Concealed carry commission topic

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June 12, 2013 - 12:00 AM

Allen County might have to spend as much as $200,000 to reconfigure its courthouse and provide personnel to restrict concealed carry of firearms into the building.
That estimate came after commissioners met with District Judge Daniel Creitz, County Attorney Wade Bowie and others in executive session to consider courthouse security.
A law that takes effect July 1 permits concealed carry in public buildings, except those housing agencies having some reliance on federal funding.
The Kansas Capitol, where legislators who passed the law gather each year, also is off-limits to concealed carry, noted Creitz.
A reprieve immediately deciding whether to permit concealed carry, or go to the expense of not, is an opportunity to put off a decision for six months until Jan. 1, 2014.
Commissioners exercised that option and instructed County Counselor Alan Weber to write the attorney general’s office to express their intention.
In brief discussion in open session, commissioners mentioned closing some courthouse entrances to the public — workers would have key cards — keeping open only those giving American with Disabilities Act access. If that were the case, a person arriving at the courthouse with a concealed handgun would have to relinquish the weapon while going about their business, and have it returned on his or her exit.
The alternative would be to open the courthouse to people carrying concealed weapons. If that were done, the clerk’s office apparently still would be off limits because Clerk Sherrie Riebel deals with federal funding. Also, court rooms could be closed to weapons.
Commissioners will appoint a committee to delve into “adequate security measures.” 
How commissioners might deal with concealed carry in other county buildings, such as senior centers in Moran, LaHarpe, Iola and Humboldt, did not reach discussion stage.
“The Legislature comes up with some stupid ideas,” said Commissioner Tom Williams, in regard to concealed carry’s expansion, and characterized having the Statehouse off limits as “hypocritical.”
Judge Creitz said the law that takes effect on July 1 was likely to face some challenges.
“There’s going to be litigation on this,” he said.

OWNERS OF American Self Storage units at the east edge of town asked how they might overcome their property being excluded from property tax rebates through Iola’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program.
See the city, in particular City Administrator Carl Slaugh, was Chairman Dick Works’ retort. “It’s Iola’s program.”
But, before traipsing across Jackson Avenue to city offices, owners said they didn’t receive a tax statement last fall, which is why they didn’t pay property taxes before they became delinquent. Commissioners didn’t go into that, only said whether the property would be reinstated in the program was Iola’s call.
Weber pointed out failure to pay taxes in a timely manner, according to provisions of the program, removed a property for rebate consideration.
Within the program, a property owner who builds new or makes improvements, with $5,000 behind the triggering threshold, must pay taxes in full and then receives a 95 percent rebate for six years. The county retains 5 percent for administration. The last four years’ taxes are reinstated at 20 percent a year.
If Iola agrees to give the storage unit owners an exemption, they then would have to have the county, Allen Community College and USD 257 again sign off on the new agreement to have full advantage.

BILL KING, director of Public Works, said his crew should have a box culvert replaced on Minnesota Road, north of Elsmore, today or Thursday.

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