COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
APRIL 14, 2025
Agenda: 8:30 – Dave Piper – Hospital
8:45 – Bills
9:00 – Jayme Rich
9:15 – Richard Rome – Mobile Home
9:30 – Tony Martin & Tony Mellini
10:00 –
10:30 – Appraiser Reappointment
11:00 – City on a Hill – Erica/Miranda – Cancelled
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in a regular session. Chairman Tron Stegman was absent. County Attorney Paul Kitzke and County Clerk Amy Jo Tharp were also present. Joe called the meeting to order. Joe moved to approve minutes from the last meeting. Shannon seconded. Motion carried. Joe moved to approve the county vouchers. Shannon seconded. Motion carried. The County Clerk was instructed to draw warrants on the Treasurer chargeable to the various funds of the county for the following amounts:
| General | $ 138,898.37 |
| Judicial District | $ 1,519.77 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 126,810.48 |
| Airport | $ 13,595.21 |
| Co Building | $ 3,708.08 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 117.51 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 12,186.45 |
| EMS | $ 16,382.69 |
| Fire | $ 14,484.49 |
| Community Health | $ 32,525.39 |
| Community Health Grants | $ 2,000.00 |
| Airport Grants | $ 2,025.00 |
| Services for the Elderly | $ 236.25 |
| Library | $ 73,077.75 |
| Employee P/R Misc W/H | $ 900.00 |
| Sheriff | $ 122,245.26 |
| TOTAL: | $ 560,712.70 |
Dave Piper and Angela Piper with the Stevens County Hospital presented the commissioners with the interim revenue and expenditure statement for February 29, 2024, through February 28, 2025. Dave stated there currently is a reduction in revenue due to the clinic and hospital not having many patients at this time. There are issues with health insurance, Medicare, and charge cards. This makes it challenging to run the hospital by not knowing how much will be covered by the insurance companies and the cost for credit card services. Dave said he will get a completed budget as soon as possible but it will be after the April 21st deadline. The commissioners replied that it would be fine but will need something by the end of May or beginning of June for the auditors. Dave and Angela informed commissioners that Pioneer Manor purchased a new van for transportation with the help of local grants and aid. They said they will now be able to transport residents to area clinics and hospitals if needed, as the old van was only reliable within the City of Hugoton. Angela said on June 6th, 2025, the hospital will be holding a social event commemorating the seventy fifth (75th) anniversary of the Stevens County Hospital.
Joe asked if the county should look at getting someone to be a grant writer for the county to help all the departments. He said it would even be useful to hire someone on a part-time basis to do the grant writing and find grants for the county. Dave Piper agreed.
Rodney Kelling came in and handed the commissioners some proposals from Stryker for annual service contracts on the defibrillators and CPR machines. Rodney said he prefers on-site as opposed to mailing in equipment and having loaners until it comes back.
Joe made a motion to approve the Stryker proposal in the amount of $2,210.85, for on-site service only which does not include repairs. Shannon seconded. Motion carried.
Rodney said he is waiting for final bids for the SCBA’s. He is looking at a paging system for cell phones for the fire and EMT employees which will help with callouts in case something has happened to the radios.
Jayme Rich was next on the agenda. Paul told her he had the information needed regarding twenty (20) year back taxes and wanted to check with her on the wording. Jayme said she prefers to put them as abated instead of removed.
Jayme received information on a spec sheet for the records she would like to have digitized, and expressed the work is roughly 1.5 million pages. She stated the Stevens County Foundation wanted to find out from the commissioners if she can get these digitized before they look at possible grant funding. Jayme stated the quotes she received range from $86,000.00 to $250,000.00. The commissioners suggested she reach out to the companies and ask for sealed bids to be opened on April 28, 2025, at 9:15 AM in the county commissioner meeting room. Jayme said she will put an ad in the newspaper for the work mentioned and reach out to the individuals who sent quotes.
Richard Rome informed the commissioners he is working with Bryan Duer and Denise Spense over the construction of their home. He wanted to let the commissioners know he has not been able to do any work due to unforeseen circumstances. The dirt work has been set up and getting ready for the concrete foundation. Richard said it will take approximately nine (9) months for completion once the foundation is laid.
Tony Mellini attended with Tony Martin. Tony Mellini presented the commissioners with draft designs for the landfill’s new pit and future pits. He also had draft designs for the gas pipeline bridges for the commissioners to view, all of which have been approved by KDHE. (See attached)pipeline bridge and landfill pit. This new pit should last approximately ten (10) years and with these new plans the subsequent pits should cost less as they are moving dirt around from the dig out of Cell 11A. It will have many uses, such as burying while digging for new pit and most importantly, cost cutting. Since the KDHE has approved the work, the concrete pipe bridge construction is expected to begin next week. Other areas of work for Cell 11A will begin as well since there are some things that can be done while waiting on the bridges to be completed. There is a proposal from Garber Surveying, costing $29,150.00, which will coordinate with Stoppel to make sure the work will be completed with the correct dimensions. Tony Mellini asked the commissioners if they would approve the contract with Garber Surveying for the Cell 11A construction.
Tony Mellini also discussed the gas pipeline bridges needing to be semi-permanent in case of any emergency the pipeline might have in the future. The inspections of the bridge work will be conducted by Kirkham Michael Engineering and is estimated to cost $37,775.00. Tony is trying to find ways to trim down the bill. Tony Mellini explained that Terracon does the permit approvals and Kirkham Michael does civil contracts and approvals.
Tony Mellini suggested the county start saving within no less than five (5) years of new phases and always pre-plan so these landfill expenditures will not be so massive and sudden.
Shannon made a motion to approve the contract with Garber Surveying for Cell 11A in the amount of $29,150.00. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Tony Martin updated the commissioners that they are working on getting the roads bladed but have some setbacks due to training and breakdowns. Tony mentioned the two (2) new hires have completed and received their CDL. He said all the reports from the monitoring wells at the landfill have been received and look good.
The commissioners, Paul, and Amy discussed the next phase of the neighborhood revitalization plan (NRP). Amy said she received an email from Gilmore & Bell stating the plan that was presented to them appeared to be a generic plan. Amy explained to Gilmore & Bell she is relatively new to the beginning of an NRP and wanted to make sure the county is following the requisites.
Amy introduced Clear.Gov to the commissioners explaining it is a way to keep the county transparent on their budgets as far as requests, expenditures, revenues, and other aspects. She stated this program will allow the budgets to be online for citizens to view as well as creating graphs and working with the current program to allow citizens to view department expenditures and revenue. She stated the cost is a little intimidating but wanted to present it. The commissioners said they are not interested at this time until they see the valuation and where the funding will be.
Amy informed the commissioners the meal allowance for the county employees has not been changed for at least the past four (4) years or more and would like them to review the meal amounts. Currently, breakfast is $13.00, lunch is $15.00, and dinner is $26.00. The Federal Government meal plan as of 2025 is set at breakfast $16.00, lunch $19.00, and dinner $28.00. The commissioners agreed to change the meal plan for the 2025 Federal Government rates ($16.00, $19.00, and $28.00). Employees are still being held to the policy of presenting a receipt for meal reimbursements which are not covered by meetings and follow the per-diem rules for the county.
Amy asked the commissioners if the county land which the museum uses has been switched over to the museum or if they are going to agree to a memorandum of understanding for the building and land usage. The commissioners and Paul discussed what should take place and it was decided the commissioners will deed over the land to the museum that the county owns with the stipulation that if the museum sells or gives the land away, they are to get approval from the county commissioners in case the county wants the land back.
Shannon asked Amy if the departments are following procedures for accounts payable, payroll, and accounts receivable. Amy stated there has been an increase in communication and payroll & bills were turned in on time. She spoke with Jayme about receivables and everything is turned in except for the last two (2) weeks in March and the first two (2) weeks in April, which hopefully will be submitted by the end of this week.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Joe Thomspon, Vice-Chairman