The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. with all members and the County Clerk present.

 

            The monthly department head meeting was held with the following in attendance: Tom Kramer, Road Foreman; Don Button, Emergency Management Coordinator; Todd Hampton, City/County Building Official; John Crosby, Fire Chief; Lance Babcock, Sheriff; Ron Lofland, Transfer Station Manager; Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator; Sherry Thompson, Health Department Administrator; Nancy Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager; and Sean Gooding, Emergency Medical Services Director.

 

            Madison Traster made the motion to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2004 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, presented a letter regarding construction and demolition landfill permit compliance. He explained that KDHE has finalized new regulations and he will have to make a few minor site changes to comply with new KDHE regulations. He also reported that based upon a review of the requirements permit documents need to be prepared and/or modified to meet the new regulations. Mr. Lofland presented a proposal from Terracon to comply with the necessary details. Madison Traster made the motion to approve the contract with Terracon not to exceed $6,700. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Tom Fuhrmann, Appraiser, gave an update on his department.

 

            Dennis Deyoe, Donnie Phelps, and John Martin, representing the Ulysses Bit & Spur met with the commissioners. Nancy Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, also attended this portion of the meeting. Mr. Phelps presented Bit & Spur’s schedule for using the rodeo arena explaining that they will be using it every weekend through fair time. They requested that they be allowed to maintain control of the arena usage. They made clear that they were not opposed to allowing other events, such as horse shows, use of the arena. They said they would like to have sufficient notice of another event so they could work it into the schedule. The commissioners approved Bit & Spur being in charge of the rodeo arena. Mrs. Ramski suggested that Bit & Spur also take care of maintenance at the arena. Mr. Phelps said they have received help from the county in the past but did most of the maintenance themselves with the county furnishing supplies. He said they would be willing to continue with that.

 

            Nancy Ramski, Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, presented 2 quotes for restoring the brick on the courthouse steps. Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the low quote from Phillip Hampton for $1200. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Mrs. Ramski reported that her shop foreman has successfully completed his 6-month probationary period. She requested approval to increase his wages 14 cents above the 95% of median rate allowed by county policy. The commissioners recommended that she take her request for an increase to the pay plan committee.

 

            Tom Kramer, Road Foreman, and Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator, presented truck bids for the commissioners’ consideration. Representatives from each dealership presented information on their truck. Liberal Kenworth bid $74,385; Peterbilt of Garden City bid $76,650; Maupin Truck Sales of Dodge City bid $74,744; Hays Mack bid $69,359; and Kansas Truck Center of Liberal bid $72,300. Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the bid from Hays Mack in the amount not to exceed $69,359. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Loren Wright, Surveyor, requested approval to purchase a new computer for his department. Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the Dell quote for a total not to exceed $1,654.87. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            Scott Nichols and Randy Magnison, Chamber of Commerce, Gene Pflughoft, Economic Development, Keri Liddeke, Extension, and Lynda Fort, Tourism met with the commissioners. Discussion was held on relocation of the Extension, Chamber and Economic Development offices since the building they are in is going to change occupancy. The possibility of all three departments moving to the old Duckwall building on Main Street was discussed. The commissioners approved the following board members for the Grant County Convention and Tourism Board:

 

1.                  Four Year Members: *3 Motel Representatives and 2 Community at Large

·        Lynda Fort (Forts Cedar View Bed & Breakfast)*

·        Yogie Patel (Peddlers Inn)*

·        Avis Gibbons (Single Tree Inn)*

·        Stan Rice (Pioneer Communications)

·        Ginger Anthony (Historic Adobe Museum)

 

2.                  Two Year Members *1 Motel Representative and 1 Community at Large

·        Jeff Trotman (Southwest Paint & Body)

·        Jay Patel (Sands Motor Inn)*

 

            Madison Traster made the motion to approve Mary K. Sullivan, Register of Deeds, request for the scanning & indexing of Miscellaneous Records 1 through 24 and Oil & Gas Records 1 through 10 at a cost of $2,925.00 to be paid out of the Register of Deeds tech fund. Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

 

            The commissioners made the decision to have Cimarron Basin Community Corrections return $4,299.36 to Grant County since that agency received unexpended funds from the Department of Corrections which enabled it to retain a position without additional help from the counties involved. The clerk will send them a letter regarding this.

 

            The commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on April 20, 2004.

 

 

Linda McHenry, County Clerk                            Carl Higgs, Chairman