Lyon County is buying the Deer Trail Implement building at 2632 W. Highway 50. This morning, Lyon County commissioners approved the purchase for $345,000.
“We’re not buying the dealership,” Miller said. “We’re buying the building and the land out there.”
Deer Trail Implement has a new building under construction just outside Emporia.
An environmental study of the area likely will be done.
“I think for our own safety, we need to do that,” Commissioner Bob Davis said. “It’s not that expensive. It’ll just be some test holes.”
Miller said the building may be used for a bus barn and the front of the building could be used for meeting rooms. For now, the plan is to keep the property separate from the adjoining Lyon County Fairgrounds.
Lyon County commissioners also approved the purchase of a dual-purpose police dog “Torro” for the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office during today’s county commission meeting.
Torro will replace Sarge, the service dog handled by Deputy Cory Doudican. Sarge has been suffering from a lame left foreleg following a jump he made from the rear of a semi-tractor trailer. Miller said Sarge likely still will be used as a demonstration dog as well as going to schools to search for drugs. During Sarge’s tenure with the sheriff’s office, he tracked down 14 felony suspects and apprehended four suspects that posed a threat to law enforcement officers and the public. Sarge also located a missing child and assisted in seizing numerous drugs.
Also during today’s meeting commissioners:
• Authorized the clerk to sign certificate of appropriation to the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas regarding 2007 budget years.
• Accepted resignation of Janet Bathurst at North Lyon County Senior Center representative to LCCOA Advisory Board and appoint Ginny Graham of Reading as new representative from North Lyon County •enior Center.
• Authorized Commission Chairman Marshall Miller to sign “Guide to Written Administrative Procedures” for Lyon County Floodplain Management Regulations.
• Authorized Miller to sign highway safety agreement between the Kansas Department of Transportation and Lyon County in the amount of $4,000 for exercises such as the November holiday DUI and seat belt checks, February child passenger seat checks, Click it or Ticket and You Drink, You Drive, You lose.
• Authorized the purchase of a 2007 motor grader with a five-year, 5,000 hour full warranty included for $119,660.
• Authorized contractor’s application for payment number four in the amount of $43,847.10 to Markowitz Builders Inc. for 402 Annex remodel project.
• County Appraiser Gary Post brought in information about a drug card program offered by the National Association of Counties, which is a discount drug card program offered by counties. This drug card can be handed out to anyone, providing a convenient way to supply a level of prescription drug coverage to county residents.
“There’s no expense to the county,” Post said. “It’s a direct benefit to Lyon County.”
Post said he would look further into the card program and report back to commissioners in a couple of weeks.