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 Supervisor; Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator; Todd Hampton,
City/County Building Official; John Crosby, Fire Chief; Lance Babcock, Sheriff;
Rita Gee, Treasurer; Sherry Thompson, Health Department Administrator; Tom
Fuhrmann, Appraiser; and Sean Gooding, Emergency Medical Service Director.
Gene
Schwein made the motion to approve the minutes of the February 17, 2004 meeting
and to approve the claims against the various funds of the county. Madison
Traster seconded the motion and it passed.
Douglas
Campbell, County Attorney, met with the commissioners. The commissioners
approved Mr. Campbell locating an office in the courthouse from April 2004
through January 2005. Discussion was held on router fees that were passed from
the state to the Sheriff’s Departments across the state.
John Wire,
Great Plains Development, Inc. (GPDI) gave an update on services provided by
that organization. He presented information on community development block
grants and the process used to acquire one. He also stated that he will meet
with all the banks in the county and the city clerk to keep them apprised of
business activity in the county. Madison Traster made the motion to reappoint
Carl Higgs and Gary Hathaway as general membership representatives to GPDI and
pay the annual dues in the amount of $1,581.80. Gene Schwein seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously.
Tom Kramer,
Road Supervisor, and Frank Goldsby, Public Works Administrator, presented 2004
sealing sand price quotes. Gene Schwein made the motion to accept the bid from
Popejoy Construction Co. for CM-B at $2.63; the bid from Smith Sand Co. for
CM-A at $8.00; and the bid from Eastern Colorado Aggregates for cone produced
CM-C at $8.00. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Mr. Goldsby presented road-crossing permits which were reviewed and approved by
the commissioners. On behalf of Ron Lofland, Transfer Station Manager, Mr.
Goldsby asked permission to solicit bids for groundwater sampling at the
landfill. The commissioners approved the request. On behalf of Nancy Ramski,
Civic Center Building and Grounds Manager, Mr. Goldsby requested approval to
solicit bids for spraying county grounds. Approval was also given for this.
Don Button,
Emergency Management Coordinator, and Todd Hampton, City/County Building
Official, presented operational costs for a geographical information system.
These costs total $23,552.10. There will be additional costs for training,
maintenance, etc. Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the purchase of a
geographical information system from Environment Systems Research Institute,
Inc. and to give Mr. Button the authority to get items necessary to complete
the project. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Sean
Gooding, EMS Director, requested approval to increase the pay of part time
EMT’s to $10.00/hour; to increase EMTI’s to $10.50/hour; and to increase
Paramedic’s to $12.50/hour. He also recommended increasing on call pay to $1.00
per hour for all on call personnel. Madison Traster made the motion to approve
the increase in pay for the part time EMS personnel. Gene Schwein seconded the
motion and it passed unanimously. In other business, Mr. Gooding requested
approval to purchase a piece of exercise equipment for use by his department.
Gene Schwein made the motion to approve the purchase of a Nordic Trak from
Sears not to exceed $799.99. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed
unanimously. Approval was given to apply this charge to the EMS credit card for
this purchase only. Mr. Gooding presented information on a remounted ambulance
that would cost $94,000. He explained that the box on the truck was redone and
placed on a new chassis. He priced a similar, totally new ambulance at
$130,000. If allowed to purchase the ambulance, he would trade or sell one of
the 1996 McCoy Miller ambulances. Gene Schwein made the motion to allow Sean
Gooding to solicit bids for lease/purchase on this particular 2004 ambulance.
Madison Traster seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Darl
Henson, Extension Council Agent, briefly talked to the commissioners about the
water conference that will be held in Lawrence again this year. It will be
available through video conference at Pioneer Communications if there are 20
participants. The meeting is March 11 and will cost $65 per attendee. One
commissioner will attend the video-conference. Mr. Henson also invited the
commissioners to attend a public forum on March 9. At that time, the Extension
Council is soliciting public comments or suggestions from the public regarding
the programs offered through the extension service.
Scott
Nichols, Chamber of Commerce Manager, talked to the commissioners regarding
tourism expenditures.
Madison
Traster made the motion to approve the purchase and installation of smoke
detectors for the courthouse from SimplexGrinnel at a cost of $11,885.00. Gene
Schwein seconded the motion and it passed.
Gene
Schwein made the motion to approve the quote for material submitted by Donnie
Phelps with Bit & Spur to replace fence at the rodeo/fairgrounds in the amount
of $845 and $3200-$3400 for chain link fence. The county will need copies of
all receipts in order to reimburse Bit & Spur for materials or materials
can be paid directly by the county. Madison Traster seconded the motion and it
passed.
Madison Traster
made the motion to approve State of Kansas 457 Deferred Compensation Loan Plan.
Gene Schwein seconded the motion and it passed.
The
commissioners adjourned to meet again in regular session on March 16, 2004.
Linda McHenry, County Clerk Carl
Higgs, Chairman