By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of Reno County Commissioners will look at resolutions for their consideration to put a question on the ballot for voters where voters get to decide whether or not to expand the commission from three to five members. Commissioner Daniel Friesen acknowledges that the public really does not yet understand the potential expansion.
"We've not done as good a job as we can, both from a commission level, from a staff level," Friesen said. "I think part of it's just getting through the process to know what we're going to explain, but one thing that I've been told multiple times is that the maps aren't on our website. We need to get those on there right away."
Friesen notes that even if you add two more commissioners at their current salary, it really has no material effect on the budget, and he has made it clear to staff as have the other commissioners that cuts will have to be made elsewhere to provide the money for new commissioners if the people want them.
"I get the mathematical point, I suppose, that your one commissioner has one fifth of the vote instead of one third," Friesen said. "At the same time, you've got a commissioner that's focused on a fifth of the county, instead of a third of the county. There are diverse opinions in every district. To think that one person gets to talk to their commissioner and that's the way the commissioner is going to vote really isn't how it works."
Right now, there is not a final map of the new proposed districts yet, nor has the resolution officially been passed to put the question on the ballot. County Counselor Joe O'Sullivan has some legal work to do to bring potential maps and resolutions to the commission for them to choose from. They have to get the ballot language to the election office by August 10th to get it ready for November.
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