Minutes, April 24, 2006

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

APRIL 24, 2006

The Board of County Commissioners convened this 24^th day of April, 2006 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 Kueser called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

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

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the Minutes of April 17, 2006. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Cherilee Ward was present for the Public Forum. She updated the Commissioner on her effort to get the property line readjusted. She stated she had not had any response from the Appraiser, Carl Miller, and presented additional documentation that she felt proved the adjustment made by the Appraiser was in error. If she needs to have a survey, she felt the County should stand the cost. The Commissioners will review the situation with the Appraiser and get back to her at their earliest convenience.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Roger Pearson, ECMC Center Administrator, presented the financial report for March that showed a loss of $163,236 but a year-to-date profit of $100,332. He also presented his "dashboard reports" indicating that in some areas they have not attained their goals. They will continue to work on those areas. The Commissioners discussed with Mr. Pearson the request to have free or reduced memberships for county employees to the Wellness Center. He asked that the county do a survey to see how many would be using the facility and get back to Mr. Bahr.

Wilson City Mayor, Eleanor Hunter, and Attorney, John Kasper, met with the Commissioners to update them on the demolition and cleanup of dilapidate structures and of several junk yards in Wilson, and to ask if there was a way they could develop a program to help with demolition of dilapidate structures for all cities in Ellsworth County. They felt the City of Wilson has worked with property owners, adjacent property owners, and the county to achieve their goals. The Commissioners expressed that they, too, felt some sort of project might be feasible through some economic development funding and worthy of discussion.

City of Lorraine Mayor, Marvin Boardman, and City Clerk, Vera Green, requested a landfill waiver for the clean up of a dumpsite in the City of Lorraine. Commissioner Kueser moved to grant a landfill waiver not to exceed $1,000 to the City of Lorraine. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Shelby Soukup, Noxious Weed-Landfill Department, presented a bid on the spray truck from Dickinson County. The bid was for $24,000 with delivery on May 15, 2006. Since our new truck will not be operational until after June 1, the Commissioners asked that we counter offer with $22,000 with a delivery date of June 15, 2006. The item was tabled until we hear back on the counter proposal.

Sheriff Tracy Ploutz informed the Commissioners he has given a letter to all department heads that if they have anything in the basement, they have seven to ten days to claim it or it goes to the sale. The basement flooded again this past week when the electricity went off. Upon the request of Sheriff Ploutz, Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 10:30 a.m. until 10:55 a.m. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. The Commissioners returned to open session at 10:50 a.m. No action was taken. The Commissioners discussed the recent violation of the burn ban and why there was no prosecution. Sheriff Ploutz will inquire as to what happened.

Gaye Woods, Interim EMS Director, and Rick Soukup, EMT, asked the Commissioners to sign the contract on the new ambulance. Mrs. Woods presented a retainer agreement with the firm the state is using to represent them in the rebanding of the 800-communication system. The information was given to the County Attorney for his opinion before signing. Run stats for March were given to the Commissioners and Mrs. Woods presented a request from employees Lisa Herber and Shelly Maze to attend a seminar in Austin, Texas on billing and processing claims with Medicare. The approximate cost would be over $1,000. The Commissioners denied the requesting suggesting they might be able to find the same information available in Kansas.

Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, reported he had attended the Regional Council in Clay Center. This group is the one that all Homeland Security grants will be funneled through in the future. Mr. Bernard passed copies of the revised statutes, executive order, and investment summary for Kansas’s emergency management. In this next cycle of funding for Ellsworth County, he would like to concentrate on the training of personnel. In that regard, he will set up a NIMS class for the Courthouse personnel who would be tapped to participate in an emergency.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

There were no old business items.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Heitschmidt moved to approve the cereal malt beverage license for Smoky Hill Trading Post. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 12:15 a.m.

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk