Minutes, November 7, 2005

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 7, 2005

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 7^th day of November 2005 at the Ellsworth County Courthouse.

Members Present:

Lavel Heitschmidt, 1^st District Commissioner

Kermit Rush, 2^nd District Commissioner

Terry L. Kueser, 3^rd District Commissioner

1. OPENING BUSINESS:

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

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Agenda as printed. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of October 31, 2005. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Carl Miller, Appraiser, clarified the holiday schedule for January 1, 2006. He has new aerial maps for the townships. A request was made to purchase a new computer and monitor to be used with the GIS. The total cost including the labor would be $4,400. The Commissioners approved the purchase.

A telephone conference was held with Becky Crowder, Austin Peters Group, regarding EMS salaries. Kevin Ludlum, EMS Director, was present during the conference. Mrs. Crowder explained that many counties are facing the same difficulties we are having with the large overtime expense. However, she did not recommend a lower tier of salaries. She suggested that the situation be handled through management and scheduling. She will be sending information on salary trends for 2006. Mr. Ludlum and the Commissioners further discuss the overtime problem and Mr. Ludlum felt that by building the volunteer base and reclassifying the volunteers and pay schedule, some of the overtime situation could be alleviated.

Linda McCowan, Facilitator, and Bob Peter, Chairman, of the Prairie Enterprise Project, gave the Commissioners an update on the program. Also in attendance was Peg Britton, Board Member and Anita Hoffhines, interested party. Mr. Peter reported that Rice County will be dropping out of the project next year but Pawnee County might be interested in coming into the group. Ellsworth County is very active with seven business tune-ups, seven new businesses and ten ongoing projects. The Prairie Enterprise Project as well as other projects have been evaluated and by an outside group and the Prairie Enterprise Project has received very high marks. Funding for the project is fine through 2006, but after that it might be necessary to ask for increased funding from the participants.

Teresa Shute, Noxious Weed-Landfill Supervisor, gave the Commissioners a recycling report showing the tonnage down from last year. The new bins the inmates from ECF made are working real well. With them, they have been taking down larger loads to Great Bend at one time cutting down on the frequency of the trips. American Recycling Day is November 15^th and they will be holding an Open House and will serve hot dogs through the noon hour. Again this year they will have prizes that have been donated by merchants.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

The Commissioners discussed the sale of the old 4-H barn and felt they could settle on the 27^th of December and just do a deed for cash.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the October accounts payable in the amount of $485,803.96. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to appoint Gene Linton to the Board of Directors of the North Central Flint Hills Area Agency on Aging. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush and spouse and Commissioner Kueser will attend the Kirkham Michael & Associates Appreciation Dinner.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 11:00 a.m. to tour the newly acquired property behind the Courthouse. Mr. Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, went with them to discuss the future demolition of the houses on the property.

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk