COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
NOVEMBER 13, 2023
Agenda: 8:30 – CG2023 – Canvass of Election
8:45 –
9:00 – Bills
9:30 – Tony Martin
9:45 – Dave Piper & Jennifer Featherston – Hospital
10:00 – Senior Center
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners met in a regular session. Paul Kitzke, County Attorney; Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk; and RoGlenda Coulter with the Hugoton Hermes, were also present. Pat called the meeting to order. Tron moved to approve the minutes from the previous commissioner meetings. Joe seconded. Motion carried. Joe moved to approve the county vouchers. Tron 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 | $ 241,177.03 |
| ARPA | $ 1,283.50 |
| Judicial District | $ 5,694.13 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 218,019.60 |
| Airport | $ 9,649.62 |
| County Building | $ 2,027.16 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 8,167.80 |
| EMS | $ 15,069.02 |
| Fire | $ 5,359.41 |
| Community Health | $ 29,916.84 |
| Diversion | $ 1,400.24 |
| Insurance Damages | $ 1,176.00 |
| Fire Bequest | $ 298.38 |
| Spec Law Enforcement | $ 2,158.72 |
| Sheriff | $ 87,025.51 |
| Reg of Deeds Tech Fund | $ – |
| TOTAL: | $ 628,422.96 |
Jordan Waugh and Ross Sullivan helped with the CG2023 election canvass with the board of canvasser’s all in attendance. Close of canvass.
Bob Brunson with Invenergy was in attendance.
Rodney Kelling and Tony Martin were also present.
Rodney told the commissioners the generator for the radio tower has gone down and ruined some electrical components. The cost of repairs will be around $5,000.00 to $7,000.00. Rodney presented some information about two (2) vehicles, one (1) being an ambulance and the other a tanker truck. They will be going up for sealed bids on December 11, 2023, at 9:00 AM, in the county commissioner room. Rodney will be putting an ad in the paper with the vehicle names and information. All bids will need to be sealed and presented by the deadline to the county commissioners, county clerk, or Rodney Kelling. (See attached).
Tony presented the commissioners with some crossing permits to be signed. Tony told the commissioners that KDHE sent a write-up based on KAR 28-29 1086 stating all trash must be covered by the end of each operating day. Tony said he is trying to figure out a resolution to the issue. Alfred Benesch is requesting more engineering fees for well testing which needs to be done to stay in compliance. Glenn Kerbs and Tony met to discuss the county’s planning and zoning regulations. The contracts for solar and wind energy are starting to come in, so Tony is trying to get information completed so the wind and solar energy companies can keep working. Tony said he feels the county policy about drug testing needs to have some changes made. It was advised he contact KCamp and discuss with them about the policy on that issue and see what they have to say about CBD meds possibly causing drug tests to have a failed test result. Tony also informed the commissioners there is no new contract for a gravel pit at this time.
Dave Piper and Jennifer Featherston with the hospital were next on the agenda to discuss some ideas and issues. Dave discussed the financial operations of the hospital and Pioneer Manor, getting nurses scheduled to help, and finding out why there are some issues with Medicare payments. Dave said they would like to bring in Telemed to our area and get more doctors for the specialty clinic. There was also discussion of possibly having a contract with a massage therapist in the physical therapy building to provide services for the citizens and possibly other areas as well. Jennifer and Dave both stated Dr. Farhoud will not be able to make any more trips to Hugoton for the specialty clinic. His management company is requesting $6,000.00 per trip to Hugoton to be paid by the hospital which is not feasible at this time. Dave asked the commissioners if the county would be willing to purchase the residence at 108 W. 11th Street for hospital use (for travel doctors and nurses to use for housing instead of a hotel). Pat asked about co-mingling the community health department with hospital and Dave said it was good but there are so many issues with insurance and such it was causing issues for the auditors and feels it is best to keep the two (2) entities separated. Joe told Dave the hospital should talk with Cammie about using one (1) of the wings of the community health department as the specialty clinic as it is unused at this time. Joe feels it has easier access for wheelchairs and the parking is better. Pat and Dave plan to visit the community health department to see if it would be good to have the specialty clinic move there.
Vernon Baehler, Jim Mothes, Nicole Kinser, Karen Rich, Steve Davis, and June Trentham were in attendance to discuss issues concerning the Senior Citizens Centers for Hugoton and Moscow. Nicole asked the commissioners if the county could help pay for content insurance on the Hugoton Senior Center as it is $2,855.00 annually. The commissioners asked if the senior center has money to pay for this and they stated they do, but they are not sure how much more would be left in their budget. The commissioners agreed to have the senior center pay for the insurance and if they need help later, they will see what the county could do as they do not want to take away from the senior center. Amy said she would talk with KCamp and see what is covered under the building insurance and let Nicole know in case some of the equipment can be excluded from the senior center insurance. Joe asked if anything was decided on the Moscow Senior Center roof. Jim and Vernon said they had not heard anything yet. Amy said she will have Ross contact KCamp and see where they are with it.
Joe made a motion to accept HUB as the county insurance provider and to go with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas’s Blue Edge Option A plan for county employees and to keep paying 100% of the insurance premium for employee and family. Tron seconded. Motion carried.
Amy discussed the funding the county receives from the state for the Alcohol Treatment fund and informed the commissioners the funding can be used to help the AA association in Stevens County.
Tron made a motion to pay AA $100.00 per month in annual installments of $1,200.00 to help with their utilities or other needs. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Amy said she will contact Cammie to see if she has spoken to Rusty about IT services.
Ross came in and said there were some disgruntled people not being able to bid on the windows in the hallway by Memorial Hall. Pat said the windows should be under $5,000.00, and it is difficult at this time to do bids when no one knows what the damages are behind the tile walls.
Amy asked the commissioners about election security and if there were ideas to transport election equipment to Moscow and Pioneer Manor for mobile voting, as road and bridge and other departments did not have an available covered trailer. The commissioners said to use U-Haul trailers for the transportation of election equipment, as there is a rental place in town.
Amy said there has still been a department that has not submitted Kansas tax sales receipts to the Treasurer and was just giving an update.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk
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Pat Hall, Chairman