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C20090217                                                                                                                                           February 17, 2009

 

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

 

                A conference call was held with Morton, Stanton and Stevens Counties regarding WEKANDO business. The commissioners recessed into executive session for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes the commissioners continued in open session and then recessed into executive session for 15 additional minutes. After 15 minutes the meeting continued in open session and WEKANDO completed their business meeting.

 

                Marty Long made the motion to approve the minutes of the February 3, 2009 meeting and the claims against the various funds of the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

                Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, presented two road-crossing permits which were reviewed and approved by the commissioners. Mr. McCauley reported the cost to white line and center stripe the county’s paved roads would be $700/mile. He also said the average daily vehicle count over a 3 day period on the 7 mile road was 232 vehicles a day. Striping is not required unless the vehicle count is 4,000 per day. Additionally, regulations state that once the county stripes a road, it is required to stripe the road from then on. The unanimous decision was made that striping would not be done. The process for purchasing fuel for the road department was discussed. The decision was made to continue the current practice of taking bids from the local distributors when fuel is needed. At the present time there are two distributors operating in Grant County.

 

                Madison Traster made the motion to recess into executive session for 15 minutes for the purpose of discussing possible land acquisition. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 15 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

                Marty Long made the motion to approve an agreement for services with Bucher, Willis & Ratliff Corporation for improvements to the Ulysses Airport at a cost not to exceed $3,650.00. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

                J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center Manager, presented two bids for spraying county grounds. Marty Long made the motion to accept the low bid of $2,895.00 from K & K Lawn Care. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Marty Long made the motion to recess into executive session for 5 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 5 minutes the meeting continued in open session.

 

                The commissioners adopted a Statement of Support for the National Guard and Reserve. The statement will be posted in the courthouse.

 

                Linda McHenry, County Clerk, briefly explained needs the U.S. Census Bureau has for the 2010 Census. The commissioners gave their approval to provide space at the Civic Center for the Census Bureau to test job applicants and train new employees for census work at no cost, if necessary. 

 

                The commissioners recessed for lunch with the City of Ulysses at Park View Assisted Living. General discussion was held. After lunch, there being nothing on the agenda until 5:30 p.m., the commissioners recessed until that time.

 

                At 5:30 the commissioners reconvened with City Council Members, Ann Papay, John Battin, Ed Wiltse, John Duran, Pete Woods and Scott Malone in attendance. Mayor Thadd Kistler, City Manager, Daron Hall, City Attorney, David Black, and City Clerk, Mary Smith, also attended the meeting. Members from the public in attendance were: Rita Gee, Treasurer; Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds; Lance Babcock, Sheriff; Sheila Brown, Deputy Clerk; and Steve Alford, concerned citizen.  Discussion was held on the possibility of city/county unification. Everyone attending had an opportunity to express their thoughts on the matter. Discussion was held on Senate Bill 75 which gives guidelines and permits counties to pursue unification without special legislation. The decision was made that no one would travel to Topeka to testify for the bill. It was the consensus of all in attendance that the matter should be investigated by appointing a board for this purpose. City Council Members and the County Commissioners will take some time to think about who they would like to appoint to the board. Council Member Scott Malone recommended someone be hired to work with the board on this project. A meeting will be held at a later date to formalize plans for the board.

 

                The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session at 9:00 a.m. on March 3, 2009.

 

 

 

______________________________                                                                ______                _____________________  

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                                                     Carl Higgs, Chairman