Commission approves coroner-services contract and several routine motions
Summary
The Riley County commission approved a contract for coroner services with Dr. David Dupey (3.8% increase over prior payments) and passed routine motions including tax-roll correction, payroll/accounts-payable, and travel/hiring approvals; most votes were taken by voice and recorded as 'Aye.'
The board approved a one-year contract for coroner services with Dr. David Dupey after Michael Hawthorne, assistant county counselor, said the negotiated contract would increase total compensation by $1,720 (about a 3.8% increase compared with the prior provider) and include a cost-of-living adjustment only if a county-wide employee COLA is authorized.
Motion and vote: A commissioner moved to approve the agreement for coroner services with David Dupey Medical Consulting; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote ('Aye'). The counselor said the county must have a coroner and noted Dupey's experience as Saline County coroner (S2).
Votes at a glance (items approved during the meeting):
- Official deposit list: motion made and approved by voice vote (SEG 066–076).
- Tax-roll correction (classification change due to agricultural use): motion made and approved by voice vote (SEG 083–117).
- Payroll/accounts payable: motion made and approved by voice vote (SEG 209–215).
- Request to refill fiscal-analyst position for Riley County Health Department: motion made and approved by voice vote (SEG 1264–1314).
- Out-of-state travel for health-department staff to attend the National Drug Endangered Children conference (Las Vegas, NV): approved by voice vote (SEG 1344–1353).
- Coroner services agreement with David Dupey Medical Consulting: approved by voice vote (SEG 2073–2079).
Why it matters: The coroner contract formalizes the county's required medicolegal services and increases compensation modestly; the other items are routine operational approvals that restore staff capacity, authorize required training travel and maintain fiscal operations.
Quote from the meeting:
"Doctor Dupey was appointed at the December to be Riley County's new coroner," Michael Hawthorne said when presenting the contract (S2).
Procedural note: Most actions were approved by voice vote with commissioners responding 'Aye'; the transcript does not contain a roll-call tally for each vote. If a detailed roll call is required for record-keeping, that should be obtained from meeting minutes.
