COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 27, 2023
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:00 – Cammie Heaton – Vaccine Monitoring System
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:30 – Jonathan Pearcy / Curtis Crawford – Eco Devo
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in regular session. Paul Kitzke, County Attorney and Amy Tharp, County Clerk were also present. Pat called the meeting to order. Tron moved to approve the minutes of the last 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 | $ 105,000.59 |
| Judicial District | $ 278.22 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 151,179.83 |
| Airport | $ 2,633.86 |
| ARPA | $ – |
| Noxious Weed | $ 2,519.21 |
| EMS | $ 14,730.85 |
| Fire | $ 12,340.84 |
| Community Health | $ 20,837.84 |
| Diversion | $ 319.71 |
| Sheriff | $ 70,049.27 |
| Fire Bequest | $ 13,455.00 |
| Emp Misc W/H | $ – |
| TOTAL: | $ 393,345.22 |
Rodney Kelling came in and presented his encumbrance letter to the commissioners for review.
Curtis Crawford with Alert Alarm was present.
Cammie Heaton came in and discussed the vaccine monitoring system and back emergency door quote Alert Alarm gave her. Curtis said he can install the alarm system on the vaccine refrigerators to notify the Community Health Department employees and install a FOB on the back door, giving Cammie thirty (30) FOB’s for the employees so they can enter through the back door. Cammie stated she did not need thirty (30) FOB’s because she only has five (5) employees. Curtis said she can keep the rest in a drawer for backup. The Alert Alarm door FOB/repair is $2,874.17 with an annual service of $150.00 and the vaccine temperature alarm system is $850.00 with an annual service of $659.40. Curtis also stated he can install a four (4) camera system at the health department for $2,232.71. Cammie stated she did not need the camera system only the vaccine alarm and back door repaired. Amy told Cammie and the commissioners the ARPA funds can pay for the installation and alarm system for the vaccine but not the annual service fees and the back door repair can come out of the building fund. Pat and Tron stated they were not looking for annual service fees, Curtis stated the fees were to keep the servers maintained. Cammie stated it would help cut mileage tremendously and would be wise to have a vaccine alarm because the refrigeration could drop anytime, and she wouldn’t necessarily know until it was too late. Pat asked Curtis about a keypad or repairs to the original keypad installed on the back door and Curtis stated it would be more expensive than a FOB system.
Joe made a motion to accept the proposal from Alert Alarm for the vaccine alarm system and FOB replacement for the back door at the Community Health Department totaling $3,724.17. Pat Seconded. Tron opposed, suggesting there might be cheaper ways of repairing the back door and would like to see more estimates from other places without recurring fees. Motion carried.
Cammie stated she is going to the Governor’s Health Conference at the end of March.
Amy handed the commissioners a Proof of Loss statement to be signed for the wind damage at the end of 2021 for the Hugoton Senior Center. The commissioners reviewed the job description for the County Facilities Supervisor and approved.
The commissioners discussed the AA building and are waiting to hear from the City of Hugoton to find out if it can be changed from commercial to residential to help with utilities.
Tony Martin presented a letter he prepared to send to the City of Hugoton and Collectia to inform them of the raise in tipping fees beginning January 1, 2024. Tony said he sent two (2) employees to take the Noxious Weed test to get licensed and should know this week if they passed.
Tony plans on attending the Planning and Zoning conference in McPherson, Kansas from April 26th through the 27th and plans to visit with someone who writes zoning regulations. Tony said he will find out what Stevens County needs to update or find out the cost to have updates done to the Stevens County Planning and Zoning Regulations. Paul Kitzke said he would like to find counsel to help with the regulations on windfarms. Tony and Paul would like to get information from other attorneys who have experience working with windfarms and counties. Tony told the commissioners that Pratt County has the strictest restrictions on windfarms. Pat stated he still objects to allowing the windfarms in Stevens County. Tony presented the commissioners with his encumbrance and transfer funds letter.
Paul Kitzke stated he would like permission to find an attorney to help discuss issues with the Planning and Zoning and windfarms by May 8th, 2023. Paul asked Tony to send the Planning and Zoning policy to him so he can review and forward on to the attorneys he would like to visit with.
Joe said he would like to retain an attorney within the next thirty (30) days and meet with the Planning and Zoning board within the next sixty (60) days. March 27th, 2023, attorneys will be in or present by phone for the commissioners to interview and May 8th, 2023, the Planning and Zoning Board along with the retained attorney will need to attend the commissioner meeting to discuss windfarm plans and regulations.
Tony said Jeff Cox and himself are signed up to be CDL trainers and they can train for the company only, not personal. A group of counties are going in together to have people from Topeka come out for an all-day session to do the written exam for CDL’s which will only leave the driving portion left to complete by the employee.
Ted Heaton came in and presented the commissioners with a quote from American Flooring to have the dispatcher’s office and control area carpeted due to the stripping of the hard floors causing too many fumes and no place to ventilate. The quote for the carpet is $2,982.00. The commissioners approve. Ted also stated the City of Hugoton and the Emergency departments are switching to TAC2 which is an encrypted channel and would like to update the Sheriff’s radios to receive TAC2 so they can all correspond and be able to hear if an event is happening for their safety.
Pat Hall requested an executive meeting over non-elected personnel of a new hire for ten (10) minutes. Tron seconded. Executive session began at 10:10 AM and concluded at 10:20 AM. No action taken.
Curtis Crawford and Jonathan Pearcy were in attendance representing the Eco Devo Board. Curtis stated the Hugoton Chamber of Commerce is looking to recruit someone to be the director with a pay of around $20.00 per hour and working Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to about 4:00 PM. Due to the increase of the contributions from Eco Devo to the Chamber, the Eco Devo Board would like to give Jan Leonard, Eco Devo Director, a pay raise and is asking for more appropriations from the county. Pat suggested Curtis and Jonathan should talk to the City of Hugoton and see what they are willing to raise their contributions to as well. Pat said the budget workshop for the county is usually in July and at that time, the commissioners can make a more informed decision and will consider a larger appropriation.
Amy said Adrian Howie’s term on the Eco Devo Board was up and Jan Leonard said Adrian would like to be reinstated.
Joe made a motion to approve Adrian Howie for a second (2nd) term on the Eco Devo Board. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Abatement Orders for 2022 tax number 205 was reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 4,037 with a relief assessment of $608.73.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Pat Hall, Chairman