It’s nice when people meet and exchange ideas, and good things come of it.Barton County Commission Chairwoman Jennifer Schartz
The Barton County Commission Monday morning approved a revised 2019 grant application for Central Kansas Community Corrections, which serves the 20th Judicial District. The state grant funds the agency’s budget.
The Kansas Community Corrections Act provides grants to Kansas counties to develop and maintain a range of programs for adult offenders assigned to Community Corrections agencies, said CKCC Director Amy Boxberger. A comprehensive plan (a grant application) was submitted that set the goals for Fiscal Year 2019.
“The allocation is determined by the Kansas Department of Corrections,” she said. It requires the CKCC Advisory Board, along with each of county commission in the district, to approve the revised budget to support these goals.
The revised grant application totals $499,016.47, she said. The revision was needed to cover a $5,000 shortfall in KDOC funding and state-mandated raises of about 8 percent for state employees.
These raises help correct a long drought in pay increases for state personnel, Boxberger said. For her office, this hike amounts to about $40,000.
In addition, KDOC provided the opportunity for agencies to apply for behavioral health funding to support services to lower revocation rates, Boxberger said. CKCC submitted a grant application with the request of $23,170.87.
“The agency was allocated the full request,” she said. A revised budget will be submitted to reflect changes in programming for behavioral health programs and mental health evaluation vouchers for indigent offenders.
Boxberger said her department has formed a collaboration with the Health Department to share resources. This partnership has made possible such as programs Circles of Central Kansas and other cognitive classes.
“It’s nice when people meet and exchange ideas, and good things come of it,” commission Chairwoman Jennifer Schartz said.
In another CKCC matter, Boxberger said KDOC requires a budget submission of local program funding collected through program fees and reimbursements totaling $62,928.25. These budgets require the review and approval of the Barton County Commission, as the administrative county for the judicial district.
These funds help fill in funding gaps and cover travel expenses, Boxberger said. It is important for a spending plan for the money to be in place or the state can take it back.
Juvenile Services
The KDOC/Juvenile Services grantees are required to budget carryover reimbursement/program income funds, Director Marissa Woodmansee said. In order to track expenditures made using funds collected in previous years, a budget must be created.
As a continuation of that process, the Juvenile Services Department is requesting approval of the 2019 Carry-Over Budget. As developed by Woodmansee, the $54,701.27 in budgeted funds covers Core and Immediate Intervention programming.
Barton County Commission meeting at a glance
Here is a quick look at what the Barton County Commission did Monday morning:
• Approved the Central Kansas Community Corrections revised 2019 budget, its revised budget for behavioral health funding, and its carry-over budget.
• Approved the 20th Judicial District Juvenile Services carry-over budget.
• Approved exercise municipal rollover on two Bobcat track loaders for the Road and Bridge Department at a cost of $4,550 each.
In 2014, the department purchased a T650 T4 Bobcat track loader from Bobcat of Salina, County Works Director Darren Williams said. That machine has been updated each year under the program.
In 2017, Road and Bridge purchased another Bobcat T650 under a contract which qualifies as well. Williams suggested the rollover option be utilized for both.
It is noted that the warranty on the current machines expire in October and December respectively. The department puts about 1,000 hours on the loaders each year.
• Re-appointed Dan Esfeld and appointed Frank Ochs to the Memorial Parks Advisory Committee. With five to seven members, the committee advises and assists the commission regarding the care and maintenance of the Barton County owned and operated memorial parks and cemetery.
There were three of the uncompensated positions open, each terming in July 2021, but only two applicants. The committee now stands at six members.
