COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
JUNE 03, 2019
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:00 – County Business
9:30 – Tony Martin – Road & Bridge
10:00 – NW Cotton Growers CEO’s – Tax Abatements
10:30 – WKCAC – Jonathan Herald
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 Winget 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 less the overdue amount of Community Health’s Pioneer Communications voucher. Motion was retracted. Joe made a motion to pay all vouchers. Pat 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 | $ 43,721.84 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 93,686.67 |
| Airport | $ 1,661.55 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 4,673.70 |
| EMS | $ 5,288.01 |
| Fire | $ 1,741.54 |
| Community Health | $ 27,236.88 |
| Sheriff | $ 35,323.75 |
| Employee P/R Misc W/H | $ 42.50 |
| Alcohol | $ 250.00 |
| Road Machinery Fund | $ 43,647.00 |
| Diversion | $ 180.00 |
| County Building | $ 5,558.75 |
| $ 263,012.19 |
Vanessa Willis, County Treasurer, came in and told the commissioners that according to the county by-laws of the Neighborhood Revitalization if a person/entity is late then they lose their reimbursement and membership with Neighborhood Revitalization program. She stated that two (2) people did not pay their taxes by the deadline and were over 7 days late. Both parties are under three years of the Neighborhood Revitalization. Vanessa wanted to inform the commissioners of the agreement in case someone calls in wanting to know why they are no longer considered part of the Neighborhood Revitalization program. She did inform the commissioners they have the right to make exceptions but that is up to them and not the Treasurer’s office.
Paul told the commissioners to consider what is best for the community. He suggested reimbursements be paid out because of the benefits and the parties already had to pay late fees. Joe stated they are businesses that help the community out.
Pat said they should stay consistent on whatever decision is made. Discussion is tabled for later in today’s meeting.
Rodney Kelling came in and presented an ad for the truck the Fire/EMS has for sale. The commissioners agreed with the ad and it will be posted in the Hugoton Hermes.
Tron asked Rodney about an incident in town which involved the KDHE and some individuals scrapping metal who had some thimet 20G in an old canister. The KDHE will be contacting Rodney later today to give him instructions on disposing of the chemical after they speak with the Department of Agriculture.
Amy Jo informed the commissioners the Moscow Cemetery is their own entity and is not county owned.
Amy Jo told the commissioners she will be purchasing new election equipment from Election Source without the results software as it is not in her budget for this year. She did tell them, if possible, she plans on purchasing the software in 2020 with any remaining election funds.
Tony Martin said they are starting to patch and some roads are ready to chip seal. They are patching Sunbelt Feeders now and will overlay soon. He has had calls about Road 6 by Riverbend Feeders and said the two (2) miles south of Grant County is bad and he is not sure it can be repaired without tearing the road up and starting from scratch. Tony would like to rent a recycler and do the two (2) miles with it being ready to overlay next year. The cost of that would be around 40 to 50 thousand dollars. He is hoping to find a recycler he can rent for one (1) week instead of thirty (30) days.
Tony said the cost to repair the grade is estimated at $26,217.73. He said it is a 2008 with 12,631 hours on it the engine was rebuilt in 2015 and with a new transmission it would keep for a longer term. He suggests making the repairs at this time.
Sheriff Ted Heaton said Ghumm’s gave him an estimated trade-in value for the pickup they plan to give the Appraiser is $19,275.00. Ted said the purchase for the new pickup is $45,035.00 and if the county pays for the trade-in value the cost for the new Sheriff’s department truck would be $25,760.00.
Joe made a motion to pay the Sherriff’s department fund $19,725.00 for the trade-in value of the 2011 pickup to obtain it for the Appraiser’s office. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Amy Jo told the commissioners Cynthia Wellbrock came in to her office and they discussed her term as appraiser. Amy Jo stated the last thing she received from the Appraiser was an interim of six (6) months for Cynthia to take Greg’s position and no resolution or contract has been made since, due to the changes Landmark was looking at. Cynthia told Amy Jo that her last day will be May 31 and the county cannot go any time without an appraiser. Cynthia also informed Amy Jo that when the interim of six (6) months was over she should have automatically filled Greg’s term to June 30 of 2021. She would like to be compensated for the remainder of the term.
The commissioners requested Paul look into what Cynthia told Amy Jo about fulfilling Greg’s position since the interim deadline has passed. Paul asked Amy Jo to find out from Cynthia where that is in the statutes so he could look into it further.
Amy Jo asked the commissioners to make a decision on the tabled discussion Steve Morris presented them with at the June 20th meeting regarding the overflow of the ponds into the farm land. The commissioners said they will not build a lagoon and will not entertain any idea on the subject at this time.
Amy Jo instructed the commissioners to discuss the tabled Neighborhood Revitalization so Vanessa can get the issue resolved on her end for disbursements. Tron said if they paid the penalty he doesn’t have a problem with them remaining on the Neighborhood Revitalization for the remainder of their term. Joe said the intent is not to penalize local businesses.
Pat made a motion to pay the Neighborhood Revitalization for the two parties that were late. Motion denied, Pat abstained.
Joe made a motion to pay the Neighborhood Revitalization for the two parties who paid late taxes. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Jan Leonard with Eco Devo was in attendance. Jon Nesler and Marc Kliewer representing the Northwest Cotton Growers came in to discuss with the commissioners about tax abatements. Tron said the county tries to give new businesses a tax exemption to help get more businesses in the community. Tron inquired what the benefit is for the county since it is not a new business and the county has exempted their taxes on two (2) separate occasions in the past for new building and adding on.
Marc Kleiwer said there is a large amount of local investors with profits for the county that assist in growth of the crops. Cotton is less water intensive and in the large scale for long term it is beneficial and helps the county as a whole. He stated the cotton plant could have been built in another county but they chose Stevens County which has added employment and growth for the community.
Joe said he still does not see the incentive for the county. Pat mentioned that the NW Cotton Growers is already receiving tax exemptions on the fourteen and a half million dollar fixtures through the state. Pat also stated the residents have higher taxes than they did seven (7) years ago. Joe said the addition will not add new jobs and more traffic will increase road repairs and the taxpayers will not see any relief.
Jan Leonard suggested the commissioners look at the cost analysis before they make a decision on whether or not to allow the tax abatement. Marc said there were plenty of benefits for the community and the plant is now completely owned by the producers and ownership has changed.
Jon Nesler said the supplement numbers planned on the construction being completed by February, 2019, but with the rain and weather they are hoping it will be completed by the first of the cotton season.
The commissioners want to see the cost benefits before they agree to any assistance for the third phase as Marc and Jon said the company is already looking into a fourth phase for the plant.
Jonathan Herald with WKCAC (Western Kansas Child Advocacy Center) came in to request funds for the 2020 year. He said they now have mobile medical units that go out and help with children who have been abused. The WKCAC is now trying to start a program similar to big brothers/sisters for those who have sustained abuse. For the year 2018, there were 519 cases of abuse in Kansas and six (6) of those were in Stevens County. He said the WKCAC is not looking for more money, just the $2,500.00 that the county has helped with every year.
Abatement Orders for taxes year 2018 numbers 139-157 were approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 68,853 with a total tax refund assessment of $11,234.90.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman