COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
OCTOBER 13, 2020
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:00 – Karen Vines – HUB (BC/BS)
9:30 – Eric Johnson – Kirkham & Michael (Cancelled)
10:00 – Jan Leonard & Christian Brothers Construction – Pioneer Lots
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session with all members present. Paul Kitzke, County Attorney; Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk and RoGlenda Coulter with the Hugoton Hermes, was also present. Tron called the meeting to order. Joe moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Pat seconded. Motion carried. Pat moved to approve the county vouchers. Joe seconded. Motion carried. The Clerk was instructed to draw warrants on the Treasurer chargeable to the various funds of the county for the following amounts:
| General | $ 69,068.24 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 47,223.26 |
| Airport | $ 5,666.19 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 3,788.15 |
| EMS | $ 6,196.44 |
| Fire | $ 8,471.41 |
| SPARKS – COVID19 Grant | $ 1,273.72 |
| Community Health | $ 17,554.70 |
| Community Health Grant | $ 3,390.94 |
| Sheriff | $ 42,092.71 |
| Emp P/R Misc W/H | $ 22.50 |
| Election Equipment Fund | $ 1,895.00 |
| Alcohol Treatment Fund | $ 250.00 |
| Reg of Deeds Tech | $ 3,000.00 |
| TOTAL: | $ 209,893.26 |
Ross Sullivan came in and asked the commissioners if a decision had been made about him replacing Elaine Rowden at the Wellness Center when she retires next year. Pat and Joe said they feel the Wellness Center could run comfortably with two (2) part time people as opposed to one (1) full time and one (1) part time. Tron felt the Wellness Center needed one (1) full time person to run the desk and do the QuickBooks. Ross said he can save the county money by only increasing his salary instead of keeping a salaried person with benefits to run the Wellness Center. Tron had concerns with the courthouse job and taking on another job where other employees were barely caring for the courthouse while staying under overtime hours.
The commissioners have agreed to give Ross a chance at consolidating courthouse maintenance with the Wellness Center and will review after he has been doing the job for a time.
Pat suggested looking into finding a part time person to care for the Memorial Hall kitchen when Ross consolidates.
Karen Vines with HUB came in to discuss the Blue Cross and Blue Shield employee health insurance plan. She said the medical only went up one percent (1%) and with the dental, the total increase was one and two tenths percent (1.2%). She stated it was still below the State’s insurance plan.
Pat made a motion to accept the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan Karen presented for the 2021 year. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Rodney Kelling came in and informed the commissioners he was still waiting on the new ambulance. He said he has not paid the bill for it and has asked about the on hundred eighty (180) day guarantee.
Pat asked if any of the commissioners had received a call about a person who wasn’t transferred by the Stevens County EMS. Tron said he had received the call. Rodney said he had informed the Stevens County Hospital the ambulance would be down for transfers because it was in the shop for maintenance. Rodney assumed the hospital conversed with the Stevens County Medical Clinic about the ambulance being down for a few hours. The clinic had called Rodney for a transfer while the ambulance was being serviced. Rodney felt the transfer was not immediate and was uncomfortable using the only other available ambulance for a non-emergency transfer in case any emergency arose while the other one was in the shop.
Rodney said to prepare for a COVID transfer it takes about one (1) hour to prep the ambulance and at least one (1) hour to sanitize after the transfer, by the time the ambulance would have been ready to accept the transfer, the person was already transferred by personal vehicle. Rodney also stated he would need to start looking into hiring at least four (4) full time EMT’s to work twelve (12) hour shifts along with two (2) part time employees to keep up with the COVID transfers. At this time there are very few transfer companies in this area: Midwest, CCT, Eagle Med and Life Save.
Joe asked Rodney his idea on a burn ban since we are in a severe drought. Rodney said he doesn’t mind people burning on good days and for the most part people are being wise when to burn and when not to. Rodney would rather see the junk grass/hay get burned in a controlled manner as opposed to something happening and just catching fire all at once.
Amy Jo Tharp told the commissioners at this time the Treasurer is still waiting for the airport to transfer funds to the county. After payroll and today’s bills the airport will have a negative balance. She informed the commissioners the airport is supposed to be working on transferring funds but has not got it completed as of yet.
Amy asked permission from the commissioners to purchase the Democracy Suite in the amount of $11,000.00 out of the election equipment fund. She said this software, along with a separate computer, will be able to take the totals on election night and put them onto a spreadsheet using USB devices she pulls from the election equipment. This will speed up the election night process. She did inform the commissioners she will still check the print outs with the software to make sure it matches. She also asked to purchase two (2) more touchscreens as the voters seemed to appreciate the ease of using them as opposed to paper ballots. It is also more cost effective since it prints the ballots. We are paying for numerous ballots to be printed and not everyone who is registered is showing up to vote them.
Amy asked the commissioners if they are still honoring the twenty-five (25) year employment gift of a watch. The commissioners said they will honor twenty-five (25) years with the county and to keep the watch gift for those who have been employed that long.
Amy asked the commissioners to reconsider the holidays as Christmas Eve is half a day off at the county and it leaves some departments working longer than others due to the average hours per day worked. She said it causes some confusion with the payroll software as well and several departments and employees would like to have the full day off as holiday instead of half the day. Discussion was tabled until later in the meeting.
Jan Leonard (Eco Devo Director) along with Zac Carlton and Paul Lehmkuhler with Christian Brothers Construction came in to discuss the Pioneer Lots southwest of town for possible housing developments. They informed the commissioners they generally build three (3) bedroom, two (2) bathroom homes with two (2) car garage and enough space in the garage for a steel storm shelter to be bolted and placed. Pat asked about basements and they stated they could certainly build homes with basements instead of slab homes. Their company usually builds five (5) homes at one time and uses lap siding with some stone and other forms of exterior siding.
Discussion about the covenants ensued and the commissioners agreed to looking them over and possibly making changes and alternatives. Another issue discussed involved cutting the lots in half (1/2) lengthwise to make them fifty foot (50’) wide instead of one hundred foot (100’) wide.
Tron said he would like to review the covenants and the specials on the lots to see what can be changed or altered to fit needs of possible purchasers.
Joe moved to go into a twenty (20) minute executive session over land acquisition of the Pioneer Lots. Pat seconded. Executive session began at 10:04 AM and concluded at 10:23 AM. No action taken.
Jan and Joe said it would be nice to see some independent elderly living spaces or duplexes in the area as well. Pioneer Manor has waiting lists and is constantly filled with residents to the point some elderly are having to live in nearby towns until a room opens up.
Pat made a motion to give Stevens County employees the full day of December 24th, 2020 off as holiday pay. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman