Money not available to keep Wellington SRS office open

August 16, 2011|By Kim Hynes | KWCH-12 Eyewitness News

(WELLINGTON, Kan.) — Efforts to keep the Wellington SRS office open seem to be over. Wellington City Manager Gus Collins and Representative Vince Wetta were hoping to come up with $50,000 to keep the office from shutting down. It's one of several offices slated to close to save the state money.

Collins presented his idea to the Harper County Commissioner and Sumner County Commission. He wanted those two entities to split the cost three ways with the Wellington City Council.

Collins says Harper County Commissioners didn't have the money. He says they didn't see an economic benefit and this budget year was already tough. Collins says Sumner County Commissioners recognized closing the office will impact residents, but they didn't want to put up the money. The commissioners fear if they do it now, the state will continue to count on local dollars to keep the SRS office open.

Collins says he'll take the decisions back to the Wellington City Council, but he doubt council members will be willing to take on 100% of the costs. He says if the money isn't provided, the office will close by October 1st.

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Tuesday August 16, 2011

More than two thousand people take advantage of the SRS office in Wellington each year. But those people could soon be driving a further distance to either Wichita or Winfield for help. That is unless the community comes up with about $50,000 to keep the office open. That's the amount of money the state spends each year on the office. The Wellington office is one of nine slated to close across the state in order to save $1 million.

When the announcement was made, the Lawrence office was on the list. Local leaders there came up with $225,000 to keep the office open. That made Wellington City Manager Gus Collins and State Representative Vince Wetta contact SRS to see if a similar deal could be worked out for Wellington. SRS has agreed to a memorandum of understanding to keep the Wellington office open if the money is found. A spokeswoman with SRS says they're happy to talk to any community about keeping their office open while helping SRS meet its financial goals.

Collins and Wetta brought the issue to the Sumner County Commission Tuesday. Collins says he'd like to see the City of Wellington, Harper County and Sumner County somehow split the cost. Harper County residents also use the office because the one in Anthony closed years ago. Collins says by keeping the office open, the state has agreed to try and start funding it again in 2013. Collins says if they lose it now, they'll never get it back. He says this is one way to keep it here for the time being.

Sumner County Commissioners didn't have a strong opinion on the issue either way. While they say keeping the office open would be a benefit, they fear the financial burden would always stay with the local governing bodies. They want to hear what the other elected officials say before making a firm decision. The Wellington City Council will hear the issue Tuesday night. Collins plans to take it to Harper County next week.

A decision needs to be made within the next seven to ten days. Collins says if they don't come up with the money, the SRS office in Wellington will close by October 1st.

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