County workers concerned about new department
Staff reporter
Carol Maggard, county clerk, reported to Marion County Commissioners Monday that employees were concerned about the possibility of the creation of a new county department and position.
"Lots of concerned employees have talked with me about positions being cut and no raises," said Maggard. The creation of a new position and department "isn't budgeted. So you'd be taking money for something else," said Maggard.
Employees have not received a pay increase for two years and an increase is not in the 2004 budget.
With these comments, Maggard made the following suggestions to the commission:
Form the task force, create a position description, advertise for the position, and plan for the position and department in 2005.
First-year cost estimates that were discussed were $30,000 for salary and a minimum of $10,000 to $15,000 for setting up the department.
Howard Collett, commissioner, asked Maggard for a dollar figure for a one-percent pay increase for July 2004 for the employees.
"We need to rethink a way to give raises," said Collett. "If departments can stay within their budgets, then we can afford to give raises."
Later in the meeting, county residents interested in economic development and the process being considered, were in attendance.
Residents in attendance were Peggy Blackman, Marion; Carolyn Koehn, city clerk, Burns; Stan Thiessen, South Central Kansas Economic Development District representative and Hillsboro resident; Steve Garrett, city administrator, Hillsboro; Mary Glenn, mayor, Burns; Eloise Mueller, mayor, Marion; Cari Garbo and Becky Nuss, Hillsboro.
Bruce Wells, Flint Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council coordinator, was asked by the commission and accepted the position of facilitator for the six-member task force.
Commissioners gave specific duties to Wells for the process, as per the motion made by the commission at the Jan. 5 meeting.
The directives for the task force are to discuss the direction of economic development for Marion County, create a job description for the county coordinator, and provide a preliminary report to the commission within 45 days, or by March 1.
Blackman, with Collett in agreement, withdrew her appointment by Collett as a member of the task force.
"I don't think it's appropriate for me to be on the task force since I'll be applying for the position," said Blackman.
Task force members are Chris Costello, president of Tampa State Bank, Marion; David Mayfield, city administrator, Marion; Steve Garrett, city administrator, Hillsboro; Mike Kleiber, owner of Ag-Power and Ag Services, Inc., Hillsboro; Carolyn Koehn, city clerk, Burns; and Richard Drake, president of Citizens State Bank, Goessel.
Commission chairman Leroy Wetta asked Wells for progress reports during the 45-day period.
Garbo asked if funding had been determined by the commission for the department and position.
Collett said the commission was waiting for final figures for the closure of the county landfill.
"It boils down to whether the old landfill (closing) costs will take all of our funds or not," said Collett. He added the county is awaiting the engineer's report.
Garbo also asked if the position, once defined, will be advertised.
Commissioners and Maggard assured Garbo that the county's hiring policy would be followed.
