By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Before leaving his spot on the Barton County Commission, Kirby Krier proposed a pair of resolutions to the body regarding the timeline of when the county allocates funds to other agencies, and another on the salary of elected officials. At Monday's meeting, the new commission tabled discussion on the allocation of funds but wasted no time addressing the salary matter. At the request of Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir, Donna Zimmerman made the motion to shut down the resolution.
"We had quite the spirited discussion on this last week," Bellendir said. "I don't know if I can do that again. I'd ask the commission to take this up and vote it down. It is my layman's opinion, as I thoroughly expressed last week, you're in violation, or you will potentially be in violation, of a Kansas Supreme Court decision. I don't want this laying in limbo. I don't think we should be kicking this dead horse forever."
Other county heads agreed with Bellendir. Commission Chair Shawn Hutchinson then asked if another commissioner would like to motion to kill the resolution forever.
"I believe you're going to see unforeseen legal consequences if you pass this motion, if not from me, possibly from other electeds," said Bellendir. "But we need to knock this in the head. This needs to be over."
Zimmerman then made the motion that the resolution establishing a salary policy for elected officials not be passed. The commission voted 5-0 to approve the motion and kill the resolution.
As described by Krier last week on 1590 KVGB's "County Edition," the resolution would have involved how elected officials approach salaries and raises. Krier suggested those conversations take place in the recorded part of commission meetings.
"I just want it to be transparent," he said. "People should know what their elected officials - when they're getting a raise, why they're getting a raise. And I'm not against pay raises. But I would like for those elected officials to come out and say, 'This is what I've accomplished.'"