The
Commissioners met with two members.
Present were Barbara Kolde, chairman; and Richard Carlson, vice
chairman. Tom Doperalski was absent as he was attending a meeting in New
Jersey.
County
counselor informed Commissioners that he would be meeting with administrator
and county attorney to discuss a procedure to accomplish partial recovery of
expenses to house juveniles in detention centers. The court has the authority to order partial reimbursement to the
county from the legal custodian of a juvenile being held in detention
center. Richard informed Counselor that
he discussed reimbursement of monies for work release inmates at the last
meeting of the North Central Kansas Juvenile Detention Center. Gary stated that he would review the
statutes on the work release reimbursement.
Richard
Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to adopt Resolution 2003-38
authorizing the siting and placement of a “Stop” sign at the intersection of
Military Trail Road and Industrial Boulevard, Pottawatomie County, Kansas. Motion carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom
Doperalski. (Attachment #1)
Discussed
request from Wabaunsee County for reimbursement for housing inmates. Amount of request is $25,150. Richard Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde
seconded to reimburse Wabaunsee County $25,150 for housing Pottawatomie jail
inmates. Money is to come from the Jail
budget for contractual services. Motion
carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom Doperalski.
Terry
Rewerts, appraiser, met with the Commissioners to update them on his
department.
Betty
Abitz, register of deeds, met with the Commissioners with an update on her
department. Betty shared information
from a meeting she had attended regarding the possibility of her office
providing service of completing application forms to obtain a passport. Current locations in the area providing this
service are Alma, Manhattan, & Fort Riley.
The deeds office would help prepare forms for new passports as well as
renewal or update of current ones. This
would involve training for her and both deputies in that department. Pictures would have to be taken
elsewhere. After further discussion on
the topic, the Commission agreed that this would be a service they would be
interested in providing if it paid for itself.
Betty informed the Commission that she had received many phone calls
from people requesting this service, but because of the increase in workload,
was unable to offer the service at this time.
The Commission discussed other possibilities for providing this service
possibly through another office but no decision will be made at this time. Betty also asked that at some time the
Commission reconsider their decision to remove the coolers and purchase bottled
water for the county buildings.
Leslie
Campbell, health director, met with the Commissioners to update them on her
department. She presented them with
copies of an activity report for June & July. The Commission approved using grant funds for construction of a
petition with glass window and a door to provide security in the health
department. This will also allow for
more privacy between the waiting room and the office. Dollar amount for this project does not require obtaining bids.
Richard
Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to go into executive session with
health director and administrator to discuss personnel issue. Session to be from 9:50 until 10:05. Motion carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom
Doperalski. Regular meeting resumed
with no action as a result of the session.
Commissioners
approved request of clerk, appraiser, and deed offices to use one of the water
coolers if they personally buy their own water.
George
Hough, emergency management director, met with the Commissioners to present for
their consideration approval of authorization of a light and siren permit for
the vehicle used by Eric Ward, Chief of Fire District No. 5. Richard Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde
seconded to approve an application to designate a 1995 Chevy Suburban
#16NFK16KXSJ434398 driven by Eric Ward, Fire Chief of Fire District No. 5, as
an authorized emergency vehicle pursuant to K.S.A. 8-2010, K.S.A. 8-2010a and
Resolution No. 2003-35, Pottawatomie County, Kansas; that the designation of
the above described vehicle as an authorized emergency vehicle is necessary to
the preservation of life or property, or to the execution of emergency
governmental functions, and that the Board this date issue its written
designation that the aforesaid motor vehicle be designated as an authorized
emergency vehicle as provided by law and the regulations of Pottawatomie
County, Kansas, such designation to be carried the vehicle at all times. Motion
carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom Doperalski.
George
stated that there was a problem switching the Alltel tower near Onaga. It will soon be resolved. He also reported that all tornado sirens are
working, but not all are rotating. As
they are old sirens, the part to allow rotation is no longer available. The siren at Louisville works but is one
that does not rotate. Sirens will be
replaced according to population and area served. The old ones will then replace sirens that don’t rotate.
Ethel
King and Dennis Schwant representing Rock Creek Watershed District #45 met with
the Commissioners to discuss clerical error of elevation numbers on a flowage
easement for construction of a flood retarding-detention dam that was signed in
April of 2000. Richard Carlson moved
and Barbara Kolde seconded to approve the new flowage easement and rescind the
easement signed on April 3, 2000.
Motion carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom Doperalski. (Attachment #2)
Richard
Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to sign the agreement between
Pottawatomie County and Kansas Capital Area Chapter of the American Red
Cross. The agreement allows the Red
Cross to use county buildings, grounds, and equipment for mass care shelter or
disaster service centers required in the conduct of Red Cross Disaster Services
activities. Building available for use
as shelter or service center through Pottawatomie County will be the
Pottawatomie County Fairgrounds in Onaga.
Motion carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom Doperalski. (Attachment #3)
Richard
Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to approve request of St. Marys
Historical Society, Inc for $5,000 matching funds. Motion carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom Doperalski.
County
counselor discussed with the Commissioners a letter verifying the purchase of
an insurance policy for Fire District #5 with monies from their fire fighters
relief fund.
A
group of concerned individuals from Onaga, Westmoreland, and Wheaton met with
the Commissioners to express concerns of the Commissioners canceling the
recycling program in the county. Rodney
Biesenthal was also present for the meeting.
Debbie Berges thanked the Commission for the program that has been in
existence since May of 1998 and stated that citizens from school children to
senior citizens used the program. She
asked that the Commission revisit their decision to cut the program and at
least try to come up with a working partnership with the communities using the
recycling program. Commissioner Kolde
stated that she would like to see recycling continue and that the trailers were
available. She added that she was open
to a proposal that addressed sharing the cost of the program, but that the
County could no longer pay the total cost which is between $8,000 and
$10,000. Rodney stated that he had
submitted information to the cities stating what their costs would have been
for last year based upon the tonnage taken from each community. John Brookens gave a brief history of trash
disposal in the Westmoreland area. He
stated that society has transitioned into a “throw away country” and felt that
the recycling program has been very successful. Other communities participated in the Westmoreland
recycling. He added that if the program
were turned back to the cities, it would not be a workable or coordinated
program. He requested that the
Commission reconsider their decision to cancel the program. Commissioner Kolde stated that some states
charge per can or jug. Commissioner
Carlson stated that when the program started the recycling company paid the
county for their recyclables, but now the county has had to pay for disposing
of the product to be recycled. Rodney
Biesenthal stated that operating budget covers the cost of transportation and
repairs to trailers. Commissioner Kolde
informed the group that the county is going to continue with the Household
Hazardous Waste program. Rodney stated
that the HHW is for paint, chemicals, batteries, etc. The total cost is approximately $20,000 for HHW and $10,000 for
recycling. Commissioner Kolde stated
that the Commission has had to cut in other places as well due to cuts from the
State. John Brookens stated that if the
recycling program is canceled, more items will go to the landfill and will cost
the county more to have it hauled away.
There was also concern expressed that if individuals continue to recycle
and have to haul their recyclables to another county, they will also do other
shopping there. This will have an
effect on the cities in this county.
Commissioner Kolde suggested the individuals form a committee to see how
to continue the program with no support or possibly limited support from the
County. Commissioner Carlson stated that income at the landfill is down
approximately $150,000. Ms. Berges
asked if the Commission was looking at profitability or environmental benefits. Richard stated that they have to be
conscious of both the cost of the program and the benefits it provides. Rodney stated that they tried to offer the
program as reasonable as possible for the citizens by using county owned
trailers and contracting to have them hauled to the recycler. The Commission made no decision to adjust
the budget allowing for continuation of the program.
Board
considered and acted on property statements.
(Richard
L. Ice & Charles R Wood Oil Co. Inc)
The
Commissioners adjourned at 11:30 to attend a luncheon at the Wamego Senior
Center. They will reconvene at 1:00.
Commission
meeting resumed at 1:00. Approved
minutes of meeting for July 21, 2003.
Richard
Carlson moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to approve the notice of hearing for
the 2004 Pottawatomie County budget.
The hearing is scheduled for 10:00 A.M. on Monday August 11. Motion carried 2 to 0 due to absence of Tom
Doperalski. (Attachment #4)
The
Commission scheduled August 25 at 10:30 for a public hearing to discuss
vacation of side and rear yard setbacks on Lot 1 in Abe’s Acres requested by
David W. Johnson and Linda M. Johnson.
Meeting
was adjourned.
The
Commission met for work sessions to discuss the 2003 Country Stampede and also
for discussion on the remodeling project at the courthouse.
____________________ ___________________
County
Clerk Chairman
___________________
Vice
Chairman
___________________
Member