COMMISSION MINUTES – MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2003

 

The Commissioners met with all members.  Present were:  Barbara Kolde, chairman; Richard Carlson, vice chairman; and Tom Doperalski, member.

 

Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to go into executive session at 8:35 until up to 8:55 with Lisa Overkamp, treasurer, administrator, and county counselor to discuss personnel issue.  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 sign health department application form for grants for period from July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #1)

 

Andrea Karnes, attorney office manager, met with the Commissioners to update them on that department.  A new employee has been hired in the attorney’s office and will start on March 17.  The Commissioners approved her request to purchase from the check fee fund 4 chairs for $539.96 and pay for the advertising for the job opening in that department at a cost of $181.72.  There is currently $1,937.85 in that fund.

 

Commission approved requests to attend conferences for Scott Schwinn, sanitarian; and Tieler Stumpff, appraiser’s office.

 

Commissioners received resignation from chief of Fire District No. 6 in Olsburg.

 

Board considered and acted on property statements.

(Nicholas J. Reynolds, Unified School District #320, Robert T. Race, Flinthills Photography, & Delmar Gene Hodges.)

 

Approved minutes for March 3, 2003.

 

George Hough, emergency management director, met with the Commissioners to update them on his department.  One topic discussed was regarding a broken water line done when Fire District No. 5 was doing a practice drill.  George will contact Eric Ward regarding payment for repairs.  The County Commissioners also approved ordering 3 hydrants.  One hydrant will be placed near the intersection of Hartwich Road and Onaga Road.  Another will be placed near Fostoria, and the third will be placed in Blue Township with a specific location to be around Timber creek Housing area.

 

George has the paperwork to change the repeater for Havensville on the tower in Onaga to the new Alltel tower.  Leon Cline with the Havensville Fire Department has done all the paperwork for the change, and Alltel has agreed to waive the fees and other expenses.  The only cost will be for KaComm to move the repeater.  Weather watch siren testing will be tomorrow, March 11 and will be done twice during the day.  The siren at Wheaton needs to be repaired.  The siren works, but does not rotate.  A weather watchers meeting will be held on the 12th at 7:00 P.M. at the Black Jack Legion in St. George.  Some of the money from the federal grant will be used for radios for the health department.  One will be located at the health department and three will be placed in health department vehicles.  George stated that Fire District No. 6 would be meeting to decide on appointment of a new fire chief due to the resignation of the current chief.

 

Tom Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to sign Resolution 2003-14, which is a lease purchase agreement between Kaw Valley State Bank of Wamego and Pottawatomie County Fire District #10 for a fire truck.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #2)

 

Tom Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to allow Fire District No. 7 to purchase land adjacent to their current land for $5,000 and also to spend up to $2,000 for installation of a tube for access to the Meinhardt property.  Motion carried 3 to 0.

 

Tom Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to approve the treasurer’s request to fill a vacancy in her office.  Motion carried 3 to 0.

 

Greg Riat, sheriff, met with the Commissioners to update them on his department.  On March 30, the South 40 Restaurant will begin delivering the meals to the jail.  Greg has ordered replacement vehicles from Dick Edwards for his department.  One vehicle will be a Ford Explorer.  One pickup will continue to be used full time.  The others will be used as part time vehicles.  Greg and county administrator have met to discuss the Sheriff department’s account with money received from the jail telephones. Robert informed the Commission that monies generated from the use of pay phones at the jail are to be receipted into the County general fund.  Greg stated that he will receipt the money and close the account but asked that the Commission allow him to spend that money to purchase another vehicle for the Sheriff’s office.  A portion of the money will be used to trade in the van currently used to transport prisoners.  A car with a cage will be used for this purpose.  The Commissioners will consider a one-time request to increase the Sheriffs budget to transfer budget authority to spend the money receipted once the money is actually receipted and the amount is known. Greg stated that there is approximately $9,000 in that account now.

 

Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to go into executive session at 10:15 until 10:30 to discuss personnel and security concerns.  Present for the session will be sheriff, under sheriff, and administrator.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  Regular meeting resumed with no action as a result of the session.

 

Tom Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded that for the Country Stampede four-day event only, part time sheriff employees that work the event will receive $12 per hour.  Motion carried 3 to 0.

 

John Keller, county planner and Gail McConnaughey, zoning administrator met with the Commissioners at 10:30 for a rezone request hearing.  Also present was Brian Martinie, developer and Leu Lowrey, public works director.  The request presented by Brian Martinie & Gary Rudebush is to amend the existing zoning on property from A1 to R2.  Landowners in the area submitted protest petitions.  A valid petition would require signatures of owners of 20% of the land within the notification area.  The property is located at 4410 Green Valley Rd, just north of Timber Creek Subdivision in Blue Township.  Gail informed the Commission that there were enough petitions submitted.  One of the protest concerns was regarding drainage.  John Keller stated that a possible long-range solution would be to divert the drainage flow to Elbo Creek.  Gail informed the Commissioners that no one protesting the rezoning had attended the planning commission meeting. Commissioner Kolde stated that she disagreed with the rezoning recommendation of the Planning Commission as she felt they did not have all the information necessary.  She stated that there is a drainage problem, R2 zoning belongs in an incorporated area, and there has not been a study to check the sewer district capacity for more development.  Kolde asked Leu at what capacity the current system is running.  She added that she did not want to reach a point where the system was at full capacity.  Leu stated that the system was not at maximum at this time.  Gail stated that the problem with subdividing and drainage comes with the platting stage of development and that there is already a house on the property, which is currently, zoned A1.  Commissioner Kolde stated that she feels there needs to be a study done regarding expansion of the sewer and to check the drainage. Both Commissioners Carlson and Doperalski stated that they were not opposed to the request, but unless the Commission made a unanimous decision, the request would be denied completely.  Mr. Martinie stated that if they would approve R1 rather than R2 that would be acceptable to him.  Commissioner Kolde stated that she was not in favor of the change.  Gail stated that there would be a Planning Commission meeting next Thursday.  Commissioners Kolde said she felt everyone concerned should be notified.  John Keller informed the Board that this is not a public hearing.  Gail added there would not be a public hearing unless new evidence was presented.  Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to adopt Resolution 2003-15 returning the rezoning change request from A1 to R2 submitted by Brian Martinie & Gary Rudebush to the Planning Commission.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #3)

 

Gail also presented for the Commissioner’s consideration, an amendment to a conditional use permit by Bill & Vicky Dean for Blackjack Recreation in St. George Township.  Terms of the amendment would allow them to hold up to 5 concerts per year with hours extended to 1:00 A.M. during the summer months, speakers for concerts shall face the East rather than the South, a Special Events Permit must be obtained prior to each concert, and special concerts may only be held on Friday or Saturday nights and Holidays.  Tom Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to approve Resolution 2003-16 regarding amendments to a conditional use permit by Bill & Vicky Dean for Blackjack Recreation in St. George Township.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #4)

 

Richard Carlson moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to allow the sale of the Council on Aging chairlift van by sealed bids.  This van was replaced by a new one purchased with grant money.  Motion carried 3 to 0.

 

Leu Lowrey, public works director, met with the Commissioners to update them on his department.  March 31 at 10:00 A.M. is scheduled for discussion of the 5 year KDOT & county plan.  Leu will review previous terms of RFP for sewer study in regards to capacity and expansion.  Discussed filling the vacancy on the Blue Township Sewer Board and the possibility of changing procedures for sewer and water board appointments by setting terms for the positions.

 

Tom Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to allocate $400 from the special alcohol fund to Wamego High School for their After Prom Party.  Motion carried 2 to 1 with Commissioner Kolde voting against the motion stating that she feels the allocation should be lowered to $300.

 

Chairman signed the mowing contract with Victor Redding for 2003.  (Attachment #5)

 

The Commission agreed to review the requests submitted by the court clerk for updating the PA system in the courtroom in July to budget in 2004.

 

Meeting was adjourned.

 

 

 

 

 

_____________________                                             ______________________

County Clerk                                                                         Chairman

 

                                                                                                                ______________________

                                                                                                                Vice Chairman

 

                                                                                                                ______________________

                                                                                                                Member