COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
MAY 07, 2018
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. Joe called the meeting to order. Pat moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Tron 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 | $ 131,521.63 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 138,180.42 |
| County Building | $ 17,038.04 |
| Employee Benefits | $ 1,252.00 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 11,556.49 |
| Airport | $ 4,846.17 |
| EMS | $ 14,215.84 |
| Fire | $ 7,548.83 |
| Diversion | $ 2,448.59 |
| Community Health | $ 35,347.04 |
| Fire Bequest | $ 5,152.68 |
| 911 E Wireless | $ 403.48 |
| Sheriff | $ 102,895.95 |
| Employee P/R Misc W/H | $ 438.40 |
| TOTAL: | $ 472,845.56 |
Joe told Rodney Kelling the commissioners would like to have an appreciation dinner for the fire department and the hard work that they have put in this year so far. Rodney said he would inform the fire fighters and get a day and time set up to do a dinner.
Rodney informed the commissioners that the “Code Red” worked well for the incident that occurred disabling electricity. He is going to put information in the paper and have a booth at the fair that will inform the residents on what “Code Red” is and how to sign up for it if they would be interested.
Joe discussed with Rodney the costs for the fires up to date and Rodney informed the commissioners that he believes the budget is hurting and has possibly already gone through half of the payroll budget. Rodney said because of the extreme drought he would advise the commissioners to consider a resolution that would ban fireworks for outside of the city limits for the 4th of July. Paul stated that if the resolution was adopted and the county received a good rain before the July 4th festivities the ban would be able to be lifted. Joe said that if the county received enough moisture then the resolution could be amended. Phillip Willis was in attendance and told the commissioners that the firework vendors need at least two to three (2-3) weeks in order to receive their products in time.
Pat made a motion to adopt Resolution 18-06, Banning fireworks from being ignited outside the city limits of Moscow and Hugoton. Tron seconded, motion carried.
Rodney informed the county counselor and the commissioners that some county residents are ignoring or do not realize that there is burn ban currently in effect. He said that he has had to discuss the situation with a few people and stated they can be looking at a $500 fine. Rodney also asked the Hermes to repost the ban in the paper.
Eunice Schroeder from the Library came in to give her budget explaining that there had to be a raise in the budget for some items but the employee benefits had decreased. She understands that the library is held at 2.5 mils and informed the commissioners that there are some savings that can help for the 2019 year.
Eunice also brought in a memorandum of understanding between the county and the library. She asked the commissioners if the maintenance personnel can put up the Christmas lights this year she also informed the commissioners that she told the maintenance personnel there was a trash can on the north side of the library that needs to be emptied on occasion and also to put dirt down on the north side along the foundation to help divert water away from the building. The commissioners agreed to the memorandum of understanding for the time being.
Joe told Eunice that he does expect a ten percent (10%) valuation loss for the 2019 year and to be ready to expect it to hurt everyone’s budgets.
Pat instructed the Hugoton Hermes and the County Clerk to put the three (3) sheds that are at the wellness center in the paper and on the County’s Facebook page up for bid. He said that the bids will be opened at the next commissioner meeting on Monday, May 21, 2018. The gray building is 12’X12’, brown building is 10’X12’ single door and the white building with attached carport is 11’X18’ with an 18’X25’ carport.
Phillip Willis presented the commissioners with the budgets for the solid waste, noxious weed and rodent control departments. Phillip said that the tipping fees have helped the county out. In 2016, $72,056 was raised, 2017 had $65,757 raised and for this year to date is $19,827 raised in tipping fees alone. He stated there was nothing else to report at this time.
Dalky Davis with Davis Pest Control from Liberal, Kansas, came in to present the commissioners with a proposal to spray the county buildings. He said the spraying would be guaranteed for inside and outside the county buildings. After reviewing the proposal from Mr. Davis, the commissioners decided to pass on his services at this time.
Joe moved to reimburse the bills that the Moscow Senior Center presented for some building supplies such as light bulbs and ceiling panels for the center in the amount of $206.69. Tron seconded, motion carried.
Jan Leonard with the Eco Devo board came in to inquire if they have to provide audit reports for the county. He also informed the commissioners of a great find in the tunnel under the State Farm building. The tunnel went twenty (20) feet before it was collapsed in. There were three hundred sixty-seven (367) bottles of cod liver oil and other bottles with fluids or empty. Some of the bottles were given to a medical museum in Topeka which will be put on display and some bottles were given to the KU medical history board which agrees that this is the largest find of medical bottles. Jan also informed the commissioners that some of the bottles and information on the find will be at the Stevens County Museum.
Sheriff Ted Heaton informed the commissioners that Bob Lines retired as of May 1, 2018. He also told the commissioners that he does not intend on hiring anyone to replace Bob Lines’ position in the department.
Ted asked the commissioners how he should proceed with asking for bids for Sheriff vehicles now that there is only one auto dealer within the county. The last time he requested bids from outside counties he only received bids from the one dealership operating in Stevens County. Pat and Tron both agreed that purchasing vehicles from the one dealership within the county would be sufficient. He also informed the commissioners that he has one (1) truck under 100,000 miles and he would like to trade two (2) vehicles for one (1) due to having one (1) less employee.
Joe was discussing with Ted about the public’s safety if he doesn’t hire someone for Bob’s position. Ted said that working with one (1) less person is not an issue and will not be detrimental to the safety of the citizens of the county.
Gary Mostrom came in to discuss with the commissioners his concern of the Abengoa hay bales and what can be expected to happen. Paul informed Gary that Joe and himself went to a bankruptcy hearing in Wichita over Abengoa. He said that the judge ordered the money to be released to the land owners to help destroy the bales. However, Paul said there were several lawyers for Abengoa which he feels that even though the judge released funds to the land owners that these other lawyers will appeal the judge’s orders. This will take time going through all of the law proceedings. Paul also informed Gary that right now everything is tied up in Federal Court but will follow up to see if anything new arises.
Gary asked if Sonata is doing anything with the bales that are on the land that they purchased. Pat said it was an uninformed deal and no one really knows about the bales on the plant grounds. Pat also informed Gary that the county will probably never see any taxes because of a deal made with the Federal Government. Pat further explained that tax abatements are not something the county decides but that they come from the State of Kansas and the Federal Government. Joe said that Abengoa put a burden on the tax payers of Stevens County by road upkeep, fires, abatements and other issues.
Gary asked about allowing controlled burns for the hay bales and Joe explained that those bales can burn for over a week and still keep smoldering. Joe also stated that embers from the bales can land in dry fields yards away and cause more fires that would be harder to control and keep contained. Pat said the fire fighters would have to watch the bale fires twenty-four (24) hours a day until there is nothing burning to keep it a controlled environment.
Gary said he would like to be kept informed and updated on the hay bale situation. The commissioners said they will do what they can to inform the citizens when they know something.
Chris Lund with City on a Hill presented the commissioners with his budget and said that the funds Stevens County helps with is appreciated. The commissioners thanked him for coming in.
Joe said that some land the county owns but leased out to Pam Peachey needs to have the fence repaired to keep her horses in. She told Joe that she is willing to pay for half (1/2) of the materials for the north side of the pasture and would like to use a person that has to do community service for the labor aspect. Pat said having a non-county person making repairs on the fence could be a liability if anything were to happen. Paul said it would be possible to have the person sign a release of liability so the county would not be liable if any injury would happen while working on the fence. Pat said there are three hundred twenty (320) acres on that pasture and usually on a rental agreement it is the renter’s responsibility for the up keep. Tron said he would like to see how much the fence would cost before they make a decision and to have the laborer sign a waiver. This discussion has been tabled until the cost of the fence can be given and discussed.
Pat made a motion to appoint Sheryl Hayworth and David Eckert to serve on the Senior Citizens Board. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Pat brought in a discussion referring to employees and department heads working their allotted amount of hours per week that employees should not have to use their accrued time. Joe said the policy handbook states business hours listed per department and if those are your hours then those are the hours you are expected to work without comp time. Tron agreed with that statement because if a person only has to work forty (40) hours a week then they do not have to be in the office during regular business hours. Discussion was tabled for a later time.
Paula Rowden with the Community Health Department brought in her budget and informed the commissioners that there was a $12,000 increase in revenue from last year. Paula stated that by statute there are some services that the Community Health Department has to provide for the public.
Paula informed the commissioners that she was addressing them as the board of health for Stevens County. She said that the Community Health Department is responsible for disease investigation and containment, help with promoting the prevention of bad health and injury and being a model of public health. She said that she was successful in getting a grant for women’s health care which helps promote health care. Paula said they also are a part of environmental health and in the event there is a cesspool the department is to gain knowledge of the situation but is not in charge of taking care of the problem. Pat told Paula Vernon Anderson with the Planning and Zoning department would be responsible for the problem solving of a cesspool.
Paula told the commissioners that WIC services is a vital part of the Community Health Department and WIC gives numerous grants to help with maternal and child health in giving access to clinical care. WIC will pay Stevens County Health Department to go to Morton County one (1) to two (2) times a month to help with maternal and child health. WIC will pay one hundred percent (100%) of the salary and benefits to go to Morton County. Paula also informed the commissioners that WIC helps the local grocery store(s) with revenue.
Tron asked if Stevens County was comparable to other counties and Paula believes the county is comparable. She also said that Genesis is hopefully going to open Medicaid services for dental and feels that will be very beneficial for the Southwest area as there are very few dentists that accept Medicaid.
Paula requested a ten (10) minute executive session over non-elected personnel to discuss policies in the handbook. Pat made a motion to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel over the policies of the handbook. Tron seconded the motion to go into executive session beginning at 10:50am and to end at 11:00am in the Commissioners meeting room. Amy Jo Tharp was in the executive session along with Paula Rowden. County Counselor Paul Kitzke had to leave the meeting and was not present.
Pat made a motion to change the policy in the handbook to allow department heads the option to work non business office hours as long as their amount of hours a week are reached are not abused. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
M’Lynn Swartz and Loren Seaman with the Soil Conservation District came in to give the commissioners their budget request. M’Lynn said the state is giving four percent (4%) more than last year but the district is still cutting fifty-eight percent (58%) of salary along with a forty-nine percent (49%) decrease with benefits. However, the irrigation sales and water resource has been bringing in revenue. If the county could allocate $32,000 for the 2019 year, it would be helpful.
Joe stated his appreciation for some of their scholarship money to go to Moscow. M’Lynn said the annual poster contest and scholarship applications that were turned in helped them to be recognized nationally for education of conservation in 2018 for planning and education.
Matt Rome and Erick Nordling with the airport board appeared to discuss the airport budget. It was reaffirmed that all grant projects need to go through the Treasurer’s and Clerk’s office. Erick inquired about the appropriation that was last received stating after employee wages and benefits were deducted the airport can’t function on that amount. Pat affirmed that the budget was set before the airport hired a full-time employee with the thought of only having someone part-time to work at the airport. Joe asked if the airport could finish the year with the appropriations given and using some of the airport reserves for funding. Matt and Erick felt this could be done to finish out this year but the 2019 budget would need to be fixed marginally.
Matt Rome said the projects the Federal Government helps with is anywhere from eighty to ninety percent (80%-90%). They were looking at the crosswind runway and noticed that tennis balls could fit into some of the cracks. The estimated repair cost they are looking at is $60,000. Most of the hangars are county owned and leased out, while some are privately owned and just leasing the ground from the county. Matt said Agair pays lot rent of $1,400 per year and the airport is discussing going up to $2,000 per year.
Robert Davis appeared and Joe asked if more funding is needed to finish out the year for the airport. Robert said some reserves have been used but there are also income increases. Robert said the airport has raised fuel prices and hangar rent. Pat said the airport is valuable to the community because of emergency flights. Erick said using reserves that the airport has and appropriations for this year, the airport has enough funds to finish out the year but will need more for 2019.
Pat made a motion for airport personnel to work forty (40) hours a week (Sunday thru Saturday) with no specific set times. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
The Twenty-Sixth (26th) Judicial District established a cooperative inter local agreement between Grant, Haskell, Seward, Morton, Stanton and Stevens counties for the establishment of a community corrections comprehensive plan for the county in the Twenty-Sixth (26th) Judicial District. Resolution 18-07 authorizing Stevens County to participate in the Kansas Community Correction Act (K.S.A. 75-5290 et seq.) and agreement to cooperate.
By motion the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Joe D Thompson, Chairman