COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 8, 2022
Agenda: 8:30 – Canvass of Votes Cast – 8/2/22
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:00 – Jim Bell and Steve Lewis – Museum
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session. Paul Kitzke, County Attorney and Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk were also present. Tron called the meeting to order. Pat moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting and the revised minutes from the meeting on June 27, 2022. Joe seconded. Motion carried. Pat moved to approve the county vouchers. Joe 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 | $ 89,494.62 |
| Judicial District | $ 3,471.89 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 88,772.01 |
| Alcohol Treatment | $ 212.50 |
| Airport | $ 17,746.32 |
| Road Machinery | $ 258,825.00 |
| County Building | $ 544.49 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 26,235.79 |
| EMS | $ 7,894.12 |
| Fire | $ 4,311.21 |
| Community Health | $ 17,858.14 |
| Airport Grants | $ 3,676.52 |
| Sheriff | $ 35,679.33 |
| ARPA | $ 17,680.00 |
| Emp Misc W/H | $ 17.58 |
| TOTAL: | $ 572,419.52 |
The board of county canvassers met this morning and went over the provisional ballots cast. There were thirty-seven (37) provisional ballots; five (5) of the provisional ballots did not count as per KSA laws stating a person moving to another county in Kansas and not re-registering will not be approved. One (1) ballot counted due to a clerk error, two (2) ballots were approved due to name change and twenty-nine (29) ballots were approved due to address changes within the county. The county board of canvassers checked over the totals of the election and the write-ins on ballots.
Gary Baughman came in and asked the commissioners if they would approve a water line being put across the county land which he is leasing in order to get water to his sprinkler system. He stated he will be attending the City of Hugoton meeting this evening and would like to give them an answer. Joe made a motion to allow the City of Hugoton to run a water line across county land, currently leased by Gary Baughman. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Shelby Martin came in and said she would like to request the Wellness Centers part-time personnel to be allowed to work no more than twenty-nine (29) hours a week. She further stated she will wait to purchase new equipment as she is not ready yet.
Some discussion over bills led Pat to question why the county is paying for utilities at the 4-H building instead of 4-H paying them. Amy Jo stated 4-H has funds within the county general fund account and that is where the utilities are paid from. Pat also asked to see the City of Hugoton utility bills for the Community Health Department as he believes one (1) of the bills they receive should belong to the Stevens County Physical Therapy building. Amy Jo said she will get him copies of the bills so he can look at the meter numbers to find out which buildings they go to.
Tony Martin and Jim Ghumm were in attendance. Tony said he was going to write up some specs for a new pickup and he was conversing with Jim about them. Jim told the commissioners it is a waste to write up specs at this time because it is hard to find vehicles or even get one built and have it in a decent time. He stated he is still waiting on two (2) pickups he had being built from 2021 and probably won’t see them until 2023. Pat asked Jim the worth of the pickup Tony wants to trade in. Tony also told the commissioners he would like to eventually get another pickup besides the one he is proposing now. Jim said the trade-in of Tony’s pickup is around $20,000.00. After further discussion, the commissioners decided if Tony can find a pickup listed at $65,000.00 or less they will discuss the find and make a determination if there needs to be bids or if they will forego the bid process. Jim said he will try to keep the cost below $65,000.00.
Tony told the commissioners the CAT loader was rebuilt at the cost of around $226,000.00. He said it comes with a ninety (90) day guarantee and if the auto repair shop notices anything else needing to be fixed it will be taken care of for free. The rebuild comes with a five (5) year or 6,000-hour warranty, whichever comes first. Right now, loaders are around $300,000.00 new, the county’s old one is estimated at $20,000.00. The commissioners told Tony to have the sales representative at the next commissioner meeting. Tony said the new oil distributor has finally been delivered.
Tony said he had Michelle pull up the total acres sprayed for weeds from the last several years. In 2020, 300 acres were sprayed; 2021, 460 acres were sprayed and in 2022, 530 acres were sprayed. He said two (2) weed spraying trucks are now being used to try spray weeds instead of just one (1).
Tony said the Stevens County Fair had a good turnout especially since the weather cooperated over the weekend.
Jim Bell and Steve Lewis came in and informed the commissioners they received word a former county resident had passed away and left the Museum in charge of her assets. They do not know the exact dollar amount but stated there is land and mineral rights with the bequest. They stated the museum will still not have enough funds to be self-sufficient but are appreciative of everything the county is doing to keep the museum open.
The commissioners discussed having the county spray for weeds at the museum instead of hiring it out as they feel it will be cheaper.
Amy Jo discussed the purchase of a mower at the airport stating they did not follow the bid process because they had not received the written policy before they purchased it. She also stated the Treasurer’s office has not received any invoices showing taxes have been paid on sales and have sent the department(s) e-mails requesting the information. The one percent (1%) sales tax issue was brought up and Amy Jo presented the commissioners with the meeting minutes stating the sales tax was first discussed as having a sunset clause which was taken out in another commissioner meeting in 2016. She further stated the Resolution 16-06 regarding the sales tax showing it had been stated with a sunset, yet the question on the 2016 ballot did not state anything about the sales tax having a sunset. She stated she has tried to contact the State of Kansas to find out if the county needs to follow the resolution or the ballot question and has yet to hear back.
Pat made a motion for the 4-H to pay for the utilities for the 4-H building. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Amy Jo presented the commissioners with a revised Resolution 22-7 Allowing MET towers to be built in Stevens County to be signed.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman