Reno County Commission
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Once again Commissioner Dan Deming was alone in wanting the commissioners to take a cut in salary and also cut back on the number of times they meet each month.
Commission Chair James Schlickau made it known last week of his opposition to any change over how often the commission meets saying he wanted to maintain government function and to provide a higher level of responsiveness and availability to the residents they represent. He’s also opposed cutting the pay saying setting the compensation to low could negatively impact the number of quality candidates from running for the office in the future.
Commissioner Brad Dillon who seemed to be on the fence last week in going either way sided with Commissioner Schlickau. He says he’s fine with the ways things are.
Commissioner Deming conceded he wasn’t going to win on the number of times the commission meets monthly. As for pay, Deming wanted the commission to reduce their pay by $6,000 from $18,000 annually to $12,000, but said he was willing to compromise asking them if they would consider a $3,000 cut and set commissioner pay at $15,000. That was also rejected by the other two commissioners.
Deming also indicated that he would like to see a discussion begin next year and then let voters decide if they would like to expand the number of commissioners from the current three to five. He says they could put it to a vote with the 2016 Presidential election. The other two commissioners had no comment on that issue at this point.
Deming made a motion for the change in pay and meeting times, but the proposal died for lack of a second to his motion.