STEP Funds In Question
Jeff Garretson - Wed 03:49 PM 12/12/2012
Sheriff Kochanowski speaks with the media on Wednesday morning.
Over $7,000 in grant money from the Kansas Department of Transportation - remains unsecured to fund Special Traffic Enforcement Programs (STEP) in Saline County.
Sheriff Glen Kochanowski voiced his frustrations Wednesday morning after meeting with Saline County Commissioners over the past two weeks.
Sheriff Kochanowski tells KSAL News that the $7,200 grant pays for overtime hours so deputies can take part in conducting DUI checklanes and seat belt safety checks without using additional taxpayer dollars from Saline County.
On consecutive Tuesday meetings, a motion has been made to continue with the funding process that has been in place since 2000 - and has died on the table without a second motion being made by District #1 Commissioner Randy Duncun or Commission Chair Jerry Fowler.
Sheriff Kochanowski says he does not understand why he is hitting a roadblock with Commissioner Duncan. "I don't know what has happend all of a sudden, that he will not participate in accepting this kind of money from the government," he said.
Duncan, who signed the contract in 2009, tells KSAL News that he has voiced his concerns to Sheriff Kochanowski about taking federal dollars and what that could mean down the line to employees and citizens alike.
"There might be future federal grants that come before the commission, that this is free money - for one year or two years with no obligation and then the county gets stuck with it later on," he said.
"We just shouldn't rubber stamp everything that every department head comes in asks for approval on, every elected department head comes in and says, I'm here today ...sign this, approve this. I don't know if that's being a good public servant."
Duncan praised Sheriff Kochanowski for supplying him with copious research and contacts on the questions he did raise about the origin of the STEP grant money from KDOT and the Hatch Act.
Sheriff Kochanowski says keeping the grant helps keep citizens safe. "I think we're making a difference with these patrols," he said.
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Freewill
Wednesday 12 December 2012 15:57 Report this comment
Salina is tired of the sheriffs dept pulling people over for seat belts. Maybe your bosses have had enough and are cutting the purse strings.
stirthepot
Wednesday 12 December 2012 18:04 Report this comment
Kudos to the commission. They are right sooner or later the federal money will cause us problems. An occasion DUI check is probably good but the seat belt thing has gone to far.
ksfarmdude
Wednesday 12 December 2012 18:07 Report this comment
about the only difference these patrols are making is keeping lawyers and traffic court busy next they'll have patrols for jaywalking wheres it gonna end ?
Logical
Thursday 13 December 2012 06:25 Report this comment
This is silly. It's not about creeping federal government. This is a program in place for several decades becuase it makes sense to remind drivers (and children) to wear belts. This is about Randy Duncan being Randy. He favors the program but doesn't want to vote for it. He likes to oppose something he knows will pass anyway. The other commisioners are tried of it and good for Jerry Fowler to call his bluff. Eventually, the citizens will tire of Randy. The paper says Randy is concerned about The Hatch Act. Please! Hundreds of other Sherrif departments in America use the funds with no Hatch Act consequences. Randy is trying to position himself as a conservative on spending because his brain has already switched to a "I'm up for re-election" mode. He knows he will have at least one primary opponent and one tough general election opponent. Because Randy views EVERYTHING in the context of politics, this is what you get...
Wowza
Thursday 13 December 2012 06:28 Report this comment
The commission is lazy, if it isn't a worthless piece of art, they have no interest in spending money. It is really pretty simple as it is a law, wear your seatbelt and you don't have to worry. If you don't like the law then move to some frickin' third world country. Doesn't bother me in the least to strap a seatbelt on when I get in the car. These patrols catch people with warrants, drugs and other things in their vehicles, oh and let's not forget, those people without INSURANCE! I say keep up the STEP programs and if you break the law, hopefully your stupid butt will go to jail.
Iamgonnagetyou
Thursday 13 December 2012 08:04 Report this comment
First logical and wowza are the same person the kicked off victory 2012. Now lets talk about how stupid the Sheriff is. First where doeshe think the $7000 comes from? Its taxpayer money sheriff it isn't picked from a tree. He rather pay overtime to have his deputies one that has recently been arrested for beating up on a child doing seatbelt stops then out in the county protecting the taxpayers who pay his ridiculous salary. Looks like someone just woke him up from his nap in the picture. The sad part is we are stuck with him unless he is recalled, resigns or dies from a heart attack. We the taxpayers need to demand more from him and I am glad the commissioner have pulled his free spending credit card. Sheriff if you feel so strong about this money open your wallet and take out 7 k and donate it.
Aurora.
Thursday 13 December 2012 08:39 Report this comment
Hey sheriff hopefully when the new commissioners arrive they will end your always having your hand out for something and you will hit many roadblocks. My understanding is you have made comments in private concerning how you control the commissioners. If that is true then you deserve to be turned down for whatever you ask for and you should be doing the job you were elected to do. Also after looking at you in the picture looks to me you should be out in the field getting some exercise rather than sitting at a desk.
MyPostinID
Thursday 13 December 2012 11:55 Report this comment
DUI = Duncan Un-Interested. Involved in a DUI crash? You been Duncan-ed! I hate drunk drivers, I have no respect for people who do not buckle up children, if a adult does not buckle up, it is their stupidity. Put the public safety at risk? The only people who approve are those who are breaking the laws.
Freewill
Thursday 13 December 2012 11:59 Report this comment
WOWZA are you admitting that the seat belt checks are fishing trips to stop and detain citizens in an attempt to run around the 4th amendment. This is what is so wrong with our legal system.
youmakenosense
Thursday 13 December 2012 12:21 Report this comment
WAKE UP PEOPLE, 1st off the phrase without additional tax payer dollars, please where do they think the feds got this money, its from tax payer dollars!! We the people of the United States and the citizens of Kansas and the Citizens of Saline County and Salina need to curb the spending of our governments now, there is no such thing as free money its all our tax dollars they take from us. Our city and county and state reprsentitives need to quit this spending spree also, it all starts here with us. Quit putting your hand out!!!!!
Ksomething
Thursday 13 December 2012 14:43 Report this comment
You do realize the money has already been allocated for STEP enforcement so if Saline county doesn't take it, another county will get more. How are you running around the 4th amendment? If you are legally stopped, i.e. seat-belt, how is that fishing? Timothy McVeigh was stopped for a registration violation. I suppose that was a fishing trip also? There are so many hippocrites here! You want the Police to do their job, but when you "the perfect citizen" is stopped then you are being harassed. If people would take responsibility for their actions our society would be a lot better off.
Iamgonnagetyou
Thursday 13 December 2012 18:41 Report this comment
The sheriff is the laughing stock of Salina and Kansas. Since he has been in office there has been more crime and murders in Saline County then ever before. Heck he could not cut it when he was a cop so he jumped to running for sheriff. Whether I wdear a seat belt or not is my decision. It does not have anything to do with the welfare of others. If the rumor as reported by someone else is true that he has the present commissioners in his pocket there should be a recall petition filed. Why is he not talking about the arrested deputy that pounded on some kid that he still has on the force. I for one feel someone who is physically abuse with a child and is arrested should immediately be removed from duty until the courts have decided innocence or guilt.
Iamgonnagetyou
Thursday 13 December 2012 18:49 Report this comment
The sheriff does not care about the welfare of those living in the county or he would have deputies patrolling the county not sitting a mile from the city limits looking for seat belt violaters. Looks to me Duncan finally got some balls and stood up to him. To bad Reynolds the ambulance chasing so called attorney doesn't have any or is afraid of the good old boys in Saline County. Farewell to this jerk. I hope the new commissioners turn up the heat on the sheriff and some others in county government.