COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
JULY 27, 2020
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills/Minutes
9:00 – Discuss County Business
9:30 –
10:00 – Paula Rowden – Grant info
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session with all members present. Also present were Paul Kitzke, County Attorney; Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk and Ro Glenda Coulter, 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 | $ 65,677.49 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 60,036.05 |
| Airport | $ 1,707.71 |
| County Building | $ 1,081.00 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 12,060.38 |
| EMS | $ 5,937.77 |
| Fire | $ 3,034.46 |
| COVID Grant | $ 4,000.00 |
| Community Health | $ 17,703.06 |
| Community Health Grants | $ 50.72 |
| Sheriff | $ 31,130.35 |
| Emp P/R Misc W/H | $ 22.50 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 114.40 |
| Reg of Deed Tech Fund | $ 24.08 |
| TOTAL: | $ 202,579.97 |
LaDonna Hall, Bill Patrick and Rodney Kelling were in attendance this morning.
The commissioners discussed the Cares Act Spark fund and learned the committee is doing a great job in delegating where money should go. The committee will be meeting this afternoon at 3:00 PM in the commissioners meeting room.
Pat Hall asked Bill Patrick of Seaboard if he had any news he would be willing to share with the commissioners. Bill said the plant is going good and hopes to have it running in full capacity by the forth (4th) quarter of 2021. He stated the pandemic has not slowed down any business at the plant. William Newton will be the plant manager and has been working with Bill to find the most cost effective way to run the plant and provide jobs for the community.
Rodney Kelling requested an executive session over non-elected personnel for ten (10) minutes. Joe made a motion to go into executive session over non-elected personnel for ten (10) minutes. Pat seconded. Executive session began at 8:55 AM and concluded at 9:05 AM. No action taken.
Ted Heaton came in and stated he purchased an ozone machine instead of and ion one as it will go everywhere instead of just surface contact. He will be using the machine in the vehicles as well as the jail and his building to help prevent and COVID contagion.
Paula Rowden came in and told the commissioners she will be receiving $31,485.00 in grant funding for salary support, PPP, PPE and plans on giving her staff compensation for their work. She has through 2021 to disburse the funds. She is currently writing for a third (3rd) grant to help with funding for testing or possibly hiring a position for resource manager. There is another grant eligible up to $300,000.00 and she is only asking for $40,000.00 to receive for salary support for her staff and that grant will have until 2022 to be paid out. She stated her department was closed due to COVID but the staff still helped field calls related to COVID.
Joe asked Paula if she needed more staffing to help with the community health department and she said it would be helpful but no. Paula wants to give her staff a percentage in 2020 and 2021 as a bonus from these grants as it will not be coming from county money.
Pat said it would be a tough decision about giving her staff bonus money even if it is through a grant. Paul Kitzke said it is different because it is a specialized department. The commissioners asked Paula if she had a date for retiring and if she had someone lined up to take the position. Paula told them she would like to hire someone in 2021 to replace her later so she has time to train the new person how to do grant writing and go through training needed for the position.
Paula said at this time there have been a total of forty-two (42) positive cases which is still less than one percent (1%). Last she looked there were currently seven (7) active positives in Stevens County.
The Seward County Health Department is currently closed due to the staff testing as positive for COVID. The Stevens County Health Department is helping where they can even though they are not doing COVID testing and is having the Stevens County Hospital do the testing.
Pat said he approves the bonuses and salary support for the Community Health Department through grant funding Paula is receiving. Tron is in agreeance.
Vernon Anderson came in and said there is construction up north on some houses and the permits have been submitted. Joe asked if there is any requirement with permits within the Moscow City limits and Vernon told him there was not at this time but could look into it.
There are some buildings that have been put in along Road T and Road 18 that have not received a permit. Vernon was asked to look into it and see what can be done. Vernon said the Claggets are putting in some sheds and he has permits for those.
Vernon advised the commissioners they need to look at other prospects for his job as he will be retiring January 1, 2021.
Abatement Order for tax year 2019, number 259, was reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation abated –3,643 and tax assessed -$723.09.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman