County: Work force center provides free services
Staff reporter
Marion County Commission learned about free services available to them and county residents through the Kansas Department of Commerce.
Susan Nickerson, KDOC field representative, informed the commission Monday there were 25 work force centers in the area, with the closest one located in Newton.
Services provided by the Newton office are job placement services which include assistance with resumes, interview tips, and other aids for those seeking employment; employee recruiting services which assist businesses with job descriptions and employee searches; and job development with assessments, testing, and screening available.
Nickerson said better workers and better jobs improves economic development.
Grant funds are available for employers through Kansas Industrial Training (KIT) program. Funds for training of new employees and retraining of current employees for new equipment are among the uses available through the program, Nickerson said.
Commission Chairman Dan Holub asked if the county's EMS program could be included in the grant program. Nickerson said she would check.
In other business:
— Following a 15-minute and additional five-minute executive sessions between county zoning administrator Bobbi Strait and the commission to discuss personnel, the commission decided to submit a job description for an assistant for Strait to the county's classification committee for consideration.
— Court room security issues will be discussed at a meeting Nov. 1 at Geary County Courthouse. Cecil Aska of the Eighth Judicial District, encouraged commissioners to attend the meeting. Federal mandates will require specific security precautions in court rooms.
— The commission approved $297 for a clock in the court room. Funds will be used from the general fund.
— County clerk Carol Maggard announced the county's assessed valuation had increased since July. Current valuations total 99,619,045, which raised the mill levy from 98,500 to 99,619.
— Space issues in the computer room were discussed. Costs to move an air conditioning unit may be prohibitive to make room for a rack to house new equipment. Maggard said she would try to determine a way for everything to fit without moving the air conditioning unit. She also will check with local contractors for cost estimates.
— Rollin Schmidt, hazardous household waste director, reported there were 154 participants when his department provided mobile pickup of household items. This also included 357.5 pounds of poisons (pesticides, insecticides, and lead paint) being collected.
As noxious weed director, Schmidt reported his department has completed the spraying of bindweed on roadsides. He plans to do musk thistle control at the former landfill.
— Holub requested and received a 15-minute executive session with county EMS director Darryl Thiesen. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
— Holub requested and received a five-minute executive session to discuss personnel. The meeting reconvened with no decisions.
The next meeting is at 9 a.m. Monday in the courthouse.
