C20070515                                                                                                     May 15, 2007

 

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

 

            Madison Traster made the motion to approve the minutes of the May 1, 2007 meeting and the claims against the various funds of the county. Carl Higgs seconded the motion. At the clerk’s request, Madison Traster made the motion to recess into executive session for 5 minutes for the purpose of discussing financial matters. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 5 minutes the meeting continued in open session. Later in the day, the motion passed unanimously.

 

            Ric Dalke, Executive Director, Maggie Myers, Manager, and Judy Neatherlin, Local Representative, Area Mental Health Center, presented their annual report and 2008 budget request. Their request remains the same as it has been since 2003 at $108,768.

 

            Lance Babcock, Sheriff, met with the commissioners to open bids for the sale of a 1997 pickup. Carl Higgs made the motion to accept Donnie Young’s high bid of $3,827.00 for the 1997 pickup. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Sheriff Babcock said he had received a request for a ham radio antenna to be placed on the county’s tower. Ham radios could be used if a disaster disrupts land line or cell phone usage. The commissioners approved this being done. Sheriff Babcock requested approval to appoint Steve Kinsey as Jail Administrator, which is a position that has been vacant for about two years. Mr. Kinsey has worked for the sheriff since 2001. With this promotion, Mr. Kinsey’s pay will increase about a dollar an hour. The commissioners approved the promotion.

 

            The commissioners recessed for lunch with the city council at Park View Assisted Living. General discussion was held. Thadd Kistler, Mayor, informed the commissioners that the city refused all bids on the building for storage of confiscated vehicles. They are looking at a building that is already in place.

 

            LaVonne Michael, Senior Citizens’ Director, and Board Members Dale Cole, Jim Anderson, and Mary Cott, met with the commissioners. Discussion was held on the possibility of the Senior Center moving to the old care home after the new one is built. Chairman Long told the board that the estimate to replace the HVAC for the building was between $250,000 and $260,000 and replacing the single pane windows would be around $130,000. Mrs. Michael explained she had visited with Kent Carmichael, Architect, and he did not think they would need to have the same type of heating and air system as is required for a care home. He said he could recommend an engineer to do a mechanical study to determine the needs and costs for use as a senior citizens’ center. She also said the architect thought the dining area could be enlarged to meet the needs of the senior citizens. Mrs. Michael said they have about $280,000 in reserves, of which a portion could be used to help with the cost of converting the care home for their use. Mrs. Michael will start applying for grants to help defray costs as soon as it is determined the project is feasible. Chairman Long asked Mrs. Michael to contact the architect to get a recommendation for someone to do the study, and authorization to proceed with the study was given provided the cost is in the 6 – 8 thousand dollar range. The commissioners committed to helping with the cost for the study. Commissioner Traster suggested they look at the possibility of using the part of the building they can and demolishing any excess. The commissioners assured the board and Mrs. Michael they were not opposed to the idea of allowing the senior citizens to move into the old care home building if it is economically practical.

 

            Commissioner Long made the motion to recess into executive session for 20 minutes for the purpose of discussing contractual matters pertaining to the county. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 20 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

            J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, attended the meeting to open bids for the sell of a 2001 pickup. Madison Traster made the motion to accept the high bid from Monte Smith in the amount of $7,110.00. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            The decision was made to waive fees at the landfill for the care home project. Marty Long will check with the city about waiving permit fees.

 

            Dennis Deyoe, Fair Board, presented their 2008 budget request of $68,325 which is a $6,000 increase over this year’s budget. The commissioners will consider the request. Discussion was held on adding the cost for additional bleachers to the fair budget. Mr. Deyoe will talk to Donnie Phelps regarding this and return with a revised budget request.

 

            Tom Kramer, Road Department Administrator, and Randy McCauley, Road Foreman, met to discuss opening Road W from the seven-mile road to the Deerfield road in Kearny County. The commissioners authorized Mr. Kramer to obtain a petition signed by several of the users of the proposed road and bring it to the next commissioner meeting. At that time, the commissioners will entertain a resolution opening the road.  Madison Traster made the motion to post signs forbidding the use of engine breaks from Highway 160 to Road 10 on Road I. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Kramer said he has received information on the land the county needs to purchase for the truck route. He will turn the information over to the county attorney to begin the process after it has been reviewed by Loren Wright, surveyor. Mr. Kramer reported we are still on line for an early 2008 letting or possibly construction time on the truck route. In other business, Mr. Kramer proposed purchasing 240’ of 48” round culvert at a cost of $25/foot. The culvert was used on a State project for shooflies and was in the ground for about a year.  Marty Long made the motion to purchase 240’ of 48” culvert at a cost of $25/foor for a total of $6,000. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Jeff and Brady Trotman, local citizens, met with the commissioners. Brady Trotman, who is working on his Eagle Scout project, requested approval to put Santa Fe Trail markers on county right-of-way in certain areas. The commissioners approved Brady’s request. In other business, Mr. Trotman asked the commissioners if they had thought about helping the traffic flow leaving the civic center parking lot by marking one exit lane turning to the right and one turning left.

 

            David Graber, Transfer Station Manager, presented a proposal from Aquaterra Environmental Solutions, Inc. to prepare a Storm Water Runoff Plan for the transfer station site. Carl Higgs made the motion to accept the proposal from Aquaterra at a cost of $4,190.50 to prepare the plan for the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on June 5, 2007. They will meet with commissioners from Hamilton, Stanton, Stevens, and Morton County on May 17, 2007 in Hamilton County.

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                      Marty Long, Chairman