TMCnet News
County OKs job creations ; Job: IT, parks departments discussed [Topeka Capital Journal (KS)](Topeka Capital Journal (KS) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) "I can't support anything that's even remotely considered an endorsement of Obamacare." Shawnee Commission Chairman Bob Archer made that statement Monday after dissenting as commissioners voted 2-1 to create three new Shawnee County Health Agency positions to be financed using supplemental funding through the Department of Health and Human Services and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Commissioners Kevin Cook and Shelly Buhler voted to authorize the SCHA to create and fill the jobs using most of $210,408 in supplemental funding the SCHA has been awarded to expand medical services in its Community Health Center. That center is helping implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare. Monday's vote enables the community health center to create positions for a mid-level provider, at an annual salary and benefits of $101,108.80; a licensed practical nurse, at an annual salary and benefits of $42,287; and a certified medical assistant, at an annual salary and benefits of $34,239. Commissioners on Monday also: - Voted 3-0 to authorize the information technology department to issue a request for proposals from companies interested in providing data and telecommunications service for Shawnee County. Information technology director Pat Oblander said the move is essential at a time when his department thought it had until the end of 2015 to retire the county's IBM mainframe -- which is being changed over to a new virtualization platform -- but it now appears the mainframe system may "retire itself" before them. - Voted 3-0 to authorize the information technology department to create and fill an intermittent professional employee's position at a maximum cost of $42.40 per hour to download data currently stored in tables on the county's IBM mainframe, which will be changed over to the new virtualization platform. - Voted 3-0 to authorize the parks and recreation department to solicit proposals from anyone interested contracting with the county to operate the three public golf courses the county owns. The county's contract with Lake Shawnee Golf Management to operate those courses expires Dec. 31. - Voted 3-0 to approving proposed policies and procedures for the Friends of Ward-Meade, an organization created to support and stimulate growth of Ward-Meade Park, 124 N.W. Fillmore. - Voted 3-0 to authorize the audit finance department to solicit bids and/or proposals for postage and pre-sort mail services, including pickup, pre-sorting, postage and processing of the county's mail. - Voted 3-0 to authorize capital expenditures totaling $17,013 to cover repairs and maintenance at the Kansas Expocentre. - Voted 3-0 to approve a consent agenda that includes authorizing Larry Lister to dispose of solid waste without a permit by burying debris on site after demolishing a home on 80 acres at 8234 S.W. Docking Road. - Heard an update on Kansas Expocentre livestock and rodeo events from Justin Gregory, the Expocentre's livestock event manager. Gregory said the new equestrian and events center at the Kansas Star Casino south of Wichita is "going after some of our events." - Met behind closed doors in executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |