C20070904
September 4, 2007
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular
session with all members and the County Clerk present.
The monthly department head meeting was held
with the following in attendance: Randy McCauley, Road Department
Administrator; Rita Gee, Treasurer; Jerry Jo Deckert, Emergency Medical Service
Director; Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds; J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center
Building and Grounds Manager; Don Button, Emergency Management Coordinator;
Todd Hampton, City/County Building Official; David Graber, Transfer Station
Manager; and Lance Babcock, Sheriff.
Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the
minutes of the August 21, 2007 meeting and the claims against the various funds
of the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Public hearing was held on the proposed 2-mile
extension of Road W. Those in attendance were: Randy McCauley, Road Department
Administrator; Loren Wright, County Surveyor; Arlin Alexander, local farmer and
property owner; Gary Hathaway, Assistant County Attorney; and Viewers, Bruce
Howard, Daryl Pucket, and Jerry Borthwick. Chairman Long explained the county
would like to open the road to enhance commerce and make travel safer for
citizens at a cost savings over time. Arlin Alexander expressed concern over
issues such as a high line that would have to be relocated. He said the line is
no longer used. Commissioner Long said Pioneer Electric would probably make a
determination if the line is needed or not. The commissioners said they would
be willing to put culverts in and make approaches into Mr. Alexander’s land.
Commissioner Traster asked Mr. Alexander if he was protesting the road or not.
Mr. Alexander stated he was looking at all sides of the issue, and since Kearny County has improved their portion of this road he believes it would be good for Grant County to complete their road. The commissioners assured Mr. Alexander the county
would work with him regarding any problems with culverts, entrances and
sprinkler relocation if necessary.
Armando Minjarez invited the commissioners to a
meeting at Bedrock Mobile Home Park on September 23, 2007 regarding storm
shelters. He explained a group of Bedrock residents have explored options for
dealing with the problem of no shelters and would like to present them to the
commissioners. Mr. Minjarez will notify the commissioners of the time and place
for the meeting.
Linda McHenry, County Clerk, presented
recommendations made by the Pay Plan/Department Head Committee. Based on the
recommendation of the committee, Madison Traster made the motion to increase
the pay of Director of Nurses $1.50/hour effective with this pay period. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. J.D. Neufeld, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, and Rita Gee, Treasurer, attended this portion of the
meeting.
Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the
recommendation received from the Pay Plan Committee as follows:
1. Approve
starting part-time bookkeeper/secretary at $8.50/hour and apply annual COLA
increase to this. Make this part of the pay plan for all departments to follow.
2.
Leave it up to the department head to decide when a part time employee
who works year round should receive holiday pay. (Some thought a part-time
employee who worked all year but then didn’t work the month of December should
be paid for the Christmas holiday. Some thought they should not. This is
providing they plan to continue working in January. It will be the
responsibility of each department head to put the holiday on an employees time
record for that holiday pay period.)
3.
Eliminate the separate position for Transfer Station Truck
Driver/Operator and put it at the same level as Road Department Operator I.
David Graber, Transfer Station manager told the committee he would not be able
to adjust wages to reflect the change for a while since he did not budget for
it, but he was in favor of the change.
4.
Eliminate the road department truck driver position.
5.
Eliminate the Building and Grounds Maintenance Foreman position and
change the median rate of pay for Shop Foreman to $11.85/hour and change the
median rate of pay for the Building Maintenance position to $11.50/hour. This
would give that department a little better starting pay without skewing the
entire pay plan.
6.
Put in policy book that anyone who drives a county vehicle will have a
driver’s license check done annually. Fee for this will be paid by department,
not individual. Also put in the policy book that if there is any incident that
affects an employee’s driving record, they shall report it to their department
head. (For instance, a DUI or speeding ticket) Also put in the policy book that
failure to provide notification is grounds for termination.
Madison Traster seconded the motion and following discussion
it passed unanimously.
Madison Traster made the motion to recess into
executive session for 10 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 10 minutes the meeting continued
in open session. Madison Traster made the motion to change the county policy to
permit a department head to increase a new employee with many years experience
to 95% of the median for that position following 3 months of successful employment
instead of the current 6 months. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Lance Babcock, Sheriff, presented information on
a change order for insulating the basement walls of the new addition. The cost
will be about $1,400.00. He also asked if the commissioners think he should add
sheet rock to hold insulation for the ceiling. He reported Pioneer
Communications is putting together a quote for communications and networking.
He also presented information on dispatch office furniture. A decision on these
matters will be made later.
Steve Shadden, Department of Corrections,
informed the commissioners he has an extra $5,000 he would like to use in Grant County and wondered if the county would be willing to match those funds. He proposed
placing an administrative assistant in the county. Some of the programs which
might become available for the community due to this are: assist with the
alternative school in Ulysses; assist with prevention projects for Grant County; help organize parenting classes; help with the documentation of juveniles;
and graffiti removal. Madison Traster made the motion to contribute $5,000.00
as matching funds for the 26th Judicial JCAPS and the total amount
of $10,000.00 will be expended in Grant County. Carl Higgs seconded the motion
and it passed unanimously.
Carl Higgs made the motion to authorize Linda
McHenry, County Clerk, to sign the Grant Agreement for Airport Project No.
3-20-0084-09-2007. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
The commissioners reviewed and approved the
Senate Bill 14 Risk Reduction Initiative Packet for FY 2008 for submission to
the Department of Corrections by Cimarron Basin Community Corrections.
Robert Ohlen, Hospital Administrator, requested
approval to sell the metal storage building at the hospital instead of
relocating it. Madison Traster made the motion to allow the hospital board to
sell their metal building. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously.
Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator,
presented pick-up bids for the commissioners’ review. Riley Ford-Mercury bid
$28,461.00 and Riley Chevrolet bid $31,100.00. Carl Higgs made the motion to
accept the low bid from Riley Ford at an amount not to exceed $28,461.00
contingent on the vehicle meeting specifications. Madison Traster seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously. Later in the day it was determined the Ford
bid did not meet specifications and the bid from Riley Chevrolet in the amount
of $31,100.00 was approved. Bids were opened for a snow plow. Midwest Truck
Equipment, Inc. bid $8,669.00, and an optional tilt feature for truck portion
of universal quick hitch at a cost of $225.00; Truck Parts and Equipment, Inc.
bid $8,740.00. Berry Tractor & Equipment bid $11,242.00. Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the bid from Truck Parts & Equipment, Inc. at a cost
not to exceed $8,740.00. Madison Traster seconded the motion and following
discussion motion passed unanimously. Mr. McCauley reported that Venture would
set their hot mix plant on county property while fulfilling their contract with
the county. They have requested approval to lease the area from the county if
they are successful bidders on other projects in the area. The commissioners
decided the space is fine to use for the county’s project but not for any other
projects. The commissioners approved installing a sprinkler system at the road
department if the work is done by that department.
Carl Higgs was designated as voting delegate for
the annual KWORCC and KCAMP meeting in November. Marty Long will be the
alternate delegate.
Carl Higgs made the motion to approve Resolution
07-05 authorizing and providing for the public sale of general obligation
bonds, Series 2007A (Hospital). Madison Traster seconded the motion and it
passed unanimously.
The commissioners adjourned to meet again in
regular session on September 18, 2007 at 9:30 a.m. in the commissioners’ room
at the courthouse.
____________________________ ____________________________
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Marty
Long, Chairman