Lyon County to pay half of road sealing on fairgrounds
By Brandy Nance (Contact)
Originally published 09:12 a.m., July 31, 2008
Updated 12:04 p.m., July 31, 2008
Lyon County commissioners will help pay for the sealing of roads on the Lyon County Fairgrounds following a vote during this morning’s commission meeting.
Lyon County Engineer Chip Woods said the Fair Board proposed a 50/50 split in the cost of approximately $19,000 to seal the roads.
“The roads need to be sealed,” Woods said.
Commissioners approved the 50/50 split on a 3-0 vote this morning.
Also approved:
• A contract between LexisNexis and Lyon County Court Trustee.
• A resolution rezoning a certain area in Lyon County from agriculture to agriculture single-use single family dwelling by Ronald Redelfs.
• A motion to approve assistant county engineer James Brull attending the AutoCAD 2009 fundamentals five-day course offered by Imaginit Technologies in Wichita from Sept. 22-26 and pay $1,695 in course fees and related expenses from Road & Bridge fund.
• A purchase of office furniture for the Lyon County Clerk of the District Court office in the amount of $6,325. The cost is associated with equipping a new office from scratch in the district court office. When Jeanne Turner retired earlier this year, her position was split into two positions. This caused the need for furniture in the new office. The cost includes all eqiupment needed for an office such as desk, file cabinet, computer and bookcase.
In a meeting with several Lyon County department heads, County Controller Dan Slater said the county has a responsibility to look at the budget closely.
“…Tax payers are not as understanding as Bob (Agler) and I are,” Slater said. “We have to look at these things…”
Judge Merlin Wheeler said the major change in the court’s budget is the legal defense costs. The legal defense costs includes several things including contracts with attorneys to provide legal services for assigned council in conflict cases.
“It is very rare that we have a child in a need of care case that doesn’t have multiple parties involved in it,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler said that portion of the budget is hard to predict.
“We don’t have the luxury of being able to predict what is going to be coming across our doorstep,” He said. “We do recognize that there have been several years in the past 10 years that we have actually underspent our budget amount by five digits. It’s just getting to the point where we don’t have that much freedom anymore.”
Wheeler said 2009's budget is going to be very, very close.
“As the economy goes south, our budget goes up,” he said.
During the meeting, County Attorney Marc Goodman clarified a discussion that took place during Wednesday’s meeting regarding Kansas Legal Services’ request in additional funding. The county had cut $4,000 out of the Kansas Legal Services’ allocation request. Goodman said Wednesday that this could cause Kansas Legal Services to pull out of representing clients who need an attorney appointed to them because they cannot afford one.
Goodman said Ty Wheeler, of Kansas Legal Services, clarified this to him Wednesday afternoon, stating that the money would be used for protection from abuse cases.
“I think in terms of perception of the issue, if someone can’t get counsel for protection of abuse and they turn up dead, we don’t want that sitting on our doorstep,” Goodman said. “It’s certainly an issue of public safety.”
Commissioners opted to put $3,000 back into Kansas Legal Services’ budget, which will restore it to 2007's level of funding.
When it comes to the county’s Road and Bridge budget, Commissioner Bob Davis said it needs more studying.
“This is a deal we are going to have to work on,” Davis said. “There are just so many unknowns.”
“We’ll leave it at what we got but we’ll have to make cuts somewhere,” Woods said. “We’re worried about making this year’s budget because of costs.”
County Controller Dan Slater said the county is about three weeks ahead of them 2009 budgeting process. The deadline a completed budget isn’t until August 25. The county would like to publish the 2009 budget mid-August. They will hold an action session next Thursday to vote on the budget so it can go to publication. They plan on holding the mil levy at a two percent or less increase for 2009.
Comments
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madpoet (anonymous) says...
I can agree with most of these expenses but over $6,000 for office furniture?! What in the world are they getting? There's not that many people in that office, is there? I mean even at $200 per person for a new desk and chair that doesn't add up. Go to Staples like the rest of us and save us taxpayers some money.
July 31, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
poet, where can you buy a chair and desk for 200 dollars?? you going garage saling again?? i do agree 6000 is a bit much.
July 31, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
wow, i apologize, i forgot to use spell/gramatic check.
July 31, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bnance (Brandy Nance) says...
Please see story update as to the justification of the furniture purchase.
Thanks,
Brandy Nance
The Emporia Gazette
July 31, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
$6,000 for office furniture for ONE PERSON and they still cut Kansas Legal Services, an agency that provides legal aid for those who need help with protection from abuse cases among others? Unbelievable!!! A hunk of wood becomes more important than human rights and lives.
I taught for 22 years using the same old junk desk that was in the classroom when I began. I bought my own book cases because the budget was so tight. Oh yeah, I had one two drawer file cabinet with one drawer that kept falling off the track.
No, I haven't read the story update. There is no justification for spending $6,000 on office furniture for one person, especially at a time when we need to be more careful about spending our precious tax money. Even half that amount would have been way too much!!!
July 31, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
You can get a computer desk at Staples for about $200. Sometimes less. A decent chair about $50. Even $300 per person would be like 20 people and I don't think they have that many. Plus if you buy in bulk you usually can get a discount from suppliers. You don't need to "garage sale" to find reasonable prices if you shop around. The courthouse is so overblown with fancy trim etc it's a slap in the face of the taxpayers whose pockets are getting emptied to pay for it.
July 31, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
madpoet (anonymous) says...
I see the what you changed now. What in the world are they buying? A marble topped credenza? A desk, bookshelves, and a computer should be less than $2000. I agree with create. That is totally riduculous for one person. The commissioners need to get their priorities straight! We can afford $10,000 for fireworks (we could just have a fundraiser!) but want to cut Legal Services and police and paramedics. (I read that in the other budget article.) Get real!
July 31, 2008 at 1:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
For whatever reason, the County Commission has trouble saying "No" to county departments in general, and District Court in particular. I suspect that the need for the furniture arose from creating the new Court Administrator position. I agree that when you create new positions, there is cost associated with a new office for that person, a fact that should have been factored into the equation. Although they may want new furniture, in hard times maybe some used furniture in storage (I bet there is plenty of it somewhere) will have to do. Being a commissioner is tough business in tough times. There is tremendous pressure on them to spend money. It is very difficult when someone comes to you with a request to look him/her in the eye and say "No." One fact seems to be ignored by everyone. We have lost, what, 2,000 jobs in Emporia in the last few years, meaning there are fewer businesses and fewer workers with incomes to pay taxes. If this does not get under control soon, we are going to be in real trouble. I feel for our commissioners (both City and County) because they have a hard job right now. Unfortunately, I don't think that it is unreasonable to ask them to do what is best for us and for our future.
July 31, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
When the county moved into the new courthouse in 2002, many departments, including District Court, got all new furniture. I'm betting that the furniture that was in the old courthouse is in storage somewhere. I understand that it may not match the decor, but for now it could work. This is an example of where our local government leaders could be smarter with our money. I have to shake my head when I read articles like this one, when in the same newspaper are articles reporting that those same local leaders argue that we need to raise taxes, all in the face of severe economic trouble.
July 31, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
We need to stop voting in the "business" men type. Someone who has to work for their money and knows how to save a dollar
July 31, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Just for illustrative purposes, if the 1% sales tax is approved, it would take $632,500.00 in local retail sales to pay for District Court's new furniture. If they chose to raise the property tax instead, it would cost 2.6% of 1 mill. Maybe we could do without new furniture right now.
July 31, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
booker5m (anonymous) says...
Got to look good for the outer town crooks that come to court
July 31, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Emporiafan (anonymous) says...
$6000 for office furniture is a lot I agree...but working in an office I can tell you that it is not just a desk and chair....if you are starting in a brand new office than you are looking at a computer, desk, book cases, filing cabinets office supplies etc...and also I work for the federal govt (which is probably like the county) and know that you are not allowed to just walk into Staples to buy your stuff, everything comes from "approved sources" and is usually higher priced which is one of the most ignorant and frustrating rules we have!! Gotta love the goverment!
July 31, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Good example, Emporiafan. That is another area that our local leaders need to explore before raising taxes in these hard times. I don't know, but I bet (just knowing how things are) that there was no bidding on this furniture. With over $6,000.00 in potential sales, they could get the benefit of competition, and thereby saving us money. Of course, that begs the question of whether we could get by without buying anything new.
July 31, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Because of our community's financial trouble and a pending tax increase, we are all paying more attention than normally to how our money is being spent. It makes me wonder how many of these situations (District Court paying $6,000.00 for furniture) have occurred in county and city government over even the last year than none of us noticed. Unfortunately, it is obvious that we cannot depend on Department Heads to look out for us (they become hogs at the trough) and apparently our elected leaders keep the trough full, all the while letting us pay for it. In the good times, we can accept that. But not in the bad.
July 31, 2008 at 3:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sadinemporia (anonymous) says...
You all would be surprised how much the county dishes out on non-essentials...ie...new furniture! Also, I'm curious, isn't the new court administrator a state funded position...why is the county responsible for paying for the furniture?
July 31, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stevo (anonymous) says...
Just another fine example of our county commisioners... spend but say we have to cut the budget...They must not have a budget in their own household!! $6000 on furniture!!! Get real... 1/3 of that would of been plenty... Couldn't find any good used furniture in that good old courthouse that would of worked...It may have needed cleaned...Is our Dist. Clerk only going to sit on the job at that desk? I never knew Jeanne Turner of just sitting all day... And did we need to put more money into the Fair Grounds?? When only used for special events? Maybe Bob Davis should have thought about selling the County some of his Marble and Granite and he could of made several Thousand and we could of spent more thousands of making into a desk...Bob, You missed that One.. for all the other things you have been able slide by and get done on our money with deer trail, extension office, paving the extension lot, what next ?? I would like for the gazette to print the salaries that we pay the city and county officials (manager, mayor and commisioners) and than print the pay that we give the city and county workers. and compare the little bit of so called salary we give the firefighters/EMT that work 24 hour shifts... jepordizing their lives. Than we can talk about budget...... I vote for ALL NEW CITY AND COUNTY LEADERS... GET YOUR PRIORITIES ON THE RIGHT TRACK AND YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE DIRT....
July 31, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jmb232 (anonymous) says...
Isn't the Distric Court under the State now? Why is the county funding their furniture? I can understand having to furnish office space in the courthouse but when the courts when under the District Court system I understood they are state funded. Aren't the employees state employees......jb
August 1, 2008 at 12:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
jmb232: When the Judicial Unification Act went into effect in 1977, it dissolved all of the old county and probate courts, merging them into a single system. The trial level (District Court) is comprised of state employees who are "reverse tenants" in courthouses throughout the state. I call them reverse tenants because they pay nothing for the use of the courthouse, and have everything (except salaries) paid by the local county. For example, telephones, furniture, office supplies, postage, etc., are all paid locally. They each have a budget just like other county departments. There are some quirky aspects to it because most judicial districts are multi-county (ours include Chase and Lyon) and each county contributes to the district budget, but the county commission from the most populated county sets the budget. It is an unusual situation.
August 1, 2008 at 12:44 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dhcc66 (anonymous) says...
i know what happened....they probably had to "Shop Emporia First!"...thats why the cost was so high.
August 1, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
Touche, dhcc66.
August 1, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )