The Board
of County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. with all members
and the County Clerk present.
Sally
Brown, Russell Child Development Center, thanked the commissioners for the
county’s support and presented them with a box of cookies.
The monthly
department head meeting was held with the following in attendance: Pete Clinesmith, Noxious Weed Director;
Nancy Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager; Rita Gee, Treasurer;
Sherry Thompson, Health Department Administrator; Ronald Lofland, Transfer
Station Manager; Todd Hampton, City/County Building Official; John Crosby, Fire
Chief; Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator; Tom Kramer, Road Foreman; and
Sean Gooding, Emergency Medical Services Administrator.
Becky
Jewett, President of the Kansas Emergency Management Association, presented Don
Button with the New Coordinator of the Year Award from that organization.
Gene
Schwein made the motion to approve the minutes of the November 26, 2002 meeting
and the claims against the various funds of the county. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously following clarification of two vouchers.
Faye Trent,
Great Plains Development, talked to the commissioners about possible Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to help fund a new health department or to
remodel an existing building for this purpose.
She stated that the maximum amount you can receive from a CDBG is
$400,000. Ms. Trent presented a
timeline for the project. She said it
is preferred that a preliminary architect report, administrator, and additional
funding be in place when the application is filed. The deadline to file for a 2004 grant is October 1, 2003. The county would pay preliminary costs. She explained that the county could pay the architect
and administrator with its matching money and not have to go through the
procurement process for an architect and administrator. Ms. Trent said she could start collecting
information from the health department right away. She also said she would look for other grants that might be
available to help with this project.
The commissioners authorized Ms. Trent to start gathering information
for the project. Sherry Thompson,
Health Department Administrator, was called and came to the meeting to learn
what is needed from her department.
Todd
Hampton, City/County Building Official, presented Ordinances 1109, 1110, and
1111 that were reviewed and approved by the commissioners. He presented a re-plat for the Henson
property and it was approved. A plat
for the Gile subdivision was also reviewed and approved by the
commissioners. Mr. Hampton presented
the new zoning regulations. He
explained that the new regulations are user friendly with information more
easily found. Carl Higgs made the
motion to adopt the new zoning regulations.
Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The new regulations will be effective
January 1, 2003.
Don Button,
Safety Coordinator, presented information from the safety committee. Safety training for the various departments
was discussed. He explained that the
safety committee would review the mandated training every year. Mr. Button presented safety committee
by-laws for the commissioners’ review.
He also showed new forms that will be used for reporting accidents and
near misses if our insurance carrier and county attorney approve them.
Ron
Lofland, Transfer Station Manager, reported that rates for the county’s
construction and demolition pit are lower than surrounding areas. Therefore, we are receiving this type of
waste from other counties. He said some
are not taking refuse from outside their county. He will research this and check with comparable counties to see what
their fees and policies are. Frank
Goldsby, Public Works Administrator, attended this portion of the meeting. Randy Case, Murphy Tractor and Equipment
Company Territory Manager, attended the bid opening for a replacement backhoe
for the Transfer Station. Foley Tractor
bid $66,047 for a Caterpillar backhoe/loader, Berry Tractor and Equipment
Company bid $61,110 for a Komatsu backhoe/loader, and Murphy Tractor and
Equipment bid $66,825 for a John Deere backhoe/loader. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the
best bid from Foley Tractor of $66,047.
Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Gene
Schwein made the motion to approve Resolution 02-07 authorizing Grant County to
be listed as a named party in legal action by the Kansas Association of
Counties with respect to demand transfer payment reductions recently made by
Governor Graves. Carl Higgs seconded
the motion and it passed unanimously.
Based on
the endorsement of the county attorney, Carl Higgs made the motion to approve
the revised dissolution policy adopted by the Grant County Economic Development
Corporation (GCEDC) at their October 15, 2002 meeting. Gene Schwein seconded the motion. Following discussion on the possibility that
the GCEDC may need to modify their by-laws to conform to the policy, the motion
passed unanimously. If the corporation
ever dissolves, the new policy is more restrictive than is actually required by
law.
With the
approval of the county attorney, Carl Higgs made the motion for the use of
diversion money to build a new evidence locker for the Law Enforcement Center
at a cost not to exceed $1,000. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Gene
Schwein made the motion to approve the purchase of a Fujitsu flatbed scanner at
a cost of $6,150 and imaging products and installation totaling $2,208 for a
grand total of $8,358 for the Register of Deed’s office. The Register of Deeds technology fund will
be utilized for part of the purchase with the remaining funds to be paid by the
Register of Deed’s regular fund.
Carl Higgs
made the motion to adopt the county’s work and holiday calendar for 2003. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.
The
commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on December 17, 2002.
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Madison
Traster, Chairman