COMMISSION MINUTES – MONDAY,
DECEMBER 8, 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 8:30
for 30 minutes to discuss personnel issue with Robert Reece, county
administrator, John Boyd, emergency management director and Gary Conklin,
county counselor. Motion carried 3 to
0. Regular meeting resumed. As a result of the session, Barbara Kolde
moved that the following resolution relating to Pottawatomie County Fire
District #10 be adopted: Resolution
2003-69 terminating supervision of the St. George Township-City Fire District
No. 10, Pottawatomie County, Kansas, by the Board of Trustees for such district
and restoring all supervisory authority for the governance of such district to
the board of County Commissioners of Pottawatomie County, Kansas. Richard Carlson seconded the motion. Discussion was had and Resolution 2003-69
passed by a vote of 3 for and 0 against.
(Attachment #1) Richard Carlson
then moved to terminate the appointment of leadership of the current fire chief
and assistant fire chief of Fire District No. 10 and to appoint John Boyd as
interim chief with full authority to effect interlocal agreements between fire
districts to provide continuing fire coverage and reorganize the firemen and
procedures. Mr. Boyd will receive from
the fire district a full inventory; secure assets, including bank signature
cards and authorities; and change locks on the fire district buildings. Tom Doperalski seconded the motion which
carried 3 to 0.
Rodney
Biesenthal, noxious weed director, met with the Commissioners to update them on
his department. He has interviewed and
selected Gayla Figge to fill the secretarial vacancy in his department. She will begin employment the end of this
week. Rodney discussed bids received
for a rotary mower that he had budgeted for.
He had a bid from Kaw Valley Equipment of Wamego for $3,348.51 and from
KanEquip, Inc of Wamego for $2,718.80. Commissioners
approved the low bid from KanEquip, Inc of Wamego for $2,718.80. Rodney discussed with the Commissioners
mapping cemeteries. The price he was
quoted to continue the project in 2004 was $3500. He stated that there are 4 or 5 more cemeteries that need to be
mapped. The Commissioners stated that
they would prefer to have sections done in several cemeteries rather than only
one or two whole cemeteries. This would
make available several plots in each of them.
John
Boyd, emergency management director and Bruce Brazzle, independent contractor
met with the Commissioners to update them on the status of projects in the
emergency management office. Topics
discussed were:
(1)
Current
Threat Condition (National, State,
& Local)
(2)
State
Homeland Security Assessment
(3)
State
Mitigation 20/20 Assessment
(4)
Tuttle
Creek Dam Failure Warning System
(5)
County
Emergency Operations Plan Status
(6)
Bruce
Brazzle updated on status of County Bioterrorism Plan
(7)
Office
of Domestic Preparedness Funds
(8)
Work
session with Commissioners December 15
(9)
Current
priorities
(10) Siren/Generator test results for December
1. Olsburg and Green Valley sirens are
inoperative and scheduled for repair.
St. George and Wheaton sirens have been repaired and are in
service. Lake Elbow siren has been
repaired and is in service with panel trouble.
Dispatch Center, Hartwich tower, and portable generators at the landfill
are in service and operational.
(11) KEMA Certification training scheduled for 2004.
(12) Training conducted
Robert
and John discussed with the Commissioners the EMGT budget. Robert stated that there is enough money
remaining in the budget to fund replacement of one siren. Next year with the 50/50 grant the county
should be able to replace 3 failing sirens before next spring. The Commission approved encumbering funds
for one siren this year.
Commissioner
Kolde stated that funds remaining in the St. George Fire District budget each
year should be placed in a capital improvement fund to be used towards the
construction of a new building.
Tom
Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to adopt Resolution 2003-70 to
accept the bylaws and enter into an interlocal cooperation agreement with the
Kansas County Association Multiline Insurance Pool. KCAMP will be the county’s insurance provider for property
casualty and general liability coverage.
Motion carried 3 to 0.
(Attachment #2)
Tom
Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to adopt Resolution
2003-71ordering disposal of surplus county personal property by sealed
bids. Motion carried 3 to 0. (Attachment #3)
Leslie
Campbell, health director, met with the Commissioners with an update on her
department. Topics discussed were:
(1)
Only
a few flu vaccines available at the health dept
(2)
Reimbursement
payment delayed due to HIPAA
(3)
Renewed
contract with Community Health Council in Manhattan and Free to Know Program –
Mammography Program for Women
(4)
Annual
blood borne pathogen and CPR training for her staff
Robert
Reece, county administrator, formally recognized Leslie for serving as
President of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments in 2003. During Leslie’s service time, the
Association was able to obtain and complete a grant used to develop forms to be
utilized by all health departments in the state of Kansas to meet the HIPAA
requirements. Leslie was also
instrumental in feedback and direction on various other projects in the
Association.
Dennis
Schwant, representing Pottawatomie County Soil Conservation District and Gary
Satter representing Glacial Hills Resource Conservation and Development Region,
Inc met with the Commissioners to inform them about the program. The organization is a 501-c-3 nonprofit
organization that assists people in utilizing their resources to improve the
area’s economy, environment, and quality of life. It is governed by an 18 member council made up of people
representing the county commissions, conservation districts, and extension
councils from each of the participating counties, who identify local problems and
create solutions for their communities.
Mr. Satter explained their involvement in Community and Economic
Development, Natural Resource and Forestry Development, and Tourism and
Recreation Development. The
Pottawatomie County Conservation District joined with the contingency that they
would approach the Commissioners and Extension Department for their
endorsement. Funding for the program is
non-federal. There is usually $1,000
given from the Commission and $100 from the Conservation District. Several people were in attendance for the
meeting including Glenn Brunkow, county extension agent. He stated that he had been involved with the
program in Harper County. The Commissioners all stated they would need
to do more research on the organization and were concerned about endorsing a
group that turns into regulatory authority and takes away landowners
rights. Commissioner Doperalski asked
about the enabling legislation and the bylaws of the association. Mr. Satter stated that he would provide that
information for the Commission. Ed
Erickson, District Conservationist with NRCS, stated that each county will have
local council. Decisions would be made
according to what the local council wanted to do and the government would not
tell the landowners what to do. Grants
available for the programs come from a variety of sources. Commissioner Carlson stated that he was
concerned about property rights of landowners.
Bob Cole, economic development director, stated that he wanted the ECDV
board to meet with the Conservation District and the RC & D to become more
informed about the program.
Commissioner Doperalski stated that he would like to see a copy of the
bylaws. Dennis Schwant informed them
that they would make every attempt to get any requested information to the
Commission and would like for them to commit $500 to the RC&D Program. The Commission stated that they will not
make any decisions at this time and need more information before they do.
Rodney
Biesenthal, noxious weed director, met with the Commissioners to inform them
that he had spoken with Dennis Hall representing Cross Creek Water Shed and he
informed him that they had withdrawn their wetland application.
Danny
Hembree, resident on Hopkins Creek Road, met with the Commissioners to express concerns
of a blind hill on that road and request that the county do something to
improve it. He presented them with a
list of signatures of residents on Hopkins Creek and Bechtel Roads supporting
this request. Commissioner Kolde stated
that she felt the county had created the problem with increased housing
development without improvements to the road.
She felt the county should conduct traffic and speed count on that
road. Commissioner Carlson stated that
there are many roads throughout the county that need attention. He would prefer to see the issues addressed
rather than redesign the whole road.
The Commission agreed they need to have a work session with public works
director to review several small areas that need attention.
Bob
Cole, economic development director, met with the Commissioners with a request
for support of a tourism program. The
Commissioners were not receptive to the request at this time.
Chairman
signed cancellation request/policy release form with Fairchild Agency for
Business Auto insurance. (Attachment
#4) Chairman signed notification of
cancellation letter to McKowen-Jacobson Agency for insurance policies
previously purchased through that company.
(Attachment #5)
Greg
Riat, sheriff, met with the Commissioners to update them on his
department.
Chairman
signed 2004 Cereal Malt Beverage License for Deer Hollow in St. George
Township.
Tom
Doperalski moved and Richard Carlson seconded to sign Quit Claim Deed with
Donald H & Anne G Lenhert for easement.
Motion carried 3 to 0.
(Attachment #6)
Commission
approved 2 requests made by the road/bridge employees to attend training.
Commissioners
signed letters to the Fire District #10 Chief and firefighters summarizing
today’s discussion.
Approved
minutes for December 1, 2003.
The
Commissioners adjourned at 12:15 for lunch and will reconvene at 3:00 after the
retirement reception for Gail McConnaughey, zoning administrator and Terry
Rewerts, appraiser.
The
Commissioners met with Brian Smith, Ambulance Director and Bill Mahoney, Wamego
Hospital Administrator to discuss concerns of the 2004 Ambulance Contract. The current contract will terminate the end
of this month.
The
Commissioners will have a work session with Wamego City in the early evening of
Thursday, January 15, 2004.
Board
considered and acted on property statements.
(Jerome
Ellis & Joshua R Ellis, Comic & Card Gallery, Kenneth A Wilson (2), Mr.
Yummies, Commerce Bank, William E DeDonder, Raymond H Garcia, J R’s Furniture,
William L Tebbutt, Kenneth Jack Taylor, Jason D Padgett, Kenneth W Barnes,
Robert H Eichman, Stephen C Vandevelde, and Dean L Wilson)
Meeting
adjourned at 5:00 P.M.
________________________ ______________________
County
Clerk Chairman
______________________ Vice Chairman
______________________
Member