COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
FEBRUARY 13, 2023
Agenda: 8:30 – Bills
9:00 – Cammie Heaton – COVID19 Grant Update
9:30 – Tony Martin
The Board of Stevens County Commissioners with Pat Hall absent, met in regular session. Paul Kitzke, County Attorney and Amy Tharp, County Clerk were also present. Joe 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 | $ 85,578.85 |
| Judicial District | $ 1,490.55 |
| Road & Bridge | $ 117,363.44 |
| Airport | $ 7,155.87 |
| ARPA | $ 1,465.25 |
| Noxious Weed | $ 3,794.12 |
| EMS | $ 9,326.47 |
| Fire | $ 6,992.20 |
| Community Health | $ 17,793.06 |
| County Building | $ 1,469.82 |
| Sheriff | $ 44,855.80 |
| Insurance Agency | $ 198,939.00 |
| Spec Law Enforcement | $ 129.53 |
| Treasurer Tech Fund | $ 7,350.00 |
| Emp Misc W/H | |
| TOTAL: | $ 503,703.96 |
Rodney Kelling was present and gave the cost for cameras in the EMS/Fire buildings for Hugoton and Moscow from Alert Alarm. He stated the cost from Alert Alarm is $19,726.30 for cameras, wiring and the system for monitoring. The commissioners agreed the LATCF funds can be used to pay for a camera system in the EMS/Fire buildings and told Rodney to choose which company would best fit the needs. Rodney stated he will go with Alert Alarm.
Tron made a motion to bypass bidding and use the LATCF funds to pay Alert Alarm $19,726.30 for camera monitoring for the EMS/Fire buildings in Hugoton and Moscow. Joe seconded. Motion carried.
Rodney stated he recently switched from Verizon Wireless to FirstNet which is a Federal, Nationwide network for first responders and has better coverage in certain areas of Stevens County. He stated FirstNet works with other networks to provide service for emergency purposes and is guaranteed if there is a disaster which makes the phone lines congested, FirstNet customers will have access and FirstNet will bring out portable antennas and multiple phones.
Rodney told the commissioners he will be speaking with the auditors and would like to roll-over what is left of the 2022 Fire and EMS budget for this year.
Cammie Heaton came in and told the commissioners she has been recouping the COVID-19 vaccine monies from insurances and has already received $673.87. She stated she had a busy weekend with some calls from the hospital about some possible health concerns which turned out to be OK. Cammie stated there is a sector of the KDHE she is looking into which helps track grants and gives insight which provides instruction on what is left of the grants at no extra charge. Cammie said she wants to get a handle on the grants as far as what all has been received, spent and the remainder.
Cammie and Amy Tharp discussed with the commissioners about the computer breach which occurred within the Community Health Department. Amy told the commissioners it began in the Health Department when Nex-Tech had to shut down the firewall for a brief period and many phishing emails were sent out from Cammie’s email. Amy said at this time, Nex-Tech, KCamp and a 3rd party computer forensic team called Mandiant are currently involved and has been told at this point it looks to be just a phishing scheme. Amy told the commissioners she is waiting on an update from Mandiant to see what investigation has been done and what other plans will need to be taken.
Joe asked Cammie about the mileage she turned in for checking the vaccine temperatures. Cammie stated the Community Health Department used to have an alarm system on the Helmer Vaccine refrigerators but no longer and the cost of a system is around $500,000.00, so she comes in on weekends and holidays to check the temperatures. Tron said there should be a camera system to where someone can check their phone to see if the temperatures are OK. Cammie said it would be a good idea but Paula always had concerns of a power outage.
Tony Martin came in. Tron asked if the AA Building is owned by the county and Tony said yes, the county owns the AA Building and two (2) acres around it. The commissioners discussed helping pay the utilities of the AA Building to keep it running.
Tony informed the commissioners he has been selected for Federal Jury Duty beginning in March and could last one to thirty (1-30) days.
Tony stated he would like to raise the tonnage charges from $20.00 per ton to $30.00 per ton. He said Stevens County hasn’t raised the rates for the last ten (10) years and Morton County and Seward County is at $30.00 per ton. The commissioners agreed to raise the tonnage rates from $20.00 to $30.00 per ton beginning January 1, 2024.
Tony said he went out and measured the property lines of Robert Terrill’s new house and the house is four (4) foot over the property line. Discussion was had about who is responsible for the issue and Paul stated it should be the City of Hugoton because to get a building permit there should have been a deed showing the property ownership so the contractor knows where the house should be built.
Tony said the landfill dozer will be completed either this week or next week and he has hired a person for the landfill and is looking for another employee.
Shelby Martin came in and told the commissioners she has concerns over the tape currently on the carpet at the Wellness Center, as it rolls up and some of the elderly people walking trip over it. She said she has found some new tape which is more like a Velcro and had a sample which she is very impressed with. She said it doesn’t pull up easily, even if it is kicked. Shelby said she would eventually like to find a grant for new flooring with marked lines for a walking track so there will not be any need for tape or Velcro. The commissioners agreed on the Velcro tape to be purchased. Shelby also said she would still like to see more lighting in the parking lot and to get the west side of the building marked for parking spots. The commissioners told Shelby to contact Tony about painting parking stripes and Pat about the lighting. Shelby told the commissioners she would like to find some stacking chairs for the elderly people as it would be beneficial for them as opposed to the folding chairs. She said she is looking to find a county entity that might have some stackable chairs that can be given to the Wellness Center instead of purchasing them.
Shelby stated some people come out to the Wellness Center when they have completed physical therapy and request Shelby to help them. Shelby stated she feels unqualified but is willing to get training or certification if needed. Shelby would like to purchase hand pedals for those purposes as well. Shelby said running the Wellness Center is time consuming and said she needs to hire another employee or be compensated for her time. Shelby stated she looked at the employer laws for salary exemption and believes she should be able to receive overtime. Amy Tharp told her to contact the auditors, as they are a good source for explaining the employee/employer laws. Joe told Shelby the budget for 2023 is already set and as a department head, some things will just need to be denied of people or a way needs to be found to organize and prioritize certain things.
Joe stated there is a limited scope between time and money.
The commissioners agreed to have Ross Sullivan do quarterly inspections of the county buildings, review the building budget, take care of contracts for the buildings such as TRANE and other contracts the county has pertaining to buildings.
By motion, the Board adjourned.
Attest: Amy Jo Tharp, County Clerk ________________________________ Pat Hall, Chairman