Marion, McPherson counties exploring joint ?crime stoppers?

Marion County Sheriff Rob Craft told commissioners Monday that he has been talking to his counterpart in McPherson County about cooperating on a joint ?crime stoppers? publicity program to help solve crimes by widening the coverage area.

Descriptions of crimes and suspects could be advertised in local newspapers and other media to help officers solve crimes, he said.

Craft asked the commissioners to consider financing the program with a $4,000 to $5,000 contribution that would be supplemented by donations from businesses and individuals.

He said officials from both counties hope adjoining counties might join the effort.

The commissioners noted that such a program had once existed in the county, perhaps 15 to 20 years ago.

Craft said he has not received any promised funding from the Federal Emergency Management Administration to help with disaster relief as a result of large snowstorms last spring.

The commissioners said they would fund a new sidewalk behind the new jail, but would prefer to put rock gravel down on the grounds until the county completes a metal storage building to the south to balance appearance.

Craft said county road and bridge has done a good job in rocking the entire jail lot space, and is expected to continue with rocking the draw to the north to the creek in cooperation with the Marion U.S. Post Office, which owns half the draw.

After meeting in executive session with Craft, commissioners announced they will raise pay rates for jailers to more than $12 an hour in consideration of shifts up to 12 hours long and the conditions of ?attentive responsibility? under which they must work.

Commissioners told Deputy County Appraiser Brian Frese they are working to correct his documents storage problem with the plan for the new building near the jail.

In the meantime, they told him to check with County Economic Director Teresa Huffman about sharing storage space she intended to lease.

Commissioner Roger Fleming said he will check on use of space leased in a building owned by Coopera?tive Grain & Supply in Hills?boro.

The commissioners approved a bid of $2,957 from Baker Brothers of Hillsboro for 100 cases of 8.5 by 11-inch white bond paper for the county clerk?s office over competitive bids of $3,200 from Navarat?s Office Supply in Emporia and $3,050 from Dick?s Business in Emporia.

Commissioner Dan Holub said he will look into possible cooperation with the Marion County Lake Improvement District on road and bridge graveling of lake roads, provided it is understood the county bears no further responsibility in widening the roads to state specifications because the roads have simply been evolved by travel over time with no advance planning.

The commissioners approved a transport fuel bid of $26,182.50 from Cardie Oil of Tampa for 5,500 gallons of diesel and 2,500 gallons of gasoline over a competitive bid of bid of $26,226.50 from CG&S.

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