By KATHY HAGEMAN
Dickinson County public information coordinator
Dickinson County employees are getting some extra help to deal with the rising cost of fuel, groceries and other increasing prices.
County commissioners, during the June 23 meeting, approved a two percent mid-year pay adjustment for employees, effective July 1. The increase will impact the existing budget by $128,000.
County Administrator Brad Homman said this is a step some other counties and cities have done due to the tremendous increases in the cost of products.
“We were talking about either a one-time stipend or a slight pay increase in the middle of the year taken from the existing budget,” Homman said. “We’re doing this to help our staff out through a period of hyperinflation we’ve never seen before in our lives.”
Homman said elected officials and department heads keep a good eye on their budgets and staff is confident the money is available in the existing budget.
Commission Chairman Lynn Peterson noted the pay adjustment is part of a regularly planned increase that would have started in January 2023.
“This money will be taken off what will be approved for Jan. 1 of the upcoming year. We’re just giving it a little early. Otherwise it, would be given at the beginning of the year,” Homman said.
Peterson commented that businesses often plan on giving wage increases that take effect at the first of the year or on an employee’s hiring anniversary.
“The pay increase would have occurred the first of the year. But because we have enough money set aside, it seemed like an appropriate time to consider this,” Peterson said.
Homman thanked the commission on behalf of county employees and Peterson responded that employees are a “great asset” for the county.
“The training that takes place, the skill set they have, it’s important we have employee retention and an attractive place for people to work,” Peterson said.
Delinquent property list
County Counselor Doug Thompson said 168 properties are on the next sale of properties with delinquent taxes. In comparison, only 34 properties were sold during the delinquent tax sale earlier this year. The spike is because no tax sale was held in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so several years are included.
Thompson said information already has been sent out to the two local title companies to do title searches, but he is hopeful affected people will get caught up on their taxes before the properties go into foreclosure.
Other
●The 1510 Rain Road Bridge is nearly complete, but recent rains caused a new problem. Homman said the ground on the south side of the bridge was very wet, causing equipment to sink into the ground. However, the county’s road and bridge department was able to bring in rock so the ground would hold.
“The fact that we put the rock in, with compaction, there will be no extra cost. They (the contractor) said Dickinson County always helps them out,” Homman said.
The rain also delayed building the bridge approaches, but the hope was that guard rails would be installed soon so the bridge could reopen.
●Commissioners reviewed a draft resolution regarding placing the question of liquor by the individual drink on the November general election ballot. They are expected to approve the resolution during the June 30 meeting.
●Heard from Homman that commissioners will receive a resolution June 30 setting a minimum bond amount for township treasurers.
●Homman said railroad officials had been contacted about a car derailment by Sand Springs, but they were dealing with a 43-car derailment near Lawrence that would take weeks to clean up. So, the local derailment would have to wait.
●Homman said he is working with Herington and Solomon school districts regarding a child care project. More information will be presented to commissioners at a future meeting.
●The commission approved change orders 113 to 136 for the courthouse renovation project, amounting to $192,000. Homman said this was a “housekeeping” item since the commission was informed of the changes as they occurred. Some of the items include solar shades for the front entrance and Treasurer Leah Hern’s office, a door for a judge’s chamber, a three-way light switch and other items.
●The commission approved an application for property tax relief for a property at 1690 3100 Ave., owned by Mathew and Gaea Hock. The house was destroyed by fire on March 22. State legislation gives counties the ability to grant property tax relief due to the severity of damage and/or total loss.
Since the damage occurred before August 2022, the commission has the authority to forgive property taxes.
“Essentially you are forgiving the property taxes for this year, giving them time to regroup and rebuild their home,” Homman said.