Minutes, December 4, 2006

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

DECEMBER 4, 2006

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 4^th day of December, 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 November 27, 2006. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Albert Oller, Commissioner-elect, was present.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Jonathan Mitchell, Ellsworth City Administrator, discussed the recent zoning meeting and reported he had received some positive feedback for making the information available. Mr. Mitchell presented a City of Ellsworth Neighborhood Revitalization Plan for the Northeast Ellsworth Commercial Redevelopment District and an Interlocal Agreement between the city and county. The Neighborhood Revitalization Plan would allow tax abatements on construction of an improvement of $50,000 or more over a ten-year period. The abatement would not affect the present tax base on existing property if the construction were an addition. The Commissioners will discuss both documents with the County Attorney and Appraiser and get back to Mr. Mitchell before the 18^th of December.

Tracy Ploutz, Sheriff, reported it was time to remodel the dispatch area of the jail and he felt that cost should come out of the county building fund rather than his budget. If he gets the grant for the wireless 911 equipment, he will need to have the whole area redone. Also, the area has not had any improvement since being constructed in 1980 and with all the technology that has evolved, wires are everywhere. He would like to have an architect configure the space. The Commissioners asked that he contact Architect, Fred Abercrombie. Homeland Security was in the area last week visiting Oneok and met with Rice and Ellsworth County Law Enforcement about protection for gas pipeline companies. There might be some grant money available for monitoring devices for both counties and that would be another addition to the already crowded dispatch area. Recently, upon the recommendation of a computer company, he bought a webcam for the booking room, but it is not the right equipment needed for the area. Therefore, he is looking for a different one. A patrol car that he has been looking at will become available in February and he has put a hold on it.

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, reported that work on the Vopat Bridge has started. Presently, he has three bridges on the State Five-Year Plan with one being let in November 2007, one in March 2008 and one in October 2008. Farther out in 2009 and 2010 there are two more bridges on the list for Ellsworth County.

Joe Shepack, Ellsworth County Attorney, reviewed a report on the activities of his office for the past year. Also, the Commissioners gave him the information on the City of Ellsworth Neighborhood Revitalization plan for his review and opinion.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

There were no old business items.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the November payroll in the amount of $164,728.71. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the November accounts payable in the amount of $314,367.71. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m.

 

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk