Minutes, February 26, 2007

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MINUTES

MINUTES

FEBRUARY 26, 2007

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 26^th day of February 2007 at the Ellsworth County Courthouse.

Members Present:

Albert W. Oller, 1^st District Commissioner

Kermit Rush, 2^nd District Commissioner

Terry L. Kueser, 3^rd District Commissioner

1. OPENING BUSINESS:

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

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

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of February 20, 2007. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Roger Pearson, ECMC Administrator, discussed the informational meeting they had on EMS charges. He reported he had six individuals who were interested in the two board vacancies in July and that he is advertising an informational meeting for any others in the county that might be interested. The ECMC Board will then present a list of recommendations for appointments and hopefully the new board members can be appointed on April 2. In his financial report, Mr. Pearson reported a loss of $23,00 for the month and a year-to-date loss of over $500,000. However, they have filed an interim cost report with Medicare and should be receiving an adjustment that would wipe out the loss.

Sheriff Ploutz reviewed the contract with Contact One before he signed it and found the cost is higher than reported. The cost is $69,180 making the total wireless project $20,070 over the $125,000 grant we are receiving. He is continuing with the project in total and will make up the additional cost from the wireless funds and his budget. Sheriff Ploutz presented his strip search policy, which has been approved by our liability insurance carrier for approval. Commissioner Kueser moved to accept the new Strip Search For Pretrial Detainees With Provisions Regarding Body Cavity Searches as presented. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Deputy Bill Salyers attended the NCK Homeland Security Regional Council meeting last week but was told that he no longer had voting privileges as they had received a letter from the Ellsworth County LEPC assigning the voting rights to officers of the LEPC. Sheriff Ploutz explained that Mr. Salyers had committed to being the representative and if he were unable to attend the meeting, he would be in attendance. Since the By-laws of the organization state that the appointment to the council would be made by the governing body, Commissioner Rush moved to appoint Bill Saylers as Ellsworth County's representative with Sheriff Tracy Ploutz as the alternate on the NCK Homeland Security Regional Council with full voting privileges. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

A Department Head meeting was held at 10:30 a.m. with all departments in attendance. Chairman Rush left the meeting at 10:35 a.m. due the death of his mother. Vice-Chairman Kueser chaired the remaining meeting. Items discussed were ADA, evaluations, web page, telephone service for the Courthouse and incentives. All were reminded that reasonable accommodations need to be made for all employees who because of illnesses or disabilities can no longer perform duties as expected. Also, it would be good to check with the County ADA Coordinators to help provide those reasonable accommodations within the framework of our ADA policy. The consensus of the group was that the evaluations were fine and they did not wish to change the form. It was decided to have someone from the Technology Committee to our next meeting to help us understand how our web page can be improved. In consideration of a new telephone system for the Courthouse, Paula Schneider, Janice Sneath and Marie Ranker volunteered to work on the project with the County Clerk. Sheriff Ploutz spoke to the issue of incentive pay for elected officials. The Commissioners will discuss this further when Chairman Rush is available and before the next evaluation period.

Peggy Svaty, Clerk of the District Court, informed the Commissioners of SB203 that would do away with Count bonding. In doing so, bond money would not be coming back to the county from the Court system. She has contacted our Senator, Jay Emler and the County Clerk, in the Commissioner's behalf, has also contacted him. However, it passed on a 38-0 vote in the Senate and now goes to the House. She urged them to contact our State Representative, Josh Svaty.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

Action and discussion on Resolution 07R02, A Resolution Establishing A Setback Requirement For Structures Exceeding 100 Feet, was tabled until next week.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve membership in the Amazing 100-Mile Tourism Coalition in the amount of $100. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Oller moved to approve Abatement 2006, 49 & 51 in the amount of $140.06. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to accept the 2006 Inventory as provided by the County Clerk. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

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

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk