LansingCurrent.com

With budget-setting season in full swing and with drastically increased costs of fuel and petroleum-related goods this year, Leavenworth County Commissioners on Thursday announced a hiring freeze for all non-public safety positions in county government.

The freeze, effectively immediately, pertains to any county department that had not made a formal employment offer to a job applicant by Thursday.

Department heads who believe the freeze will create undue hardship on their office’s daily operations can appeal to commissioners to advertise and hire a new worker.

No time constraint for the freeze was set.

“As we go through this budget, we’re seeing a tremendous increase in the cost of fuel for Public Works, Emergency Management, the Sheriff’s Department and EMS,” commission chairman Clyde Graeber said Thursday. “We’re just trying to really — knowing what our increases are — trying to control the budget so we don’t have a tremendous mill levy increase.”

Preliminary budget requests from Public Works’ road operations, the Sheriff’s Office and EMS have reflected increases of 122.2 percent, 75.8 percent and 66.7 percent for fuel costs, accordingly, over amounts approved for 2008.

Also on Thursday, the board heard a monthly report from public works’ staff, approved releasing a request for proposals for a data vault to be stored in the communications room in the county Justice Center, approved a temporary special use permit for a class reunion and wedding reception at the home of Ken Waldock, 22652 Alexander Road, voted to reimburse property owners for fire hydrant issuance fees that were collected up until January 2006, discussed details of an annual contract with Anne deShazo, administrative contact for the 1st Judicial District’s Juvenile Justice Authority, approved the use of 911 funds for new dispatch consoles in the Justice Center and approved a special use permit for Bardroff Towing and Recovery at 32710 167th St.

For more on Thursday’s commission meeting, check back on this Web site or pick up a copy of the next Tonganoxie Mirror or Basehor Sentinel.

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