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

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the minutes of the January 8, 2002 minutes.  Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to appoint Madison Traster as chairman of the commissioners for 2002.  Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Gene Schwein made the motion to approve items 2 through 15 on the organizational agenda.  Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  Those items include: the meeting dates and times for the year will be the first Tuesday of the month starting at 9:00 a.m. and the third Tuesday of the month starting at 9:30 a.m.; to designate the Grant County Bank, the Southwest National Bank and the Bank of Ulysses as official depositories for county funds; to designate the Ulysses News as the official newspaper; to give the Treasurer the authority to invest county funds to the best interest of the county; to appoint the county clerk as chief purchasing agent, federal and state withholding tax agent, social security agent, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System Agent, and insurance agent for the county; to appoint Frank Goldsby as Public Works Administrator; to appoint Ramon Clinesmith as Noxious Weed Director; to appoint Ronald Lofland as Transfer Station Manager; to appoint Tom Martinez as Building and Grounds Manager; to appoint Sherill Thompson as Health Department Administrator; to appoint Dr. Johnson as County Health Officer; to appoint Don Button as Emergency Management Coordinator; to appoint David Ediger as EMS Director; and to appoint John Crosby as Fire Chief.

 

            Gene Schwein made the motion to set mileage at $0.31 per mile when using personal vehicle for county business.  Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Gene Schwein made the motion to approve item 17 on the organizational agenda.  Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  Item 17 consists of: to appoint the following administrative heads for approving claims against the various funds of the county:  Lance Babcock for Sheriff and Juvenile Justice; David Ediger for Ambulance; John Crosby, for Fire Department; Frank Goldsby for Road Department; Ramon Clinesmith for Noxious Weed Department; Ronald Lofland for Transfer Station; Brad Welch for Appraiser and Reappraisal; Mary K. Sullivan for Register of Deeds; Rita Gee for Treasurer; Douglas Campbell for County Attorney; Don Button for Emergency Management; Sherill Thompson for Health Department; Tom Martinez for Park Maintenance and 4-H Building; Chairman of the Airport Board for Airport; President of the Fair Board for Fair; and Linda McHenry, County Clerk for all other funds.

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to appoint Gene Schwein as Grant County’s representative to weather modification for 2002.  Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Carl Higgs made the motion to approve Item 19 of the organizational agenda which includes the following: to reappoint Steve Alford to the Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees; to reappoint Richard Pickler and Pam Gindlesberger to the Western Prairie Care Home Board; to reappoint Raymond Fort and Jimmie Main to the Board on Aging; to reappoint Ron Smith, Gail Jorgensen, Susan Alexander, and Dennis Deyoe to the Fair Board; and to appoint Daron Cowan and Kevin Shapland to the Fair Board replacing Loy Anthony and Don Phelps.  Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            David Ediger, EMS Director, said his department needs a new medical director since Dr. Ramchandani has retired.  He reported that Dr. Johnson has agreed to fill that position but he would like to be compensated.  Gene Schwein made the motion to compensate Dr. Johnson $1800 per year to serve as Medical Director for the Emergency Medical Service.  Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  Mr. Ediger reported that there is a need for a new computer and a new copier for his department.  He is also getting bids for a new ambulance.

Commissioner Traster asked about the status of the building.  Mr. Ediger reported that they would like to get the south wall sheet rocked and finish up some other things.  Discussion was held on the building.  Mr. Ediger invited the commissioners to look at the building again to insure that everybody knows what needs to be done.

 

            Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator, Tom Kramer, Road Foreman, and Ron Lofland, Transfer Station Manager, met with the commissioners.  Mr. Goldsby presented road- crossing permits for Pioneer Communications and Greeley Gas that were reviewed and approved by the commissioners.  Mr. Kramer presented quotes for placing a radio antenna on the Pioneer Communications tower.  Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the low base bid of $3890 from Triple M Communications. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  The commissioners authorized Mr. Kramer to negotiate the possibility of using cable and equipment that is already on the tower.  Mr. Lofland presented tonnage figures for the years 2000 and 2001.

 

            Approval was given for Teresa Ochoa to utilize the Family Medical Leave Act for the birth of her child. 

 

            Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the claims against the various funds of the county.  Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Gene Schwein made the motion to approve a 2.75% cost of living increase to full time and part time county employees.  The cost of living increase will be applied to the rates of employees who started working for the county in 2001 at their anniversary date.  Consideration is being given to bonus pay based on evaluations at the end of the year providing there are adequate funds in the various budgets for this.  Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  The commissioners made the decision to exempt themselves from a pay increase this year.  A copy of the approved pay increases is attached as a part of this record.

 

            The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on February 5, 2002.

 

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                                      Madison Traster, Chairman