COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 2, 2019
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
8:45 – Airport Board
9:15 – Kirk Heger – Freedom Pipeline
9:30 – Tony Martin – Road & Bridge
10:00 – Open Bids for Hugoton Sr Center Freezer
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 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 | $ 119,796.68 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 96,174.42 |
| Airport | $ 1,661.55 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 5,790.90 |
| EMS | $ 5,102.78 |
| Fire | $ 2,666.79 |
| Community Health | $ 13,946.04 |
| Sheriff | $ 35,727.82 |
| Employee P/R Misc W/H | $ 223.98 |
| Ambulance Bequest | $ 300.00 |
| TOTAL: | $ 281,390.96 |
Amy Jo Tharp passed out information she received from Medical Transport Solutions concerning life flight stating the county could join the MASA and be eligible for insurance for any life flight needed instead of a specific one. The commissioners at this time are not interested in the MASA program. She also handed out information about the Kansas Community Corrections offering a website for furniture they hand make.
Rodney Kelling came in and told the commissioners the radios will be ordered this week and hopefully the hospital will be able to contribute $11,000.00 towards the purchase. He said the new ones will be in place by January and will be digital. Tron asked Rodney if the county always uses Snyder Radio for these devices. Rodney said the other two (2) radio places he knows of charges too much of a travel fee.
Rodney said he is sending out the ambulance bid this week and would like to have the bid opening on the second meeting in February at 10:00 AM. Pat suggested the county try to bid out the ambulance that is getting replaced and to change the spec sheet to state with a trade and without a trade-in.
Joe asked Rodney what he thought about a burn ban. Rodney suggested Stevens County should go by what some of the surrounding counties are doing and make the decision day-by-day. He said citizens can call in and ask if a ban is in place and find out. This will help some of the farmers burning as long as the weather is permissible.
Vanessa Willis came in and discussed the taxes. She said if an individual is behind on taxes she directs her employees to instruct the individual that what they are paying will be applied to past due taxes to help keep them from losing their property and keep them off the tax sale. The tax documents which are mailed out state any money paid will be paid to prior taxes.
Paul said he is visiting with someone on a resolution to discuss real estate taxes.
Vanessa said it is her understanding the company who is conducting the tax sale must have all past due taxes paid or the property will still be included in the tax sale. Vanessa suggests waiting to see what the resolution states.
Erick Nordling and Matt Rome from the airport board came and requested Robert Davis be appointed for a new term as a board member.
Joe made a motion to appoint Robert Davis for a regular term as airport board member. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Discussion was made between Erick, Amy Jo, Vanessa and Matt about the accounting aspect of the airport since it operates on the counties FEIN. Vanessa and Amy Jo expressed their concerns with the accounting being kept in good balance and it is hard to do when the airport doesn’t bring in all of their checks and vouchers. At the current time, Vanessa shows the airport grant is negative about $50,000.00 and she does not know if money has came in or if something is being missed. Amy Jo explained the airport board is still advising the commissioners of things that will be done out at the airport concerning runways, hangars, radios, employees, board members and everything else. She expressed the auditors stated since the airport operates under the county FEIN then all the monies coming in or going out need to be accounted for in the Clerk and Treasurers office like other departments.
Erick said he had given Paul Kitzke several statutes regarding the airport and how it should be ran and has yet to hear Paul’s opinion on the statutes concerning the airport. Erick also implied if the county wants to take control then there should be no need for a board. He also stated the airport has always been ran the way it is now and would have been in violation with the CPA’s since the day the county took ownership. Erick asked if the airport is supposed to spend down their reserves or not. He said after paying the employee, the appropriated amount only totals around $6,000 for the year.
Commissioners discussed the spending of the airport reserves and rested on the fact all other entities had to spend down their reserves.
Paul said he would speak with Theresa (county’s CPA) about the airport to get clarification with the statutes Erick has sent him. Joe said he would like to hear what the airport board’s opinions on the financial side. Paul suggested Erick and Matt explain the situation at the airport meeting and tell how the finances should be ran. Matt agreed he would like to take the accounting portion off of the airport board’s shoulders and let the County Clerk and County Treasurer take care of the operation in the monies area. Amy and Vanessa explained they only receive money and pay out money in the Airport fund account and they are not responsible for requesting grants or making sure grant monies are paid to the airport, other than to inform the airport what money has been received and paid out.
Tron asked Matt and Erick to meet again at the next commissioner meeting on December 16th.
Kirk Heger, chairman of Freedom Pipeline came in and asked the commissioners to allow them to use the right-of-way from Moscow to Highway 51, approximately five (5) miles in distance. Pat said the discussion was brought up before and he understood the farmers owned the land and the county only has right-of-way if they need it.
Joe suggested the Freedom Pipeline gets landowner approval first and if the landowner does not give approval then the county would allow use of the right-of-way. Kirk stated that most of the owners are part of the Freedom Pipeline. Tron suggested time is of the essence and Kirk needs an answer soon.
Discussion was tabled until after the Senior Center bid opening.
Karen Rich and Barbara Beeks were in attendance for the Senior Citizens bid opening on the freezer. Tron opened the only sealed bid received and was given four (4) different quotes, two (2) quotes were for a three (3) door freezer and the other two (2) quotes for a two (2) door freezer. The commissioners asked Karen and Barbara which freezer is currently out. They replied the two (2) door freezer is down and the three (3) door freezer at this time is on a twenty-four (24) hour watch.
Ben E. Keith
- Three (3) door freezer
- Maxximum Model # MXCF-72FD – $4,949.00
- Continental Refrigerator Model #3F – $7,274.90
- Two (2) door freezer
- Maxximum Model #MXCF-49FD – $3,449.00
- Continental Refrigerator Model #2F – $5,341.00
The commissioners asked Karen and Barbara to look over the bids and see what the difference is between the different bids if any. Karen and Barbara said they didn’t notice anything that would make a big difference. The commissioners decided to allow the Senior Center to purchase the two (2) door freezer and requested them to send out another bid request next year for the three (3) door freezer.
Pat made a motion to accept the bid from Ben E. Keith for the two (2) door Maxximum Model #MXCF-49FD priced at $3,449.00. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Discussion continued on the Freedom Pipeline and Kirk said they would like to start construction by the first of the year. Tron said it would take two (2) years to get completed and Kirk stated the phase two (2) went faster than planned. Paul will look into the right-of-way on a section line with no road and who has control. He will also look into the fact it is for utility purposes.
Tron suggested Kirk come back on December 16th to the meeting and hopefully have more information on if the farmers agree or not so the commissioners know which way to go and give Paul time to look into the statutes on the issue. Kirk said he would be on the road and would not be able to attend in person but could get someone here or even a phone conference.
Tony said he has no problem as long as they stay twenty-seven to thirty (27-30) feet off the edge of the right-of-way just in case a road gets put in.
Pat suggested the longevity gifts be passed out at the meeting on December 16th at 10:00AM.
Elaine Rowden can keep the Wellness Center laptop, after it gets replaced, for a fee of $25.00.
Amy Jo Tharp stated the candidates running for county offices next year will pay the registration fee pertaining to the one percent (1%) of the starting salary.
Joe made a motion to accept the 2020 holidays as stated. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Abatement Order for tax year 2018 number 158 was reviewed and approved by the commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; Abatement value -160 and tax -$26.11.
Abatement and Added Orders for tax year 2019 numbers 162-171 were reviewed and approved by the commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; added value 1,810 and added tax $343.65. The Abatement value -10,551 and tax -$1,920.34. The total valuation deducted is 8,741 and tax assessed is -$1,576.69.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman