COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 17, 2018
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with Joe D. Thompson, Pat Hall and Tron Stegman. Also present were Paul Kitzke, County Attorney; Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk and RoGlenda Coulter with the Hugoton Hermes. Joe called the meeting to order. The minutes from the previous meeting were approved. Pat moved to approve the county vouchers. Tron 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 | $ 76,694.76 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 97,567.46 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 3,538.88 |
| EMS | $ 6,694.25 |
| Fire | $ 5,689.24 |
| Community Health | $ 13,102.46 |
| Sheriff | $ 34,657.17 |
| Airport | $ 1,615.39 |
| Fair Board | $ 4,385.37 |
| Services for Elderly | $ 5,939.86 |
| Extension | $ 6,735.47 |
| Hospital | $ 77,338.06 |
| Alcohol Treatment Fund | $ 237.50 |
| Insurance Agency Damages | $ 998.85 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 18,000.00 |
| Emp P/R Misc W/H | $ 42.72 |
| County Building | $ 2,708.50 |
| $ 355,945.94 |
Phillip Willis with Landfill/Noxious Weed came in and said the sewer at the plant is up and going. He also mentioned the concrete for the scales will be worked on this week. He told the commissioners the scales should be operational by the first of the year.
Vanessa Willis, County Treasurer, was in questioning about tax sales. She said there are several people who have not paid taxes since 2009. Pat said the tax sale needs to be taken care of and not left for people to dismiss. Vanessa said if the commissioners want to go forward with the tax sales, she would like things to get started because Greg Bond will be leaving soon. She also informed the commissioners that some county treasurers use a company out of Wichita to help with the tax sales.
Vanessa said she would like some input on the bankruptcy forms. She said most counties she spoke with use their county attorney but the treasurers before her always took care of the forms.
Paul asked Vanessa how many tracts were not paid to date and she said it started with seventeen (17) and now there are four (4). Some people only paid up to 2013 and haven’t paid any more toward taxes. Pat said the delinquent tax rate is at five percent (5%) when it used to be at one percent (1%). Paul said by holding tax sales there are expenses to look at to see if it would be worth the sale. Expenses such as newspaper ads, postage, serving papers and other miscellaneous charges. Vanessa said the charges should be exculpated because of the $600.00 finance charge to cover the costs of having a tax sale.
Vanessa presented the commissioners with some wage issues among elected officials and other employees. She feels the elected officials are not getting decent salaries considering the amount of work they put in plus there is the possibility of imprisonment if not done correctly. Pat said the commissioners appreciate the work the elected officials put in and all the wages and salaries were pretty much set before he was elected into office.
Brendan Geisick with Gilmore Solutions and IT outsource company came in to provide the commissioners with breakdowns on costs for running IT for the county. He gave costs for what the current IT department does for the county which includes the courthouse and community health department. He also had costs for securing the other county entities as well. These costs will include fixing issues with computers, 24/7 security, dealing with software vendors, keeping everything updated and running efficiently. He also stated their wait time call back is no more than fifteen (15) minutes.
Brendan also presented the commissioners with using Office 365 for e-mails so the county will have a more secure way with e-mail. Gilmore Solutions will also up the firewall with Fortgate firewall system.
Joe inquired about hardware replacement schedules and how that would affect the county as far as cost and what it would entail. Brendan said some of the equipment will have to be replaced because it is the property of Nex-Tech.
Tony Martin with the road and bridge department informed the commissioners that a truck is down again and has been taken to Foley Caterpillar for repair. They are looking at anywhere from $5,000.00 to $15,000.00 for repairs because of possibly needing a new head.
Joe asked Tony how the other vehicles were fairing for road and bridge. Tony said some mowers need rebuilt. He also stated he would like some of the funds left over from this year’s budget to be carried over to the Special Highway Department fund. He would also like some of those funds to be available to help pay for the scales at the landfill.
Tony presented the commissioners with the Fair elected officials for approval.
Pat made a motion to approve the fair board. Tron seconded, motion carried.
Sheriff Ted Heaton and Deputy Adam Mauk checked in.
Bobby Bonner with Cimarron Basin came in to inform the commissioners the inter-local agreement that was previously signed, was rejected by the Attorney General’s office. There was not a resolution allowing Cimarron Basin’s board chair to sign the inter-local agreement on behalf of the board of county commissioners.
The commissioners signed Resolution 18-11 allowing the Cimarron Basin’s board chair to sign the inter-local agreement on KSA 75-5290 for the Community Corrections Act on behalf of the board of county commissioners.
Amy Jo asked the commissioners about the previous meeting with the full-time employees receiving a $1,200.00 raise during the year of 2019. She inquired if the commissioners wanted to have the money manually put into payroll at each pay period, if it should be divided out into an hourly wage to be automatically entered into payroll or, if they wanted to entertain the idea of it being a Christmas bonus. The commissioners said to divide the $1,200.00 into hourly wage raise to be put automatically into payroll.
Angela Eichman, Seward County Appraiser came in to present the commissioners with costs and employment agreements to look over. Joe asked Angela what her plan would be if she were to take over as Stevens County Appraiser. She said she would come in and work. There would be times that she would like the clerks to take classes to help out and if any would like to learn to appraise they would be taught. If they don’t want to go out into the field and do some fieldwork, Angela said there is plenty to do in the office.
Joe asked if Morton County appraiser clerks work in the field or do anything different than Stevens County. Angela said they go out into the field and take pictures and sometimes measurements.
Angela stated she would like the county to provide a vehicle for her because the cost to pay mileage would be more expensive in the long run than owning a vehicle for appraisers. She also told the commissioners that she does all of the hearings if any needs to be done. Joe asked her how long it will take her to get Stevens County up and running to where it should be after changing. She said it depends on what is known.
The commissioners asked Lori Rome, Ginny Marquis and Lynne Webb to give input on changing from Landmark to Seward County Appraiser with McCully and Associates. Joe did inform them there is no significant money being saved.
Lynne inquired if Cynthia Wellbrock was signed to a four (4) year resolution or contract to complete Greg Wellbrock’s term. The commissioners said that will be looked into to make sure there will be no issues with contracts or terms.
Ginny said right now the county has a good deal with Landmark and they have served the county for over thirty (30) years. She said the fact that Landmark is trying to hire two (2) new appraisers to cover four (4) counties when Landmark retires and all the training and schooling that goes along with being a certified appraiser, is a good deal for the county. She said Landmark will help the certified appraisers and Cindy when they can if there are issues. Landmark and Cindy know how to do oil and gas that is the main staple of Stevens County.
Tron remarked that Landmark will be leaving in three to four (3-4) years and there will be change either way. Joe said that any decision made will make a difference. Things will not be the same because both directions bring change and the commissioners have to make the decision on what would be best for the county.
Lynne asked the commissioners what the difference would be from acquiring two (2) new appraisers through Landmark and them not working out compared to using the Seward County appraiser and that possibly not working out.
Tron said change is coming either way. He expressed his thoughts on them being so unhappy they would consider quitting. Ginny said her and Lori can leave whenever because they have enough invested if they aren’t happy. Pat told Ginny that Landmark will not be around after four (4) years because Terry and Tom want to retire. Tron expressed his concern on the inter-local agreement with four (4) counties causing multiple issues.
Tron made a motion to hire Angela Eichman and McCully and Associates. Motion was opposed.
Tron made a motion to hire Angela Eichman as the Stevens County Appraiser and McCully and Associates to assist. This is contingent on the contract with Cynthia Wellbrock and the counselor’s approval of the contract with Angela Eichmana and McCully and Associates. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Abatement Orders for taxes year 2016 number 160, year 2017 number 106 and 2018 number 43,45 thru69, 71, 74-77, 79-86 were reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total value removed is 94,702 and relief assessment is $14,685.69. Added Orders for taxes year 2018 numbers 44, 70 and 72 thru 73, value added is 21,919 and tax assessment is $3,649.34.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Joe Thompson, Chairman