“This is a good day to talk about this” said Representative of the 66th District, Sydney Carlin jokingly, as it pounded down rain Thursday morning while three legislators and Riley County Commissioners discussed flood management.
County Commissioner, Dave Lewis spoke largely on the subject, as he lives in an area where flood insurance has become a large concern. He mentioned some of his neighbors could be paying around $4,000-$5,000 every year in flood insurance.
This legislative delegation breakfast was held prior to the county commission meeting that day. Besides Representative Carlin, Representative of the 67th District, Tom Phillips and Senator, Tom Hawk attended the discussion. Several county department heads were also in attendance.
When asked about the upcoming legislative session, Representative Phillips said he believes taxes will be a major topic discussed in the statehouse. “In real estate, they always say ‘location, location, location’, but next year I think it will be ‘tax policy, tax policy, tax policy’ “, Phillips commented.
Several other topics were brought up, including medicare, the autism bill, mental and public health funding, bio-science funds, and the debt ratio.
Once the breakfast concluded, commissioners mentioned how grateful they are for the relationships with each of the legislators, and were glad the legislators have relationships with department heads as well.
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Planning and Special Projects Director, Monty Wedel facilitated a public hearing for the 2014 solid waste management plan. After closing the hearing, the commission approved the item unanimously.
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Day two of budget requests began that afternoon, with Pawnee Mental Health Services, Robbin Cole.
Other department heads and outside agencies made their 2015 appropriation requests, including- Appraiser, Greg McHenry; Flint Hills Veterans Coalition members, Mike Kearns and Dave Ekart; aTa Bus Director, Anne Smith and Interim IT/GIS Director, Dawn Shoffner.
