Staff writer
Each county employee who worked at least 500 hours during 2016 will receive a $150 year-end bonus, costing the county a total of $24,450.
A total of 163 employees will get bonuses. Among them are 50 from Emergency Medical Services. In the past, EMS employees did not receive annual bonuses.
Commissioners also voted unanimously Friday to approve a proposal to combine Marion and McPherson County extension offices. Before the merger takes place, McPherson County will have to approve a similar measure.
Commissioners also met behind closed doors with attorney Susan Robson regarding employee matters, and then discussed her proposal to continue doing legal work for the county at $1,500 per month after stepping down as county attorney.
She would handle civil matters on behalf of the county rather than criminal matters.
Commissioners declined to make a decision Friday, but approved her proposal Tuesday, limiting it to the month of January only.
The county is conducting a tax foreclosure sale and working on legal technicalities connected to replacing an eroded roadway.
Commissioner-elect Dianne Novak questioned a prior decision to allow property Shane Rives to pay for improvements on a dirt road — Limestone Rd. between 80th Rd. and US-50 —that he uses to get to and from his property.
She said she didn’t understand why the resident should have to pay out of his pocket for a county road.
Dallke responded that the resident had come to a meeting and offered to pay for the work.
Novak also asked why the county didn’t collect penalties and fines from farmers and others causing road damage by encroaching upon county right of way.
Commissioners also voted 2-0 to abandon a platted street, never constructed, southeast of Aulne at the request of landowner Terry Olson, who farms on both sides of the land and wants to farm the set-aside portion as well
Commissioners last week discussed tire disposal options and roadside waste collection with weed and sanitation director Bud Druse. Holub said the county should evaluate whether the practice of driving around looking for trash in ditches is cost effective or the county should go check out complaints instead.