After three years without an increase in compensation, Allen County commissioners voted Tuesday morning to give employees a 3.6 percent cost-of-living raise.
Noting that employees had been long-suffering financially, Commissioner Gary McIntosh made the motion, seconded by Rob Francis and made unanimous by Dick Works.
Commissioners said they would review county finances in April, after provision of health insurance was decided, and then might consider merit raises.
In another money matter, commissioners said they wouldn’t financially support the Allen County Animal Rescue Facility. Ray Shannon, an ACARF advocate, had sought a $50,000 grant a week ago.
McIntosh, who has forfeited health insurance benefits to the tune of $800 or $1,000 a month the first three years of his term and will again this year, proposed one-year $1,000-a-month support of ACARF. He noted that would be about what the county saved through his insurance decision.
His motion died for lack of a second.
“I’m hesitant to (second the motion) because 100 percent of the calls I’ve received from constituents were opposed,” Francis said.
Works noted similar experience. He said 85 percent of calls he had received since ACARF opened were opposed to county financial support, and “100 percent since last week.”
“I think citizens should step up,” Francis said.
Commissioners approved an expenditure of about $1,400 to buy 45 signature uniform shirts for 911 dispatchers and $4,900 for four computers from Advantage Computer Enterprises, one each for the appraiser’s office and maintenance department and two for the county clerk’s office.
They also approved contract renewal of $5,147 with R&S Digital, Great Bend, for appraisal mapping services, and OK’d purchase of a shop welder for the department of Public Works for the lower bid of $5,990.40 from Iola Auto Parts.
CLIFF RALSTIN, publisher of the Humboldt Union, asked that his newspaper be considered for publication of legal and other county notices.
The Register has been the county’s official newspaper for decades, and as such has published all paid notices.
Ralstin said his newspaper had weekly circulation of 1,000 and was growing, noting he had distribution outlets in Iola, Moran and Chanute.
