C20090120 January 20, 2009
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session with Commissioners Marty Long, Carl Higgs, Madison Traster, and County Clerk Linda McHenry present.
The following officials elected at the November 4, 2008 General Election were sworn in by District Judge Tom R. Smith: Marty Long, Commissioner; Linda McHenry, County Clerk; Rita Gee, Treasurer; Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds; Lance Babcock, Sheriff; and Robin Hathaway, County Attorney.
Carl Higgs made the motion to approve the minutes of the January 6, 2009 meeting and the claims against the various funds of the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion. Following clarification of two vouchers the motion passed unanimously.
Robin Hathaway, County Attorney, told the commissioners there is some equipment at the old care home that will not be moved to the new one. There are some items the Civic Center and possibly other county departments might be able to use. The commissioners said if the departments need any of the equipment it would be okay to purchase it from the care home. Later in the day the commissioners talked by telephone to Pam Gindlesberger, Care Home Board Member, and she said they would like to have an auction of equipment and furniture shortly after they have vacated the old care home. She also wondered about timing the transfer of the old building to the county for insurance purposes. The commissioners approved having an auction. The building can be added to the county’s property insurance as soon as it is vacated.
Marty Long made the motion to elect Carl Higgs as chairman of the county commission. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Madison Traster made the motion to approve Items 2 through 15 on the Organizational Agenda. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The agenda Follows:
Grant County Organizational Agenda – January 20, 2009
1. Elect Chairman
2. Select Meeting Dates and Times for the Year
a. 1st Tuesday of month – 9:00 a.m.
b. 3rd Tuesday of month – 9:30 a.m.
3. Designate Official Depositories
a. Grant County Bank
b. Western State Bank
c. Bank of Ulysses
4. Designate Official Newspaper(s)
a. Ulysses News
b. Gazette
5. Give Treasurer the Authority to Invest County Funds to the Best Interest of the County
6. Appoint Clerk Chief Purchasing Agent, Federal & State Withholding Tax Agent, Social Security Agent, Kansas Public Employees Retirement System Agent and Insurance Agent for the County, as well as Public Information Officer, Freedom of Information Officer, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator.
7. Appoint Randy McCauley Road and Bridge Administrator
8. Appoint Ramon Clinesmith as Noxious Weed Director
9. Appoint David Graber as Transfer Station Manager
10. Appoint J.D. Neufeld as Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager
11. Appoint Anita Alvarado as Health Department Administrator
12. Appoint Dr. Johnson as County Health Officer
13. Appoint Don Button as Emergency Management Coordinator
14. Appoint Jerry Jo Deckert as Emergency Medical Services Director
15. Appoint John Crosby as Fire Chief
16. Resolve that mileage be paid at __________. Currently 50 cents per mile when using personal vehicle for county business (IRS 2009 mileage rate is 55 cents per mile.)
17. Appoint the Following Administrative Heads for Approving Claims Against the Various Funds of the County:
a. Lance Babcock for Sheriff’s Department and Juvenile Justice
b. Jerry Jo Deckert for Ambulance Funds
c. John Crosby for Fire Department Funds
d. Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, for Road & Bridge and Noxious Weed Funds
e. David Graber for Transfer Station Funds
f. Tom Fuhrmann, Appraiser, for Appraiser
g. Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds Funds
h. Rita Gee for Treasurer and Treasurer’s Special Funds
i. Robin Hathaway for Attorney Funds
j. Don Button for Emergency Management Funds
k. Anita Alvarado for Health Department Funds
l. J.D. Neufeld for Park Maintenance
m. Chairman of the Airport Board for Airport Funds
n. Linda McHenry for all Other Funds
19. Make Board Appointments.
a. Care Home Board – Larry Rumburg and Kent Carmichael are up.
b. Board on Aging – Larry Bortz and Betty Warner are up. Vacant position (Jane Ann Prusa resigned)
c. Fair Board –Daron Cowan, Kevin Shapland, Terri Trotman, Dennis Deyoe, and Tony Cavasos – Vacant position (Katrina Benyshek)
d. Hospital Board – Mike Brewer said he would be willing to serve for a couple more years – Dave Seibel’s term was up this year.
Marty Long made the motion to pay mileage at the rate of 50 cents per mile when an employee is using their personal vehicle for county business. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Marty Long made the motion to approve Line 17, Items a through n on the Organizational Agenda. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously
Marty Long made the motion to reappoint Larry Bortz and Betty Warner to the Board on Aging and fill the vacant position by appointing Bill Stewart. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Marty Long made the motion to reappoint Dennis Deyoe, Tony Cavasos, Kevin Shapland, Daron Cowan, Terri Trotman, and to appoint new member Lorrie Munsell to the Fair Board.
Madison Traster made the motion to reappoint Mike Brewer to the Hospital Board and to appoint David Higgs to vacant position on that board. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Marty Long made the motion to appoint Larry Rumburg to the Care Home Board and to appoint Larry Kepley to that board replacing Kent Carmichael whose term has expired. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Marty Long reported that Dr. Maple had contacted him regarding 12’ of property on the North side of his property that belongs to the county. Dr. Maple said he has maintained the property for many years. The commissioners will talk to the county attorney regarding this.
De De Lane, Solid Waste Management Committee, presented the certificate of approval for the updated County Solid Waste Plan which was approved by the commissioners.
Marty Long made the motion to appoint Sheriff Lance Babcock to the Cimarron Basin Community Corrections Advisory Board replacing Madison Traster. Carl Higgs seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Madison Traster made the motion to reappoint Undersheriff Loy Henderson to the Advisory Board of the Southwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Randy McCauley, Road Department Administrator, presented information on Prairie Dogs at a site at the edge of the city that is leased by Mark McGaughey. Daron Hall, City Administrator, said the agreement is for Mark McGaughey’s animals on the property, it does not address the property owner. Commissioner Long recommended contacting the actual landowner to get his/her approval for treating the Prairie Dogs. After this is done, approval was given to proceed with the treatment plan. The commissioners reviewed and approved four road-crossing permits.
Randy Parks, Celebration Baptist Church Minister, asked the commissioners if they would consider opening their meetings with a prayer. Ministers from the various churches would rotate turns coming to the commissioner meetings to present prayer before the meeting. Marty Long made the motion to proceed with starting each meeting with a representative from the ministerial alliance. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Marty Long made the motion to approve the agreement with Bucher, Willis, Radliff, Engineers for the airport project. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Long reported on an email he received from J.D. Neufeld regarding bids for lawn care of county property. Mr. Neufeld said he would include the property at the old care home in the bid proposal unless the commissioners tell him not to.
Lance Babcock, Sheriff, reported he is going to try having dispatchers work 12 hour shifts instead of 8 hour shifts. They will work 36 hours one week and 48 hours the next week. He said the extra cost would be $2,600 to $2,800 a year. He also reported the dispatchers want to see this change. The commissioners said this was his decision since he is the elected department head but they commended him for trying something different.
Commissioner Long commended Sheriff Babcock for his election to the Kansas Sheriffs’ Association Governing Board. He is now Sergeant at Arms of the Kansas Sheriff’s Association. He will work up through the ranks until 2011 when he will be President of that Association.
The commissioners recessed for lunch with City of Ulysses officials at Park View Assisted Living. Those attending from the city were: Thadd Kistler, Mayor; Daron Hall, City Administrator; Mary Smith, City Clerk; and Ed Wiltse, Council Member. General discussion was held. Following lunch everyone attended a walkthrough of the new hospital which is under construction. Another walkthrough will be done when construction is further along.
Jerry Jo Deckert, EMS Director, requested approval to pay tuition, fees and textbook costs for 6 EMT-Basic staff members to attend an EMT-Intermediate course. The cost for this is approximately $500 per person for a total of $3,000.00. Ms. Deckert explained that she has applied for a grant that would cover all or a portion of the cost if the grant is awarded. The lecture portion of the course will be on Interactive Television at Pioneer Communications. The skills portion of the course will be done at the Grant County EMS facility using 7 local EMS instructors. Marty Long made the motion to allow EMS to spend $500 per person up to a total of $3000 for 6 people to attend the EMT-Intermediate course. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
David Graber, Transfer Station Manager, presented a quote for a Wilkens 2009 model Trash Trailer with trade in of a 03-897 Wilkens Trash Trailer. Madison Traster made the motion to purchase the 2009 Wilkens Trash Trailer at a cost of $55,000.00. Marty Long seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. In other business Mr. Graber explained that he got a quote from B & N Welding to rebuild the back stop at the Transfer Shed. Marty Long made the motion to approve the quote at a cost of $6,850.00. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Alejandra Juarez, BlueCross BlueShield Representative, presented a reserve refund check in the amount of $336,680.71 to the county. The check will be deposited into the employee benefits fund.
Marty Long made the motion to recess into executive session for 10 minutes for the purpose of discussing matters of client/attorney privilege with Robin Hathaway, County Attorney. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. After 10 minutes the meeting continued in open session.
Commissioner Long mentioned that the commissioners need to decide what, if anything the county would try to salvage of the old care home before it is demolished. The clerk will contact our insurance carrier to see what recommendations they might have regarding the demolition.
The Commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on February 5, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Room at the Courthouse.
___________________________ __________________________
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Carl Higgs, Chairman