BOARD OF McPHERSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
JUNE 17, 2003
10:00 A.M.
REGULAR MEETING
ALL PRESENT
Commissioner Schroeder made a
motion to approve the agenda as presented.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
John Holecek, representing the
Ministerial Alliance, joined the meeting during Public Input session at 10:00
a.m. to invite the Commissioners to the annual Fourth of July Prayer Walk.
Commissioner Schroeder made a
motion to approve the minutes of June 10, 2003 as presented. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
Commissioner Schroeder made a
motion to approve the adds and abates register dated June 13, 2003. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
Bill Ridge, General Manager; John
Hawk Operations Manager; and Brenda Siemsen, Financial Manager, all of the
McPherson Area Solid Waste Utility joined the meeting at 10:10 a.m. The Utility is requesting a $200,000
increase in their annual assessment to cover the increased cost of trash disposal. Mr. Ridge sited increased trash, increased
destination landfill tipping fees, increased State mandated costs of closing
the landfill and increased fuel costs.
Various ways of cutting costs were discussed, including further
reduction of staff. No action was taken
at this time.
Fern Hess, Health Department
Director, joined the meeting at 10:40 a.m. to request approval of the revised
KDHE Universal Contract. There have
been no changes in the contract since 1997 and the changes being made now are all
acceptable and manageable for the McPherson County Health Department. Commissioner Schroeder made a motion to have
the Chairman sign the revised KDHE Universal Contract as presented. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
Leon Hobson, Public Works
Director, and Phil Barrager of ONEOK joined the meeting at 10:50 a.m. to
explain and answer questions the Commissioners have on the purchase of natural
gas for the county’s asphalt plant. The
two options available are to ride the market and purchase from month to month
from Kansas Gas or to contract at a fixed price for a specific time
period. It was the consensus of the
Commission to have Mr. Barrager prepare a contract based on the market price
effective Thursday, June 19th, 2003 and the Board will consider the
contract price at the next Commission meeting.
Mr. Hobson also presented the following agenda items:
A. Non-elected personnel – Commissioner
Schroeder made a motion to go into executive session for 10 minutes, from 11:40
to 11:50 a.m., to discuss non-elected personnel in the Public Works Department
and to include Mr. Hobson and Mr. Witte.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye. At 11:50 a.m. Chairman Terry made a motion
to extend executive session an additional 5 minutes, from 11:50 to 11:55
a.m. Commissioner Patrick
seconded. All voted aye. The
Commissioners returned to open session at 11:55 a.m.; no action was taken
during executive session. Commissioner
Patrick made a motion to approve the Personnel Change Notice (PCN) to promote
Patricia Wachtel from Engineering Tech II to Engineering Tech III (13/C to
17/A), effective June 22, 2003.
Commissioner Schroeder seconded.
F. Request to fill a vacant Maintenance Worker
I position. Commissioner Patrick made a
motion to approve the request to hire a Maintenance Worker I. Commissioner Schroeder seconded. All
voted aye.
B. Request to change the functional classification of two roads in
McPherson County to “major collector” classification to be eligible for STP
funding. The roads are CR594 (Smoky
Valley Road east of Marquette for 1 mile then north 1 mile on 6th
Ave. to K-4) and CR1073 (Kiowa Road extension of Ave. A, southeast part of the
City of McPherson, east to CR319, 17th Ave.). Commissioner Patrick made a motion to sign
the request as presented. Commissioner
Schroeder seconded. All voted aye.
C. Request signature on the policy regarding the placement of
newspaper delivery boxes. The Sentinel
has reviewed the policy and their concerns have been addressed. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to sign
the policy as presented. Commissioner
Schroeder seconded. All voted aye.
D. Request to advertise for the replacement of a tandem axle truck,
spreader and plow. Commissioner Patrick
made a motion to approve the request as presented. Commissioner Schroeder seconded.
All voted aye.
E. Request to award bids for wheel loaders. Bids were received from five vendors for a
3.5 loader and a 4.0 loader. After
discussion, Commissioner Schroeder made a motion to approve the bid from Foley
Tractor for a Cat 3.5 yd. loader at $128,500 and a 4.0 yd. Loader at $157,620
with the understanding that the 4.0 loader may be purchased for $165,620 if the
trade-in can be sold by sealed bid by the County at an agreeable price. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
Mr. Witte presented a plat for
the Walker Subdivision for signature.
The plat requires Commission signature because it is located in the
unincorporated area of the County on 13th Avenue. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to sign
the Walker Subdivision Plat as presented.
Commissioner Schroeder seconded.
All voted aye.
Mr. Witte presented a mail in
ballot form from the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC). The ballot requires that the County certify
a voting delegate to vote for a Kansas Representative to the Governing Board of
the National Association of Counties (NACo).
Commissioner Schroeder made a motion to designate Chairman Terry as
voting delegate for McPherson County.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Commissioner Patrick made a
motion to approve four MCKIDS contracts for education services. Commissioner Schroeder seconded. All
voted aye.
Mr. Witte presented a Personnel
Change Notice (PCN) to hire Vera Schra as a Temporary Personal Property
Specialist (12/G) in the Appraiser’s Office, effective June 9, 2003. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to have
the Chairman sign the PCN as presented.
Commissioner Schroeder seconded.
All voted aye.
In celebration of the 150th
Anniversary of the signing of the Kansas –Nebraska Bill, making Kansas a
territory on its way to statehood, the Kansas Territorial Sesquicentennial
Commission is planning a statewide tree planting to take place at County
Courthouses throughout the state on Arbor Day, April 23, 2004. It was a consensus of the Commissioners to
take part in the tree planting.
At 12:45 p.m. Commissioner
Schroeder made a motion to adjourn.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Commission minutes taken by Irene
R. Goering.
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Harris G. Terry, Chairman
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Don L. Schroeder, Vice-Chairman
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ATTEST: County Clerk ____________________________________