COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
Agenda:
8:30 – Bills
8:45 – Cammie Heaton
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:00 –
10:30 – Review of planning/zoning board applicants
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in a regular session (excluding Commissioner Joe Thompson). Paul Kitzke, County Counselor; and Amy Tharp, County Clerk, were also present. Tron called the meeting to order. Pat moved to approve the minutes from the previous special commissioner meeting. Tron seconded. Motion carried. Pat moved to approve the county vouchers. Tron seconded. Motion carried. The County Clerk was instructed to draw warrants on the Treasurer chargeable to the various funds of the county for the following amounts:
| General | $ 119,850.71 |
| Judicial District | $ 459.93 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 155,463.61 |
| Airport | $ 8,722.23 |
| Airport Grants | $ 12,398.00 |
| County Building | $ 11,215.30 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 8,389.42 |
| EMS | $ 25,275.38 |
| Fire | $ 15,964.26 |
| Community Health | $ 18,666.64 |
| Diversion | $ 339.68 |
| ARPA | $ 82,005.84 |
| LATCF Grant | $ 62.73 |
| Sheriff | $ 91,791.90 |
| Employee’s P/R Misc W/H | $ 3,200.00 |
| Reg of Deeds Tech Fund | $ 213.40 |
| TOTAL: | $ 554,019.03 |
Cammie Heaton came in and said she spoke with Rusty Tuman about handling IT and if he had any figures yet on the costs. Rusty told her not to upgrade through the current IT company the county has, since the contract is up this summer. He told Cammie there were a few more things he needed to check on and would get back with a cost. Rusty said he is willing to come to the county and answer any questions any of the departments may have if the county chooses to go through him for IT purposes. Cammie told the commissioners her and Brittney are going to Rolla next Tuesday to do vision and hearing screenings for the school as there is no one in Morton County at this time to do school screenings. Cammie also informed the commissioners there is a workforce development grant worth $105,000.00 for Stevens County which will be spent between the years 2024 through 2027. Cammie would also like to discuss the nurse salary for the community health department versus the salary for the hospital and Pioneer Manor nurses to see if there can be changes. Cammie told the commissioners she is still trying to get some form of oral health brought into the community health department at least once a month or every other month as she feels having at least an oral hygienist on occasion will help the community. Cammie said she might need some help funding for some of the oral hygienist equipment but plans to try to get a grant for a majority.
Rodney Kelling was in attendance and presented the commissioners with a letter of request to roll over some of the funds from 2023 into his fire and EMS equipment funds. Rodney is requesting to roll over $19,000.00 from the EMS 2023 fund and $80,000.00 from the 2023 fire fund. Rodney stated that would be upon approval from the auditors on what is remaining in the funds that is allowed to be transferred. Rodney also told the commissioners he has put around $5,000.00 into the current generator at the radio tower and the control panel has been replaced at least three (3) different times and nothing seems to be working. He said the generator will work, but at this time it will not be able to manually start if needed. Amy Tharp said the county equipment fund has money which can help with the costs of repairs or replacement. Rodney said a new generator will be around $10,000.00 to $20,000.00 but will ask around and get an idea and hopefully request bids. The generator will need to be at least 5,000 watts.
Tony Martin was in and said the radio tower might have some communication issues with the wind towers. Tony also stated he would like to have Rodney be the communications director to work with the wind farms and make sure the communication towers/radios stay working without interference. Rodney told the commissioners he would like to do a walk-through with the commissioners of the fire and EMS building as he is noticing some issues that will need to be addressed.
Paul Nordyke was in attendance.
Paul Nordyke asked the commissioners how the landfill’s cost was going to work. He asked if anything larger than a pickup would be $30.00 per ton or if there are exceptions. The commissioners stated the city would not have to worry about cleanup day as that would be free except for tires. Tony said tires are not free because the county has to pay for a company to pick up tires and dispose of them so there has to be cost on the landfill taking tires. Tony said if there is a trailer or anything carrying items for the landfill it will cost $30.00 per ton and everything on the trailer less than one (1) ton will go by weight (roughly $0.015/pound). Junk iron, trees and concrete will still be free to dump. Tony did inform Paul and the commissioners it will take time to work out any issues with beginning costs at the landfill but hopefully it will smooth out over time. Paul asked Tony about cleanup week the city provides, and Tony stated it should not be a problem as long as the city and county communicate with each other.
Tony told the commissioners there will be a public notice from KDHE in the newspaper about the new pit. Tony did state he is struggling trying to get all the information from Benesch that he needs but hopes it will work out. Tony said he would like to possibly hire a part-time person to work Saturdays at the landfill’s weigh station, the commissioners said they will take that into consideration.
Tony presented a list of possible new fair board members to the commissioners.
Pat made a motion to approve the new Stevens County Fair Board members: Lacy Kurts, Don Beesley, Trent Kurts, Cher Bohl, Kelli Cerecero, Gary Gold, Jamie Gold, Nancy Honig, Paul Kitzke, Karen McClure, Ron Honig, Andy Moser, and Abel Sullivan with Tony Martin as President, David Rome as Vice President, and Melissa Sullivan as Secretary-Treasurer. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Discussion over the planning and zoning board members were had by the commissioners. Tony presented six (6) candidates and Amy handed in one (1) candidate. The following people sent in letters of interest to be on the planning and zoning board: Warren Willis, Mariann Willoughby, Loren Seaman, Jonathan Pearcy, Neal Gillespie, Andy Moser, and Robert Davis.
Pat and Tron discussed the board member positions and said they were undecided on the third (3rd) choice between Robert Davis and Andy Moser. After further discussion, a motion was made.
Pat made a motion to accept Warren Willis, Loren Seaman, and Andy Moser to fill the empty positions on the Stevens County Planning and Zoning Board. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Amy said the appraiser’s office had some issues paying Postalocity for the personal property and real estate change value notices due to the credit card not having a high enough cap and the bank doesn’t allow the county to send a payment ACH. Amy asked if the appraisers could raise the cap on the credit card or have permission to write a check as it comes in for Postalocity so the appraisers can meet their required deadlines. The commissioners said they will allow a check to be printed when it is needed instead of waiting and one of them will come in to sign, they also stated they did not have an issue if the appraiser needs to raise the cap on the credit card.
Amy said she has put out memos to all the department heads about needing to receive all encumbrances/roll over requests no later than the commissioner meeting on February 26, 2024.
Abatement Orders for 2023 taxes numbered 36 through 45 were reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 18,246 with a relief assessment of $2,725.15.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman