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C20070717                                                                                                                 July 17, 2007

 

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

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the minutes of the July 5, 2007 minutes and the claims against the various funds of the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Carl Higgs gave an update on the meeting he attended last week with the proposed ethanol plant group. He mentioned others attending the meeting were: Todd Hampton, City/County Building Official, John Crosby, Fire Chief, Ruben Flores, City of Ulysses, and Randy McCauley, Interim Road Department Administrator. Commissioner Higgs said the ethanol people wanted to know what the county was going to do to help them. Commissioner Higgs explained that the commissioners first need to know what the needs are. He thinks they plan to attend a commissioner meeting with some plans in the near future.

 

            Robert Ohlen, Karla Nichols, Steve Alford and Mike Brewer, Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital, presented their 2008 budget request. The request is for 1 mill for regular hospital operation and 1 mill for the obstetrics program. Mr. Ohlen explained there was a $600,000 decrease in State Medicaid wrap around funding for the obstetrics program this year and funding is uncertain for next year. If the community still wants babies delivered here, extra funding is needed.

 

            Henry Helmke, Southwest Kansas Alcoholism and Drug Addiction Foundation, Inc. (SKADAF), presented his 2008 budget request in the amount of $3,000.00, which is the same as the current level of funding.

 

            Doug Yoder, Care Home Consultant, presented an update on the new care home project. He said the bid opening date is now set for July 24, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the care home. The care home board will meet on Friday, July 27 to make a final decision to present to the commissioners. The commissioners said they are planning a budget meeting on August 1 and would like to have the information by then. Mr. Yoder reported that all State departments have approved the plans for the new facility. The commissioners asked Mr. Yoder to talk to Todd Hampton, City/County Building Official regarding a possible permitting problem at the new care home site due to drainage issues.

 

            LaVonne Michael and Pam Menzie, Board on Aging, presented their 2008 budget request in the amount of $463,419.26. The county appropriated $300,000 to the BOA for 2007.

 

            Scott Nichols, Chamber Manager, asked if a commissioner would be willing to ride in the parade Saturday. Chairman Marty Long said he would be available.

 

            The commissioners recessed for lunch with the city at Park View Assisted Living. Those attending from the city were Mayor Thadd Kistler, and council members, Ann Papay, John Duran, John Battin and Scott Malone. Chairman Marty Long said it had come to the commissioners’ attention there might be a permitting problem due to drainage issues at the new care home site. Mayor Kistler stated that he wished Bud Newberry was there to explain the problem but it was his understanding that there might have to be some on site retainage of rain runoff. He will check with Mr. Newberry regarding this. Mayor Kistler mentioned that the city had talked to the county about some form of participation in the Frazier Park improvement project. He asked if the county would like to have the golf course manager and some golf board members explain what they are doing at the golf course. The commissioners agreed to add these people to their afternoon agenda.

 

            Jerry Jo Deckert, EMS Director, presented her revised 2008 budget request in the amount of $584,105.00, which is a 5½% increase over the current year. At Ms. Deckert’s request, Carl Higgs made the motion to recess into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 15 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

            Todd Hampton, City/County Building Official, met with the commissioners. Drainage at the care home site was discussed. Mr. Hampton explained that landscaping and grading on the site would help with the drainage of rainfall. He assured the commissioners there would be no delay in the project due to drainage. Madison Traster made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 1155 rezoning certain property from A-L (Agricultural) to I-2 (Heavy Industrial). Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Discussion was held on Randy McCauley’s time as Interim Road Department Administrator. Carl Higgs made the motion to appoint Randy McCauley as Road Department Administrator effective this pay period. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, and Bonnie Rose, Office Manager, met with the commissioners. Mr. McCauley presented a quote to replace the gas pump at the road department. Madison Traster made the motion to replace the gasoline pump using Option #2 which includes running cable from the pump to the office computer at a cost of $11,062.00 from Hoidale Co., Inc. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mrs. Rose explained the change in the noxious weed budget. $50,000 has now been budgeted for a chemical storage building. It was proposed to use $35,000 - $40,000 out of the noxious weed equipment fund toward the end of this year for dirt and concrete work. In other business, the commissioners told Mr. McCauley they would start him at a salary of $50,000.00/year with a review to follow in a few months. Mr. McCauley received approval to promote Dan Bynum to Road Foreman. He also received approval to advertise to hire a replacement for the vacant position.

 

            Gene Pflughoft and Kathy Tyler, Economic Development, met with the commissioners. Mrs. Tyler expressed her appreciation for being appointed to the board. Mr. Pflughoft reported that Alco/Duckwalls is willing to extend the lease and extend the option to buy the building which houses Eco Devo. Rent will be $150/month more ($750/month) but the purchase price will remain the same. The commissioners will discuss purchase of the building with the auditor before making a decision. Mr. Pflughoft reported that Penny Noyes has expressed a need for office space and wondered about the back area of the building. That area would have to be remodeled for office area. He gave an update on the proposed ethanol plant west of town. It is his understanding construction trailers will be placed at the site in August.

 

            Jeff Kreie, Golf Course Manager, George Bushnell and Tim McCauley, Golf Board Members, asked the commissioners if they would consider participating in the additional 9 holes at the golf course. Commissioner Traster asked what they would like the county to do. Mr. Kreie said there would be a lot of dirt work that needs to be done. Chairman Long said the county would prefer to do “in kind” work if possible. When Mr. Kreie said it would take 200 truckloads of material for the project, the commissioners said they could not commit to that many truckloads, but they would be able to help. Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, attended the last few minutes of this portion of the meeting. It was decided the road department would help with hauling and other dirt work when they could.

 

            At Randy McCauley’s request, Carl Higgs made the motion to recess into executive session for 15 minutes for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 15 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

            The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on August 7, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. The commissioners will meet in special session on August 1, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. to review budget requests with the auditor.

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                      Marty Long, Chairman