Legislation could exempt equipment from taxes
Staff reporter
Proposed legislation could result in reduced tax revenue, reported Marion County Appraiser Cindy Magill.
Magill presented information Monday to Marion County Commission regarding the possibility of the state's property valuation division exempting all or phasing in the exemption of commercial and industrial machinery and equipment.
Magill said this would shift the tax burden to residential property owners. She asked the commission to contact legislators and express their concerns.
"The problem with the exemption is other groups would join in," Magill said. A reduction in revenue could cause reduced services and job reduction.
In other business:
— During annual reorganization, the commission elected Dan Holub as chairman and Randy Dallke as vice chairman.
Hoch Publishing Co., Inc., that publishes the Marion County Record, Peabody Gazette-Bulletin, and Hillsboro Star-Journal, was recognized as the official newspaper of the county for 2006.
Marion County entities will continue to be used as depositories of county funds.
— Funds that totaled $1,500 were encumbered for emergency management to be used for a computer.
— Two bids were approved for mowers for the county lake.
Lake superintendent Dale Snelling submitted bids for a pull-behind tractor mower. The low bid was $4,150 from Staub International, Marion, with a trade-in of $250 for the old mower.
Straub International also was the low bidder for a riding mower with a bid of $3,995 for a 52-inch deck.
The older rider mower will retained as a back-up, said Snelling.
— A $12,000 transfer was approved for the county's noxious weed department. A budgeted transfer of $6,000 from the noxious weed general fund to capital outlay was increased because funds were available and there was not a budgeted transfer in the 2006 budget.
— A resolution for continued chemical cost share was approved. A total of $15,000 will be available to assist privately owned landowners pay for chemicals.
County noxious weed director Rollin Schmidt said he will review current regulations and may make future changes.
— Bids for basement reconstruction due to mold removal will be addressed at a future meeting because one contractor had not submitted a revised bid.
County clerk Carol Maggard reported the county received a favorable report from Kansas Department of Labor regarding indoor air quality in the courthouse after the mold was removed.
— The commission reviewed open workers' compensation claims from the county's insurance carrier.
The commission also reviewed the county's liability regarding employees' sick leave and vacation pay out.
— Two comments were received from members of the Economic Development Task Force regarding its next step.
The commission had requested comments from all members.
— Maggard reported she had requested information from Marion County Economic Development Council that included bylaws, minutes of meetings, meeting dates, and a budget for 2006. The county allocates $10,000 annually to the group for development activities.
— Pay increases were approved for clerk office employees Tina Spencer for one year and Amber Peterson for six months. Increases also were approved for Michele Gonzalez and Linda Brewer in the noxious weed department for six-month and one-year anniversaries respectively.
— Magill provided a monthly report to the commission. Activities included a meeting with property valuation representative regarding an analysis, implementation of GIS maps, a possible reduction to some appraisals in the Lehigh area, and completion has been made of appraiser visits to 17 percent of residential and commercial properties.
Magill plans to improve file documentation when visits are completed.
— Magill requested and received a 15-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— County road and bridge supervisor Steve Hudson was instructed to obtain a job description for an additional operator II position in the department.
The position would drive a "low boy" trailer used for hauling heavy equipment.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday instead of Monday due to Martin Luther King holiday.
