The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with all members and the County Clerk present.

 

            The monthly department head meeting was held with the following in attendance: Tom Kramer, Road Foreman; Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator; Don Button, Emergency Management Coordinator; David Wagner, Transfer Station Manager; John Crosby, Fire Chief; Jerry Jo Deckert, Interim EMS Director; Pete Clinesmith, Noxious Weed Director; Sherry Thompson, Health Department Administrator; and Rita Gee, Treasurer.

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the minutes of the May 17, 2005 meeting and the claims against the various funds of the county. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Marty Long made the motion to allow a retiree, who meets the requirements of the law providing for health insurance for retirees, to remain on the county’s health insurance by reimbursing the county at the same premium rate as the county pays. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to reappoint Jimmie Limper to the Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging Sub-Region Council. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            David Wagner, Transfer Station Manager, presented bids for a compactor. Van Keppel bid $187,000.00 on a remanufactured 1987 compactor. Caterpillar bid $267,145.00 for a 2006 model. If the used 1998 Caterpillar is still available the bid is $135,800.00. Berry Tractor submitted a bid for a Bomag 2001 model costing $99,500 less $12,500 trade in for a total of $87,000.00. A new compactor from Berry Tractor was bid at $214,305.00. Marty Long made the motion to purchase the 2001 used Bomag compactor from Berry Tractor at a cost not to exceed $87,000.00. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Wagner presented bids for a new roof for the office building at the Transfer Station. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the bid from Aqua-Shield Roofing at a cost not to exceed $2,123.44. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Wagner stated that the Noxious Weed Department has an old tanker truck that is obsolete for that department but the Transfer Station is using it to put water on the compost pile. Approval was given to transfer the tanker from the Noxious Weed inventory to the Transfer Station inventory. Mr. Wagner asked approval to continue using Terracon to do the bid work for opening the new trench and closure of Trench One. The contract is for an amount not to exceed $3,300.00. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve contracting with Terracon to do the bid work for Trench One closure and digging Trench Three at a cost not to exceed $3,300.00. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Wagner presented bids for a mower. The commissioners said they would talk to Tom Kramer about the mowing. Mr. Wagner discussed his five-year plan and said he is planning to update the building. He reported they are having problems with the sewer system, there are some electrical problems, the roof leaks and there are many smaller items that need to be addressed.

 

            Mark Hinde, President, Southwest Developmental Services, Inc., and Deanna Berry, Russell Child Development Center, presented their annual report and 2006 budget request. SDSI requested $38,500 and RCDC requested $24,800 for a total request of $63,300. Their total appropriation for this year is $60,000.00.

 

            Frances Roberts, Librarian, and Library Board Members, Galen Pelton, Dee Longoria and Archie DeBruce, requested a property tax levy of $464,133.00 for operating expenses for 2006 and a levy for employee benefits in the amount of $87,552.90. The increase of $25,619.00 in operating expense is due to a 3% wage increase for full time employees, the addition of 2 part time employees and full system services through the Southwest Library System. The increase of $12,732.00 in employee benefits is due to rising costs in health insurance, KPERS and salary increases. The Library Board presented a list of names for the commissioners’ review as part of the selection process for a board member to replace Eddi Porter who has resigned. The commissioners had no problem with any of the names on the list.

 

            Darl Henson and Mary Sullivan, Extension Council Agents, and Jason King, Extension Council Member, presented their 2006 budget request of $164,000.00. Their 2005 appropriaton is $158,000.00.

 

            John Duran, Traffic Control Officer for the Road Department, presented a plan for prohibiting parking along a portion of Patterson Avenue during softball and soccer season and opening a new parking area east of the soccer fields and softball diamonds. Commissioner Long suggested utilizing the east Civic Center parking lot instead of making a different parking lot. It was agreed that this would be done until it is proven that an additional parking lot is required.

 

            Tom Kramer, Road Foreman, presented an update on equipment. He presented cost information on the recycler they had leased for two weeks. Discussion was held to determine if the equipment would be used enough to justify the expense. The commissioners asked Mr. Kramer to get another quote on a different brand recycler for the next meeting. Mr. Kramer presented three quotes for a flat bed trailer for the new truck that will be used for spraying noxious weeds. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the low bid not to exceed $2,275.00 for a truck bed with tool boxes from Sullivan, Inc. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Jerry Jo Deckert, Interim EMS Director, requested approval to apply for grant money that would pay for the part time staff’s EMT-I Class, money to send 2 people to an EMS Training Officer Workshop and several AED’s to place in public buildings. The commissioners approved her request. Ms. Deckert presented an update on her department.

 

            Armando Minjarez, local artist, presented a proposal to paint a new mural on the racquetball court that was painted 20 years ago. Marty Long made the motion to approve hiring Mr. Minjarez to paint the south wall of the handball court for $1500.00. The county will provide the paint for the project. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Marty Long made the motion to approve the renewal contract with Landmark Appraisal, Inc. for Appraisal Maintenance at a cost of $78,000 which is the same as the past 2 years and to contract with Landmark Appraisal, Inc. to provide a duly qualified appraiser to perform the necessary functions as County Appraiser at a cost of $400.00 per month. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Marty Long made the motion to adjourn. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                      Madison Traster, Chairman