COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:30 – Tony Martin
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session with all members present. Paul Kitzke, County Attorney and Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk were also present. Tron called the meeting to order. Pat moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting. Joe 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 | $ 56,866.95 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 146,322.21 |
| Non Specific Equipment | $ 42,774.70 |
| Airport | $ 14,814.11 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 1,331.21 |
| EMS | $ 9,568.35 |
| Fire | $ 8,187.23 |
| Alcohol Treatment | $ 212.50 |
| Community Health | $ 23,255.19 |
| Comm Health Grants | $ 3,200.00 |
| Diversion | $ 4.32 |
| Sheriff | $ 36,510.36 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 115.89 |
| Emp P/R Misc W/H | $ 46.68 |
| County Building | $ 2,837.14 |
| ARPA Grant | $ 79,774.49 |
| TOTAL: | $ 425,821.33 |
The Commissioners began the meeting by discussing dress codes and asked if the county had a policy for it. Amy said there is no policy for dress codes in the employee handbook.
Pat made a motion to add policy A-6 to enforce dress codes for the courthouse office staff. Business casual attire must be worn Monday thru Thursday and Friday is reserved for casual day. Business casual is no T-Shirts and no jeans with holes. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
There was discussion of mobile homes, which are older than twenty (20) years old, moving into the county. Paul suggested making a motion for the variance.
Joe made a motion granting variance to Bryan Duer. Considering the circumstances surrounding the trailer house, they have found that this variance is warranted due to the overall condition of the trailer and the fact it is only one year outside of the time limit. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Amy asked if any of the commissioners were going to attend the Kirkham Michael and KWORCC appreciation dinner in Overland Park. The response sheet needs to be turned in. All commissioners declined due to the distance and cost.
Tony was in attendance and brought in materials to discuss wind energy (windmills) in Stevens County. He stated most of the issues were not good and he will not allow unconditional use permits.
Paul said he had heard it costs around one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) to retire a single windmill. He also stated if the commissioners were going to look in that direction to get feedback from other counties with windmills as well as investigating the company wanting to put them in. Paul also stated there should be a removal fund in the agreement, but they can change to another entity and not have to follow the agreement.
Tony said zoning rules for the windmills have to be in the paper for public knowledge. The windmill company must go in front of the planning and zoning board for approval then in front of the commissioners and must have an unconditional use permit. He said the tax revenue is zero dollars ($0.00) and will shorten the life span at the landfill by having damaged windmills deposited there.
Joe said there are already some farmers who have received contracts and questioned about those that signed the contracts. Paul said they can’t go against the regulations the county sets. Tony agreed and said it all must go through the county. Joe said there is an out of county landowner whose attorney told him to sign the contract and send it back to the company. He asked if that made the contract null and void. Paul said it depends on what the contract states whether it is in compliance or violation with the county codes.
Pat said he is not for the windmills because it opens a list of issues.
Amy asked if the county is responsible for the fire extinguisher inspections for the county owned extension building. She said CF Service and Supply did an inspection and the cost was $34.00. The commissioners agreed that would be part of the building cost the county is responsible for.
Tony discussed Road and Bridge stating they will be starting on patching and overlay. He told the commissioners he plans on attending the KAC conference which is coming up on October 18th, 2021.
Tony said the crawler at the landfill was back after repairs and only worked a total of six (6) hours before it broke down. They noticed no anti-freeze in it. He spoke with the repair company, and they said they had filled it even although Tony didn’t see it on the repair ticket. Shortly after that crawler broke down, the other broke down on the junk pile so the Road and Bridge brought out the front- end loader. Tony said it broke down out there too.
Tony said the landfill receives money for tires, tipping fees and the sale of iron which should keep them out of the red. He hopes someday the landfill will have enough funds to look at a new tractor.
Joe told Tony that sometimes you must cut your losses with all the cash absorbed going into repairs which could cost as much as new or good used equipment. Tony said he agrees but the costs are too high. He said a new tractor is around $400,000.00. Sometimes the repairs are cheaper and more affordable.
Tony informed the commissioner the KDHE has postponed landfill training for now due to COVID.
Tony said he received a call over the weekend about missing stop signs on Road D and Road 20. He said both stop signs and posts were gone so they had to put new ones up.
Sheriff Ted Heaton came in and said there was no problem with the Music Fest and he had nothing else to report.
Amy informed the commissioners there were issues pertaining to employees and department heads making employees use sick time in non-compliance with company policy. She states MBE leave (sick leave) can only be used for specific reasons related to health and well-being so such employees should have used personal or vacation time. Paul suggested sending out a policy reminder with pay checks about sick time. Further discussion over county policy issues and labor laws were discussed.
Pat said Dana Clinesmith will clean the kitchen in Memorial Hall and can come in and do necessary cleaning in the courthouse when the Maintenance Supervisor is gone. The commissioners discussed pay and are agreeing on $318.26 per month for services and will revisit pay later if needed.
Joe called Angela Eichman and asked if wind farms lower property values. Angela said she is unsure and will need to contact another county with wind farms, as the three (3) counties she appraises for do not have wind farms. She stated cell phone towers do not drop value but isn’t sure if wind farms are considered the same thing. Joe said he wants to protect the values as much as possible.
Amy brought in the Sirius Computer Solutions proposal for the IBM three (3) year maintenance contract with the proposed amount of $8,734.31.00.
Pat made a motion to accept the Sirius Computer Solutions proposal for the IBM three (3) year maintenance contract with the proposed amount of $8,734.31.00. Joe seconded; motion carried.
Susan Schulte with GIS came in and stated her plotting machine is old and parts can no longer be found for it. She said the only place she can find to purchase a new or used one is with Salina Blue. She said Salina Blue has two (2) different machines, one is the Canon TX-4000 Plotter for $5,495.00 and the other is the Canon TX-4100 Plotter for $6,495.00. She said she can use the Canon TX-4000 Plotter which is the cheaper of the two (2). Total cost for ink and the machine is $6,265.00.
Joe made a motion to bypass bid requirements and agreed to purchase the Canon TX-4000 Plotter with ink from Salina Blue for $6,265.00. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Angela Eichman called back and said so far it has never been proven, one way or another, if wind farms affect property values. She will continue to get more information and pass it along.
Amy was instructed to request Jayme Rich attend the next commissioner meeting on September 27th, 2021.
Abatement Orders for taxes 2020, number 75 thru 76 was reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 6,201 with a relief assessment of ($1,312.46).
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman