An equal number of flat amounts and increased asks came before Lyon County Commissioners during their recent study session Wednesday morning.
The only item of business was to hear four appropriation requests for the 2025 budget cycle. Both Register of Deeds Wendy Weiss and Lyon County Treasurer Sharon Gaede submitted increased asks over the prior fiscal year.
Weiss is seeking a $25,000 increase from 2024 submitting a $370,000 request. Gaede meanwhile is seeking an additional $21,000 for a total of just over $418,000. Both Gaede and Weiss are looking to increase their respective payrolls this year, Weiss by seven percent and Gaede by eight percent.
Gaede says her increase is meant to help offset recent turnover in her office and properly reward her staff for the work they do.
Weiss says she is looking to bring the office’s part-time staffer on full-time to assist with handling the influx of documents coming through their office regularly.
According to Weiss, she could outsource the work, however, doing so would cost upwards of $350,000.
Commissioners also considered requests from the Emporia Senior Center and Lyon County History Center, both of whom are submitting flat requests from last year. The senior center submitted a request of $115,000 with Director Karla Fessler saying they are looking to focus those dollars on more education and programming for local residents.
The History Center is seeking $120,000 unchanged from the past several years. Those dollars will go to cover general operating costs including salaries, utilities and insurance.
Center Director Greg Jordan says he is grateful for the financial support they receive from the county each year, however, it is his hope those dollars will not always be needed.
Commissioners are set to receive their third set of requests during their regular action meeting Thursday morning. Additionally, commissioners will consider approving a pair of quotes from IT Director Jean Barnett, the first from ValuNet Fiber totals more than $24,100 and is for upgrades to the county’s fiber cable backbone in the Lyon County Courthouse, Sheriff’s Office and Courthouse Annex.
Barnett will also submit a quote of just over $67,900 to upgrade switches in the same three locations and a better than $45,600 quote for yearly computer replacements. Both quotes are from CDWG.
Assistant Lyon County Engineer Jim Brull will also seek approval of an entrance culvert at 1027 Road 70. Three executive sessions, two for legal matters and one for non-elected personnel are also planned.
Thursday’s meeting will begin at 9 am inside of the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
