HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With virtually no discussion, the Reno County Commission decided on a 2-1 vote against changing how many hours must be worked for overtime to kick in for the Reno County Sheriff’s Office employees.

Commissioner Dan Deming wanted the change after noting that overtime pay for last year totaled $687,648. He saw that as extreme and wanted an hour added each year for the next four years. That means employees would have to work 84 hours before overtime would kick in at the end of the four years. However, Commissioner Bob Bush shut down any discussion Tuesday and made a motion to keep it the same. Commission Chair Ron Hirst seconded the motion, which then went to a vote. Bush and Hirst voted to keep things the same, while Deming voted the other way.

In other action, the commission tabled any decision for hiring a school resource officer for USD 309 — the Nickerson-South Hutchinson School District. If approved, the district would pay 85 percent of the cost while the Reno County Sheriff’s Office would pay the other 15 percent.

It may be next month before this item comes back before the Reno County Commission. According to Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson, the school district won’t have another board meeting until Sept. 17, so it may be after that before the issue comes back.

Commissioners did approve the recommendation of the County Appraiser’s Office to deny a disaster relief request for fire damage sustained to a home at 1002 E. 82nd during the March 2017 wildfires. Apparently, a homeowner didn’t meet the criteria for being approved.

A contract with Ward Davis Builders was also approved for work on the Reno County Fire District 2 station building in Buhler. The existing building will receive an addition and remodel. Commissioners agreed to add an additional $4,000 for painting, so the total cost will be $380,200. The county will issue bonds for $218,685 of that cost and the fire district will pay the rest from its equipment fund.