The Saline County Commission is being urged to expand from a three person board to a five person board.
The group Saline County Citizens For Responsible Government prepared a resolution that was presented Tuesday, asking commissioners to place the issue on the November ballot. Commissioners Duncan and Price indicated that they both believe there is no need to expand the board to five commissioners. At Tuesday’s meeting, Duncan said that the commission has not yet had enough time to look at the resolution, and did not have enough information to make a decision.
If commissioners don’t put it on the ballot, a successful petition drive by citizens could still let voters decide the issue this November. Janice Norlin indicated that the group is ready to begin a petition drive.
For the third week in a row, citizens spoke out again to commissioners against the hiring of the new director of the Saline County Health Department. Prior to starting his new job last Monday, Farmer was accused of sexual harassment by a former coworker, which he vehemently denies. No charges were ever filed, but the Saline County Sheriff?s Office has reopened the 7-year-old case.
Also during the open forum session of the meeting, Gary Nelson of Falun voiced disappointment to the commissioners about being appointed to a health board without his knowledge. Commissioners last Tuesday afternoon appointed Allen to the Saline County Health Department Professional Advisory Committee. Nelson said that he was not opposed to being a part of the board, but would have liked to have seen what was expected of him and would have liked to have known that he was being appointed. He said that he found out when he read about it in the newspaper. Commissioner Price said that he did not know that Nelson was not aware of the appointment, and apologized for any confusion.
