COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
JUNE 22, 2020
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills/Minutes
9:00 – Paula Rowden – COVID update
9:30 – Tony Martin – Road & Bridge
10:00 – Jim Carlson – KNRC budget request
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 | $ 142,518.21 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 87,039.29 |
| Airport | $ 7,347.55 |
| Airport Grants | $ 5,000.00 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 7,574.18 |
| EMS | $ 4,967.96 |
| Fire | $ 1,590.07 |
| County Building | $ 306.50 |
| Fair | $ 36,876.78 |
| Library | $ 69,016.49 |
| Library Employee Benefits | $ 32,326.20 |
| Community Health | $ 8,791.09 |
| Hospital | $ 597,570.27 |
| Services for the Elderly | $ 82,774.26 |
| Sheriff | $ 36,435.33 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 1,460.40 |
| Emp P/R Misc W/H | $ 22.97 |
| Reg of Deed Tech Fund | $ 148.60 |
| TOTAL: | $ 1,121,766.15 |
Rodney Kelling came in and handed out the CARES Act information, explaining requirements for the county.
Joe asked Rodney if he wanted to ban fireworks. Rodney said he didn’t want to ban fireworks and hopes people use common sense. He noticed people in the city limits of Hugoton watering their lawns and knew Moscow had received some nice rains lately. Rodney said he hopes Hugoton will not place a ban on fireworks as it is easier to get to a fire within town than spread out in the county. After discussing whether to ban fireworks or not, the commissioners decided to not place a ban.
Rodney told the commissioners he has the funds to purchase a small fire truck but would be short about twenty to thirty thousand for a better one. He is hoping to purchase and replace the two (2) at Moscow.
The small brush truck is around $140,000.00 and holds 500 gallons of water. The large brush truck is about $220,000.00 and holds 1500 gallons of water. Rodney is having someone come in to get a spec sheet put together and is looking at a possible grant for one (1) truck that is a 3,000 gallon tanker.
The commissioners said they would know more after the budget workshop on where the county funds stand as far as affording a larger brush truck.
Pat asked Amy Jo if the departments will be able to cut twenty-one percent (21%) of their budget due to the dip in valuation. Amy said at this time she didn’t see where some of the departments could cut.
Paula Rowden came in and gave an update on COVID-19. She said there are four pending tests and no active at this time. She said she is still waiting to hear what the care home is planning to do and if they plan on opening soon. Linda Stallcup told Paula they are not testing the population at large, just the workers and go from there. Paula said they will test the active, not antibodies, but do have the kits to test antibodies if needed.
Paula discussed with the commissioners the CARES Act stating the county is receiving around one million dollars and would like to use some for preparedness for public health. With the fourth of July and Fair coming up she is purchasing hand washing stations to put in place and has other ideas for where the funding can be used. She would like some of the funds to go to the small businesses to help fund them. The hospital has already received COVID funding of around three million dollars and schools are receiving some funding as well. Paula would also like to see some of the funds being dispersed as a one (1) time compensation for her staff at the community health clinic.
Paul told Paula he would like some of the funding received by the schools to help fund hand washing stations for games and in general during school.
Paula discussed phases with the commissioners and stated the county should have been in phase three about a week ago. Phase three (3) will allow forty-five (45) people per group with social distancing between groups. Paula is recommending the county be in phase three (3) as per the original phase plan the governor had set out.
The commissioners asked Paula if her staff was set up and ready to provide drive-thru testing if needed with fall months getting closer. Paula assured the commissioners her staff has been trained for a drive-thru testing site.
Paula received confirmation on getting her HVAC system repaired and updated at a cost of no more than $20,000.00. She also informed the commissioners she is still trying to get someone to do concrete work on the back side of the health department since she has encumbered funds set back for those costs.
Tony Martin and the commissioners presented Terry Lamberson with a tailgate grill as his retirement gift. He gave the county seventeen and a half (17 ½) years of service.
Tony said KDOT had a preconstruction meeting about the Highway 51 and Highway 56 project. He said J & R Sand will be using the Hooker/Moscow road as a haul road for the highway project. KDOT assured Tony if the road gets in disrepair, being used as a haul road, they will fix what gets torn up.
Tony told the commissioners a truck wrecked on June 15th on the way to take a dozer to Ulysses to the shop. The truck’s front tire blew out causing the truck to knock out a power pole. There was no real damage to the truck and thankfully the two (2) employees had no injuries.
Tony said they have some more patching to do but have slowed down on grading because it has been too dry.
The fair is still planned to go on but the 4H kids will not open the kitchen for food service. Tony said there will still be food vendors and the Sheriff’s office will still do their hamburgers. He is waiting to see if the bank is going to do their BBQ. There will be no backyard BBQ contest this year due to COVID-19. He said he has worked with Paula and will have some handwashing stations and find a way to do the big events while staying with the suggested phase at the time of the fair.
Amy Jo asked the commissioners if they are holding the budget workshop in Memorial Hall or the commissioner’s room this coming July. They told her they want to have the department heads attend the first hour of the budget workshop and hold it in the Memorial Hall. After the initial information from the auditors, they will move the meeting to the commissioner’s room and will call in the department head as they see fit.
Amy Jo said the system for cameras is starting to go out and asked for approval to receive either an eight (8) or four (4) channel receiver/recorder. She said the cost is anywhere from $700.00 to $950.00. The commissioners told her they will approve the eight (8) channel recorder.
Jim Carlson with KNRC came in and thanked the county for being a member since 2013. He understands funding is tight at this time but, would appreciate the county continuing to be a member in 2021. The dues have been reduced to $3,500.00 for the 2021 year. He said if the KNRC cannot get enough support, it will disperse and he feels that would be a great disservice to the counties in Kansas. Joe agreed and said it would be better to stay with KNRC now than to drop and try to re-enlist later. After discussion about railroads and Fish & Wildlife issues, the commissioners decided to agree for now but will see what the budget workshop holds.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
________________________________
Tron Stegman, Chairman