Serene hired as county health administrator
Commission approves agreement in continuing landfill closing process
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission hired a new county health administrator Monday following an executive session at the end of the weekly meeting.
Deidre Serene of Hillsboro has accepted the position to replace Jan Moffitt, who recently resigned.
Serene was the county health administrator 15 to 20 years ago, said Carol Maggard, county clerk.
Serene, whose first day was Monday, will work 1,040 hours per year at a wage of $18 per hour. Full-time hours total 1,950 per year.
The commission finalized a settlement agreement and mutual release pertaining to the county landfill.
Following a 10-minute executive session with special attorney Steve Pigg, the commission approved the documents.
"The issue is out of court and into the next phase in closing the landfill," commission chairman Leroy Wetta said.
The commission will be in contact with the engineer and consultant to become compliant with Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
A lease for three new motor graders was approved by the commission.
Each motor grader costs $181,600 out-right. The monthly lease payment will be $1,834 per grader for 60 months at a fixed interest rate of 3.75 percent. A balloon payment of $30,000 per grader will be due at the end of the lease period.
Commissioner Howard Collett was concerned about the rotation process of the equipment.
"We're getting rid of three better graders," Collett said. "How are we going to cycle out the older ones?"
Gerald Kelsey, road and bridge superintendent, said his department will purchase graders in the years that payments are being made on the lease.
According to Foley Tractor representative Jerry May, eventually the county will increase the trade-in value of the leased graders to be able to purchase a grader outright.
The equipment will carry a full warranty throughout the lease contract time period.
Wetta distributed a memo to Kelsey and commission members. Wetta read the memo saying "road and bridge has been forced to work within the budget."
A shortened cycle of the rotation of chip and sealing roads needs to be considered, said Wetta.
Also in the memo were ideas for Kelsey to maintain overlaid roads and the need for long range planning.
Discussion followed regarding available funds for road improvements. Currently $7,000 is in the budget for chip and seal materials with $80,000 encumbered for buildex road material. There is $188,000 in the chip and seal fund.
It was determined 50 miles of road needs to be overlayed per year.
Area fuel bids were opened and awarded. Cardie Oil Company received two bids totaling $3,321 and Cooperative Grain and Supply received two bids totaling $4,104.
In other business:
— County clerk Carol Maggard distributed information pertaining to suggested wages for a county economic development position. The League of Kansas Municipalities provided the information to the commission per the submission of a position description. The information will be discussed at a later meeting.
— An employee wage list, with the recent two percent pay increase, was distributed to the commission.
— A tree planting ceremony was held to commemorate sesquicentennial, the 150th anniversary of Kansas territory being established.
— The commission approved $724,295 for monthly payments of payroll and vouchers. A payment of $76,000 was approved for buildex materials.
— Sales tax revenue for February was higher than previous years totaling $33,702. The revenue is ahead by $23,677 compared to same time last year.
— The commission gave approval to Kelsey to hire a materials hauler at $1.25 per mile to haul 1,020 cubic yards of materials.
— A fair housing policy was adopted by the commission per the requirements for the county microloan grant.
— Maggard distributed information from Dale Snelling, Marion County Park and Lake director. He received information from Kansas Wildlife and Parks regarding new policies. Snelling and county attorney Susan Robson will be on the commission agenda Monday to discuss the issue.
— Maggard updated the commission regarding encumbered funds totaling $220,858. Road and bridge has $160,000 encumbered for buildex materials and a new oil distributor.
— Maggard requested a 10-minute executive session for personnel issues. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
