The Humboldt Union is Allen County’s official newspaper this year.
Commissioners, on a split vote, designated the Union to publish legal notices under an approach that will have it and the Iola Register rotate annually as the official newspaper. The Register has held the designation for decades.
Dick Works, who made the motion, said his intention was to “spread around” money spent on legal publications and “to save (the county) money.”
Cliff Ralstin, Humboldt publisher, was unable to say definitely Tuesday morning what his rate was; “Kim (his wife) takes care of that,” he said. The Register later learned the Union rate is $5.50 per column inch, the Register’s is $8.40. The Register’s circulation, five days a week, is 3,634, about six times greater than the once-a-week publication of the Union.
Rob Francis seconded Works’ motion; Gary McIntosh voted against its passage.
Meanwhile, Francis, before action was taken, said some arrangement might be made for dual publication of legal notices. That didn’t go to formal action, but Works and McIntosh, after Francis left the meeting early, said they would favorably consider publishing in both newspapers this year, provided the Register was willing to accept the Union’s rate.
That’s a concession, Works noted, that would cost the county more than it would pay if the Register were the only venue.
McIntosh confirmed, in response to a Register query Tuesday afternoon, dual publication at the Union’s rate was “our consensus,” although he pointed out no formal action was taken.
“It was frustrating for me,” he added. If there were to be such an arrangement for dual publication, “it should have been worked out before we voted.”
“Our obligation is to publish” legal notices, Works said. “If people want to find (a legal notice), it will be out there.”
Ralstin said the Union had a website. However, a thorough search of the Internet Tuesday afternoon failed to produce one.
Susan Lynn, Register editor and publisher, said she would take up the county’s offer to publish at the Union’s rate.
“It’s not much difference in price when you consider we have published legals in an 8-point font size, and the Union’s are a 10-point size,” she said. “In order for us to still profit from this, we’ll change to the Union’s type size.
“The important thing is the Register has a much greater reach and frequency of publication, providing people greater access to this type of news,” she said.
“It was a slap in the face to lose the designation,” Lynn said. “The Register is the only newspaper in the county that regularly covers county commission meetings and makes an effort to get their activities known.
