Minutes, May 8, 2006

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

MAY 8, 2006

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 8^th day of May 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 Heitschmidt moved to approve the Minutes of May 1, 2006. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

At the Public Forum, Cherilee Ward reported she still had not heard from the Appraiser, Mr. Miller, about the adjustment made to her property. She asked that the Commissioners arrange a meeting with the Appraiser and herself so the matter could be settled. The Commissioners will contact Mr. Miller and set up such an appointment.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Sheriff Ploutz reported he had revised the surplus property list that he had given to the Commissioners last week. The Ellsworth Fire Department wanted a few of the items that were going to be sold, so he would like to donate those items to them. Commissioner Kueser moved to authorize Sheriff Ploutz to donate 2 sirens, a Johnson radio and amplifier to the Ellsworth Fire Department. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. There was a discussion on the surplus property sale and it was decided that all the items would be priced like a garage sale instead of a silent auction. The sale will be June 7^th at the EMS building.

Although not on the Agenda, Doug McKinney, North Central Regional Planning Commission, visited with the Commissioners and informed them that Post Rock Rural Water District would again be going for a sponsored grant.

Jo Funk, Sanitarian with the Salina-Saline Health Department, presented the revised Sanitary Code for review. The Commissioners asked that item 2-5.3, Suitable Site, be changed from five acres to ten acres and that item 1-2.1, Administrative Agency, be changed from the Ellsworth County Health Department to LEPP. Also, the Commissioner would like the County Attorney to review the policy as he had stated earlier that certain areas needed to be changed. Mrs. Funk explained the process for getting the code passed at the county and state level. The Commissioners suggested the LEPP committee meet maybe once a year.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

The County Clerk reported she had contacted the City of Lorraine on their decision to not allow a gazebo to be placed on the county’s lot in the city. Also, she had sent a request to the Ellsworth Correctional Facility to make a picnic table.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Abatement #96 for $34.82. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 06R06, A Resolution Authorizing Retail Sale of Cereal Malt Beverages on Sundays in Unincorporated Areas of Ellsworth County, Kansas. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Commissioner Kueser adjourned the meeting at 12:20 p.m.

 

 

___________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk

Minutes, May 1, 2006

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

MAY 1, 2006

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 1^st day of May, 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 24, 2006. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Anita Hoffhines, Hoffhines Marketing, gave the Commissioners an update on the Welcome Home Plan. There is $4,500 left for down payment assistance for the remainder of the year.

Barbara Pickering, Venango Korner Mart, and Connie Dickinson, Smoky Hill Trading Post, asked the Commissioners to pass a resolution allowing cereal malt beverage sales on Sunday. The Commissioners agreed and will ask the County Attorney to draw up the necessary resolution.

Tracy Ploutz, Sheriff, presented a list of surplus property that he will want to put in the sale and also a list of items he would like to have permission to destroy. Commissioner Kueser moved to authorize Sheriff Ploutz to destroy the listed equipment at his discretion. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Sheriff Ploutz reported Penny VonLehe, Dispatch Supervisor, was taking GIS classes at Mitchell County and the Dispatch Supervisor at Mitchell County has offered to write a grant for Ellsworth County for local E-911 funding. Commissioner Rush moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 10:55 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. The Commissioners returned to open session at 11:00 a.m. No action was taken.

Teresa Shute, Noxious Weed-Landfill Supervisor, reported that Dickinson County had agreed to take delivery on the spray truck on June 15^th at a cost of $22,000. A bid for the tank and delivery system on the new spray truck was received from Vegetation Management Supply, Inc. for $17,382.40. Commissioner Kueser moved to accept the bid from Vegetation Management Supply, Inc. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Commissioner Rush discussed a complaint he had from Tom Maze about the bindweed on county property adjacent to his property. Mrs. Shute will spray the area with Roundup.

Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, received two bids on lawn care for the health building. Commissioner Rush moved to accept the bid from Laura Habiger for lawn care maintenance at the county health building. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

There were no old business items.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the April payroll in the amount of $157,954.15. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Heitschmidt moved to approve the April accounts payable for $251,440.46. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Abatement #95 in the amount of $28.04. Commissioner Heitschmidt seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 06R05, A Resolution Authorizing Conveyance of County Owned Real Estate. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. OTHER BUSINESS:

The Commissioners suggested the County Clerk contact Ellsworth Correctional Facility about building a picnic bench for the Courthouse grounds.

The City of Lorraine had requested to put a gazebo on the county’s lot in Lorraine. It would have to be secured into the ground. The Commissioners denied the request. However, the option to give the City of Lorraine the lot for a nominal charge is still open.

6. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m.

 

 

____________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk

 

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.

 

________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk