COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 26, 2024
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
8:45 –
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:00 –
10:30 –
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in a regular session. Paul Kitzke, County Counselor; and Amy Tharp, County Clerk, were also present. Tron called the meeting to order. Pat moved to approve the minutes from the previous special commissioner meeting. Joe seconded. Motion carried. Pat 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 | $ 67,193.51 |
| Judicial District | $ 4,070.12 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 39,349.18 |
| Airport | $ 2,108.84 |
| Airport Grants | $ – |
| County Building | $ 114,960.95 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 4,006.91 |
| EMS | $ 7,863.48 |
| Fire | $ 2,176.04 |
| Community Health | $ 10,638.14 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 119.70 |
| Sheriff | $ 37,973.94 |
| Employee’s P/R Misc W/H | $ – |
| Reg of Deeds Tech Fund | $ 346.58 |
| TOTAL: | $ 290,807.39 |
Bob Brunson with Invenergy was in attendance.
Ross Sullivan came in and said the windows on the Memorial Hall entrance are completed. He stated the wellness center has new concrete over the septic tank and is getting a grate from the City of Hugoton to cover the clean out for the septic. Ross told the commissioners the doors on the AA building have been replaced and will need new windows on the east side of the building in the near future. Ross asked the commissioners when they would like bids for the Moscow Senior Center’s roof to be published and the commissioners agreed to open bids for the center on March 11th at 9:00 AM.
Amy Jo said she has several matters to discuss. She relayed information from Rodney about the radio tower generator and the commissioners agreed a new one needs to be out there but doesn’t need to be over 5 kilowatts. Amy Jo said the opioid grant the county has received needs to be used by a certain date and she spoke with Rodney over the issue, and he said he plans on using the funds for purchase of Narcan, training and public information. Amy also informed the commissioners the county lot leases were up on March 1, 2024, and asked if they needed to have it in the newspaper to go out to bid for the next commissioner meeting. Commissioners said yes. Amy stated one individual has paid for the year and she will get them reimbursed. Amy gave a copy of a statute to the county commissioners regarding taxes, penalties, and fees she received from Jayme, the county treasurer. She said to have Paul look it over and see if the commissioners can make changes to the penalties or fees. Paul said he would discuss the matter with Sarah Steele and see what her take is on the statute.
Pat said Benny Cabrera contacted him and stated he has been on the hospital board for nine (9) years now and according to their by-laws will need to be replaced. Pat asked Amy if he was the only board member at this time or if there were more whose term had expired. Amy said she will look into it and see which board members need to be replaced this term.
Amy asked the commissioners when they would like to have everyone’s budgets in, and the commissioners agreed the first meeting of June would be sufficient. Amy presented all the encumbrance/roll-over letters received from department heads to be reviewed and decided upon.
Joe made a motion to approve the encumbrance/roll-over letters if the funds are available from 2023:
- Noxious Weed – transfer $30,000.00 to the Noxious Weed Equipment Fund
- GIS – $950 – postage meter for passports
- EMS/Emergency Management – transfer $19,000.00 into the EMS Equipment Fund
- Fire – transfer $80,000.00 into the Fire Equipment Fund
- Appraiser – $5,855.17 to be used for repairs, postage, equipment and dues
- Elections – transfer $8,000.00 into Election Equipment Fund
Pat seconded. Motion carried.
Denise Spence and Bryan Duer were in attendance to discuss the mobile home they had moved into the county in 2021. Bryan said they have not begun building a residence on their land yet due to the costs of new construction. Discussion ensued and all parties agree they are close to the three (3) year agreement to have the mobile home removed from the property no later than November 1, 2024. The residents are asking for more time as they were originally under the impression they had to begin building within the three (3) years not have the mobile home removed by the end of the three (3) year motion. Bryan stated he had tried to reach out to Paul on numerous occasions but had not heard back from him. Paul stated he had not heard from Bryan for a few years until Friday afternoon (February 23, 2024) when Bryan tried to call Paul, but he was in court. Paul said the minutes state the trailer will need to be removed at the end of three (3) years which is November 1, 2024. It is up to the commissioners if an injunction is filed with the court. Joe suggested they table and reconvene at a different commissioner meeting on March 25, 2024, at 9:00 AM.
Tony Martin was in and asked the commissioners to sign off on the Noxious Weed Report. He stated he will be putting a public notice in the newspaper for the landfill permit modification coming up. Tony told the commissioners Alfred Benesch put in requirements to the state that the landfill needs clay around the pits, but Terracon does not think clay is needed and can possibly get that stricken from the requirements.
Tony said he held an informal planning and zoning meeting last week and the board feels they are ready to begin the public hearings and receive the commissioner’s approval. Tony said there are new zoning regulations to review, and they are still working on the windfarms but feels the solar farms are ready to go through the final zoning process. The commissioners told Tony to move forward with the solar and work on getting the wind farms ready to move forward as well.
Tony said Jeff and Jessie will be going to Manhattan for the Noxious Weed conference to keep their weed licenses. Tony said there are some issues with charging for trash at the landfill but will try to get any issues worked out as soon as possible.
Joe said there is a trailer home in Moscow’s jurisdiction that a citizen wants to move onto some land within the City of Moscow’s city limits. The trailer is older than allowed according to the zoning board. Joe said the City of Moscow can help the issue by not turning on the water or utilities going to that home but also believes the situation will work itself out.
Bill DeCamp came in and asked the commissioners if they were familiar with the resolution Kiowa County just signed pertaining to migration and sanctuary issues. Commissioners replied they are familiar with it. Bill said he would like to have his rights protected and does not want to wait on this issue until it is too late.
Abatement Orders for 2023 taxes numbered 46 through 47 were reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 6,258 with a relief assessment of $961.67.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman