BOARD OF McPHERSON COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
NOVEMBER 1, 2005
REGULAR MEETING
10:00 A.M.
ALL PRESENT
One item was added to the agenda: Discussion on
Fireworks Storage in the County.
Commissioner Terry made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Della and Owen Meier of Canton, KS
spoke to the Commissioners during Public Input Session at 10:00 a.m. Representing the Friends of Maxwell,
(Maxwell Game Preserve), Mr. Meier talked about a visit earlier this spring
from a representative of the company that makes Jeep vehicles. Jeep wants to make a commercial in April of
2006 at the Maxwell Game Preserve. Mrs.
Meier spoke about a scenic byway that would go through McPherson County; this would be a State Program and could be
nominated as a Federal Byway. The
Meiers stated that this area was chosen for both projects because of the
unrestricted view and pristine prairie land that is unique to the area. They feel that wind turbines would ruin
this. Susan Fitzsimmon of Rural
Lindsborg also spoke, saying she supports alternative energy but not on
pristine prairie land.
Dianna Carter, County Appraiser,
joined the meeting at 10:12 a.m. and requested 15 minutes, from 10:13 to 10:28
a.m., in executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in the Appraiser’s
Office and to include Mr. Witte.
Commissioner Terry made a motion to go into executive session as
requested. Commissioner Patrick
seconded. All voted aye. The Commissioners returned to open session
at 10:28 a.m.; no action was taken during executive session. Ms. Carter requested approval of a Personnel
Change Notice (PCN) to hire Margretta Heidorn as a Commercial Property
Appraiser at 15/B, effective November 6, 2005.
Commissioner Patrick made a motion to approve the PCN as presented, at
15/B with no raise at the end of probation in 6 months. Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
At the request of the County
Appraiser, Mr. Jerry Wisdom, co-owner of Visual Lease Services (VLS),
Holdenville, Oklahoma, gave a visual presentation of what his company does and
can do for McPherson County. VLS is a
mapping and consulting firm that provides discovery and appraisal services,
primarily locating unreported or under-reported oil and gas sites and equipment
in the a county. This generates lost
tax dollar revenue by finding properties not on the tax rolls. This would also be helpful to E911 since the
unreported sites would be identified and given an address.
Dave Bohnenblust, Public Works
Director, joined the meeting at 11:05 a.m. with the following agenda items:
A. Presented a Personnel Change Notice (PCN) for end of probation
for David Dirks, Maintenance Worker IV (15/F to 15/G) effective November 6,
2005. Commissioner Patrick made a
motion to approve the PCN as presented.
Commissioner Terry seconded. All
voted aye.
B. Requested to advertise for bids for 2006 roadway maintenance
materials (aggregates and aggregate haul).
Commissioner Terry made a motion to approve the request to advertise as
presented. Commissioner Patrick
seconded. All voted aye.
Brenda Becker, County Treasurer,
joined the meeting at 11:13 a.m. with the following:
B. Presented Personnel Change Notices (PCN’s) to hire seasonal
temporary tax clerks as follows: Vera Schra effective November 7, 2004, Maureen
Ensminger effective November 8, 2005, Bonnie Stratton effective November 9,
2005 and Gladys Brockway effective November 10, 2005. Commissioner Terry made a motion to approve PCN’s for temporary
seasonal help as presented, to bring in as needed for the tax season. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
A. Presented information for having tax statements (printing,
stuffing and mailing) outsourced to Postal Presort, the only company available
that can do it. Cost would be approximately
$13,000 for 26,000 sheets. Ms. Becker
stated she has $11,000 in her 2005 budget for the tax statements. Since it is
too late at this point to order envelopes and have staff do the statements as
in the past, there is no choice at this late date but to have the statements
outsourced, therefore no action by the Commission was required.
At 11:50 a.m. Chad Bahr, Planning
& Zoning Administrator, joined the meeting with the following items:
A. Presented the Preliminary Plat Review for 2005 Subdivision CUP
#2, a request by Robert D. Bailey for a proposed eight-lot subdivision to be
known as Rolling Hills. The subdivision
is located in an A-1 Agricultural District.
The applicant has met all subdivision regulation requirements and the
Planning Board approved the request at their October 17, 2005 meeting. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to
approve the (2005 Subdivision CUP #2) request as presented. Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
C. A letter was received by the Commission from Mr. Steve Showalter
requesting an extension of the November 9, 2005 deadline for him to move his
fireworks business out of McPherson County, specifically the trailers storing
the fireworks. At the request of the
Commission, Mr. Bahr contacted several counties asking how they regulate the
storage of fireworks and found that most don’t address the land use. Mr. Showalter was present at the meeting and
verified that he has met all Federal requirements and is asking for the extension
until the County makes a decision on his request for a Conditional Use Permit
(CUP). It was consensus of the
Commission to grant an extension. There
was further discussion on fireworks regulations and Mr. Albert Bailey, who was
also present, objected to the extension saying there is a noise and safety
issue and he referenced a letter from Mr. Bahr to the Showalters saying
progress toward compliance must be seen by November 9. The Commissioners asked Mr. Bahr to check
the Showalter’s property on or about November 9th and report back to
the Commissioners, per the letter referenced above.
B. At 12:10 a.m. Mr. Bahr presented the proposed regulations from
the Planning & Zoning Board concerning wind farms. Chairman Schroeder explained the need for
the regulations and; Commissioner Terry expressed concern that wind farms don’t
meet with the land uses specified in the County’s comprehensive plan. Chairman Schroeder asked for input from the
audience and several suggestions and comments were made. After lengthy discussion, it was a
consensus of the Commissioners to study the suggestions from those present as
well as the proposed regulations as presented from the Planning & Zoning
Board and bring this issue back to the meeting next week.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the minutes of October 25, 2005 as presented. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the checks and claims and distribution. Commissioner Patrick seconded.
All voted aye.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the abate register dated October 28, 2005. Commissioner Patrick seconded.
All voted aye.
Commissioner Patrick made a motion
to have the Chairman sign the Notice to Township Clerk for a cereal malt
beverage license for Rolling Acres Golf Club in New Gottland Township. Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
At 2:22 p.m. the Commissioners
recessed and reconvened on Saturday, November 5th at the Holiday
Manor in McPherson for the 4-H Awards Banquet at 6:30 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. Commissioner Terry made a
motion to adjourn. Commissioner Patrick
seconded. All voted aye. No action was taken by the Commissioners during that
time.
Commission Minutes taken by Irene R. Goering.
Don
L. Schroeder, Chairman
Duane
J. Patrick, Vice-Chairman
Harris
G. Terry, Commissioner
Attest: County Clerk
Susan
R. Meng