Marion County Commission approves $2.29 million payroll, signs invoices; discusses improvement-district bookkeeping and fees

The Marion County Commission approved a payroll and accounts-payable package totaling $2,291,886.35 and signed several individual invoices, and commissioners discussed whether the County should continue providing bookkeeping services for improvement districts or begin charging for that work.

The payroll and invoice package passed on a voice vote. Commissioners approved an invoice for Elcon Properties for $1,500 and two invoices to Western Associates totaling $495.45, and they approved the minutes of Jan. 27. The packet also included a sales-tax line showing $79,002.42 and $0.72. "Okay. I apologize. Sales tax was not in there. So we do have sales tax of $79,002.42 and 72¢," a county staff member said while presenting the claims.

The commission also heard staff explain the county's role in paying certain improvement-district and fire-district obligations. "The County Clerk's Office has been the bookkeeper for, previously, for 2 fire districts and then all of the improvement districts in the county. And so, it's their money, not the county's money, but the clerk's office does that, pays the bills," a staff speaker said. Commissioners discussed whether the clerk's office should continue that bookkeeping, whether the county could assess a fee for those services, and whether doing so would cause those districts to raise rates to cover the new charge. "You know, the clerk's office does quite a bit of work for them ... it seems like there ought to be a value there," one commissioner said.

Commissioners asked staff to gather background information before a follow-up meeting. At one point a commissioner asked for more context before a Monday meeting; a staff member agreed to provide additional information. The payroll approval and invoice motions were made, seconded and approved by the board with no recorded dissent.

The meeting packet also contained line items noted by commissioners: a $6,000 allocation for the Marion Advancement Campaign (described as a budgeted food-bank donation) and an insurance line related to the county health department's new building. A KDHE loan payment for Improvement District 2's water tower loan was included in the claims list and discussed as an example of improvement-district obligations that appear on the county's payday list.

The commission closed the item after unanimous voice approval of the claims and minutes.

Votes at a glance: - Approve invoice: Elcon Properties — $1,500 — motion seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote). - Approve invoice(s): Western Associates — $495.45 — motion seconded; outcome: approved (recorded as Aye, 4–0). - Approve payroll/payday package — $2,291,886.35 — motion seconded; outcome: approved (recorded as Aye, 4–0). - Approve minutes of Jan. 27 — motion seconded; outcome: approved (recorded as Aye, 4–0).

Commission discussion items noted additional follow-up: staff were asked to check whether improvement districts want the county to continue bookkeeping and to report options and costs for shifting bookkeeping away from the clerk's office or applying a fee to those entities.