Riley County Commissioner Ron Wells says he has unfinished business he’d like to complete, a major reason he decided to seek a third term.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, Wells had been advocating for the resumption of funding for the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund, which hadn’t had any money put in it for almost 20 years. The fund is designed to help counties help balance the mill levy and lower property taxes.
“I think that’ll still happen, it’s just going to be a couple year setback depending on how the federal government aids the states on finances. Number two, I have three people now who are interested in helping out with Wildcat Creek flooding by having detention ponds on their property,” he said.
The latter has been an issue Wells has wanted to address for some time. The most recent major flood of Wildcat Creek happened Labor Day weekend in 2018.
Wells also says he believes in the middle of a health crisis and a lot of turnover in different departments, having experienced leadership matters.
“We’re replacing quite a number of department heads and some staff and I just felt there ought to be a little experience left in the county commission, especially for carrying on with hiring three or four new department heads,” he said.
Wells, a Republican from Manhattan is being challenged by former city commissioner John Matta, who says the county has continually seen rising taxes since the late 1990s. Wells says while there are some expenses the county has had to pay for, some of it is out of the county’s control.
“We got stuck with this new radio system in this five to six, seven million dollar range, mandated by the federal government changing the airwaves. The firing range cost a lot more than I thought it would, but it’s necessary and so Riley County’s been saddled with projects and items that really weren’t of their doing,” he said.
In terms of improving services at the county level, Wells maintains the county is making progress with Riley County EMS, moving staff to the Public Works station north of Manhattan to improve the reach into the northern part of the county. Improving facilities becomes a priority into next year.
“We need to get them in better facilities. As we can within the budget, which is going to be keeping our belts tight, that’s the next priority item for Riley County,” he said.
Wells says building a facility in Leonardville isn’t entirely out of the question, but says it would require the commission finding additional funding sources to do so.
Wells was elected to the county commission in 2012 and re-elected in 2016.
You can listen to his full interview with KMAN below.
