Minutes, July 18, 2005

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

JULY 18, 2005

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 18^th day of July, 2005 at the Ellsworth County Courthouse.

Members Present:

Lavel Heitschmidt, 1^st District Commissioner

Terry L. Kueser, 3^rd District Commissioner

1. OPENING BUSINESS:

Vice Chairman Kueser called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

Commissioner Heitschmidt moved to approve the Agenda as printed.

Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 2-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of July 11 and July 13, 2005 as presented.

Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 2-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

 

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, reported the county would be getting $77,000 next year from the Department of Justice bio-terrorism grant. So far, about $40,000 of that money has been earmarked for a portable decontamination unit for the hospital. It would be used outside of the hospital emergency room to decontaminate anyone going in the hospital in case of county emergency. This would keep the whole hospital from becoming contaminated and having to shut down. The grant money is less due to the fact that the money is being redirected to more populated areas. Mr. Bernard asked to have the next ambulance that was to be traded in and use it as a control unit. However, Mr. Ludlum, the EMS Director who was in the meeting, declared that they were not trading it in. They plan on using it as a spare ambulance in case of a breakdown on other units. Mr. Bernard is still working on the local E-911 trunking. When the system is ready, dispatchers will have to take some training and since that department is not his, Mr. Bernard questioned how would this be accomplished. The Commissioners will visit with the Sheriff about his concerns.

Kevin Ludlum, EMS Director, presented a proposal for Paramedic, Shelly Maze, to take schooling to become a EMS Certified Instructor and asked the Commissioner if the county would pay the tuition cost and her wages while attending. The cost of the course would be $800 and approximately 15 days of schooling. The advantage of having a trained instructor on staff would to be able to offer the classes in Ellsworth instead of traveling to Great Bend. The Commissioners expressed some concern on the cost of the schooling, paying the employee to go to school and after completion the employee receiving compensation for conducting the classes when county funds were used to pay for the tuition and attendance. The request was tabled until the next meeting when a full board would be present. Three bids were submitted for repair and coating of the EMS roof. However, this approval was also tabled until a full board would be present. Mr. Ludlum reported he had hired Timothy Batt as a volunteer EMT.

Tracy Ploutz, Sheriff, reported he had hired Linda Kyler as a part-time dispatcher. He is also looking for a part-time jailer. The Commissioner discussed the training of dispatch personnel when the new local E-911 system is finalized. Sheriff Ploutz replied that he would work with Mr. Bernard whenever he was ready.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

There were no old business items.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Welcome Home soft lien for Raymond & Emile Penner in the amount of $2,250.

Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 2-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Vice-Chairman Kueser recessed the meeting to Friday, July 22, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. to meet with the auditors on the 2006 budget.

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk