MINUTES MORTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MARCH 23, 2009 Bob called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. with open doors. Present: Bob Boaldin, Chairman; Ron DeGarmo, Vice-Chairman; Teresa Harder, Commissioner; Eric Witcher, County Attorney; Mary Gilmore, County Clerk The Agenda was reviewed and approved with additions. Minutes of the March 9, 2009 meeting were read and approved with corrections on a motion by Ron, seconded by Teresa. Bills were reviewed and approved for payment. Tim Hardy entered the meeting and announced that the City/County joint KDOT grant application to improve North Street Road was approved. Tim thanked the Commissioners for their generous support. Leon Ellis met with the Commissioners and reported that he and Teresa attended the Small Arid Landfills meeting in Garden City. Leon had the opportunity to visit with Morton County s Engineer, Elmer Zerr. Leon reported that the repairs to the John Deere at the Landfill are now estimated to be $12,000. So far the Caterpillar is still doing okay but he is having the representative work up an estimate to make the necessary repairs. Leon said he will hold off making repairs to the John Deere until he finds out what the costs will be to repair the Caterpillar. Leon mentioned he has sprayed around the lights at the Airport. Approval was given to hire Bea Riley to fill the part-time position at the Landfill; salary will be $9.50/hr. Bob gave an update on the Cimarron Valley Railroad proposal. Bob had testified in Topeka in support of rehabilitating the line. Word was received from Stuart Fredman, Attorney for the owner of the CVR, concerning a couple of issues. Mr. Fredman indicated that if these issues can be resolved he felt a proposal could be executed. Bob also reported on the underground gas storage that will go before the full Senate and E911 which was approved 40-0 by the Senate to study it. Charley McKinley met with the Commissioners and reported they have finished hauling rock from Holly, Colorado. Charley also reported that he and Chuck Oldacker drove the areas of concern on highways K27 and K56.
The Commissioners signed the KWORCC completion of deficiencies the Road Department received from an earlier inspection. A short discussion took place regarding having two large trash containers at the Civic Center. Consensus was to have one removed at a savings of $48.75/mo. Discussion took place concerning paying Ed Johnson for fueling planes. We have not been able to fuel planes due to the installation of the new fuel card pump. Once the pump is working there should be no need for Ed s services to fuel planes. Consensus of the Commissioners was to pay Ed through the end of March. Charley Tucker entered the meeting. The Commissioners informed Charley of their decision to have only one trash container at the Civic Center. Charley will contact City Hall and have one of the containers removed. Charley reported he has still not heard from anyone regarding repairs to the sensors at one of the kitchen sinks and the bathroom urinals. Charley mentioned he visited with Donnie with Pure Ozone. He sells floor buffers and cleaners and could come to the Civic Center on April 27 th to give a demonstration. Approval for a 3:00 demonstration was given. Teresa asked if there was anyone we could contract with to do the event hall buffing instead of purchasing equipment. Charley said in the past we have contracted with Mirrors Image from Liberal to do the waxing of the tile floors. He could check with them to see if they could do the event hall as needed. Charley reported he has not heard anything from Monte Monroe about the dropped ceiling project yet. Upcoming Civic Center events are the Elkhart Prom (April 18 th ) and the Southwest Child Advocacy Motorcycle Run (April 25 th.) The Commissioners reminded Charley to get the Hold Harmless Agreement signed prior to the event. Charley mentioned he has talked to three companies about event insurance; some do individual events and some do blanket coverage. The Commissioners stated that until KCAMP can find insurance for our events at the Civic Center we will have to purchase single event coverage as needed. A discussion took place concerning flying the flags at the Civic Center. The high winds are ripping the flags apart. Consensus was that when the wind is bad, do not put up the flags. A discussion took place concerning the Child Advocacy group having to put up a deposit to use the Civic Center when the Commissioners already told them they could use it for free. Charley said the deposit would be for use of the kitchen.
Kevin Shook met with the Commissioners and reported that all of the new doors have been installed at the Clubhouse. The cost for the labor was $2415, as proposed. This did not, however, include the cost for supplies in the amount of $2902.15. Total cost for the project was $5317.15. Motion was made by Ron, seconded by Teresa, to pay the bill as adjusted. Kevin mentioned that Don Grasz returned to work last week and it is so good to have him back. Kevin stated he has a job shadow student this week. Kevin said he will be attending the USD 218 Job Fair next week (it was previously cancelled due to bad weather.) Also, the Annual Membership Meeting will be held April 1 st with dinner at 6:00 p.m. and the meeting at 7:00. The Supervisors met with the Commissioners for their regular monthly meeting. Present were Charles Hull, Charley McKinley, Kevin Shook, Vicki Peacock, Sally Akers, Rhianna Shaw, Charley Tucker, Vienna Lee, Justin Holliday, Tracie Nixon, and Karensa Meek. Each Supervisor gave their individual reports. Following the Supervisors Meeting Rhianna presented the Commissioners a copy of her monthly report 3/1/09 to 3/23/09. Tom Job, KCAMP Administrator, met with the Commissioners and presented Morton County s liability insurance policy. Tom also discussed his continuing efforts in looking for some type of event insurance for the Civic Center. He should have something put together for us to look at in the very near future. Tom did, however, have a hold harmless agreement that each group who rents the Civic Center needs to sign. A short discussion took place regarding the form. This form should be added to the contract forms, along with a request for a copy of the renter s certificate of insurance. The meeting recessed at noon. Following lunch the Commissioners and Clerk drove to the Airport to view the taxiway construction taking place, as well as the fuel card pump installation. The Commissioners then went to the Elkhart City Hall where they attended the CRP Informational Meeting. Morton County has 2,821 acres of CRP coming out in 2009; 43,697 coming out in 2010; and 19,419 coming out in 2011. Items discussed included converting expired CRP acres to cropland/grazing expired CRP acres; cropland limitation, early land prep measures, continuous CRP options, prescribed burning, light disking, interseeding and managed haying and grazing. The Commissioners returned to the Courthouse and reconvened the meeting at 2:10 p.m. Larry Simmons entered the meeting to discuss ideas for cutting his budget. Larry stated he may be able to cut back on fungus spraying the yard and only do it when needed. He suggested he might also be able to reduce the first aeration of the lawns and plugging the trees. The Commissioners expressed their appreciation for Larry s efforts in reducing his budget.
The Clerk reported the Bankhead-Jones funds have been received in the amount of $1,433,497.99. Motion was made by Bob, seconded by Ron, to put this money into the Road Fund. Alejandra Juarez, Blue Cross Blue Shield Group Representative, met with the Commissioners to discuss Morton County s upcoming renewal and rates increase. Alejandra explained the Blue Choice Triple Option AffordaBlue Program, an option the Commissioners had asked to look at, and the deductibles and difference in the covered services. Following a lengthy discussion the Commissioners asked Ms. Juarez to work up the figures for increasing the deductible on the current plan and determine how much the County could save in premiums. The BCBS renewal was tabled pending additional information. Kelsey, with Jerry Moran s office, entered the meeting at the Commissioners request. Kelsey was present at the CRP Informational Meeting and invited any feedback from the Commissioners that she could take back to Moran s office. A discussion took place. Eric gave his opinion regarding the NACO contract for a discount prescription card. Following a discussion motion was made by Teresa, seconded by Ron, to sign the contract to allow Morton County residents to have a discount prescription card. The vote was unanimous. One note was made by the County Attorney; this card is not accepted at C&R Pharmacy, but may be accepted in other pharmacies in the area. The Commissioners felt, however, that the card could benefit those who currently have no pharmacy card. The Commissioners signed Resolution 2009-4 on a motion by Bob, seconded by Ron. Vote was unanimous. This Resolution provides for the schedule of the Commissioners Regular Monthly Meetings to be held the second and fourth Monday of each month for the remainder of calendar year 2009. Sally Akers met with the Commissioners and requested approval to purchase a printer in the amount of $1460. Approval was given on a motion by Bob, seconded by Teresa. Vote was unanimous. Sally mentioned she is in the process of purchasing a new scanner that will be paid out of the Register of Deed s Technology Fund. Cost of the scanner is $934. Sally also mentioned she is in the process of getting bids for back scanning some deeds. This will also be paid out of the Technology Fund; the Technology Fund is not money raised from taxes. Rhianna Shaw entered the meeting and requested approval for Pam Baldwin to attend the following meetings: Child Passenger Safety April 6, 2009 Wichita Governor s Public Health Conf. April 21-22, 2009 Wichita
Approval was given for Pam to attend these meetings on a motion by Teresa, seconded by Ron. Rhianna reported that in her efforts to reduce her 2009 budget she has to take into consideration the Health Department s Maintenance of Effort Grant. This grant requires the Health Department to have the same, or $1.00 more, to qualify for the grant. Therefore, the Health Department will not be able to reduce their budget by 10%. Rhianna stated, however, that she will continue to cut where she can by sharing rides and hotel rooms when attending meetings, etc. Virginia Johnson met with the Commissioners and reported that Terry Ryman s position on the Library Board is up and the Board recommends the Commissioners appoint Sharon Lux. Sharon is a very active Library patron and utilizes all of the services the Library offers. Teresa requested that Virginia advertise the opening for two weeks and then have the Library Board make a recommendation to the Commissioners. Virginia agreed to this process. Virginia mentioned that the Library is currently gathering tin cans from the school until May. These will be used during the summer reading program for various activities. Virginia requested consideration to store the cans in the County s storage building downtown. Approval was given. Deb Schnurr entered the meeting and reported the Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support class (PHTLS) will be held in Elkhart April 16-17. Cost of the class is $150/person and EagleMed is teaching the class. Eagle Med will bill EMS after the class for those EMTs who take the class. Motion was made by Ron, seconded by Bob, to approve paying the fee for the Morton County EMTs out of Gifts & Grants. Deb mentioned that Gwen Rodriguez has requested approval to attend the KEMTA meeting April 24-26. A discussion took place. Consensus of the Commissioners was that since we are cutting back on the budget, and they have already agreed to pay her fee to attend the PHTLS class, they would decline this request. Deb stated the EMS Department needs a new scanner. The Commissioners said that the Register of Deeds is going to purchase a new one and perhaps her old one would meet EMS s needs. Deb said she would visit with Sally. Deb reported she will be holding a Skills day for the techs on Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00. She requested approval to feed the attendees that day. Approval was given on a motion from Bob, seconded by Teresa. Justin Holliday entered the meeting and presented the Commissioners a copy of the Morton County Jail Rules and Regulations. Justin also presented a copy of the Morton County Jail Medical Billing for a current inmate. He plans to present this bill to the inmate and upon the inmates release the bill will be due and payable to the Morton
County Sheriff s Office. The Commissioners instructed the County Attorney to research the legality of this and report back at a later meeting. Motion was made by Bob, seconded by Ron, to not donate towards the Southwest Kansas Honor Flight project. Justin requested approval to hire Dustin Adams from Richfield as a part-time dispatcher. Approval was given on a motion from Bob, seconded by Teresa. Salary will be $9.00/hr. Justin reported he has received the application form for the CHPS grant. He is in the process of completing the form. A discussion took place. Justin indicated he would like to hire at least two officers that can serve as both jailers and deputies. Bob reminded Justin that he needs to keep in mind as he prepares his future budgets that these positions must be funded by the County following the three years covered by the grant. Motion was made by Ron, seconded by Bob, not to pay the 2009 annual dues in the amount of $250 to the Santa Fe Trail RC&D due to the fact that we don t benefit from this organization. Consensus was that it would not be necessary to appoint a board member to the RC&D since we would not be members. The Commissioners signed the Payroll Form; the Payroll and Accounts Payable Warrant Registers and the Change Orders from the Appraiser s Office. There being no further business the meeting adjourned on a motion by Bob, seconded by Ron.