By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Ellis County commissioners will be exploring the possibility of hiring a county administrator to handle the day-to-day operations of the county.

Commission Chairman Perry Henman said he met with Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty to discuss what a county administrator would do and how to go about recruiting one.

Henman said he would be in contact with a few consultants suggested by Dougherty to set up a time to meet with the commissioners to start looking at the issue.

"I'm just surprised we don't have an administrator at this time, as large as our budget is," Commissioner Glenn Diehl said.

County Clerk Alberta Klaus said she would develop a budget for the position for the commissioners to consider in the 2010 budget.

"Can you imagine the city of Hays without a city manager?" Commissioner Vernon Berens said. "The time has come for the county to take that step."

Henman said a county administrator could help the county get a handle on the spending of all departments and how services and contracts could be consolidated to save money.

"The whole idea, theoretically, is the guy is saving you money," Henman said.

Commissioners also discussed the feasibility of creating a five-member county commission.

Diehl said he would talk to Barton County commissioners who recently went through the transition from three to five members about addressing the board.

However, commissioners all agreed that hiring a county administrator would be more important right now than creating a five-member county commission.

Diehl also brought up having county commission meetings at night, an idea on which he campaigned last fall.

Diehl said if some of those meetings were in Victoria, Ellis or Schoenchen, it might get the public more involved.

"I really feel that we should have an administrator on board and let him give us some thoughts on this," Berens said.

Berens said he might be open to meeting in each town once a year, but still wanted regular commission meetings in the mornings.

Henman said he wouldn't mind evening meetings.

In other business:

* Commissioners heard a pair of concerns from Ellis County residents Monday.

William Gilchrist, a resident of Prairie Acres southwest of Hays, told commissioners the sand distributed on the streets in his development has deteriorated in quality with larger pieces of rock remaining. The rock has caused washboarding.

Floris Dome, who owns property near Pfeifer, asked the commission for help reaching his property across a draw. Commissioners said they would travel to the site to determine if they could do anything.

* Commissioners discussed replacing equipment for the road and bridge department.

Staff has located a used double drum vibratory roller in Arkansas. Mark Polifka, shop foreman, said he would contact the dealer to have it delivered in Hays for inspection.

Polifka also said a used truck and oil distributor was located in Illinois. If specifications meet the county's needs, he will try to go there to look at it for potential purchase.

* Commissioners approved the purchase of carpet for the appraiser's office. The low bid was from Gordon's Carpet Center, Hays, for $5,020.

* Kristal Stanton, executive director of CASA of the High Plains, told commissioners CASA served 13 children in Ellis County last year. More than 90 children in Ellis, Gove, Rooks and Trego counties remain on a waiting list.

Stanton requested $3,000 from the county for the 2010 budget. Commissioners denied a similar request last year.

* Commissioners approved a laundry services contract for three years with Master Cleaners.