Local N ews
OSWEGO — Labette County commissioners on Monday questioned a trip to Hawaii for training for Labette County Attorney Mandy Johnson and two of her staff members.
Mandy Johnson was not at the county commission meeting and said by email that she would answer the Sun’s questions about the issue later this week. The commission questioned the trip tickets while reviewing bills for the month.
Commissioners want department heads, elected or not, to notify them of out-ofstate travel to get the commission’s blessing. Commissioners said the county attorney hadn’t done this.
Commissioners approved the $2,200 expense for the flight tickets to Hawaii. Elected officials are in charge of their budgets, hiring, firing and reprimanding their employees, commissioners heard. Commissioners set the budget but don’t have a say in how an elected department head spends the money unless spending goes over the budgeted amount.
The county attorney plans to use diversion funds for the training, which is a proper use of diversion funds, commissioners heard. Commissioners don’t know what kind of
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training was being offered or how many days it would take. The flight leaves and arrives eight days apart.
Diversion programs are an alternative to a criminal or traffic conviction and allow individuals to avoid a criminal record if they complete the program’s terms. Fees for diversions vary based on the severity of the offense and other factors.
As of March 27, the county attorney had $212,138.06 in the diversion fund, according to the Labette County Treasurer’s Office.
Overtime is also a concern to commissioners, they said, because hourly employees are paid for the travel time and the training time and will likely accumulate overtime on the trip.
The employees will have to report their time worked during the trip to the county clerk’s office for payroll.
Commissioner Vince Schibi said other department heads, elected or not, comply with payroll and travel rules.
“I just don’t think it’s too difficult to ask,” Commissioner Terry Weidert said.
“It’s a courtesy. We need to know. Because we have to answer questions from people too,” Commissioner Tom Barrett said.
Weidert said the question he would have asked is if there was similar training closer to home.
Commissioners also agreed to revoke full health insurance benefits for any county employee who does not have enough hours to qualify for the benefit, which is an average of 30 hours. If such an employee does not have enough hours to qualify, he or she may contact the county clerk’s office to learn about COBRA coverage.
The decision follows a discussion on a county attorney’s office employee who doesn’t work enough hours to qualify for benefits but is receiving full benefits.
In other matters, commissioners: — Agreed to purchase $22,449.84 in upgrades to radios and supporting software and firmware in the 911 Dispatch Center through Uplink. Two radios are part of the purchase as well.
— Heard a suggestion from 911 Director Brandy Scott for the county to consider having a day care as a benefit to county employees. Commissioners took no action but discussed the matter briefly.
— Discussed with Scott to continue to budget money in a special fund that would carry over for one year to the next so she has money available in five years or so to purchase new radios. The fund was set up to maintain radio systems for 911.
— Approved payroll for county employees for March for $384,384.69.
— Approved accounts payable for March for $511,867.
— Met in closed session three times to discuss non-elected personnel and for attorney-client privileged communication.
