Jerry Daniels, chairman of the Allen County Commission, has missed the last two commission meetings supposedly because of a conflict with his new job.
If this continues, Daniels should resign as a commissioner.
The commission typically meets for a couple of hours on Tuesday mornings, beginning at 8:30.
With a commission of only three members, each one’s presence takes on added importance.
If Daniels is loath to resign, the Register proposes two options.
The first is to change the time of commission meetings to an evening. Daniels, after all, is not the only person whose employment poses a conflict with commission meetings. Perhaps changing the meeting time would also attract more candidates to run for the four-year terms.
Another bonus is that more would be free to attend commission meetings. A handful of concerned citizens regularly attends Iola council meetings. If something contentious is on tap, say chicken coops, then the meetings can draw large crowds.
The other alternative is to hire a county manager, much like Iola’s city administrator, to do the heavy lifting. We’re talking about a $13 million budget, after all.
As commission members come and go, an administrator also lends the body stability, and, over time, valuable history.
Switching to a county manager also could be a savings.
While the Register believes public servants should be rewarded for their contributions, commissioners’ compensation borders on generous.
Commissioners are paid $20,592 a year, receive health insurance worth another $850 a month, and are enrolled in the state’s pension program, KPERS.
The salary for a full-time manager would likely be less than what we currently pay commissioners and no politics would be involved with his or her appointment.
The switch of management style would then trigger a re-evaluation of how commissioners are compensated.
IT’S UP TO commissioners to decide the best path.The status quo is down the wrong road.
— Susan Lynn
