COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
MAY 20, 2019
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
8:45 – Steve Morris – Pond overflow
9:00 – Cimarron Basin – Tiffany Bowen/Bobby Bonner
9:15 – Phillip Willis – SW/NW
9:30 – Tony Martin – Road & Bridge
10:00 – Rodney Kelling – EMS Roof Bids
10:30 – Jan Leonard – Cotton Growers
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with all members present. Also present were Paul Kitzke, County Attorney; Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk and RoGlenda Coulter and Ruthie Wingat with the Hugoton Hermes. 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 | $ 45,926.04 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 83,074.88 |
| Airport | $ 1,661.55 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 32,948.52 |
| EMS | $ 6,949.21 |
| Fire | $ 2,309.91 |
| Community Health | $ 19,121.32 |
| Sheriff | $ 31,920.85 |
| Employee P/R Misc W/H | $ 242.50 |
| Alcohol | $ 250.00 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 111.78 |
| $ 224,516.56 |
Rex Evans checked in and asked if the commissioners had anything for him. They said everything looked fine so far.
Steve Morris came in and requested the county find a way for the Lake Russell water to be diverted to a lagoon or trenches to keep it from flooding the ten to fifteen (10-15) acres of land he farms to the east of the lake. Joe suggested just paying damages because digging a new lagoon and permits and engineering fees would be too costly.
The commissioners discussed several ideas to keep the water flow from going into the field. They did discuss that some years it doesn’t overflow and when two plus (2+) inches of rain fall in a short amount of time the water is hard to keep in a specific area without overflow. They also discussed all of the water that flows to the lake is from the airport and city of Hugoton and there is no way of stopping it. Discussion is tabled for later.
Jackson Sheets came in and informed the commissioners he is waiting for the company to get the technical data sheets on the polyurethane but he did submit his sealed bid to be opened at 10:00 AM.
Discussion was made about allowing the county employees a discount to the wellness center. Discussion was tabled.
Rodney Kelling came in and told the commissioners he is looking to sell the extended cab pickup and will have a minimum bid on it. The pickup has a generator, wench, light tower and has under 25,000 miles on it.
Cimarron Basin did not appear.
The commissioners called in Susan Schulte with GIS upon her request if there was time. Susan said since her computer equipment was updated to Windows 10, her scanner is not compatible. She said she spoke with a company and they quoted her $5,000.00 to $6,000.00 for a new scanner. She informed the commissioners that at this time she has her old computer hooked to the scanner and can scan to a USB and transfer to the new computer until she can get a lower quote on a scanner. Amy Jo told the commissioners that with the new equipment changes, the county is still below the approved amount in case Susan needs to use some of those funds for a scanner.
Phillip Willis came in and told the commissioners Kerry Hittle has resigned and turned in her two (2) week notice. He will put an ad in the newspaper for a new clerk at the landfill.
Phillip told the commissioners the CAT dozer is down and repairs look to be around $35,000.00.
Pat brought up the non-paid taxes by county residents and said if the company Vanessa is using to get the taxes paid cannot get it done then the county definitely needs to take care of the matter.
Amy Jo asked the commissioners if they had a chance to look over their budget. Commissioners approved the commissioner budget for the auditors to review and for the budget workshop.
Amy Jo presented the commissioners with Resolution 19-03 Zoning Permit Fees for signatures.
Tony Martin came in, Joe asked him about the pond issue and creating a lagoon or trenches. Tony said it could be done but would be costly with the permits, time, materials and engineering needed to complete a new lagoon. He said it would pay itself off in approximately sixteen (16) years. Joe asked why the dip that was on the cemetery road by the lake was turned into a culvert. Tony said he did not know but assumed it was for safety issues.
Tony expressed his concerns again with drivers being inattentive and causing a fatality wreck Saturday at the intersection of BB and Road 26. He stated there are yield signs there.
Tony said the stacker should be in today or tomorrow and he is hoping it gets set up and running quickly.
The graders were checked and when the oil was drained they found some metal shavings in which he showed the commissioners a sample of what is coming out. He did say it appears to be clutch packs and if that is correct then the repairs will not be as expensive.
Tony requested an executive session for ten minutes on non-elected personnel wages.
Joe made a motion to go into executive session for ten (10) minutes for non-elected personnel wages. Pat seconded. Motion carried. Executive session began at 9:27 AM and ended at 9:32 AM.
Joe made a motion to give a raise to Robert Rich and Danny Hamilton at the Road and Bridge Department. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Sheriff Ted Heaton came in and said that Ghumm’s gave him an approximate figure of $18,000.00 for Duane’s truck that will be given to the appraiser. He also told the commissioners that it would be clean and ready by July 1 as requested. The new truck he is looking at will have a turbo 6 engine and is looking at spending around $26,000.00 out of the Sheriff Equipment Fund for it.
Richard Vertrees with AK Roofing and Construction, LLC, was in appearance for the EMS roof bid opening. He handed Commissioner Tron Stegman his bid to be opened. Amy Jo passed Tron the Aqua Shield bid given to her by Rodney Kelling.
Aqua Shield:
- Whole Roof
- Silicone $36,145.00
- Polyurethane $46,000.00
- Roof Repair
- Did not bid
AK Roofing & Construction, LLC
- Whole Roof
- Silicon No Bid
- Polyurethane $41,505.60
- Roof Repair
- Silicone No Bid
- Polyurethane $28,084.00
Joe asked Richard which product he would use on his shop. Richard responded by stating he would use the polyurethane over the silicone because you can get it thicker and has more protection from UV and stays more flexible.
Rodney asked how the polyurethane holds up under hail. Richard said it appears to hold up better than the silicone because it is a denser and more flexible product. Richard did acknowledge that the polyurethane is more expensive but the BSF has a life span of twenty (20) years which could last longer than that.
Pat made a motion to accept the lowest polyurethane bid for the whole roof which is AK Roofing and Construction, LLC in the amount of $41,505.60. The tan color at 45 mil thickness will be used and includes the removal of any vents not used, replacing all boots and to have a completion date within ninety (90) days from today. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Joe mentioned some issues arising with the Moscow Cemetery about the board. Amy Jo said she would look into the Moscow Cemetery to determine if they were a district and would relay any information she found out at the next commissioner meeting.
Jan Leonard with Eco Devo came in and told the commissioners that he received an email from the railroad informing him of them getting rid of twelve (12) old cars and replacing them with eight (8) new ones. Joe said it would be an idea to have small train rides.
Jan said the cotton gin is inquiring about a tax abatement on the construction of a new section that costs $3,721,750.00. He told the commissioners they should honor that tax abatement to keep businesses interested in Stevens County even if they go with a five to seven (5-7) year abatement.
Jan said in 2003 when the gin added on they received an abatement for 2004. Pat said it is different now because of the county’s valuation depreciation and the gin has 15 million dollars in equipment that is not taxable.
Tron said the cotton gin received help with the first and second phases which the valuation was better at the time to allow the county to help in that way. He said that cotton is doing better than the county. Joe said he is not opposed but wants some pilot money to come in.
Jan said he would have some representatives from the cotton gin come in for a discussion with the commissioners before December. Tron said he would like to know the numbers and wants the appraiser to assess to see what the property costs.
IRB was discussed but it is for new businesses and facilities to allow one hundred percent (100%) financing.
Abatement Orders for taxes year 2018 numbers 135-137 were approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 12,062 with a total tax refund assessment of $2,114.36.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman