The Board of County Commissioners met in regular
session at 9:30 a.m. with all members and the County Clerk present.
Pat Traster, President of United Methodist
Women, and Michelle Kissell, Treasurer UMW, requested that the fee for using
the Civic Center for their annual bazaar and turkey dinner be waived. Marty
Long made the motion to waive the fee for this UMW event. Carl Higgs seconded
the motion and it passed unanimously.
Carl Higgs made motion to approve the minutes of
the September 5, 2006 meeting and the claims against the various funds of the
county. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Loyetta Skeen, Clerk of the District Court,
requested approval to purchase six chairs for counsel table and lateral file
cabinets for storage. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the purchase of the
chairs at a cost not to exceed $1,744.20 and the lateral files at a cost not to
exceed $3,216.00 from Southern Office Supply. Marty Long seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously.
Henry Smith, Todd Hampton, and Don Button, Solid
Waste Management Committee, presented the updated Solid Waste Management Plan, for
the commissioners’ review. Marty Long made the motion to approve the revised
Solid Waste Management Plan. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Robin Hathaway, County Attorney, and Gary
Hathaway, Assistant County Attorney, presented an update on the tax foreclosure
sale. Tentatively the sale will be held in December. Discussion was held on
requiring a minimum amount as a bid. The consensus was that there should be no
minimum bid amount. Marty Long made the motion to authorize the county attorney
to proceed with the tax foreclosure sale. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously. In other business, Ms. Hathaway confirmed that the
City/County Building Official has contacted her regarding issues in the 3-mile
area.
Harold DuPree, Airport Board Member, reported
the airport project will start on the 20th. Discussion was held on
possible crop damages on farm ground the county leases out. This issue is
addressed in the farm leases.
Marty Long made the motion to adopt Resolution
06-09 authorizing the issuance of $7,750,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series
2006A, for the Western Prairie Care Home and accepting the bid from UMB Bank at
an average net interest rate of 3.838321% on the bonds. Carl Higgs seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center Building and Grounds
Manager, presented computer quotes and a time clock quote for the
commissioners’ review. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the purchase of a
computer from the Computer Alchemist at a cost of $1350.00 plus the cost for transferring
information from the old computer. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously. Marty Long made the motion to purchase an Acroprint Time Clock
from Quill at a cost of $529.99. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Carl Higgs made the motion to appoint Madison
Traster as voting delegate to the annual Kansas Association of Counties meeting
in November. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed. Marty Long made the
motion to appoint Carl Higgs as 1st alternate voting delegate and
Marty Long as 2nd alternate voting delegate. Carl Higgs seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
John Crosby, Fire Chief, and Don Spangler, Weis
Fire & Safety Equipment, along with the commissioners viewed a new fire
pumper/truck. Carl Higgs made the motion to purchase the 2006 pumper/truck from
Weis Fire Equipment at a cost not to exceed $223,848.00. Marty Long seconded
the motion and it passed unanimously. The truck will be purchased through the
Fire Equipment Fund in which money has been transferred for several years to
allow the purchase. Mr. Crosby stated that with this purchase Units 221 &
222 will be retired.
The commissioners attended a luncheon with city
officials at Park View Assisted Living. Those present from the city were: Ed
Wiltse, Mayor; Bud Newberry, City Administrator; and City Council Members, John
Duran, Pete Woods, Thadd Kistler, and Ann Papay. Discussion was held on heavy
rail for the county. The commissioners shared a proposal from Pinegar, Smith
& Associates, Inc. regarding professional services and explained that the
county would probably be contracting with the firm. It was the consensus of the
city officials that the city might be able to help with this cost.
Tom Kramer, Road Department Administrator,
discussed the control of prairie dogs in the county. Mr. Kramer presented a law
stating it is legal to control them. The decision was made that Mr. Kramer will
draft a policy regarding this and return with it for the commissioners’
approval. In other business Mr. Kramer was given approval to take bids on a
distributor truck and chip box.
Marty Long made the motion to contract with
Pinegar, Smith & Associates, Inc. to work in cooperation with local, state
and federal public policy makers to prepare a strategic plan with the principal
goal of securing federal and state funding for heavy rail track in Grant County. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The fee for
researching, preparing and presenting the plan is $28,000 and any out of pocket
expenses will be billed on a monthly basis.
Carl Higgs made the motion to adjourn at 2:50
p.m. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Madison
Traster, Chairman