Kismet prepares for possible disaster

By ROBERT PIERCE

Leader & Times

Seward County commissioners are expected to hear from Emergency Management Director Greg Standard Monday in regards to new transfer switches needed for the City of Kismet.

Information in Monday’s agenda packet said the city has a generator and has installed it as well as run all power lines for the project.

“Civil Defense would provide the transfer switches needed,” the information said. “The City of Kismet would pay for all installation costs.”

The purpose of the purchase, the information said, is to provide the switching equipment needed to power the City Hall and Pavilion Building in Kismet.

“The county has used these facilities in the past when disaster has occurred in that part of the county,” the information said.

The cost of the project to the Civil Defense fund is $1,850. The information said the City of Kismet is ready to preceed with the project, and all of the other work is complete.

Staff is recommending proceeding with the purchase with funds from the Civil Defense fund to provide back up power at the Kismet facilities.

Commissioners are also scheduled to re-address an updated agreement Kansas WorkforceOne has with the counties they serve.

Commissioners tabled this at the June 4 meeting until more information was gathered regarding the item. That information included what exactly was revised that caused a new agreement to be signed. 

Other information commissioners wanted included clarification on an item under the fiscal responsibility.

“What is the county liable for?” agenda information said. “What services has or does WorkforceOne provide to Seward County?”

All of these questions are answered by memos and reports, including a memo from WorkforceOne Executive Director Deb Scheibler. Those items are attached to Monday’s agenda packet for commissioners to review.

The item is pending commission review and signing of the revised agreement. Staff is recommending signing the agreement.

Monday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chambers in the Seward County Administration Building.