Saline County Commissioners tackled a variety of agenda items during their meeting Tuesday morning.
Following are highlights from the meeting as provided by Saline County.
Commissioners declared January 2020 as both National Stalking Awareness month and National Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness month with presentations of the proclamations by staff from the Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas (DVACK).
Commissioners approved for Rural Fire District No. 5 to proceed with the bid process for the purchase of a new pumper/tanker for the district. They intend of purchasing an apparatus with a 2,000 gallon tank capacity with a larger pump that will also aid in their department rating to assist homeowners with their insurance rates.
Commissioners approved the acceptance of the 2019 Emergency Management Performance Grant in the amount of $33,303. This grant has been received by the department for several years and aids in the ability for Saline County to enhance and sustain its emergency management program.
Commissioners voted to approve the purchase of three new Caterpillar Model 150 motor graders from Foley Equipment. The total amount of this purchase is $819,297. The Road and Bridge Department will be returning three 2015 John Deere 770GP motor graders and will receive $488,220 back to aid in the purchase of these new machines.
Darren Fishel, Road and Bridge director, provided his fourth quarter report on the activities of the department. The department is currently working with the Kansas Division of Emergency Management in regards to the FEMA reimbursement from the flooding events in 2019. The reimburseable amount is approximately $750,000. The department still has several steps to proceed through before that reimbursement is received. Several tasks were completed in this last quarter to include 25 culvert replacements, building of two Lego style box culverts, rebuilding of five sections of roadway from flood damage, and other routine items.
Commissioners approved a resolution that reviewed the County Commission Districts to update precinct and township locations as well as ensuring that each Commission District was as compact and equal in population as possible to comply with state statutes.
Saline County receives a portion of funds derived from the gross receipts tax on alcohol in the unincorporated areas of Saline County. These funds are divided through a formula between the General Fund and two special revenue funds: a Special Alcohol Fund from which the proceeds must be used to support services or programs whose principal purpose is alcoholism and drug abuse prevention and education, alcohol and drug detoxification, intervention in alcohol and drug abuse or treatment; and a Special Parks & Recreation fund where the proceeds must be used to support the purchase, establishment, maintenance or expansion of park and recreational services, programs and facilities. Every other year, Saline County solicits applications from agencies seeking to use these funds for their designated purposes. Applications were received and reviewed in 2019 and a small committee comprised of the county administrator and two county commissioners made the recommendation for 2020 allocations to the following organizations.
Special Alcohol Fund
DARE & GREAT $4,473.04
Central Kansas Foundation $1,750.32
Friends of Recovery $1,750.32
Ashby House $1,750.32
Kansas Wesleyan University $2,800.00
28th Judicial Community Corrections $4,807.00
Special Parks & Recreation Fund
ARC of Saline County $1,879.25
4-H Council $1,879.25
Assaria Youth $1,879.25
City of Gypsum $1,879.25
The re-organizational meeting of the county commissioners will be next week. Commissioners will be instituting some changes to include a consent agenda and elimination of their second meeting, after passing a charter resolution and waiting the 60-day period for it to go into effect.
Jan. 30 at 7 p.m. has been set for the next Town Hall meeting concerning the Saline County Jail project. Some final details are being worked out and additional notifications will be made once those are finalized.
Phillip Smith-Hanes, county administrator, reported to the commissioners on the correspondence he received from the Salina city manager in regard to the Livestock & Expo Center lease. The city commission will begin working on a more detailed proposal for the county commissioners consideration. With the upcoming commission schedule and the holiday, it might be a few weeks until the county receives further information from the city.