COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 19, 2019
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:00 – Presentations of gifts for 10yr and 50 yr employees
9:30 – Tony Martin – Road & Bridge
10:00 – Sealed Land Bids
10:30 – Open
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 | $ 116,683.24 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 92,956.73 |
| Airport | $ 1,661.55 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 4,114.24 |
| EMS | $ 4,984.96 |
| Fire | $ 2,569.98 |
| Community Health | $ 18,819.32 |
| Sheriff | $ 38,443.01 |
| Employee P/R Misc W/H | $ 61.08 |
| Alcohol Treatment | $ 250.00 |
| Diversion | $ 71.00 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 112.50 |
| $ 280,727.61 |
Rodney Kelling produced an encumbrance letter for the commissioners. He has requested the amount of $53,000 to be rolled into the EMS Equipment fund to go toward the purchase of a new ambulance. Also, the encumbered $21,000 be rolled into the Fire budget to go toward the purchase of fire trucks. The commissioners asked Rodney what else he would like to discuss.
Rodney said he would like to know if the commissioners would authorize Stevens County Fire Department to participate in the Task Force that several counties are partaking in. He said the area would be 100 to 150 mile radius of the city of Ulysses in Grant County. He said it will be an asset to submit to the State of Kansas and that Stevens County would only have to send or use resources that are available at the time of an emergency within another county. He said if Stevens County cannot provide help at the time of an event at another county, we are not obligated to help.
The commissioners questioned the difference between Mutual Aid and the Task Force. Rodney said Mutual Aid is for directly surrounding counties and the Task Force is a wider radius.
The commissioners said they will wait until they see the by-laws before they agree to the Task Force.
The commissioners reviewed the Clerk of the District Courts encumbrance letter for $41,806.75 to pay for a new server, transcriptionist and outstanding attorney fees, printers and other invoices dated for the 2018 year.
Tron moved to accept Rodney’s encumbrance of $53,000 to be rolled into the EMS Equipment fund and $21,000 to be rolled into the Fire Equipment fund. Also, the Clerk of the District Courts encumbrance of $41,806.75 for upcoming and previous charges. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Pat noticed the hay bales are finally getting ground down and disposed of.
Phillip Willis came in to get signatures for the Kansas State report on Noxious Weed. Joe asked if the scales were up and running. Phillip said the scales are installed and ready to be operated today.
Vernon Anderson with Planning and Zoning came in to update the commissioners on Jeff Newlon putting a trailer on his property.
Jan Leonard came in to request that the commissioners reappoint Adrian Howie for the Eco Devo board.
Joe made a motion to accept the reappointment of Adrian Howie for the Eco Devo Board. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Phillip Willis, Elaine Rowden, Tony Martin, Betty Rosel, Mike Rickman, Undersheriff TJ Steers, Richard Clinesmith and Sheriff Ted Heaton were present. The commissioners gave out gifts for the employees that have been working for Stevens County for ten (10) years and a gift to Betty Rosel for working fifty (50) years. Mike Rickman with the wellness center has worked part time for ten (10) years. The full time ten (10) year employees were Jim Miller (not present) with the landfill, Severino Cruz (not present) and TJ Steers with the Sheriff’s department and Richard Clinesmith with the Road and Bridge department. A fifty (50) year gift was given to Betty Rosel along with a plaque commemorating her years of service.
Tony Martin came in to turn in his 2018 annual report he just received back from the State. He told the commissioners the department will start their four (4), ten (10) hour days per week on April 29th and will go back to regular work hours and days on August 29th.
Tony said he has an employee that will be retiring March 1, 2019 and he would like to have permission to hire someone to replace this position plus an extra employee. He said he still has an employee off work with knee infection and the employee that had an accident has returned to work. He said he can work with a replacement for the retiree but would like to have at least another new hire as well. Joe did confirm that the Road and Bridge department is shorthanded. The commissioners agreed to allow Tony to hire two (2) new employees.
Kim Harper came in and gave an update on the gas line they are trying to put in for the area farmers. He said there is about a mile and a half (1 ½) they can’t get an easement on. He is requesting a right-of-way to get away from the corner and complete the section line where there is no road. Tony said he is fine with the right-of-way as he doesn’t see any issues. Kim said the county requires metal casing under roads and wanted to request changing that to a poly casing as long as it is seven (7) feet deep or more. Tron was reaffirmed that Hanson keeps the lines marked for Dig-Safe. Kim informed Joe it would cost an estimated $1,000.00 more per crossing to go with metal casing. Tony said steel is the better but poly is okay as long as they go seven (7) feet or deeper.
Kelsee Burnett, the Clerk of the District Court, came down on request of the commissioners. They informed her that the county offices have decided to use Gilmore Solutions as opposed to Nex-Tech. Kelsee said she will look into that and see what they can offer her.
Joe made a motion to rescind the motion to decline Paula Rowden’s encumbrance for $16,000.00 toward a new vehicle and to accept her request. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Amy Jo informed the commissioners the Moscow Senior Center is appreciative of the new door at the center and said it seems to help with utilities.
Amy Jo asked the commissioners to clarify the payment for mandatory classes and certificates. The commissioners stated the county is responsible for the payment of mandatory classes and certificates from other departments since these are mandatory, this includes: EMT, Fire, Sheriff, County Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, GIS, Appraiser, Road and Bridge, Noxious Weed and Landfill.
Amy Jo confirmed that Steve Campbell with Road and Bridge has turned in his retirement notice stating his last day of work will be Friday, March 1, 2019.
Amy Jo informed the commissioners she may be asking for employees to donate some of their sick time as one of her employees will be needing some time off due to surgery.
The county land bids for a five (5) year lease were opened at 10:00 am with Hal Schechter, Pam Peachey, Christine Norton and John Riddlesperger in attendance. The commissioners had five (5) sealed bids to open.
- Tract 1 – 250 acre pastureland – SE 3-33-37, NE 10-33-37
- Hal & Brenda Schechter – $10.25 per acre, per year
- Chris Crawford – $8.00 per acre, per year
- Christine Norton and Pam Peachey – $7.00 per acre, per year
- Gary Baughman – $8.00 per acre, per year
- Tract 2 – 51 acres dry farm ground: N1/2 of SW 10-33-37
- Gary Baughman – $27.50 per acre per year
- Tract 3 – 82 acres dry farm ground: E side of SW 21-33-37
- John Riddlesperger – $31.25 per acre, per year
- Gary Baughman – $27.50 per acre, per year
Joe made a motion to accept the high bids for each tract of land. Tract 1 to Hal and Brenda Schechter, Tract 2 to Gary Baughman and Tract 3 to John Riddlesperger. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Paula Rowden came in and presented the commissioners with a spec sheet for a Community Health department vehicle. Joe said he would like to see them get a new vehicle instead of a used one. Paula said she is trying to stay within a certain budget amount. The commissioners told Paula to try to get more than one (1) bid for the vehicle and have it opened at the next commissioner meeting on March 4th.
Phillip Willis said it will be $50,000 minimum to have permits and surveyor costs for adding a new pit at the landfill. He said the landfill will need a new pit in the next five to ten (5 – 10) years. He would like to get all of the permits and surveys started. The State requires that once a permit is done, the contractor has to go by the plans exactly for the pit in order for it to be approved by the state. The commissioners agreed to have Phillip check into the permits and expanding the landfill. He is also to get estimates and quotes plus anything else that is required.
The commissioners discussed a quitclaim to the City of Hugoton on the fourteen (14) acres that the City of Hugoton has been claiming, unless the landfill needs to have that portion of property for needs.
Tron suggested a commissioner go to the City of Hugoton and see if they want the land surveyed. Joe said he would talk to Phillip about the landfill expansion to see if is set up for the landfill.
Vanessa Willis came in to ask the commissioners if they have thought any more about elected officials pay. Tron said it has not been discussed any further.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman