EMS contract employee not covered by county insurance
Commission approves permits for fireworks displays
Staff reporter
There will not be a county-sponsored emergency medical technician class in Peabody due to insurance restrictions.
Marion County Commission heard the news from county clerk Carol Maggard Monday regarding a request made last week for a class in Peabody.
The request was made by Larry Larson and JoAnn Knak with Knak, former county emergency medical services director and current EMT, teaching the class with county equipment.
Maggard reported receipt of a letter from The Insurance Center of Hillsboro, the county's insurance carrier, and an e-mail from KWORK, the county's worker's comp provider.
Both entities stated it was not possible for contractual employees to be covered under the county's insurance.
EMT instructors are required to have liability and malpractice insurance coverage.
Maggard added she did not see any way the county could do this. It was suggested Knak obtain her own insurance policy or the city of Peabody work with Knak, however, it will probably have the same issues as the county.
The commission said they also were concerned about the equipment being shared by two classes possibly during the same time period.
Sixty-six applications for fireworks permits were reviewed and approved. Applications received after the deadline were denied.
Commissioner Howard Collett asked if a resolution requiring county residents to apply for a fireworks permit was necessary.
"I understand the resolution is to benefit the fire departments, but I think this is another governmental intrusion," Collett said. He added since the "law is on the books, we need to follow it."
A resolution was approved by commission regarding the appointment of special prosecutor Stephen Joseph of Wichita regarding the State vs. Oliver K. Smith Jr. case. Joseph will be paid $125 per hour to represent the county in the case.
A motion has been filed regarding the 1986 rape and felony murder of Shelly A. Prine, 22, of Goessel.
Defense attorneys for Smith are requesting a hearing for a possible retrial based on availability of current DNA testing. (See story in this edition of the Marion County Record.)
The hearing for the motion will be Aug. 16. The county is responsible for part of the expense with the state picking up the rest, said Robson.
Dianna Carter-Frantz, county appraiser, reported to the commission the final ratio for residential appraisals is within compliance.
"The county's appraisal values are very close to sale prices," Carter-Frantz said.
Maggard said she had researched where reimbursed funds for indigent defense clients were deposited when received.
"The county actually received $23,736 in the past two years," Maggard said, "and it was returned to the general fund."
Maggard said the general fund covered the amount that was over-budget.
Maggard also provided requested information regarding the funding of an economic development position. She presented information regarding sales tax revenue, risk management fund, and general fund as possible funding sources.
Collett said he believed the risk management fund was to be used for costs associated with post-closure of the county's abandoned landfill. He noted funds for employees' raises were taken from the fund and asked if it was going to be reimbursed.
Maggard explained it was all part of the general fund. Collett responded he would like to see the risk management fund replenished and asked if the employee benefits fund could reimburse the risk management fund. Maggard responded the funds would have to come from the general fund and could be transferred from the employees' benefits fund to the risk management fund.
Collett responded the fund was for risks, not employee raises. Maggard said she will research the request.
Maggard also reported the receipt of a 2005 benefit rate sheet from Kansas Department of Human Resources regarding the county's state unemployment insurance.
The county's experience rating had increased from .33 to .41 due to unemployment claims, said Maggard.
The commission recessed for a five-minute executive session for attorney-client privileges with Robson and county sheriff Lee Becker. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
Following the first executive session, the commission entered a second executive session for 10 minutes to discuss personnel. Robson and Maggard were in attendance. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
In other business:
— County treasurer Jeannine Bateman reported Diane Burnett had been hired in the vehicle department to replace Judy Houdyshell who had resigned.
— Maggard reported APAC had applied a seal coat on the east parking lot. Weather permitting, striping will be completed today (Wednesday).
— The down-spouts are plugged on the courthouse building, Maggard said. She added none of the gutters had covers, allowing debris to plug the down-spouts. Maggard also noted a gutter located on the southwest corner of the building was disconnected.
Commission instructed Maggard to obtain bids to clean the down-spouts and make necessary repairs.
— Roof repairs on the county health department building have been completed. Maggard said the contractor indicted the repairs should be sufficient for several years. A sewer line was discovered in need of repair by the roofing company. Suffield Heating, Cooling, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing has made the necessary repairs.
— A leaking gas line will be repaired by Suffield and chimney repairs will be made this week Maggard said.
— Commission received a letter from Kansas Development Finance Authority regarding Myron and Ann Hiebert receiving a bond in the amount of $38,000 for land and equipment. The bond program assists the "beginning farmer."
The bond was for 50 acres located two miles north of Goessel, the letter stated.
— Maggard informed commission of upcoming agenda items.
A teleconference will be at 9 a.m. July 12 with Steve Pigg, the county's attorney for landfill closure.
An audit report with county auditor Scot Loyd of Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd, will at 8 a.m. July 19. At 9 a.m., Loyd will meet with commission for directives for the 2005 budget.
The commission will meet at 9 a.m. today (Wednesday), and at 9 a.m., Tuesday.
