Minutes, August 21, 2006

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

AUGUST 21, 2006

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 21^st day of August 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 August 14, 2006. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Roger Pearson, ECMC Administrator, reported a loss of $167,984 for July. Utilization was down due partly to one physician being gone for almost a month. He announced that Dan Urban as been hired as Director of Financial Services. So far nine people have applied for the medical access card with one being approved. The amnesty program will end on August 30^th and that program, so far, has been very successful. The Board will decide if they want to extend the program. They are in the final stages on purchasing the digital radiology equipment and a new hot water system at a cost of $11,000 is being installed. The Commissioners discuss the membership for county employees to the wellness center at a reduced charge. Presently, hospital employees get that membership at no cost. Commissioner Kueser asked if they would be willing to give membership to county employees at 50% of regular cost instead of trading services as previously discussed. Mr. Pearson will get back to them. Commissioners asked if individuals other than hospital staff and visitors were allowed to eat in the cafeteria. Mr. Pearson answered "yes" and Commissioner Rush expressed his opinion that he felt it was in competition with retail food businesses and, due to the loss cost of the meals, the hospital was subsidizing meals for the general public. He asked that it be curtailed. Mr. Pearson will take his request to the Board of Directors.

 

Justin Madar and Jon Halbgewachs, Kirkham, Michael & Associates, went through the 2006 Biannual Bridge Inspection. Although there are several bridges with a high deficiency rating, Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, has been proactive in seeing that these bridges are replaced. There are a couple of bridges that need to be re-posted as the signs have disappeared and Mr. Nondorf is aware of them. Mr. Madar and Mr. Halbgewachs also went over the three bridges that will be replaced with the State’s 80/20 program in 2008.

Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, brought the Commissioners up-to-date on the Point of Dispensing exercise at the High School at 9:00 a.m. on August 31^st.

Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session for client attorney privilege from 10:51 a.m. until 11:02 a.m. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. County Attorney, Joe Shepack, was included. Motion carried 3-0.

Brent Goss, Extension Service, discussed the renting of the 4-H barn and in particular the concession stand. The Commissioners emphasized their desire to have the concession stand operated by local 4-H groups or Saddle Club members as money making project rather than renting to individuals or groups that rent the barn. Mr. Goss will discuss that with the groups involved and get back to them. Mr. Goss reported that it appears so far that about $73,000 had been donated for the completion of the new barn. The remained of the funding has come from the sale of the old barn and the temporary note issued by the County. He checked the barn after the first rain and found that it was leaking in spots, but it was taken care of immediately when reported.

The Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:00 Noon. At 1:00 p.m. Chairman Kueser called the meeting back to order. Becky Bailey and her husband, John Bailey, asked for a post-termination hearing in executive session. Commissioner Heitschmidt moved to go into executive to discuss non-elected personnel from 1:00 p.m. until 1:25 p.m. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. County Attorney, Joe Shepack, was included in the executive session. The Commissioner returned to open session at 1:25 p.m. No action was taken.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

The County Clerk discussed a property in Holyrood, Kansas that the county had retained after the tax foreclosure sale and the 2005 taxes are delinquent. Since current taxes cannot be accepted until the delinquent ones are paid, we cannot pay the 2005 taxes. The property has been offered to the adjacent owners, but they have not responded. She had check with Mr. Nondorf at the Road & Bridge Department, and he would be willing to tear the house down this fall or winter and then perhaps we could get rid of the property as a vacant lot. The Commissioners agreed that would be appropriate.

 

4. NEW BUSINESS:

The Commissioners decided to stay with KCAMP and KWORCC Multi-line Pool for the county’s liability and Workman’s Comp insurance.

Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, will represent the county at the Court Security Emergency Preparedness Project Meeting on September 5, 2006.

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 06R10, A Resolution Rescinding The Burn Ban Imposed By The Ellsworth County Commissioners In Resolution 06R09. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Abatement 2005-139 in the amount of $10,662.04. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve a letter of support for the North Central-Flint Hills Area on Agency’s Kansas Accessibility Modification Program grant application. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m.

 

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk