COMMISSION
MINUTES – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005
At 8:30 A.M., all members of the Pottawatomie County
Commission met for a regular session in the County Commission Room. Present were Tom Doperalski, chairman;
Barbara Kolde, vice chairman; and Stan Hartwich, member.
Robert Reece, county administrator, discussed the following
with the Commissioners:
1. Expense report for out of county inmate
housing. To date the expense is $94,920.
2. Due to the recent fire which destroyed the
only grocery store in the City, the Commission directed Robert to
contact the St. Marys City Manager to offer them the use of the
county’s extra mini bus. The bus can be used to transport residents to a temporary grocery
store.
3. Review
of the budget report as of August 31.
4. November
17 is a tentative date for a Tri County Task Force meeting in Wamego.
5. The first Irrevocable Letters of
Credit will be for Eagles Landing VII and Sunset Ridge I Subdivisions.
Angela Abts, family and consumer science agent for the
Extension Office, met with the Commissioners to update them on in that
department. Activities discussed were
WIC Clinics, Identity Theft sessions for Senior Citizens, Kids Cooking School,
Rock Springs 4-H Camp, State Fair, training on food safety, information
sessions at Senior Centers about the new food pyramid, information sessions for
Senior Citizens about the new prescription changes with Medicare, School
Enrichment Programs for agriculture and food.
Commissioner Kolde asked Angela to visit with Ruth Ensley, coordinator
for the aging, about the Medicare issues.
Commissioners discussed with Administrator as to what the
County might do in participation with Roger Schultz regarding development of
the Carlson Tract in Blue Township. The
importance of acceleration and deceleration lanes was discussed. Frontage roads and customer parking was
discussed. Barbara Kolde moved and Stan
Hartwich seconded to direct Robert to meet with Leu, John, and Gregg to
formulate a development agreement. They
will then meet with Schultz. Motion
carried 3 to 0.
Leslie Campbell, health director, met with the Commissioners
to present a Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Contract for their
signature. Stan Hartwich moved and
Barbara Kolde seconded to sign a KDHE Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response
Local Contract. Motion carried 3 to
0. The Commissioners approved Leslie
filling the vacancy of the Public Health Registered Nurse position. The Commission directed Leslie to check on purchase
of a satellite phone that would be used in the event of a disaster destroying
communication systems.
Floyd McMillan, developer and builder, and Mike Engler,
engineer with Bartlett & West, met with the Commissioners to discuss
Wildcat Woods Subdivision. Mr. McMillan requested being issued permits
while streets are being constructed rather than waiting for them to be
completed and then start construction of the houses. There are two entrances to the area. Excel Road would be the access for street construction and
Harvest Road would be the entrance for the builders. Commissioner Doperalski stated he is hesitant to change the
policy. Mr. Engler stated they stake
the houses so the grade will be correct for the street, sewer, and water. The surveyor has to do this to keep it
accurate. Commissioner Doperalski
stated if they change the policy for McMillan, it would set a precedent. Commissioner Kolde stated the County cannot
rely on all developers to do quality work.
McMillan stated by waiting until the streets are completed, it will cost
him $60,000 in interest. Commissioner
Hartwich stated he felt everything should be done before he started digging a
basement. McMillan stated he has
previously done work in Topeka. He said
their rules are very strict, but he is allowed to start constructing houses
before the streets are completed. Mr.
Engler stated there is a full time construction observer on site all the time. Mr. Engler stated he would be willing to Leu
and Robert to draft guidelines for a pilot plan that would enable house
construction to begin prior to completion of streets. Commissioner Doperalski stated he would be willing to explore a
pilot program.
Leu Lowrey, public works director, met with the
Commissioners to discuss topics of concern in his department. The first weekend in October is the usual
time for the Fall Free Day at the Landfill.
It was mentioned possibly stopping contractors from bringing loads of
dirt and rock. Upon discussion of
bridge inspection for a project on Parallel Road, Stan Hartwich moved and
Barbara Kolde seconded to have Pottawatomie County do the inspection. Motion carried 3 to 0.
Barbara Kolde moved and Stan Hartwich seconded to sign the
engineering contract with Schwab and Eaton for the sewer, water, and street
project in Eagles Landing VII. Motion
carried 3 to 0. As the plans have been
reviewed, Barbara Kolde moved and Stan Hartwich seconded to approve the plans
and specs and set the bidding date on October 3 at 10:00 A.M. for sewer, water,
and street improvements for Eagles Landing VII. Motion carried 3 to 0.
Leu has visited with county counselor about a piece of
property on Columbian Road that has not been annexed into the City of
Wamego. Tom Doperalski moved and
Barbara Kolde seconded to proceed with vacation proceedings of a piece of
County property located on Columbian Road.
Motion carried 3 to 0. Leu will
meet on September 19 for formal approval to vacate.
Charlie Boggs, mayor of St. George, has requested the
County’s assistance with road improvement on the north side of the City. They are requesting the County to chip and
seal approximately 1650 feet of road.
Leu stated with labor and supplies that would be approximately
$9,000. He added the money would be
available in next year’s budget.
Barbara Kolde moved and Stan Hartwich seconded to approve the
road/bridge department doing the prime and double chip and seal surfacing for
St. George. Motion carried 3 to 0. The Commission directed Leu to contact Mr.
Boggs to inform him of their decision.
Leu gave the Commissioners copies of the Preliminary Report
by Lavenne Brenden of Bartlett & West Engineers for the Blue Township
Wastewater Study. Mr. Brenden and Leu
will meet with the Commissioners on October 19 to discuss the study.
Commissioner Hartwich asked Leu about cost to chip and seal
a portion of the golf course road in Onaga.
He also mentioned a passing sign on the Onaga Road south of the Parallel
Rd that is incorrect.
Leu updated the Commissioners on other road/bridge projects.
John Simecka, resident of Country Breeze Estates Subdivision
in St. Marys Township, met with the Commissioners. He presented them with a petition signed by landowners on Country
Breeze Drive, Wild Rose Circle, and Timber Ridge Lane. The residents are requesting improvements of
those roads in the subdivision done by creation of a road improvement
district. Leu and Robert will discuss
the request and report back to the Commission.
Robert gave the Commission information from the National
Association of Counties on a discount drug card. This would be cost free to the County. They could be issued to anyone the county chooses. Possibilities would be for use by prisoners
or handed out by the health department.
No decisions were made.
The Commission was given a copy listing the Kansas Projects
in Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act.
The Chairman signed the Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for
Counties safety recommendation form.
The Commission viewed a draft of plans for the new ambulance
station to be built in Wamego. Both
Commissioners Doperalski and Hartwich stated they were willing to explore the
possibility of combining a facility for ambulance and fire. They will need to visit with the City of
Wamego about the issue.
The Commissioners were given copies of an economic benefit
study of new housing in the county.
Nick Novelly will meet with the Commissioners in work session at 1:00 on
September 12 to discuss the issue.
John Grub, Doug Elliott, Richard Pikul, Rhonda Pfaff-Eaves,
Mary Anderson, and Ron Noe met with the Commissioners and Leu Lowrey to discuss
concerns of road conditions and drainage.
Mr. Grub, a resident on Elm Slough, stated the drainage issue needs to
be addressed as more problems are occurring as housing development
increases. Noe, Elliott, Pfaff-Eaves,
and Anderson all expressed concerns and questions about when improvements will
be done to Vineyard Rd. Leu informed
the group work is being done to develop a formula to determine priorities for a
road project. Mr. Noe asked if the
Vineyard project would have to be re-engineered, costing more tax dollars. Leu said it would not. Commissioner Kolde read the projects on the
5 year plan done in April of 1999. She
stated the only two roads left on the list were Vineyard and Salzer. She added Vineyard Road was a project
promised by the Commission when Richard Carlson was a member and felt the
Commission should honor that promise.
Commissioner Doperalski stated if Carlson confirms the promise, he will
honor it. Various options of funding
were discussed. Mr. Grub stated he did
not think most individuals would object to paying for paving roads in their
developments. He stressed the need to
develop a plan to address all issues impacting residents living near new
subdivisions before more construction is done.
Commissioner Kolde directed Leu to place counters on Vineyard on a
weekend as well as during the week. She
also asked about a count on the road south of St. George to the rail road
crossing.
Mr. Pikul asked if it would be possible to post legal
notices and the agenda on the county’s web page. Robert stated that project is being worked on. The County Clerk stated since the agenda is
unofficial, it changes frequently prior to the meeting.
Commissioner Doperalski told Mr. Grub he will check with the
drainage district in the area of his residence.
The Commissioners received a call from Richard Carlson
stating the Commission had previously agreed to do the Vineyard Road
improvement project following completion of Pleasant View Road in St. Marys
Township. Pleasant View is nearly
done. The Commission will move forward
with the Vineyard Road improvements when they determine how to fund the
project.
Tom Doperalski moved to approve the minutes for August 29, 2005. Stan Hartwich seconded the motion. Motion carried 2 to 1. Commissioner Kolde voted against the motion,
but didn’t want to amend them so as not to embarrass anyone.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40.
_________________________ _________________________
County Clerk Chairman
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Vice
Chairman
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Member