Riley County Commissioners Ron Wells, left, Robert Boyd and Ben Wilson.
A new contract from the Kansas Department of Revenue has Riley County Treasurer Shilo Heger hesitant to sign.
Heger told county commissioners Thursday morning that the contract — a first issued to her office in this form – is too vague and undefined in its terms.
The contract is more or less a set of rules and guidelines to which motor vehicle registrations are supposed to be conducted, but Heger said she sides with the Kansas County Treasurer’s Association, which wants the state to propose a contract with more specific language when it pertains to conduct.
“It was very one sided,” she told commissioners. “There was a lot of ambiguity in it.”
A letter from county counselor Clancy Holeman on the matter also supports Heger.
In it, he wrote, “In my opinion, it is important for the success of this agreement that both parties deliver the public ‘competent, efficient and responsive service.’ But to do so, the parties must agree on a standard of performance which measures KDOR duties. That standard must be placed in the draft.”
Heger told commissioners the contract needs to be more specific.
“How do they determine ‘courteous customer service’?” Heger asked. “I feel like we do that on a daily basis.”
Commission chairman Ron Wells commented that the contract is another example of the state overstepping its bounds.
“It’s another example of the Department of Revenue thinking they can operate your office better than you can,” he said.
Heger said she hadn’t heard of any county treasurer in the state signing the contract and that she hopes the state will come back with a more clearly worded and outlined agreement.
In other items, commissioners appointed Scott Eilert to the Big Lakes Developmental Center Advisory Board. Eilert replaces Ed Horne, who is retiring from the board.
Later in the meeting, Riley County Health Department Director Brenda Nickel introduced Andrew Adams to commissioners. Adams started his first week as the county’s newest Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator on Tuesday.
