HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved a couple of items on its agenda.
That included that counties portion of a $18,521 grant. The Reno County Sheriff’s Office and Hutchinson Police Department will divide the grant with most going to police. The counties share of this 2016 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant is $8,321.
Sheriff Randy Henderson says they will use the money for various equipment in their department. That includes the purchase of four chair-style mega movers and 5 cot-style mega movers to extricate injured persons from harm’s way. Sheriff Henderson noted seeing those wounded in the Orlando shooting being carried by five to six people and not with equipment he wants to purchase. He says with this new equipment, it will make it easier when placed in those situations. There are also other items that will be purchased with grant money by the sheriff’s office as well.
The Hutchinson Police Department plans to upgrade body cameras worn by officers who work the street.
Also approved by the commission was the Kansas Department of Corrections grant programs and budget for the first half of fiscal year 2017. The grant amount was $327,467.51. This money is for juvenile services in the county.
They also set a date for a review of a fence that seems to be in dispute between two property owners in eastern Reno County. Clinton Troyer made the request that the commission come to the property, then make a decision over the issue.
The Commission also spent a great deal of time going over the audit report presented by Justin Mitchell with Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball. It shows the county with no issues with the report, something that hasn’t been the case in the past.
Mitchell noted that the counties reserves have increased significantly over the past six years going from $27 million in 2009 to over $40 million at the end of 2015.
He says this will be important once the property tax lid passed by the Kansas Legislature begins in 2018. That will limit how much the county can raise the mill levy without voter approval.