Ellsworth County Commissioners appear to be leaning towards a 3 percent increase in employee salaries for 2024. That was the overall direction indicated by commissioners at Monday’s meeting.

Commissioner Dennis Rolfs said he thought each department head should have the flexibility to give either a 3 percent or 6 percent increase to their employees as they see fit, as long as it is in their budget.

Sheriff Murray Marston said he thought all elected officials should do their own increases when it comes to budgeting salaries for their employees.

“But we need some guidance,” he said.

Commissioner Greg Bender said he is still waiting to see what the tax picture for the year is going to look like.

The 2024 county budget is also being developed.

In other business:

• County Attorney Paul J. Kasper informed commissioners that moisture from the recent rainfall came through the drainage pipe on the northeast corner of the courthouse and dampened a portion of his office carpet.

“We’re watching it,” he said.

• Marston said Waterworks believes they can install units that provide both heating and cooling in the spaces currently used at the sheriff ’s office. Each unit would be able to cover two rooms and the cost would be $8,700 per unit. However, as the existing units are replaced, the cost per unit might fall as well as the cost to install them.

Marston noted there are four units down now at the sheriff ’s office.

“Let him do one,” Bender said. Commissioners Rolfs and Steve Dlabal agreed, with the payment to come from the county building fund.

Marston said he is also investigating how to solve the problem of rats being able to come up into the jail from the toilets.

• County Road and Bridge Department Superintendent Dale Houston said he has two employees quitting, but has one candidate to replace one of the openings.

• Officials from Central Kansas Mental Health submitted a 2024 budget request of $34,643 — a 7 percent increase from the $32,377 received in 2023.

• Officials from the Ellsworth Senior Center requested $54,000 for 2024. In 2023, the center received $46,000.

Senior Center officials also requested the county play for a health insurance policy for the center director. Currently, the county pays for a health insurance policy for the center cook.

• Officials from the 20th Judicial District requested the same for 2024 ($104,980) as they requested for 2023.

• County Treasurer Geneva Schneider informed the commissioners she plans to renovate her office. She is considering the purchase of two new desks for $2,000.

• County Appraiser Carl Miller requested a budget of $185,240 for 2024. In 2023, he received $179,000.

Miller also noted he plans to start next week on his annual 17 percent inspection of properties in the county during which he will update pictures of the properties. The properties on Miller’s list are Thomas Township, Black Wolf Township, East Empire Township, Kanopolis Lake and part of the City of Wilson.

Due to the Memorial Day observance, the next meeting of the Ellsworth County commissioners will be at 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 30, at the county courthouse.