C20090106                                                        January 6, 2009

                The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. with all members and the County Clerk present.

                The monthly department head meeting was held with the following in attendance: J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center Manager; Lance Babcock, Sheriff; Don Button, Emergency Management Coordinator; Anita Quimby, Health Department Administrator; Rita Gee, Treasurer; Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator; Tom Fuhrmann, Appraiser; and Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds.

                Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2008 minutes and the claims against the various funds of the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

                Lance Babcock, Sheriff, met with the commissioners. Madison Traster made the motion to recess into executive session for 20 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 20 minutes the meeting continued in open session.  Discussion was held on purchasing a new vehicle through the Kansas Highway Patrol’s purchasing plan.  Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the quote of $24,195.56 for the purchase of a 2009 Ford Expedition for the Sheriff’s Department. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Rita Gee, Treasurer, Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds, and Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, attended this portion of the meeting. Carl Higgs made the motion to recess into executive session for 20 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 20 minutes the meeting continued in open session. Madison Traster made the motion to authorize the Sheriff to increase the rate of pay of his deputies and jailers by $1.00 per hour. This increase excludes the Sheriff and Undersheriff and will take effect with the first pay period of 2009. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

                Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, met with the commissioners. Jon Halbgewachs and Curtis Hauser, Kirkham Michael, presented a contract for engineering services for the commissioners’ consideration. The engineering services are for KDOT Project 34 KA-0493-01 which begins at the intersection of US Highway 160/Stubbs Road and proceeds northerly along Stubbs Road approximately 3 miles and then westerly approximately 1 mile along Road 9 to the intersection of Road 9/Kansas Highway 25. The State will pay up to 1.5 million dollars toward the project. Bid letting is January 19, 2009. The early start date for the project is the middle of February and the late start date is the middle of July. Mr. Halbgewachs recommended contacting KDOT to see how the overage amount (above the 1.5 million the state is paying) will be billed to the county. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the contract with Kirkham Michael for construction inspection services for the road project for a maximum amount not to exceed $245,097.55. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

                J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center Manager, presented two quotes for a battery powered floor scrubber.  Madison Traster made the motion to purchase a scrubber from Empire Paper Company at a cost of $15,976.05 to be paid by the Special Equipment Fund. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

                Robin Hathaway, County Attorney, reported that she received a call concerning a fence that has been built along and across a road. The fence was put up without the consent of the county or other landowners. The commissioners recommended the county attorney file an injunction to legally force the removal of the fence.

                The commissioners recessed for lunch with the Hospital Board at Park View Assisted Living. Those attending from the Hospital Board were: Steve Alford, Mary Moyer, Dr. Mark Gerstberger, Mike Brewer, and Administrator Robert Ohlen. Mr. Ohlen gave a construction update and they hope to start moving into the new part in mid October. Discussion was held on the municipal pool interest rates versus local bank interest rates on the invested bond money. Chairman Long will talk to the Treasurer regarding this.

                The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on January 20, 2009.

   
Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                         Marty Long, Chairman