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