By OLIVIA BERGMEIER
Salina Post
The first meeting in 2024 for the Saline County Commission introduced two new proclamations for the community, discussions around roads and bridges in the county, policy revisions, and more.
After a two-week holiday break, four of the five County Commissioners met for their regular Tuesday morning meeting. They approved two proclamations, three American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, grant and fund designations, and multiple Saline County staff needs.
Commissioners present at the meeting included Monte Shadwick, District 1; Chairman Robert Vidricksen, District 2; Rodger Sparks, District 3; and James Weese, District 4. Commissioner of District 5 Joe Hay was absent.
After approving the consent agenda that included the ARPA grants and funding extension, commissioners moved into their action items.
2024 National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
A 2024 National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month proclamation was first on the action items list.
Salina Domestic Violence Association of Central Kansas, DVACK, Sexual Assault Advocate Angela White presented the proclamation to the commission. White told commissioners how human trafficking is the "second-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world."
"Millions of men, women and children are victims of human trafficking," White said. "The U.S. Justice Department has identified Kansas as an originating state for human trafficking, and most trafficking in Kansas involves local children."
White stressed that with a proclamation, the community can be better informed and first responders better prepared to help victims of human trafficking.
The proclamation would join the nationally-established observance that U.S. President Joe Biden signed in January 2023.
Vidricksen asked White if there would be any activities or learning opportunities for the month, to which White told him, "Yes."
The organization plans to have outreach events at Kansas Wesleyan University, among other educational activities.
Weese motioned to approve the proclamation, which Sparks seconded. The motion passed 4-0.
2024 National Stalking Awareness Month Proclamation
DVACK presented another proclamation to commissioners during the meeting — 2024 National Stalking Awareness Month.
Similar to the previous proclamation, Stalking Awareness Month encourages communities to learn about the signs of stalking behavior and ways to help victims receive help.
Establishing the observance for Saline County would also join the rest of the nation in promoting stalking awareness.
DVACK Domestic Violence Advocate Mary Cookson presented the proclamation to commissioners by outlining stalking's tell-tale signs and how to help victims.
"The variation in stalking behaviors ranges from hanging up phone calls to more direct threats toward the victim," Cookson said. "Communities can better combat stalking by raising awareness, adapting multidisciplinary responses by teams of local agencies and organizations and providing more and better victim services."
Cookson said three in four women are killed by an intimate partner who had stalked them previously, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation reports that Saline County filed 176 stalking orders in 2022.
The commission had one question for Cookson: Vidricksen asked if the organization intends to host events to spread awareness.
DVACK plans to visit the 10 counties it serves and present a proclamation to each board of commissioners throughout January, alongside visiting colleges to educate students about the crime.
"I know that your organization provides a very necessary service to our community and surrounding areas," Vidricksen said. "So thank you very much for that."
Weese motioned to approve the proclamation, which Sparks seconded, and the motion passed 4-0.
Other action items
The following action item commissioners approved was a Saline County Road and Bridge bid for new motor graders, a type of construction vehicle used level dirt.
Road and Bridge Administrator Darren Fishel provided options for commissioners, which, after some discussion, the board approved 4-0.
The new machinery costs $640,400, which the Road and Bridge Special Machinery funding pool paid for.
Saline County Engineer Justin Mader presented the next agenda item, a bid award for county aggregate purchases and financing aggregate hauling for roadway repairs and construction.
County commissioners approved the bid contract for $475,000 4-0.
The commission also discussed new policy revisions for the new year alongside new alcohol funds allocation.