The Board
of County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:30 a.m. with all members
and the County Clerk present.
Madison
Traster made the motion to approve the minutes of the August 5, 2003 meeting
and the claims against the various funds of the county. Gene Schwein seconded
the motion and it passed unanimously.
Ron
Lofland, Transfer Station Manager, and Frank Goldsby, Public Works
Administrator, met with the commissioners. Mr. Lofland proposed new rates for
the transfer station that will be effective January 1, 2004. The landfill
charges at Seward County are increasing at that time. No decision was made.
The budget
hearing was held at 10:00 a.m. No one from the public attended the meeting.
Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the 2004 budget as presented. Madison
Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Rita Gee,
Treasurer, presented a quote for a new printer. Madison Traster made the motion
to approve the purchase of an IBM printer from Nex-Tech at a cost not to exceed
$2,858. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mrs. Gee
presented information on paying property taxes on line. The application is
supported by Nex-Tech and requires a one-year commitment and a monthly fee of
$89. Official Payments is the company that maintains the payment procedure.
Customers are able to pay by American Express, MasterCard, Discover, or VISA. A
convenience fee is charged to the customer based on the amount of the
transaction. Madison Traster made the motion to implement the on line procedure
for paying property taxes. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously. At the treasurer’s request Gene Schwein 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. Later in the day the
commissioners made the decision to increase the chief deputy treasurer’s wages
to the median rate for that position.
Sean
Gooding, Emergency Medical Service Director, requested approval to purchase
seven cabinet lockers for the crew quarters. Gene Schwein made the motion to
approve the purchase of the cabinet lockers at a cost not to exceed $1,711.50.
Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mr. Gooding
presented information on Medicare reimbursements. He explained that the
county’s rate for ALS emergency calls is below the amount Medicare will pay so
we need to increase the rate. Madison Traster made the motion to increase the
rate to comply with the reimbursement amount allowed by Medicare for ALS
emergency calls effective immediately. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously. Madison Traster made the motion to approve the purchase of
a refrigerator for the crew quarters and a DVD player for training from Sears
for a total cost of $858.88. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Frances
Roberts, Librarian, Dee Longoria and Galen Pelton, Library Board Members,
reported that the open house for the library would be September 16. They are
now working on the landscaping for the library. They explained that since there
is only a small section of grass where the big elm tree is they would like to
have that portion connected to the courthouse sprinkler system. Mr. Pelton
reported that Gray’s Yard Service said there would be no problem doing that.
The library will pay the cost for adding the sprinklers and putting in the
grass. They asked if the county would put the small area of grass on their
mowing schedule too. The commissioners approved their request.
Nancy
Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, and Frank Goldsby, Public
Works Administrator, met with the commissioners. Mrs. Ramski reported that Joe
Monson is retiring, and there will be a reception for him on August 26. She
asked permission to advertise for someone to replace him. An updated job
description for the shop foreman position was reviewed and approved by the
commissioners. Approval was given to advertise for the position.
Grant
County Farm Bureau Association sent a letter requesting the commissioners waive
the $80 usage fees for the Lawson Room/Kitchen for their annual meeting.
Following discussion, the commissioners denied the request. Mrs. Ramski will
send them a letter regarding this.
Tom Kramer,
Road Foreman, and Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator, met with the
board. Mr. Kramer requested approval to hire a new truck driver to fill a
vacancy in his department. Approval was given to advertise for the position.
Mr. Goldsby presented final information on the Moscow bridge project. Bids for
the project will be let September 10. The commissioners gave their final
endorsement of the project. Mr. Goldsby requested approval to get bids for
crushing stockpiled concrete. The commissioners approved his request. Approval
was given to rent a shouldering machine for a month. Discussion was held on the
progress of noxious weed treatment.
Justin
Huslig, Grant County Recreation Commission Aquatics Facilitator, reported that
they are beginning to lose water in the indoor pool. He said they think they
have the leak located and his board has authorized him to have some concrete
cut out so it can be determined where the problem is.
The
commissioners approved a utility easement for the City of Ulysses for their new
water well.
Scott
Nichols, Chamber of Commerce Manager, requested that usage fees at the civic
center be waived for the Home Products Dinner. Since the dinner is a countywide
function that benefits a scholarship fund and since there has never been a
charge for this, the commissioners approved waiving the fees.
Sheriff
Lance Babcock provided information on his proposed exercise yard for inmates.
Sheriff Babcock presented quotes for an ice machine. Gene Schwein made the
motion to approve the purchase of an ice machine from Weber’s at a cost not to
exceed $1,895. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Discussion was then held on using vacation time. It was decided that this would
be a good discussion for the next department head meeting.
The
commissioners reviewed and approved the encumbrance of funds for scanning old
deed books to CD as presented by written request from Mary K. Sullivan,
Register of Deeds. The total amount for this is $3,895.01 and will be paid
through the Register of Deeds Technology Fund.
The
commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on September 2, 2003.
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Carl
Higgs, Chairman