Minutes, November 30, 2009

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

NOVEMBER 30, 2009

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 30^th day of November 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 November 23, 2009.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

No one was present for the Public Forum.

 

 

2.                  APPOINTMENTS:

 

Roger Masse, ECMC Administrator, discussed the 2008 audit report with the Commissioners.  They are expecting a Medicare adjustment of approximately $460,000 for the fiscal year 2008.  In light of the audit report, Mr. Masse felt that there should be some concentration on the financial aspect of the hospital.  Hopefully, the strategic assessment will help with that effort.  The building project is still being reviewed with staff and the architects and they are still continuing with medical recruitment.  As of October, 2009, there was a year-to-date loss of $388,960 and the cases of H1N1 as decreased.

 

Sheriff Tracy Ploutz asked to add a part-time staff position of investigator.  The Commissioners asked that he write up a job description for the position and the impact on his budget.  Right now, he is looking at $10 per hour but he will need to see where the job description falls within the salary schedule.  He will not begin the new position until January 1, 2010.  Sheriff Ploutz's second request was to have an audit of the locks at the jail and see what needs to be repaired.  The repairs could cost upward of $3,000 which he would like to have taken out of the building fund.  Also, he would like to have a yearly maintenance contract for the locks which would be absorbed by his budget.  The Commissioner approved the audit, but to get back to them before doing any actual work.  The third request was to contract for advance health care for the jail facility.  They, too, would do an audit of the expenses to see if they could save money by the services being contracted.  They would use a local doctor and would have a nurse on site to administer the medications.  The Commissioners agreed to the audit and then come back to them before entering into any contract.

 

Larry Sharp, KCAMP Insurance, visited with the Commissioners about the county's insurance performance.  The loss ratio average for the last year was 84% but the insurance premiums are based on a 4-year average and the county's 4-year average is 47%.  Also, the premiums are based on additions and deletions of property to the list.  Mr. Sharp reported that KCAMP now has a Law Enforcement Training Course on line and that if utilized could help the law enforcement officers get they training they need plus college credit without the travel.

 

Carl Miller, Appraiser, reviewed with the Commissioners concerns of citizens at an area of the lake.  In one of the housing developments, plans are underway to building a mini-warehouse right in the middle of area of recently built or updated cabins.  This, of course, brings up the conversation of zoning and he wondered if the Commissioners had thought about raising the issue again.  At the present time, the Commissioners responded they had such a bad reaction at the last exploration of the topic, that they had not reconsidered it.   Due to an experience with a co-worker at another county, Mr. Miller asked the Commissioners to look at the funeral leave policy in the handbook and consider either increasing it or making it more flexible for the loss of a mother, father, child or spouse.  Now it states 24 hours, but if you are the one making the arrangements or have to travel to a different location, that is not enough time.  The Commissioners felt that additional time could be taken from the employee's vacation time; however, they will look at the policy.  Additional software for personal property will have to be purchased for the conversion to the Orion appraisal system.  The cost will be approximately $550.  Mr. Miller asked for an opinion on church exempt property.  A BOTA exemption was granted to the Assembly of God Church for property purchased in 2005.  The property has never been developed and appears not to be used for the intended request of the exempt.  This year he did put the platted portion back on the tax roll and has received a complaint.  Given several options to consider, the Commissioner asked that the church resubmit their exemption and the appraiser ask for a hearing.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to appoint Kenneth Parks to represent Ellsworth County on the Board of Directors of the North Central-Flint Hills Area Agency of Aging, Inc.   Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to appoint Shawn McGowan as Ellsworth County Special Coroner for 2010.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Abatements 23,24,31,32,&33 in the amount of $1,059.98.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the November payroll in the amount of $180,032.83.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

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

 

 

 

__________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk