COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
JANUARY 8, 2024
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
8:45 – Annual Resolutions/Motions
9:00 – 2023 Longevity Employees
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:00 – Bids – AA Building Doors
10:15 – Sam & Praful Bhakta – Sunrise Hospitality
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in a regular session. Amy Tharp, County Clerk was also present. Pat called the meeting to order. Tron moved to approve the minutes from the previous commissioner meeting. Joe seconded. Motion carried. Tron moved to approve the county vouchers. Joe 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 | $ 220,180.81 |
| Judicial District | $ 171.79 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 175,894.08 |
| Airport | $ 3,649.17 |
| County Building | $ 44.00 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 4,293.96 |
| EMS | $ 8,387.83 |
| Fire | $ 14,542.58 |
| Community Health | $ 14,357.65 |
| ARPA | $ 1,019.99 |
| Fair Funds | $ 36,850.00 |
| Services for Elderly | $ 116,017.00 |
| Sheriff | $ 41,420.45 |
| Library | $ 96,692.22 |
| Insurance Agency | $ 311,120.00 |
| Alcoholic Treatment Fund | $ 2,700.00 |
| Airport Grants | $ 118,162.00 |
| Hospital Main Fund | $ 500,000.00 |
| Library – Emp Benefits | $ 31,519.00 |
| Reg of Deeds Tech Fund | $ 160.60 |
| TOTAL: | $ 1,697,183.13 |
Ross Sullivan was in attendance and told the commissioners the contractors that worked on the wellness center roof had come in and replaced the insulation above the office and made some repairs to the roof. Ross stated the issue was the roof edge stating some of it was not plugged which allowed water to enter the building. Ross also told the commissioners the insulation will be replaced along with the metal cap on the roof top. Joe said if the roof is not repaired satisfactorily, Paul will need to take action. Ross said there needs to be more downspouts on the southside to help allow water to drain from the gutters more effectively. The Moscow Senior Citizen roof needs to be done and Ross asked if the commissioners want to replace it or spray it.
Pat made a motion to delay the bid opening until January 22, 2024, at 10:00 AM for the AA buildings doors. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
The commissioners told Ross to start getting specs for bids on replacing and/or spraying the Moscow Senior Citizens roof. Bid date and time will be discussed later.
Rodney Kelling checked in and told the commissioners the radio tower has been repaired but the generator is still down. Rodney said he has a portable generator connected to the radio tower now in case of inclement weather or an outage.
Tony Martin was present with Kyle Hittle.
The commissioners recognized the employees longevity for 2023:
10 Year: Bailey Esarey – EMT (P/T) Amy Jo Tharp – County Clerk
Pat Hall – Commissioner Tony Martin – Road & Bridge
Kyle Hittle – Road & Bridge
20 Year: John Moser – EMS (P/T) Duane Topliss – Sheriff
30 Year: Trina Young – Sheriff
40 Year: Margaret Bell – EMS (P/T) Joy Lewis – EMS (P/T)
(Margaret and Joy’s actual 40 year was in 2022)
Tony gave the commissioners copies of the zoning regulations and said he will be meeting with Glenn Kerbs in Dodge City on the 15th to go over some questions the zoning board has. Tony also stated that there needs to be three (3) zoning board members from each district and currently there are only six (6) members. Questions about who appoints the zoning board members arose, Amy said she will reach out to the county clerk group and see if they have any information on zoning boards. Tony said there is a state law for oversize/heavy load vehicles requiring a permit and told the commissioners the county will probably start needing to charge for a permit on their roads as well, excluding agricultural equipment.
Tony told the commissioners he is having a meeting with Terracon tomorrow and is looking for them to replace Benesch for the landfill.
Tony turned in his letter of encumbrance. The commissioners discussed having all of the department’s encumbrance letters turned in by February 26, 2024, by 9:00 AM.
Tony said the Noxious Weed conference is scheduled for February 27th through the 29th and he plans to send Jeff Cox and Jessie Eckert to stay up to date on their weed licenses.
Joe made a motion to accept Resolution 24-01 for the financial statements and financial reports for the year ended December 31, 2023, to be prepared in conformity with GAAP. Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Joe made a motion to accept Resolution 24-02 for the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ). Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Pat made a motion to appoint Matt Rome in place of Jack Rowden on the Economic Development Board. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Pat made a motion to approve having commissioner meetings the second and fourth (2nd and 4th) Mondays of each month unless it falls on a holiday then it will be the next business day. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Pat made a motion to accept The Hugoton Hermes as the official county newspaper. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Joe made a motion to accept the Citizens State Bank of Hugoton as the primary depository and Dream First as secondary depository. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Joe made a motion to appoint Tron Stegman as commissioner chairperson and Pat as vice commissioner chair. Pat and Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Amy said the candidate packets for the 2024 election are ready to be picked up and all paperwork and fees must be turned in by June 3rd at noon.
Amy asked if the AA requested money should be paid to the City of Hugoton for the AA building utilities. The commissioners agreed to pay the money to the City of Hugoton for the AA building.
Amy told the commissioners that Jayme Rich informed her the 2023 CD interest accrued is $506,470.66 and the one percent (1%) sales tax received from July through December 2023 is $138,059.86.
The commissioners discussed the costs for the hospital phone system and decided to table it.
Tron made a motion to accept V&B Construction’s concrete bid for $2,250.00 for the work on the west side of the courthouse. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
The commissioners discussed getting an MOU with the museum completed as soon as possible.
Sam Bhakta and Praful Bhakta with Sunrise Hospitality were in attendance. Sam told the commissioners they thought the hotel was exempt for ten (10) years from taxes and they have not received anything from the county until this year. The commissioners explained their taxes were set up for a ten (10) year sunrise tax with the first-year tax exempt, and each year after would be ten percent (10%) of taxes due with the tenth (10th) year taxes being one hundred percent (100%) due. Sam asked the commissioners if the hotel can be excluded from the taxes due to no notification and begin their ten (10) year sunrise plan beginning 2024. Pat told them to ask the county appraiser, Angela Eichman, before they travel back to India to see what can be done. The commissioners explained it is a state law not county.
Due to the inclement weather occurring, the commissioners told Amy to let county departments know to close at noon today, excluding emergency services and road and bridge.
Abatement Orders for taxes 2021 numbered 112, taxes in 2022 numbered 231, and taxes in 2023 numbered 28 were reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 1,099 with a relief assessment of $89.14
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Pat Hall, Chairman