COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:00 – Bid Opening – 4H Roof
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:00 – Chris Landrum – INA Alert
10:30 – Jayme Muncy – Employees
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session with all members present. 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. Joe 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 | $ 55,694.90 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 36,776.53 |
| Airport | $ 34,352.04 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 1,539.14 |
| EMS | $ 5,692.43 |
| Fire | $ 2,592.63 |
| Building Fund | $ 342.20 |
| Community Health | $ 12,023.04 |
| Road Machinery | $ 12,000.00 |
| Highway Improvement | $ 24,887.86 |
| Airport Grants | $ 11,577.76 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 114.40 |
| Sheriff | $ 31,248.33 |
| Emp P/R Misc W/H | $ 4,023.68 |
| COVID – SPARKS | $ 15,891.61 |
| TOTAL: | $ 248,756.55 |
Rodney Kelling came in and told the commissioners he wants to replace the 1965 Ford F660, which holds 1600 gallons of water, with a new fire truck. He plans to take the 1990’s model 4×4 fire truck to Moscow. He said the Fire Equipment fund has enough funds.
Joe said he feels the fire truck is a higher priority at this time as opposed to a new first responder truck. Rodney said he will get a spec sheet and bring it in for approval to set up a bid opening date.
Pat made a motion to pay the Attorney and County Counselor fees in 2021the same as the previous year for the total amount of $6369.00 per month. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Ron Honig with the 4H was in attendance for bid openings along with Nate Wolters from Wolters Construction. Two (2) bids were presented to the commissioners:
- Wolters Construction $14,230.00
- AK Roofing $31,247.00
Nate told the commissioners the bid was without the electrical work. They did receive a quote from Hancock Electric in the amount of $2,145.12 to run the electric with LED lighting after the roof has been repaired.
Comparing the bids with the spec sheets and further discussion, the commissioner reached a decision.
Joe made a motion to accept the bid from Wolters Construction to repair the 4H roof in the amount of $14,230.00. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Pat made a motion to accept the electrical quote work on the 4H building from Hancock Electric for $2,145.12. Joe seconded, motion carried.
Travis Coulter was in attendance representing AK Roofing.
Ron Honig told the commissioners the 4H did receive a grant from Southern Pioneer Electric to help fund the roof repair.
Pat said he would like to see the work completed by May 1, weather providing.
Ron Honig requested approval from the commissioners to make more improvements to the 4H building with private funds. He would like to look at new flooring and making repairs to the restrooms. The commissioners were not opposed to Ron’s suggestions.
Tony Martin presented the commissioners with a bid sheet for two (2) pickups and requested to have the bid opening on February 22 at 10:00 AM. Tron suggested Tony send specs and opportunity to bid to more than one (1) car dealer so the bids will be fair. He stated policy asks for more than one (1) company to bid but understands if only one (1) company submits bids.
Tony discussed planning and zoning with the commissioners. He stated the dairy is adding an aerator to their system to trap gasses to haul to California. He asked the commissioners if they will be requiring a permit for the addition. He said some counties do require a permit and others do not. Tony doesn’t feel there needs to be a permit for this addition.
Tony told the commissioners Stoppel Dirt Contractors wanted to see about getting a quote to receive 120 loads of dirt for some property. Tony told them the county will need dirt to cap off one of the solid waste pits as well as already promising the Christian Brothers dirt. The commissioners agree with Tony and do not believe it to be feasible to let out 120 loads of dirt.
Jan Crawford spoke with Tony and asked if he could mow the ditches for Stevens County. Tony told the commissioners Stanton County hires out people to mow the ditches but they also have fewer employees. Currently it takes ten to twelve (10 – 12) days with two (2) fifteen foot (15’) mowers working Monday thru Friday, eight (8) hours a day. Tony said Jan has two (2) eight foot (8’) tractor mowers which will take more time than the county. Tony is not interested at this time due to the possibility of something happening to Jan’s mowers because of the ditches, signs and other issues. Paul said if the commissioners become interested in the future, they would need to bid out the work.
Pat came back to the pickups Tony wants to trade in for new. He would like a statement on the spec sheets stating if the commissioners do not like the trade in value, the county will not have to allow the trade. Tony was instructed to bid two (2) bid sheets requesting a bid sheet with trade-in value and a bid sheet without trade-in value.
Joe said the intersection at Road 18 and Road V between the cotton gin and Shaddix stock yard is very dangerous. He said trucks are running the stop signs and will cause a wreck one of these days. Tony said he will check if there is anything he can come up with for drivers to be more careful.
Pat asked Paul about the tax sale and Paul stated the new hire in Tate & Kitzke Law Office has done tax sales in the past and is well versed in such issues. Paul also said the reason it is taking this long is because the Kansas Governor has put a halt to such issues due to COVID19.
Amy brought up the issue of extending COVID leave.
Pat made a motion to not extend COVID leave for the 2021 year for county employees. Joe opposed at this time. Tron tabled the discussion for later. Motion not carried.
Amy introduced Resolution 21-3 adopting the SW Kansas Multi-hazard, Multi Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan which Rodney handed in last week.
Joe made a motion to accept Resolution 21-3 adopting the SW Kansas Multi-hazard, Multi Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Amy discussed issues with the hospital and trying to grasp a better understanding of the chain of command. She told the commissioners the Sparks Committee had discussed receiving aid for the hospital for uninsured patients receiving COVID testing/treatments at the hospital and clinic. She said there is a government program which pays for the uninsured to receive treatment due to COVID. At this time the hospital is not participating in the program. She said the SPARKS Committee feels the county hospital should try to help the community. The SPARKS Committee will continue to help uninsured with COVID until February 15th when the funds will be spent in full.
Pat asked Amy to have Ross come into the next meeting on February 22nd to discuss a possible back up person to help when Ross is unable to fulfill his job duties.
Jayme Muncy, the County Treasurer, came in and requested hiring additional personnel to work in the Treasurer’s office. She said she has received several complaints of people having to wait. With only three (3) employees, including herself, she is finding it difficult to keep the public satisfied. She said she is looking at the start pay to be between $11.00 and $14.00 per hour depending on the skill level. Pat explained with the cost of benefits, the budget did not allow for an additional employee. Joe asked Jayme, to help with costs, if a part-time person would be beneficial for her office. Jayme said the person would need to be fingerprinted and vetted by the state. She is not sure anyone going part-time would want to go to the trouble to have all that done. Joe said the person could work thirty (30) hours and less a week. The commissioners asked if Donna Norton or Amy Rich from the County Clerk’s office would be able to help. Amy said she doesn’t see how they could help due to the checks and balances. Meaning the County Clerk is to check the Treasurer’s statements and the auditors and insurance company would probably not like the idea.
The commissioners agreed to Jayme hiring a part-time person.
Chris Landrum with INA Alert came in to introduce himself and the company. He told the commissioners they installed the cameras in the courthouse and he has been talking with the Sheriff’s office to see if they could be of further assistance. Chris told the commissioners they installed panic buttons and other security measures in buildings as well as key card doors to help with public access. If they choose to lock the building to public access for any reason, it is easier for an employee to swipe their card for entry as opposed to keys. The commissioners thanked him for coming in and later discussed having INA Alert help with the Wellness Center key card system.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman