Minutes, April 20, 2009

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

APRIL 20, 2009

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 20^th day of April 2009 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 Oller called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

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

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of April 13, 2009.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Bill Weber, Holyrood, expressed his concern with the proposed decision to take the ambulance out of Holyrood and replace it with a response vehicle.  The Commissioners explained that with the declining number of volunteers in the area, transfers in the ambulance were not always possible.  Also, the cost of replacing an ambulance has escalated and with the declining volunteers and runs, it was not economically feasible to retain an ambulance.  However, a response vehicle with the same equipment that is in an ambulance would be placed in Holyrood with transfers being made by the ambulance coming from Ellsworth.  The Commissioners stressed that they felt the service for Holyrood would not be compromised or lessened if this decision was made.

 

2.                  APPOINTMENTS:

 

Roger Pearson, ECMC Administrator, passed out his "dashboard" report for the last quarter and the financial report for March.  The financial report showed a loss of $111,380 for the month of March and a year-to-date loss of $719,490.  Mr. Pearson encouraged the Commissioners to make a decision on how the hospital additions were going to be funded so they could get their informational packets ready for the public and have public discussion.  The Commissioners will need to decide if they are going to finance the additions with a General Obligation Bond or Public Building Commission.  With the GO Bonds, an election would have to be held and with the PBC, one would not have to be held.  Also, if an election is decided, will it be a special one or held in 2010 with the regularly scheduled elections.  The Commissioners asked the County Clerk to contact Piper Jaffrey, Bond Counsel, and schedule a meeting.

 

Amy Boxberger, Central Kansas Community Corrections, presented her 2010 Comprehensive Plan for approval.  Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the 2010 Comprehensive Plan for Central Kansas Community Corrections as presented.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

 

Shawn Hellebust, Advertising Manager at the Ellsworth County Independent/Reporter, presented their plan to produce an Ellsworth County Resource Book for Residents & Visitors.  It will have information on towns, services, businesses and celebrations.  Commissioner Kueser moved to place a one-half page ad in the book at a cost of $169.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Rob Fillion, Smoky Hill Economic Development, Inc. Director, and Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Yoakum stopped in to make contact again with the Commissioners.

 

Michelle Maze, EMS Director, reported they would be having an EMS Open House on June 6.  She is starting to work on salary schedules as previously discussed.  The following employees have finished 90-day probationary periods and she asked that their salary be moved accordingly:  Josh French 11d, Shawna Haase, 7d, Lois Herman 11d, Rick Soukup 7d, Terri Stone 7b, Derek Walter 11b.  Commissioner Rush moved to approve the recommendations of the EMS Director on the employees who have finished their 90-day probationary period.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  The Commissioner congratulated Mrs. Maze on being named the EMS Employee of the Year by the VFW and asked that she attend the Holyrood City Council meeting that evening to help with the dialogue on the proposed changes in that city.

 

Upon the request of Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 11:05 a.m. until 11:20 a.m.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  County Clerk, Jan Andrews, was included in the executive session.  The Commissioner returned to open session at 11:20 a.m.   Commissioner Rush moved to accept the recommendation of the LEPC Committee for representation on the NCK Homeland Security Regional Council with Commissioner Oller being the alternate.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

The Commissioners asked the County Clerk to respond to a letter from Steve Olson requesting the county allow him to purchase materials and an outside contractor to do the work on 30^th Rd south of Ave R and be reimbursed for both the materials and service.  Since the road is a township road, the Commissioners denied his request and asked that he contact the Empire Township Board.

 

3.                  ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Oller adjourned the meeting at 12:10 p.m.

 

 

 

__________________________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk