The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:30 a.m. with all members and the County Clerk present.

           

            Marty Long made the motion to approve the minutes of the August 1, 4, & 9, 2006 commissioner meetings and the claims against the various funds of the county. Carl Higgs seconded the motion. Following clarification of several vouchers the motion passed unanimously.

 

            Mike Tabor, Seward County Landfill, presented information regarding the transferring of waste material to their site. He said there is no planned rate increase for 2007. It will remain at $27/ton. Mr. Tabor said they are more than willing to help the county keep in compliance with all KDHE regulations until a new manager is trained. Cecil and Sharon Simpson, local citizens who live near the transfer station, expressed their concern that the Transfer Station site continue to be kept clean, whoever is operating it.

 

            Marty Long made the motion to appoint Bill Rogers to the Economic Development Committee effective September 1, 2006 replacing Rod Kreie whose term will expire in September. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Jerry Jo Deckert, EMS Director, met with the commissioners. Madison Traster informed Ms. Deckert the auditor has recommended that all unnecessary bank accounts be eliminated, that ambulance collections need to be more aggressive, and the ambulance department needs to plan a $40,000 to $50,000 carry over for next year with this carryover transferring to the ambulance equipment fund. Carl Higgs made the motion to recess into executive session for a period not to exceed 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 10 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

            Henry Smith, Solid Waste Committee Chairman, informed the commissioners that committee has made some changes to the plan and an updated plan will be sent to the commissioners for their review and approval. In other business, Mr. Smith and Mr. Spencer with Waste Connections reiterated their desire to work with the county in whatever manner the county chooses regarding the transfer station.

 

            Robin Hathaway, County Attorney, presented preliminary information for the sale of bonds for the care home issue. Marty Long made the motion to adopt Resolution No. 06-07 authorizing the sale of bonds for the construction of a new care home. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Marty Long made the motion to approve the first draft of the information regarding the issuance of bonds for the project. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. In other business, Ms. Hathaway said a camera attached to the ceiling to record commissioner meetings would be a possibility rather than have a large camera and cameraman in the room. She explained that you can make limitations regarding the use of a camera in the room but you can’t eliminate it.

 

            Marty Long informed Ms. Hathaway the commissioners attended the last city council meeting and briefly discussed planning and zoning regulations.  Those regulations can be enforced through the county attorney and she is working on several issues in the three mile area.

 

            The commissioners recessed for lunch with city officials at Park View Assisted Living. The following were in attendance: Bud Newberry, City Manager; and Council Members, Scott Malone, Thadd Kistler, Ann Papay and John Duran. General discussion was held. Mr. Newberry said he met with the Grant County Recreation Commission regarding softball fields. It is Mr. Newberry’s hope that GCRC will be responsible for the fields in the future. He also mentioned that possibly in 2008 the city and county might build some adult softball fields.

 

            Darl Henson, Keri Liddeke, Mary Sullivan - Randy Phillips, Extension Council Members, gave a presentation on all the positive things the extension agents do for the community. Later in the day the commissioners made the decision to increase the budgeted amount for Extension Council to $178,000, which is $800 less than their total request.

 

            Tom Metcalf, local businessman, requested permission to construct a fence across a platted road (Walnut Ave.) that has not been built. Mr. Metcalf said he would install a gate for access to the property. The commissioners approved his request contingent on the county attorney’s approval. Later in the day Robin Hathaway, County Attorney, reviewed the information with the commissioners. Ms. Hathaway will draft a letter to Mr. Metcalf explaining that he can build the fence as long as he understands there may be a need in the future to open the road.

 

            Darren Wilkey and Carlos Moral, M & M Enterprises, talked to the commissioners about using a wall mounted camera to record commissioner meetings. The camera will be linked to a recorder and the commissioners will be able to turn it off during breaks or executive sessions. They said the county could also have a copy of the recording to maintain as a record. The commissioners said they would have no problem with the camera being installed.

 

            Tom Kramer, Road Department Administrator, presented an update on his department.

 

            Gene Pflughoft, Economic Development Director, met with the board. Carl Higgs made the motion to appoint Cathy Tyler to the Economic Development Committee effective September 1, 2006 replacing Marieta Hauser whose term is expiring. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Pflughoft gave an update to the commissioners.

 

            Marty Long made the motion to recess into executive session for 25 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 25 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

            Marty Long made the motion to hire David Graber as Transfer Station Manager. Carl Higgs seconded the motion. Discussion was held that the new manager will hire the new Weigh Master/Secretary. In further discussion it was decided that all transfer station operations will continue as they have in the past. It was also decided the rate of pay for the manager will be 90% of the median rate for that position as the pay plan allows. The motion passed unanimously.

 

            Lance Babcock, Sheriff, gave an update on the grant request for the 911 mapping system to track cell phone emergency calls.

 

            Marty Long made motion to approve the Grant Agreement (AIP No. 3-20-0084-08) with the Federal Aviation Administration for the government’s share of the allowable project costs up to a maximum of $694, 867 for airport development. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Carl Higgs made a motion to approve Smokey Hill, LLC of Salina as contractor for construction of Runway 17-35 Parallel Taxiway. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            After reviewing engineering fees and finding them to be fair and reasonable, Carl Higgs made the motion to approve Supplemental Agreement No. 1 between the County and Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation for construction services not to exceed $80,500. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            The commissioners will discuss the possibility of taking bids for cleaning the courthouse at a later date.

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to adjourn at 4:25 p.m. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                          Madison Traster, Chairman