The
Commissioners met with all members.
Present were Barbara Kolde, chairman; Richard Carlson, vice chairman;
and Tom Doperalski, member.
Barry
Wilkerson, county attorney, requested an executive session with the
Commissioners to discuss a personnel issue.
Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to go into executive
session at 8:30 for up to 15 minutes to discuss personnel issue with county
attorney, assistant county attorney, and attorney office manager. Also present will be administrator and
county counselor. Motion carried 3 to
0. Regular meeting resumed with no
action as a result of the session.
Richard
Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to approve request from Andrea
Karnes, attorney office manager to purchase a bookshelf for $239 from the check
fee fund. Motion carried 3 to 0.
Chairman
signed 2003 cereal malt beverage licenses for Halfway Station in St. George
Township and Dara’s Fast Lane in Blue Township.
Chairman
signed annual financial reports for the townships of Blue, Center, Lincoln,
Shannon, and Vienna.
Chairman
signed oath for Mill Creek Township Clerk.
Chairman
signed 2003 Mobile Home Park Licenses for Luttig Trailer Park in Emmett
Township and Leisure Acres Mobile Home Park in Blue Township.
Bob
Bellinger met with the Commissioners and John Keller, county planner to discuss
a road in Blue Township. The road was not vacated but the Commission had
several years ago approved Mr. Bellinger placing a gate across it as it was
used only to access his property and not maintained. John Keller stated that the Commissioners can issue an order for
a gate lock and they can also issue an order to remove a gate lock. As there was no document in the road record
file regarding the issue, the Commissioners informed Mr. Bellinger that he
could remove the gate.
Gary
Conklin, county counselor and Barry Wilkerson, county attorney, visited with
the Commissioners as to what the county’s responsibilities were regarding an
out of county individual who died in the county. As the death was unattended, the county coroner requires an
autopsy to be performed. Frontier
Forensics of Topeka is where the body was taken. The mother of the deceased is apparently the only surviving
relative and does not have money for burial.
The county attorney had previously thought that it would be the
responsibility of the county of residence.
It is now believed to be the responsibility of Pottawatomie County where
the death occurred. Barry asked the
Commission for direction as to what needed to be done and where the funding
would come from. Options were discussed
as to burial in one of the county cemeteries and cremation. If the individual was entitled to SRS, that
entity would help with the expenses, and if not it would be the responsibility
of the county. Barry will check on the
issue further.
Ruth
Ensley, county aging coordinator, met with the Commissioners to update them on
her department. She discussed concerns
with state budget cuts that will have an impact on programs for senior
citizens. March 1 is the date set for
the annual Senior Fair to be held at Rock Creek High School.
Lisa
Overkamp, treasurer, met with the Commissioners for an update on her
department. She is concerned about the
need for more storage space for documents from her office. The room upstairs in the office building she
is currently using is full and there is a structure safety weight limit. That room is directly above the GIS
office. Lisa and the Commissioners went
upstairs to check on storage space in another area. After viewing the other rooms, the Commission agreed that shelves
could be placed in the storage room on the south side. Robert advised the Commission that while a
portion of the room could be used for the treasurer’s office, it is also the
room where items are stored that are to be sold at the county auctions and for
financial records from the Finance Department.
The Commission felt that a lot of boxes could be placed on shelves
around the perimeter of the room. Lisa
also visited with the Commission about the possibility of charging a fee for
issuing drivers licenses. Currently
there is no reimbursement from the State.
She has checked with other counties and found that several of them do
charge a fee ranging from $.50 to $2.00.
She informed the Commission that last year her department issued 750
licenses. A regular Class C license
costs $14.00. The Commission directed
her to add $1.00 to her department’s fee schedule, which will be updated and
approved in February.
Scott
Schwinn, sanitarian, discussed with the Commissioners the current fee schedule
for his services and presented them with proposed changes to that
schedule. The Commissioners will review
and consider the changes in February.
Leu
Lowrey, public works director, met with the Commissioners to discuss the
following
(1)
Leu
had a copy of KSA 68-126 regarding fencing of public roads for their
review. The statute addresses the
previous request of Mr. Bellinger and confirms that as there is no document in
the record packet, no document needs to be added to remove the gate.
(2)
Upon
recommendation of Leu, Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to
approve the asphalt overlay project for 2003.
Motion carried 3 to 0. Bids are
to be let at 10:00 A.M. on February 24.
(3)
For
the discussion of a discontinuance of service policy, Richard Carlson moved and
Tom Doperalski seconded to adjourn as the Board of County Commissioners and
reconvene as the Timber Creek East Water District Board. Motion carried 3 to 0. Leu presented a copy of a policy drafted by
the Rural Water Association for the Commission to review. The policy addresses past due water accounts
and the procedure to turn water off for clients who are 2 to 3 months behind in
their payments. The client will have an
opportunity to appeal. The Commission
would need to appoint a hearing officer.
Leu stated he felt there was a need to have a way to deal with past due
accounts. The Commissioners discussed
the amount for a reconnect fee. Richard
Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to approve the policy for
discontinuance of service for non-payment of fees and charges pending
amendments of a hearing officer yet to be named. Motion carried 3 to 0.
(4)
The
contract between Blue Water Services and the County provides for installation
of new water meters by Blue Water Services for a fee. The fee shall be approved by the District and shall cover all
cost of materials, labor and equipment.
Previous fee was set at $750.
Due to an increase in material costs, labor rates, & equipment costs
by the installer, Larson Construction, Inc of Manhattan, Leu recommended
approval of a fee increase to $1,000 with the condition that for multiple
installations, the operator would get the discount and the water district would
get the difference to be placed in the water reserve account. Following discussion of fees for water meter
installation in Timber Creek, Barbara Kolde moved and Richard Carlson seconded
to adopt the policy with the following changes to note in the document that the
savings from multiple installations would be deposited in the water reserve
fund. Motion carried 2 to 1. Commissioner Doperalski voted against the
motion stating he feels there needs to be better control on the cost of
installation. Richard Carlson moved and
Tom Doperalski seconded to adjourn as the Timber Creek East Water District
Board and reconvene as the Board of County Commissioners. Motion carried 3 to 0.
Commissioners
approved amended minutes for January 13, 2003.
Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to amend the motion
made on that day appointing board members for Fire District No. 2. Leon Cline and Jeremy Conley should not have
been included in the motion of appointment as they are the Fire Chief and
Assistant Fire Chief. Motion carried 3
to 0.
County
Administrator, Robert Reece provided the Commission with a copy of a redraft of
the ambulance contract. Robert stated
that the hospital has reviewed the document and stated that they approve of the
changes. The Commission reviewed the
changes and approved of the same.
Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to sign the
contract. Motion carried 2 to 1 with
Commissioner Kolde voting against the motion stating that her negative vote was
due to the level of service.
County
Administrator also discussed the following:
(1)
An
update in the CDBG grant. Robert has
sent out a request for proposal for a grant administrator as required by the
grant.
(2)
Discussed
the progress on the Wal Mart project.
Robert informed the Commission that he has provided a copy of the
development agreement to Bond Council and requested that he draft a resolution
allowing the County to enter into this agreement.
(3)
Presented
request for travel for County Planner, John Keller in satisfaction of contract. Request was approved.
(4)
Presented
Commission with a request for Gregg Webster to attend a class in
Manhattan. Commission approved request.
(5)
Robert
informed the Commission he had received a list of items that needed to be
addressed after Carl Eyman from KWORCC had toured the office buildings. There are about 15 to 20 areas that need
attention. They need to be addressed
within 30 to 45 days are can be taken care of at a minimal cost.
(6)
Discussed
a draft of the job description for the part time position at the landfill.
(7)
Discussed
the sheriff’s proposal for the food provider for the jail. These will be reviewed at 9:00 A.M. on
February 10.
Upon
recommendation of Pawnee Mental Health, Barbara Kolde moved and Richard Carlson
seconded to reappoint Diana Clark to a 3-year term on the Pawnee Mental Health
Board of Directors. The term will run
through December 31, 2005. Motion
carried 3 to 0.
The
Commissioners received a request from Rock Creek High School for funding to
help with their annual After Prom Party.
Funding for this is from monies in the Special Alcohol Fund. After much discussion, Richard Carlson moved
and Tom Doperalski seconded to allocate $400 to Rock Creek High School for
their After Prom Party. Motion carried
2 to 1. Commissioner Kolde was opposed
due to budget cuts in other areas and felt this should be cut also.
The
Commissioners received a letter from Freda Dobbins with the
Pottawatomie/Wabaunsee Library requesting a desk and table that are to be
replaced in clerk’s office. The Commission
approved the request pending legal counsel’s determination.
The
Commissioners adjourned for lunch at 11:55 A.M. They will reconvene at 1:00 P.M.
Discussed
with Gail McConnaughey the Hwy 24 Corridor Plan. She will provide them with a copy for their consideration.
Rodney
Biesenthal, noxious weed director, visited briefly with the Commissioners about
applying for a grant to assist with control of the weed sericea lespedeza in
the county.
The
Commission met with the department heads to discuss wages, wage policy and
sales tax. County Attorney Barry
Wilkerson and Sheriff Greg Riat acted as the group’s spokespersons. Also in attendance were: Rick Elliott with road/bridge department;
Rodney Biesenthal, noxious weed director; Scott Schwinn, sanitarian; Terry
Rewerts, appraiser; Lisa Overkamp, treasurer; Leslie Campbell, health director;
Leu Lowrey, public works director; Brenda Krause, GIS director; Gail
McConnaughey, zoning administrator; and Susan Figge, county clerk.
Barry
began the discussion by stating that he felt that some of the positions in the
County had not kept up with the cost of living. He stated that his employees were underpaid and would probably
lose them to other businesses. Barry
also stated that he felt the sheriff’s deputies were also underpaid and we were
losing good employee because of it.
Barry stated that the departments do not want to be a training ground
for other agencies as it is more costly to find quality help and train them as
opposed to keeping quality help.
Sheriff
Riat stated that he felt that the County was not keeping up with inflation as
he stated the inflation rate was 2.1% for 2002. Commissioner Kolde stated that the rate was actually 1.2%
increase over last year as established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sheriff Riat stated that all the other
surrounding counties and cities pay more than our county. Greg also pointed out that these other
counties manage to levy enough to pay more.
He thought that since Pottawatomie County had the 5th highest
assessed valuation that we should be able to levy more. Greg also stated that his officers that were
topped out on the wage scale were upset that they did not receive any pay
increase.
There
were approximately 16 employees that did not receive any increase in wages as
they were at the top of their scale.
Commission Carlson stated that these scales were established based upon
the premise that each position was only worth so much and once at the top, that
is all the County is willing to pay.
Sheriff Riat did not agree with the scale only being 15 steps. Commissioner Doperalski stated that he and
Robert discussed this topic before the wage scale was passed as they both felt
the scale should have been a 20 to 25 step scale, making the step increase less
and increasing the likelihood that market adjustments could be made.
Leslie
Campbell expressed concerns that her staff was underpaid. Brenda Krause and Gail McConnaughey both
stated that their employees should be paid more.
The
department heads requested that the Commission do one of two things; one is to
allow the employees that did not receive a wage increase be given a 2% cost of
living, or two is that the Commission withdraw the wage increase and give an
across the board cost of living. They
also ask that all the positions be reevaluated and compared to other selected
counties. Commission Doperalski stated
that if a department head wanted to present a formal request to the Commission
on a specific position, the Commission would then determine whether it warrants
additional studying.
The
Commission stated that they would consider the department heads’ comments and
determine what actions they want to take.
The
group also discussed the possibility of the county placing on the ballot a ½ to
1-cent sales tax question. The
Commissioners expressed concerns of timing to allow proper education on the
issue and also possible concerns of citizens regarding effects of other State
and County budget cuts.
The
Commissioners discussed with Robert what a cost of living increase would cost
for the 16 topped out employees. Robert
estimated that it would cost approximately $8,000. Robert expressed concerns that if they implemented what the
department heads requested that approximately 90% of the employees would receive
a pay cut, as the cost of living increase would be 1.2% and those employees
would lose their 1.75% to 2% wage increase that they earned based upon their
performance evaluations. Robert
suggested that the Commission consider a cost of living increase implemented
during the year when other revenue factors are known. The impact of a 1.2% wage increase is approximately $60,000 for
the full year. Richard stated that they
would consider a cost of living increase later in the year once they had more
information on what to expect at year-end for carryover. Robert stated that his office would work on
gathering revenue information for the Commission to use in making their
decision.
Board
considered and acted on property statements.
(Havensville
Cemetery District and Wheaton Center Fund)
Meeting
was adjourned at 4:00 P.M.
______________________ _______________________
County
Clerk Chairman
_______________________
Vice Chairman
_______________________
Member