COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
AUGUST 26, 2024
Agenda: 8:30 – Cammie Heaton – Comm. Health
8:45 – Bills
9:00 –
9:15 –
9:30 – Tony Martin
9:45 –
10:00 –
10:30 –
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in a regular session Amy Tharp, County Clerk was also present. Tron called the meeting to order. Joe moved to approve minutes from the last meeting. Pat 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 | $ 68,669.88 |
| ARPA | $ 10,571.00 |
| Judicial District | $ 848.02 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 47,572.42 |
| Airport | $ 6,490.87 |
| Highway Improvement | $ 8,261.38 |
| 911 Wireless | $ 116.69 |
| Spec Law Enforcement | $ 1,815.34 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 4,663.11 |
| EMS | $ 8,260.22 |
| Fire | $ 1,869.31 |
| Community Health | $ 24,085.05 |
| Comm Hlth Grants | $ – |
| Sheriff | $ 35,738.85 |
| Reg of Deed Tech | $ 361.60 |
| TOTAL: | $ 219,323.74 |
Amy told the commissioners Jan Leonard contacted her about a potential buyer for the KDI plant, but they were concerned about the regulations of what is allowed at the plant. Tron said Jan sent him some messages where the potential buyer noticed a regulation about food production and was concerned if they purchased the plant, would they be allowed to process food. The commissioners stated they have no issues with processing food but would like to visit with the county attorney first to see what needs to be done to make the appropriate changes for the contract on that property.
Cammie Heaton came in and reported the health department had about eighty (80) new patients this year. A representative for WIC will be in town on Tuesday to do a site visit, and Randy Bowman from the state health and environmental department will be out on Thursday for a walk thru. Cammie also stated she has the pandemic plan completed and the state approved it. She said Stevens County is the fiscal agent for KDHE and has received $2,548.00 for 2024 and will receive $2,630.00 for 2025. Cammie reminded the commissioners she had requested raises for her staff and herself, but the decision had been tabled. She is revisiting the merit raise and stated with the county being the fiscal agent that receives funding each year, she would like to apply these amounts as an increase to her salary for each respective year. She stated the raises for the other community health department staff would be reimbursed through WIC.
Joe made a motion to approve the raises at the community health department where Cammie will receive the amount made from being the fiscal agent for KDHE, and the other employees will receive raises dependent on the WIC reimbursements for salary/wage payments. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Rodney Kelling came in and told the commissioners Seaboard Energy would like to have the emergency management DECON trailer for use at their facility. This will come with the understanding if the county emergency management needs the trailer for decontamination purposes and emergencies, the county would be able to have access to the trailer. Rodney said Seaboard offered to purchase a smaller trailer for emergency management to have on their property as payment for the DECON trailer. The commissioners stated there should be an MOU on the DECON trailer and would need Paul to do a purchase agreement for the trade. Rodney informed there is an LEPC meeting on the 4th of September and it will be held at the Seaboard Energy plant. Rodney said he is waiting on a SPEC sheet for the SCBA’s so he can put that out for bid.
Amy told the commissioners the courthouse department heads, and community health department have been reviewing all the information gathered from multiple IT companies for a server immediately and new IT beginning December 2024. They have narrowed it down to three (3) different companies:
- Rusty Tuman – Local – $1,500/month up to 10 hours then $150/month w/ annual contract.
- Leading Edge – Hutchinson – approximately $3050/month w/ monthly contract
- Century IT – Garden City – approximately $3,265/month w/ 3 yr contract
After discussing the differences between the three (3) IT companies, the commissioners chose to go with Leading Edge due to the idea of a monthly contract versus a long-term contract, and lower costs than Century. They felt Rusty had quite a bit on his plate and were concerned about punctuality in handling potential future issues. Due to the urgency of obtaining a new server at the courthouse, the commissioners declined the need for a sealed bid.
Amy discussed the letter she had sent out several weeks ago to airport board members and each commissioner. She asked if the commissioners had any questions concerning the letter. The commissioners did not at this time. Amy also told the commissioners an updated job description for the airport manager will be coming from the airport board sometime in September after their meeting.
Tony Martin came in and said road and bridge will be working on the road by the hotel and water dock. Plans are to begin working on the eight (8) miles of chip and seal and patching holes this week as well. KDHE sent back the landfill monitoring and everything is still good but waiting on the response about the slope at the bottom of the landfill pit. October 1-3, Tony and Jeff Cox will attend a landfill conference with KDHE.
Tony reported the planning and zoning board had their hearing and voted four (4) against and three (3) for the change of the wind tower distance from residence. Tony said the next commissioner meeting is when they will need to announce a hearing for the changes/no changes to the wind tower zoning.
Warren Willis was in attendance and shared that the planning and zoning board had a good meeting and considered the new set back allowance for the wind towers and majority decided to not make any changes. Warren said John Pearcy stated in the planning and zoning meeting it was not too difficult to get signed waivers over water rights and does not feel the waivers for residential proximity to the wind towers will be difficult either. The planning and zoning board determined they do not have the authority to decide who should have less rights. Warren further elaborated the largest problem with the wind towers will be the setbacks from the county’s right of way from the roads which took up forty-two percent (42%) of the wind farm project, and the roads are more of an issue with the larger setback and take up more space than dwellings.
AES, the solar farm company, is waiting on names of property owners and plan to begin their project in the fall of 2025.
Amy informed the commissioners Jayme Rich told her the wellness center has not turned in any deposits for June, July, or August. Amy said she needs the deposits to be made on a minimum of a monthly basis so she can stay in line with the auditors’ instructions. The auditors instructed to keep a consistent record of the amount of budget the wellness center must work with since the commissioners and auditors have stated the wellness center is supposed to only operate on what their revenue is. Currently, with no record of recent revenue it is showing the wellness center running in the negative. Amy did state she understands personal issues do occur but also stated everyone has a job to do and each person’s responsibility is what keeps the county functioning, and everyone needs to be held accountable if they are clocked in at work.
Ted Heaton came in and reported the issues with KCAMP on Miller and Shuck’s vehicles have been resolved and the county should be receiving payment for those two (2) accidents. Ted said he will be purchasing a new vehicle for Shuck as his was a total loss and will be using the funds KCAMP will be paying out.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Tron Stegman, Chairman