County consulting engineers Mike Olson and Jon Halbgewachs of Kirkham Michaels met with commissioners prior to the usual 9 a.m. starting time to outline their best options:

-- reject all the previous bids and ask interested parties to resubmit their estimates in the hope that fuel prices will decline enough to bring the project to within estimates.

-- mix recycled asphalt into the overlay mix, which would lower the cost but also require increased quality-control vigilance to ensure a satisfactory overlay.

-- use the materials that prescribed in the bid, but reduce the thickness of the overlay from 2 inches to 13/4 inches and reduce the budgeted contingency.

Complicating the issue was that the low bidder, Schilling Construction of Manhattan, had offered to alter its asphalt mix by adding the recycled asphalt.

But Olson feared that if the county accepted the change, other bidders would feel they hadn't gotten a fair chance to compete.

In the end, when they were assured by the engineers that a slightly thinner overlay would still hold up satisfactorily, commissioners opted for the third option.

Commissioner Randy Dallke had expressed concern that diluting the asphalt formula with recycled materials might compromise the quality or longevity of the overlay.

But with that issue settled, the commissioners voted to accept the Schilling bid of $1.356 million and later signed a notice of award.

Budget hearing

With no input from the public during a budget hearing slated for a 9 a.m. start, commissioners voted to accept the county's 2006 budget as it was republished in the Sept. 1 issue of the Free Press Extra.

Darryl Thiessen, director of Marion County Emergency Medical Services, did ask about a line item in his budget for replacing ambulances. He said $100,000 in cash had been set aside for that purpose in the 2005 budget, but that the line item for 2006 indicated only $70,000.

Commissioners confirmed they had reduced the line by $30,000.

Thiessen said he was concerned about the need to upgrade a county-wide fleet of ambulances that has an average age of 131/2 years and one as old as 25 years.

Sunday beer sales

After listening to limited public input about whether to allow the sale of beer on Sundays, the commissioners voted 3-0 to approve Resolution 05-18 that would permit the such sales as well as other alcoholic beverages on Sunday.

In response to their invitation for input, commissioners heard from one citizen against the change and one in favor of it.

Bob Maxwell, Marion, said he he felt expanding sales into Sunday was both unnecessary and ill-advised.

"I've imbibed as much as anyone in my time," he said, "but I think allowing Sunday sales is out of line."

He said people have six days during a week to purchase beer.

"I'd hate to see Sunday encroached upon for that activity," he added.

Speaking in favor of the change was Warren Kreutziger, owner of Canada Bait 'N' Tackle, which sells beer as part of its inventory.

Kreutziger said the county is continually wanting to increase sales-tax revenue and generate outside business. He said Sunday beer sales could generate additional sales tax "without costing you a nickel."

Commissioners Randy Dallke and Dan Holub said they couldn't see prohibiting the sale of beer on Sunday when state law, through liquor by the drink, allows the sale of alcohol in clubs on Sunday.

They said people who are morally opposed to the sale and consumption of alcohol-on Sundays or otherwise-aren't forced t participate.

In the end, Holub's motion to accept Resolution 05-18 passed by a 3-0 vote. The resolution would take effect Nov. 15.

Other business

In other business, the commissioners:

-- heard an explanation from County Clerk Carol Maggard about recent increases in the amount of county sales-tax collected.

She said the source of the increases is actually the purchase of vehicles residents are purchasing outside of Marion County. State law requires that sales tax on new vehicles be collected in the home county of the buyer rather than the location of the dealership.

-- approved Resolution 05-17, which formally appoints Cindy McGill to a four-year term as the new county appraiser. She succeeds Dianna Carter, who accepted a similar position in McPherson County.

-- heard from more than one participant at Monday's meeting that attendance appeared to be lower at this year's county-wide Labor Day fireworks show at Marion County Park & Lake.

Some had heard people say that the higher cost of gasoline had kept them from attending.

-- heard from Thiessen that his office's efforts to bring past ambulance billings up to date has been fulfilled with a final write-off of $47,864.

"You're not going to be seeing any more of this," he said, noting that the office has established procedures and safeguards that should keep accounts current.

After the EMS department notifies a client of the amount due three times with no response, he said, the account will be turned over to the state's set-off program, which garnishes the delinquent funds from state-related sources such as tax refunds and lottery winnings.

Dallke asked Thiessen and his staff to prepare reports on at least a quarterly basis so the commissioners can be better informed of the situation.

Thiessen asked the commissioners to clarify whether his department should bill the sheriff's department when an ambulance run is required for prisoners in the county jail.

The commissioners agreed that County Attorney Susan Robson should be consulted on that question before a policy is determined.

-- approved the purchase of a new desk and computer for Dale Snelling, park manager at Marion County Lake. Sunflower Office Products of Newton submitted the winning bid of $1,429 for the desk while Great Plains Computers & Networking of Marion submitted the winning bid of $1,417 for the computer.

-- authorized Snelling to proceed with repairing three stone fireplaces at the lake at an estimated cost of $1,400.

-- heard encouragement from Maxwell to be involved in promoting the development of safety protocols for "drug endangered children."

As a member of the Eighth Judicial District Corrections Commission, he had attended a recent conference in Junction City that focused on the inherent and long-lasting dangers of methamphetamine use on otherwise innocent by-standers and family members.

"It made me scared as all get-out and mad as all get-out," he said. "(Meth use) is far more danger than I thought.

"I think it's something we need to get a handle on as fast as we can."