addition to losing control of fishing charges and related issues, Snelling said it would require a change in the county's current recreation rules and regulations.
Commissioner Bob Hein said he planned to attend.
In other business:
— The commission committed up to $4,000 for the first half of liability insurance for community corrections employees who serve Marion County.
Mike Wederski of Eighth Judicial Community Corrections reported Kansas Department of Corrections and Juvenile Justice Authority were not in support of paying for the insurance and wanted the four participating counties to cover the expense.
Estimated annual cost is $40,000 to $50,000, Wederski said. Marion County would be responsible for 16 percent of the total cost.
Wederski said he had contacted other agencies for information pertaining to their handling of the insurance issue and found it to be diverse.
JJA was not willing to fund the cost because the history had been Geary County paying it. Collett said it wasn't fair to everyone to follow history for the sake of history.
Wederski said in a couple of weeks he will be asking the commission for funds to pay the first half of the insurance.
— Mary Avery and David Mueller were re-appointed to serve three-year terms on the county's planning commission and board of zoning appeals.
— County clerk Carol Maggard reported a request from Joel Klassen of Hillsboro Free Press to submit a proposal to publish the county's legal publications for the coming year. The commission will consider the proposal at Monday's meeting.
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse following a swearing-in ceremony of the two newly elected commissioners.
