Thursday, January 05, 2006

Minutes, December 27, 2005

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

DECEMBER 27, 2005

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 27th day of December, 2005 at the Ellsworth County Courthouse.

Members Present:

Lavel Heitschmidt, 1st District Commissioner

Kermit Rush, 2nd District Commissioner

Terry L. Kueser, 3rd District Commissioner
  1. OPENING BUSINESS:

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

Commissioner Kueser moved to the approve the Agenda with an addition

Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of December 19, 2005.

Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Roger Pearson, ECMC Administrator, reported for the month of November the Rural Health Clinic and Medical Center had a combined loss of $16,008 and a year-to-date loss of $15,903. The Medical Center received one of the two Kansas Excellent Awards given by the Kansas Award for Excellence Foundation. The Center also received other awards in different categories. Governor Sebelius will be in Salina on January 23rd to present the award to the Salina Regional Health Center and efforts are ongoing to have her come to Ellsworth. The ECMC Board will be having a strategic retreat on February 3, 2006 and the Commissioners were invited to attend. Mr. Pearson showed a video presentation that was shown at the Kansas Excellent Awards ceremony. Commissioner Kueser asked Mr. Pearson to look into the possibility of Ellsworth county employees having access to the Wellness Center at the same discount as the Medical Center employees. Mr. Pearson will get back to them.

Doug Vlcek and Larry Langerman, representing the Wilson Fire Department, presented a proposal from Ka-Comm., Inc. to tie their paging system into the new system at the Sheriff’s office. When emergency management grants purchased new pagers for the cities, they only ordered 8 and in actuality needed 22. Although it was an error on their part, they are not compatible with the new system and something needs to be done. This proposal would be less expensive that buying additional pagers and work better for them. Mayor of Wilson, Eleanor Hunter, entered the meeting and did express a willingness of the City of Wilson to pick up some of the cost but would appreciate the county’s help. The Commissioners responded that they would check with the Emergency Management Director to see if some grant money is still available and get back to them.

Later in the meeting, the Commissioners talked via the telephone with Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, and he indicated there was no grant money available. Sheriff Ploutz, who was also in the meeting, reiterated the necessity of having this system set up as soon as possible and would be willing to fund the entire amount from his budget with the City of Wilson reimbursing the General Fund for their portion. Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the proposal from Ka-Comm., Inc. in the amount of $4,280.79 from the Sheriff’s budget with the City of Wilson reimbursing the county for 50% of the expense. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Gene Linton, Jean Pflughoeft and Eleanor Hunter, representing Ellsworth County Council on Aging, reported they had a shortfall of funds for 2005 and had bills and payroll they would not be able to meet. To help with this temporary problem, Commissioner Kueser moved to pay the Senior Center bus insurance of $2,720. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Also, the County Clerk, will arrange to have the first tax distribution in January sent as soon as distributed.

Kevin Ludlum, EMS Director, asked permission to purchase a RAM software package for submitting runs to the State of Kansas at a cost of $6,445. Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the purchase of the RAM software at a cost of $6,445. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Also, Mr. Ludlum requested to purchase a new color laser printer at a cost of approximately $476. This would eliminate the four other printers. The Commissioners approved the purchase. Mr. Ludlum was reminded that the old printers needed to be listed on the county’s website and if not sold offered to employees at the same price.

Sheriff, Tracy Ploutz, and County Attorney, Joe Shepack, visited with the Commissioner briefly about racial profiling and the new policies required by the legislature. Sheriff Ploutz informed the Commissioners that he had purchased three video monitors for the booking room and dispatch area at a cost of $1,407 and a closed circuit TV system for the courtroom for $6,990. Both purchases are from H & B Communications. When questioned if the closed circuit system was bid out, the Sheriff responded he did not take bids on this project. Sheriff Ploutz reported the work on the E-911 system was going smoothly.

Teresa Shute, Noxious Weed-Landfill Supervisor, asked to reserve $10,000 from her 2005 budget to be spent on the new spray truck that is ordered but will not be billed until 2006. Commissioner Kueser moved to allow $10,000 from the Noxious Weed’s 2005 budget to be expended in 2006 for the new spray truck. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Discussion was held on the trash contract with Slechta Enterprise. Due to the fact the contract was last bid out in 1997, it was decided to take bids by April, the renewal date.

Joe Shepack, County Attorney, visited with the Commissioner about the eminent domain proceeding on the Vopat land.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve Resolution 05R21, A Resolution Whereby The County Agrees To Convey Certain Real Estate, Commonly Known As The "Old 4-H Barn" To Rolling Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

  1. NEW BUSINESS:
    2.

    Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the renewal of cereal malt beverage licenses for Cliff’s Service and Martin Oil. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

    Commissioner Kueser moved to approve Abatements 2005, 50 & 51 in the amount of $274.64. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

  2. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 12:00 Noon.

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

posted by Surf4it at 9:22 AM