Commissioners approve consent agenda, table homelessness advisory resolution and Ameresco invoice

Wichita County Commissioners on July 29 approved the consent agenda as modified, moved several items for further review and acknowledged a state-mandated increase in county court judges’ bond amounts.

The court accepted the consent agenda with changes after Commissioners discussed and moved individual items for later consideration. Commissioner Mahler moved to accept the consent agenda as modified; Commissioner Fincannon seconded and the court approved the motion 5-0.

The court specifically tabled item 2, a resolution in support of creating a homelessness advisory committee, and item 8, an Ameresco invoice for measurement-verification services, to allow more time for review and coordination with city partners and for staff to review the Ameresco report. Both items were rescheduled for the next meeting.

Commissioners also addressed public-official bond premiums for county court judges. The court noted that a state legislative change taking effect Sept. 1 requires county court judges’ bond amounts to increase to $500,000 across the board; the county will prorate the higher premium for the remainder of the year. The immediate bond-premium increase quoted at the meeting was $44.12 for each judge for the remainder of the year, with an estimated $1,200 annual increase per bond going forward. The consent agenda included authorization to pay the prorated bond premiums from the respective budgets.

The court approved other routine consent items, including minutes, payroll and bills, and authorized signature lines and disbursement procedures.