Minutes, May 11, 2009

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

MAY 11, 2009

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 11^th day of May 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 with an addition.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of May 4, 2009.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

No one was present for the Public Forum.

 

2.                  APPOINTMENTS:

 

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, reported they had finished the Haase and Tanton bridges and had started replacing one on the Rice  bridge road.  They have gotten their dump truck/snow plow from the state and it only looks like it will have to have about $1,200 worth of work done it.  In regards to the old truck, he does not want to sell it in the present condition.  The Commissioner reviewed the policy for surplus property and suggested if he wanted to ask the cities or schools if they would be interested, he could do that.  If one of the entities decides they want the truck, have the donation put on the Agenda for disposition according to policy.  Mr. Nondorf asked the Commissioners to sign some documents for the low road project.  Four bid estimates have been received on a ¾ ton pickup.  They are a Ford, $22,125, a Dodge, $22,273 and two Chevrolets for $22,072 and $22,507.  The Commissioners authorized Mr. Nondorf to look at all the options, especially the lower estimate ones, and make the best deal possible. Mr. Nondorf has learned that some oil might be available this summer for sealing.

 

At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Oller called to order the Hearing for a Road Closure in Columbia Township.  No one was present for the Hearing.  Commissioner Kueser moved to close, per the request of the Columbia Township Board, the following road in Columbia Township:

                       

Said road is a township road and lies between Section 6, in Township 14 South and Range 9 West of the 6^th P.M., Ellsworth County, Kansas and Section 31 in Township 13 South and Range 10 West of the 6^th P.M., Lincoln County, Kansas and proceeds east  one mile. 

 

Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  It is noted that Lincoln County will close their portion of the road today in conjunction with our closing.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 10:32 a.m. until 10:45 a.m.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0. County Appraiser, Carl Miller, and Janet Andrews, County Clerk, were included in the executive session.  The Commissioners returned to open session at 10:45 a.m.  No action was taken.  The Appraiser, Carl Miller, discussed and reviewed with the Commissioners the recent editorial in the Ellsworth County Independent Reporter criticizing his department for not giving them information that they had requested.  Also, he received a letter from their attorney about information.  The County Attorney, Joe Shepack, has answered the letter from the attorney outlining the statues for requesting information and the ability of private companies to sell the information.  As yet, he has not heard from the attorney or gotten a written request for the Ellsworth County Independent Reporter and no information has been sent out.  He has also had a request for information to be created in a format that is not available to us from the Flint Hills Organization, however, our software company, Manatron, wrote a program for it and made it available to all the counties that have their software.  He will be sending that information.
 

Rob Fillion, Director of Smoky Hill Economic Development, Inc. and Gerry Gebhardt, City of Kanopolis representative on the Smoky Hill Economic Development Inc. Board, met with the Commissioners and Mr. Miller to go over the Neighborhood Revitalization applications that had been received.  Fifteen applications have been received with thirteen qualifying and two being denied because their projects did not meet the criteria.  There are eleven that still could qualify, but they have not applied to date.  The deadline for filing the application is May 31, 2009.  The thirteen qualifying applications were reviewed in detail.  Commissioner Rush moved to approve the thirteen qualifying Neighborhood Revitalization applications for processing.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.   Commissioner Kueser moved to agree with the recommendation of Mr. Miller to deny two of the applications as they did not meet the qualifying criteria.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.   After the May 31^st deadline, Mr. Miller will meet with the Commissioners again to approve any additional applications.

 

3.                  OLD BUSINESS:

 

There were no old business items.

 

4.                  NEW BUSINESS:

 

The Commissioners discussed amending the Landfill Waiver policy adding that tires would not be included in the waiver.  The revised policy will be presented next week for approval.

 

5.                  ADJOURNMENT:

 

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

 

 

____________________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk