COMMISSION MINUTES – MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 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.

 

The Chairman opened a public hearing for budget amendment for E911, Fostoria Sewer Operations, Blue Township Sewer Operations, and Fire District No. 2.  By amending the current year budget, this allows the entity in charge of those funds to legally spend the non-appropriated cash funds in their accounts.  As there was no public input or other comments, the Chairman declared the hearing closed at 8:33.  Stan Hartwich moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to approve the budget amendment allowing E911, Fostoria Sewer Operations, Blue Township Sewer Operations, and Fire District No. 2 to spend non-apportioned funds by increasing their 2005 budgeted expenditure limits.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #1)

 

Stan Hartwich moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to approve today’s agenda with the following additions: updates by Robert Reece, county administrator at 8:40; consideration of an Occupation License for End Zone in Blue Township at 8:50; and topics of discussion for today’s Economic Development meeting at 10:45.  Motion carried 2 to 0.  Commissioner Kolde abstained stating she did not understand the new process of adopting the agenda.

 

Stan Hartwich moved and Tom Doperalski seconded to approve the minutes of the November 14, 2005 meeting.  Motion carried 2 to 0.  Commissioner Kolde abstained stating she was not present at that meeting.

 

Robert Reece, county administrator, informed the Commissioners that he has completed the Irrevocable Letter of Credit form for the Wildcat Woods Subdivision improvements.  The form will be sent to the petitioner to be executed by their bank.  Once the County receives the properly executed Letter of Credit, the project may move forward.  Robert stated Leu Lowrey, County Engineer, will be in later to recommend the Commission accept low bid and possibly sign construction documents.  Robert stated the Commission could sign the contracts at this point. Those documents should be held until receipt of a properly executed Irrevocable Letter of Credit from the petitioner.

 

Robert discussed the status of the Timber Creek East Water District improvements with the Commissioners.  On Friday, November 18th Leu Lowrey, County Engineer confirmed the final construction expenditures for the project to Robert to determine the amount to renew.  Based upon project estimates provided by the engineer, the County originally issued $725,000 temporary notes dated December 15th, 2004.  Robert stated he will renew $675,000 of the original temp notes issued and pay off the other $50,000 of the principal plus one year of interest for the entire first issue.  Robert stated bond counsel is drafting a resolution authorizing the offering for sale of $675,000 in temporary notes.  This should be available for the Commission to act on later this morning.  Robert explained it is less expensive for the County to renew the temp notes than to seek bonding for the project at this time.  The bond interest rate will be greater than the temporary note interest rate.  Robert stated the County will need additional time to prepare for a public hearing for the assessments for the improvements.   

 

Robert informed the Commissioners he had set the meeting time and date of December 5th at 1:00 in the Sunflower Room in Westmoreland for the presentation on the final report of the Blue Township Sewer improvement.  Robert will have the notice posted on the web site and send notices to the sewer board members, developers, the City of St. George and the City of Manhattan.  Both of these Cities provided input into the final report.  Commissioner Kolde stated she will not be here for the meeting on the 5th of December.  Robert stated he could push the presentation back a week to the 12th of December to better fit her schedule.  Commissioner Kolde agreed the 12th of December would be better for her.  Robert will contact Leu Lowrey to schedule the Sunflower Room for the 12th of December at 1:00 for the presentation and contact LaVene Brenden from Bartlett and West to reschedule his time. 

 

Robert informed the Commission of a request by the Sheriff’s office for the purchase of a new car.  Robert informed the Commission the Sheriff was unable to pay for the car out of this year’s budget as they do not have the money in their budget to pay for it in 2005.  Commissioner Doperalski asked why the purchase could not be made next year instead.  Robert informed the Commission the vehicle became available to a reasonable price and the sheriff took advantage of the savings.  Staff solicited bids on Friday for a lease purchase and received bids this morning from three banks.  The low bid was from Kaw Valley State Bank of Wamego at 3.85%.  Barbara Kolde moved and Stan Hartwich seconded to adopt Resolution 2005-92 entering into a lease-purchase agreement with Kaw Valley State Bank of Wamego at a rate of 3.85%.  The agreement is for the purchase of a vehicle for the Sheriff’s department.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #2)

 

The Chairman signed 2006 Occupation License for the End Zone in Blue Township.

 

The Board considered and acted on property statements.  (Attachment #3)

 

Robert informed the Commission he has received a copy of Wamego City’s policy for providing utilities outside the incorporated city limits.  As Commissioner Doperalski requested, Robert will now notify the residents of Pine Springs Subdivision of extending sewer services to this new development located just south of Highway 24.  Residents will be asked if there is interest in creating a benefit district to provide sewer services to this area.

 

November 30th at 6:00 P.M. at the Sunflower Room in Westmoreland will be a Tri-County meeting.

 

John Boyd, emergency management director, met with the Commissioners to update them on activities in his department.  Topics discussed were:

  1. Current threat condition & FAD (National, State, Local)
  2. County FAD Plan
  3. St. Marys Agricultural Flooding Issue.  John stated the landowners involved in the area are going to pursue creation of a benefit district.
  4. St. George authorization to conduct temporary bank stabilization operations in Black Jack Creek.  John stated the Corps of Engineers at Kanapolis has issued an order to proceed with the project.  John will need to sign the paperwork when the project is completed.  Commissioner Doperalski stated he will visit with Roger Schultz as his property is threatened by the current bank condition.
  5. Grant award funds for 2005.  Money will be released to John after the first of the year.
  6. Monthly siren test results
  7. Tornado siren replacement plan
  8. Current EMGT priorities
  9. County training activity

 

John presented the Commission copies of a Tri-County Tornado Siren Coverage Analysis.  The analysis has three objectives.  The first is to analyze the siren coverage of Riley and Pottawatomie Counties, and report on the percentage of physical area covered, as well as the percentage  of population covered and finally to suggest possible adjustments to the existing siren network.  The second objective is to analyze the population centers of Wabaunsee County and suggest locations for the fire sirens donated by Pottawatomie County.  The third objective is to package the results in a format for presentation to the respective jurisdictions.

 

Brian Smith, EMS director, and Brett Howard, assistant director, met with the Commissioners to show the Commissioners their Mass Casualty Response Trailer.  Brett presented the Commission with information on the purchases with grant monies EMS was awarded for purchase of the trailer and supplies.  Total dollar amount of the grant is $110,127.25.  Brett thanked the Commission for the $17,995 they were allocated to purchase disposable supply stock for the trailer.  The Commissioners viewed the trailer.

 

As Tom Doperalski was not in the Commission room at 10:00, Commissioner Barbara Kolde declared bidding closed for improvements for Falling Leaf Subdivision in Blue Township.  No bids were submitted.  There was an apparent misunderstanding as to the time of the bid letting.  It was approved by the Commission and published for 10:00 this morning.  Schwab-Eaton Engineers sent an addendum stating the bid opening as 10:30.  County counselor stated according to statutes, the bid opening needs to be rescheduled and that notice republished.  Barbara Kolde moved and Stan Hartwich seconded to republish the notice for bid opening for improvements for Falling Leaf Subdivision for 10:00 A.M. on December 12.  Motion carried 3 to 0.

 

Rodney Biesenthal, noxious weed director, met with the Commissioners to discuss the annual contract for treating weeds along KDOT right of way.  Stan Hartwich moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to enter into a contract with KDOT allowing the noxious weed department to spray weeds along the Highway right of way.  Labor cost per person will be $22.00/hour.  Equipment costs will be $33.50/hour.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #4)

 

Rodney informed the Commission the Historical Society had approved the noxious weed department to construct an ADA sidewalk at the Oxen Park south of Westmoreland.  This will be where the KDOT project ended.

 

The Chairman signed the amortization schedule for the lease-purchase agreement with Kaw Valley State Bank of Wamego for the Sheriff’s department vehicle.  (Attachment #5)

 

Stan Hartwich moved and Barbara Kolde seconded to adopt Resolution 2005-93 authorizing the offer for sale of $675,000 temp notes.  Bids will be read at 11:00 on November 28, 2005.  Temp notes are for Timber Creek East water supply distribution improvements.  Motion carried 3 to 0.  (Attachment #6)

 

Leu Lowrey, public works director, met with the Commissioners to discuss bids that were let on November 14 for improvements in Wildcat Woods Subdivision.  Leu recommended the Commission accept the low bid submitted by Ebert Construction Inc of Wamego for $863,844.94.  Barbara Kolde moved and Stan Hartwich seconded to accept the low bid submitted by Ebert Construction Inc of Wamego for the improvements to Wildcat Woods Subdivision.  Contract documents will be signed subject to a letter of credit.  Motion carried 3 to 0.

 

Leu presented the Commissioners with an agreement with Martin Tractor for their review.  The document is a warranty/buy back agreement for a grader the county recently purchased.  The Chairman signed the Service and Repurchase Agreement between Martin Tractor and Pottawatomie County.

 

Leu updated the Commission on various road/bridge projects.  He reported the Quail & Grouse Circle project is finished.

 

The Commissioners discussed issues of concern they want to bring up for consideration at a meeting with economic development this afternoon at 5:30 in that office.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

______________________                                                             ____________________

County Clerk                                                                                         Chairman

 

                                                                                                                                ____________________

                                                                                                                                Vice Chairman

 

                                                                                                                                ____________________

                                                                                                                                Member