Direct deposit approved for county employees
Marion County employees have two options for their paychecks, county commissioners decided Monday at their regular weekly meeting.
They can have their checks deposited in bank accounts automatically, or they can receive them at home in the mail, effective with the first pay period of the new year.
Employees will not be allowed to pick up checks at the clerk's office, nor will department heads distribute them.
Some employees had requested direct deposit of checks. In a survey of full-time employees, 52 said they would support direct deposit, 32 did not, and 15 did not respond.
"The ayes have it," Commissioner Howard Collett said.
"It's a good idea," Chairman Bob Hein said.
Clerk Carol Maggard said the "no" votes seemed to be due mostly to those who wanted to cash their checks.
Direct deposit is used by many businesses and government agencies. It is considered more cost-effective and efficient because the money is deposited automatically. There are no checks to be lost or stolen, though employees receive a pay stub listing amount of pay and various withholdings.
County officials want to reduce time supervisors spend delivering checks, particularly in the road and bridge department. Supervisors have to drive throughout the county to hand over checks, usually taking a full afternoon to do so.
Officials also believe some employees take time on paydays to take checks to the bank.
Employees get paid monthly. Mail deposited in Marion goes to the Topeka office first, so it may take several days for checks to be delivered to some parts of the county, officials said. The county general fund will pay for postage.
About 60 other county employees are part time, including emergency medical service workers and summer help. They will have the same option as full-time workers.
In other reports:
Heavy rain throughout the week led to many calls for more road rock. Road and bridge officials said they were doing what they could, but continued wet weather limited their options. "Every rock road in the county is one lane right now," said Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent.
Work on 190th east of U.S.-77 has been delayed again, commissioners learned. The road was damaged by heavy truck traffic hauling material to and from the K-150 project. The contractor has done some work on the road, but completion has been delayed due to the company's commitment to a project in Wichita. Commissioners said the county may make the repairs if the contractor reimburses the cost.
Michele Abbott-Becker, communications director, has received the Carl Gray Memorial Award from the state emergency communications organization. The award is presented for exceptional service to the group.
County fees for access to state electronic networks will increase significantly in 2004, Abbott-Becker said. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation will increase the fee from $143 to $402 per month. This is due to budget cuts the KBI is facing, Abbott-Becker said.
All full-time law enforcement officers received personal bio-terrorism response kits Thursday, Abbott-Becker added. The kits, funded through a federal grant, include a breathing unit and protective clothing. Other equipment, including decontamination units, will arrive later this year and be distributed to fire departments.
Purchase of a used truck for the noxious weed department was approved. The 2000 Chevrolet 4x4 with 43,000 miles cost $18,795 and will come through Irv Schroeder County Motors, Hillsboro. Most of the cost will be paid by insurance proceeds; the other truck was lost in a fire.
Noreen Weems, director of the county department for the elderly, reported on the annual meeting earlier in the month, which was attended by 130 people.
Weems noted that the county continues to provide Senior Care Act funds to the Area Agency on Aging. Funds are used for at-home assistance for seniors who qualify. Local funding, about $3,000 annually, have not decreased, though the number of local users has, she said. The number is not significant yet, but Weems said she wants to know the long-term plans of the agency if numbers continue to decrease. Either more people should be found to receive benefits through the program, or the county funding share should decrease, she said.
Commissioners will meet Friday for end of the month business. They will not meet Monday, but will meet the following Friday in a special meeting to canvass ballots from the election Tuesday.
