The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office tactical team could get better sights for their rifles following a discussion during Wednesday’s Lyon County Commission meeting.
Gary Eichorn, Lyon County sheriff, talked about the purchase of the rifle sights and using up to $5,000 from drug forfeiture money to purchase the equipment. Tactical team members use metal sights on the equipment they have right now.
Eichorn said the new sights are larger by about 1 1/2 inches and will allow tactical team members to see day or night.
“They are much speedier,” Eichorn told commissioners. “When you see the military on TV and stuff, they have those sights.”
County Commission Chairman Marshall Miller said, “I suppose if you get into a gun fight it would be nice to have (that) equipment.”
Commissioners placed the purchase under “other business” on today’s action session agenda.
Commissioners also discussed an agreement between Lyon County and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to clean an illegal dump site in Lyon County. KDHE has agreed to pay up to $10,000. The dump consists of solid waste dumped in an old silo.
Commissioners discussed the possibility of collapsing the silo when clean-up is complete. They would have to have permission from the landowner to collapse it.
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods said he could send the landowner, who lives in Topeka, a letter asking for permission if the county cleans the dump site. Lyon County cannot force a landowner to tear down the silo unless a court order has been granted, said County Counselor Michael Halleran.
Other items addressed during Wednesday’s commission meeting:
F Commissioners discussed a text change in Lyon County zoning regulations, which has been approved by the Lyon County Planning and Appeals Board. The text change states that before board approval of a cell phone tower request, the state’s Historical Preservation office has to have agreed in writing. Commissioners voted on the item today.
F Commissioners discussed a resolution informing the public of their intention to raise additional tax money in 2008. While the board is not bound by the taxing resolution, it is required anytime more taxes are expected. “If we raise one more dollar in tax money in 2008 then we have to notify the public,” Miller said. “I don’t foresee that we can fund the ’08 budget with less taxes at this point.”
F Commissioners discussed a request by the Kansas Collaborative to be a pilot county for the Geographic Information Systems Inventory Project. The goal the Kansas Collaborative is to build a statewide, Web-based inventory of who has what GIS data layers. The item was moved to today’s action agenda.