McPherson County Commission Meeting 8/12/24 Highlights
By Lucky Kidd
McPHERSON COUNTY, Kan. — McPherson County Clerk Hollie Melroy brought recommendations on the 30 provisional ballots cast in last week’s election to the County Commission Monday, recommending 21 of those ballots be counted in full, and three others be counted in part, these involving people who moved within the county in the 30-day period prior to the election.
Of the six provisional ballots not counted, four were from persons not registered and two others who moved into the county but were still registered elsewhere. The vote canvass will take place next Monday.
Commissioners approved cell phone allowances requested by Sheriff Jerry Montagne for two of his deputies. As part of a weekly report Montagne said as of Monday they were housing 44 people in the jail, of which three are female and eight are being held for municipal courts. 15 arrests were made by deputies last week. Commissioners also approved the hiring of two corrections deputies, which Jail Captain Arlo Blevins said will bring them within one person of being full staff.
Two air conditioning replacement projects were approved. One project involved replacement of rooftop HVAC units above some offices at the law enforcement center, on which Callabresi Heating and Cooling had the lowest bid that met specs at $16,595. Jim’s Plumbing and Heating had the low of two bids to replace the air conditioning system for the office and breakroom area of Building B at the Public Works facility. This is to replace a 1965 model unit on which there is a bad valve on a compressor which cannot be replaced.
County Administrator Rick Witte told County Commissioners Monday there will be changes in health insurance coverage for the coming year. Witte met with Blue Cross/Blue Shield representatives last week, and he indicated there will likely be some changes in deductibles for some employees who have low deductibles this year, and adjustments will likely be made on co-pays for specialist office visits and on some prescription charges.
The goal of all this is to keep premiums where they are currently at, with the final renewal cost expected to come in in mid-September.
