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