COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
MARCH 25, 2024
Agenda: 8:30 – Glenn Kerbs – P/Z Attorney
9:00 – Canvass for 2024 Presidential Primary
9:30 – Tony Martin
10:00 – Cammie Heaton – Community Health
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. Joe moved to approve the county vouchers. Pat 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 | $ 64,967.54 |
| Judicial District | $ 876.15 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 39,152.98 |
| Airport | $ 2,520.48 |
| Airport Grants | $ – |
| Ins Agency Damages | $ 4,600.00 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 8,784.62 |
| EMS | $ 5,892.32 |
| Fire | $ 2,177.13 |
| Community Health | $ 13,137.51 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 120.19 |
| Sheriff | $ 38,977.32 |
| Employee’s P/R Misc W/H | $ 400.00 |
| Reg of Deeds Tech Fund | $ 90.00 |
| TOTAL: | $ 181,696.24 |
Tony Martin, Stacey Wood, Rodney Kelling, and Bob Brunson were present. Glenn Kerbs and Samantha Sweley with Kerbs Law Office were present via conference call. Discussion was over the planning and zoning regulations for the wind and solar farms coming to Stevens County. Samantha and Glenn asked when the planning and zoning board will have their public meeting to approve the zoning regulations and Tony said they were looking at April 24, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Stevens County Memorial Hall. Samantha said she would get some information sent to Tony and Stacey to be published in the newspaper at least twenty (20) days prior and must be published twice. If the planning and zoning board approves the regulations, the commissioners will review the regulations and either approve or deny them at the May 13th commissioner meeting at 9:30 AM. Pat asked Glenn if they had heard about the one percent (1%) impact assessment fee which Kiowa County, Colorado is currently implementing. Glenn said he had not but would investigate it to see if it is something worth working on or if it’s possible to do in Kansas. Glenn stated he will be at the meeting on May 13th and will probably request an executive session for contract negotiations. Pat asked Glenn and Samantha if either of them had heard about any counties holding an advisory election on wind and/or solar farms. Samantha said she thought Reno County had one and possibly Sedgwick County as well. Tony asked if Glenn or Samantha knew when Kirkham Michael should be approached about road maintenance agreements. Glenn said to wait until the regulations are approved by the commissioners and contact Kirkham Michael. Glenn said Kirkham Michael has been onsite daily with the wind projects in Ford County and stated to have the developer pay for legal and Kirkham Michael expenses.
Joe stated he had some citizens contact him about the landfill stating they get nails in their tires every time they go to the landfill, and he asked Tony his thoughts on a roll-off at the entrance of the landfill. Tony said there will be extra costs by having to purchase a roll-off vehicle or renting one and having his employees take it and dump it in the pits would take them away from their daily duties. Tony told the commissioners he plans on raising the cost of tire dumping fees an extra $1.00 per tire. The county pays $225.00 per ton to have the tires disposed of and it’s becoming too costly.
Tony presented the commissioners with the bridge inspection report and stated the bridges are complying and nothing needs to be done at this time. Tony gave the commissioners the noxious weed plan to the commissioners for review and a contract that needs to be signed for Benesch to cancel the contract with them. Tony asked permission for the landfill to be closed on Saturday, March 31st, for Easter weekend. The commissioners told Tony the landfill could be closed on Saturday, March 31st. Tony said they have been receiving concrete and are in the process of finding ways to crush it.
Joe asked Tony if the planning/zoning permit fees needed to be updated. Tony said the fees do not need to change except for the wind and solar fees/regulations. Joe asked Tony if there would be a problem sending the wind/solar regulations to Robert Harrington since he works with infrastructures and is at no cost. Tony said the only problem he sees is that the county hired Glenn Kerbs to do the contracts and regulations. Joe said he would like to send them to Robert to see if he has any questions or ideas that may be beneficial to Stevens County.
Tron said he was at a meeting recently where there is a potential buyer for the KDI plant and stated the pilot from KDI is obsolete due to their closure. Discussion about another possible IRB for whoever purchases KDI was brought up, but Pat stated KDI is within the city limits of Hugoton, and it is ultimately up to them. The commissioners do not feel it is right for the City of Hugoton to accept an IRB without prior approval or discussion with the county commissioners and the schools.
Rusty Tuman and Cammie Heaton were present. Rusty discussed the possibility of being the IT person for the county, which includes the community health department, courthouse, landfill, and wellness center. Rusty stated the county can have their own backup server in which the county will be responsible for overseeing the contracts on the server. This will allow the county to see the costs and make changes as needed. Rusty stated having a backup will help fight ransomware which means that if there is ransomware implemented the county can go to their backup and retrieve information prior to the ransomware becoming active so they will not lose everything. The county will need to purchase a firewall where Rusty can remote in to fix anything that does not need to be in person. He stated he has several people he can use to help if he is unavailable. Rusty stated he would draw up a contract for the commissioners to view and suggested it is for $1,500.00 per month with ten (10) hours included, if the county uses all ten (10) hours in a month then the cost would be per hour. Rusty also stated in October 2025, Windows 10 will no longer be supported so some of the county’s computers might need to be updated as well. Amy asked if Rusty would be willing to come in and visit with courthouse employees to answer questions they may have before a final determination is made for the county IT, Rusty said he is willing to come in and discuss IT with those who are interested and answer questions.
Cammie told the commissioners the BT Coordinator, Richard Everett, passed away last week. She did state Jenette Schuette will be replacing Richard. Cammie presented some grant applications for the commissioners to sign. Cammie stated there is a DEKK (Drug Endangered Kids in Kansas) but the meetings so far are in Washington D.C. and two (2) staff members are to attend. There are other meetings for the DEKK grant but are to be determined as to where and when. Cammie feels this grant would be beneficial, but she has no way of having two (2) of her staff attend, and the costs for Washington D.C. Cammie also stated she is receiving grant funds from a Risk and Reduction Grant and is hoping to use it to purchase a new server for the community health department and handicap accessible doors.
Rodney asked the commissioners if they had anything for him and stated he was just checking in.
Amy presented a letter from the county appraiser’s office for personal property owned by the county itemized list was not signed or updated causing a penalty fee. The commissioners asked when this occurred, and Amy stated it has always been done but this year it was not signed by the department head. Lori came over and explained the equipment is used to make money and the county is not a non-profit organization.
Ross Sullivan was in attendance and told the commissioners the contractors for the wellness center told him they are waiting on their insurance company to cover the damage and the repairs needed to fix the wellness center. The contractors also told Ross they would cover the damage and repairs if they do not hear back soon, and Ross told the commissioners that was two (2) weeks ago. Pat asked about doing a water test and Ross said they will conduct a water test when the roof is repaired at the wellness center. Ross said he went to the EMS building and looked around and stated he felt the lights might be a wiring issue and would like an electrician to check that part out before he begins repairing the lights. Ross also told the commissioners if the electrical is good he will start replacing the bulbs with LED lights and getting them mounted back up as some of the lights are coming down. Ross said there are two (2) shipping doors on the north side of the EMS building, and they are currently being sealed with duct tape to keep the drafts from coming in. He said the doors could be single doors and frame in the other portion of the double doors to help with drafts and control the temperatures in the building. The commissioners told Ross to contact Hancock and find out about the lights and get bids going for the two (2) doors at the EMS building to be replaced and turned into single doors. The bids for the EMS doors will be opened on April 22nd, 2024, at 10:00 AM in the commissioner meeting room and Ross will have the specs and information on the doors if anyone has questions.
The commissioners asked Bob Brunson for some information on Invenergy to see how many acres they have acquired for the wind farm. Bob stated they had acquired 160,000 acres so far.
Abatement Orders for 2023 taxes numbered 50 through 61 were reviewed and approved by commissioners and given to the County Treasurer; total valuation removed 211,194 with a relief assessment of $30,982.81.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman