Marion County employees receive 3 percent cost of living raise
Marion County employees received a three percent raise Monday.
A two percent cost of living raise had been budgeted for the employees but county clerk Carol Maggard had requested an additional one percent raise.
Employees received a one percent raise in 2004 and did not receive any pay increase in 2003.
"We've got some good employees," said commission chairman Bob Hein. "School districts and cities have given the same and higher merit raises and I think the employees deserve a raise."
Permanent part-time employees who work 999 hours and less will receive a 22 cent per hour raise.
The raise will be effective as of July 1.
In other business:
— Clarification was made regarding the county's neighborhood revitalization program.
It was determined that an addendum should be made to the plan to explain that property owners within a city or other entity that has decided not to participate in the plan, still can participate.
When an entity opts out, it means the entity will not allow a rebate of property taxes for improvements from its portion. It does not mean property owners within that district or municipality cannot participate.
— Since a county appraiser has not yet been hired, there are some concerns regarding completing necessary requirements for lot splits, reported Maggard.
There might be a possibility of sharing an appraiser with another county. The statute allows that if the total parcels from both counties do not exceed 25,000. The commission said they thought Marion County's parcel count was 12,000.
Maggard was instructed to research the options.
— Dale Snelling, county lake superintendent, and Lin Slifer, county lake resident, presented plans for a boat dock.
County regulations allow a wooden, 25x25-foot dock. The proposed dock would be made from aluminum or galvanized steel, larger in size, and the boat slip would be covered so the boat could be stored there year-round.
It would be located in a cove near the owner's home.
Snelling said docks are allowed on the shoreline and must be 500 feet apart. Also, since it is a public lake, docks are available for the public to use. The public has to allow the owners to use the docks when requested.
Commissioner Randy Dallke said he was concerned about the dock being enclosed and affecting the view of the lake.
The commission will review the information and make a decision at a later date.
— Snelling also reported lake revenue thus far in 2005. There was $9,906 collected in camping fees, compared to $9,282 in the same time frame in 2004.
Over the July 4 weekend, Snelling reported 51 campers. Compared with other years, there were 51 in 2001, 72 in 2002, 67 in 2003, and 59 in 2004.
— Ty Wheeler of Kansas Legal Services, requested $2,500, which is the same amount of financial support from the county as requested and received in previous years.
— Bill Smithhart, county noxious weed and hazardous household waste director, reported 35 people had participated Saturday at Goessel during a hazardous household pickup.
Commission Dan Holub requested and received a 10-minute executive session with Smithhart to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
