HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission Tuesday as expected selected the nine members of a committee who will look at the pros and cons of expanding the commission from the current three members to five.
Selected for this committee was Herchel Crainer, John Haugsness, Kenneth Jorns, Clara Kilborn, Cameron Pierce, Gary Price, Richard Robl and Tim Shaboin. These nine were selected from 17 who applied for a place on the committee. The committee would gather information, but would not make any recommendations on the matter to the commission.
They also touched briefly on changing the districts in the county which somehow would have to be divided evenly so each district would have an equal number of residents in their district. That could be a challenge considering that most of the population is in the Hutchinson area which is located in the northeast part of the county. County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan says if and when they decide on districts, they can’t divide townships or voter precincts. Any resolution they put before voters wouldn’t be effective until they approve it. The plan is put the idea to voters in November of 2016.
As expected the commission also approved the agreement between Union Pacific, the county and the Kansas Department of Transportation for the two highway crossing signals at K-61 and Hodge Rd and K-61 and Broadway in Arlington.
They also discussed the role of the commission and the county administrator which would basically require individual commissioners to go through the administrator or the commission as a whole if they want some changes made or have concerns over something in a particular in any particular department. That items was for discussion only and will officially pass the resolution next week.