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| May 4, 2001 | May 7, 2001 |
| May 11, 2001 | May 14, 2001 |
| May 18, 2001-no meeting | May 21, 2001 |
| May 25, 2001 | May 28, 2001-holiday |
These are minutes from May 2001 as approved by the County Commission.
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| May 7, 2001
Monday 9:00 am The Bourbon County Commissioners met in open session with Gary Houston and Terry Graham present. Joanne Long and Jim Harris were also present. Sheriff Harold Coleman came to speak to the commissioners. The process server, Roy Holdridge, will be retiring soon. An employee of the Correctional Center is interested and would be a good employee, according to Coleman. He asked if the county has a policy against nepotism, since the employee, Earl Gillispie, is the husband of Deputy, Cindy Gillispie. He was told there is no policy forbidding family working together but that it is discouraged in supervisory positions. The Sheriff also brought paperwork to be signed for the 2001 Cops in Schools Grant application. It is a three year, 100% grant. Terry Graham made a motion to sign the Cops in Schools letter of intent. Gary Houston seconded. All in favor. Vice-Chairman Gary Houston signed the forms in Robert Query's absence. Jim Harris gave the commissioners two prices for chip/seal oil for 2001. They were from Koch Pavement Solutions of Kansas City, Missouri and Coastal Energy Corp. of Willow Springs, Missouri. Koch's price was $0.665/gallon delivered and Coastal's price was $0.65/gallon. Jim Harris recommended going with Koch, as they have always been available for consultation with Bourbon County and Coastal has not. The commissioners agreed with Mr. Harris's recommendation. There was a question as to whether county employees were allowed to dump free at the landfill. Jim Harris gave the commissioners some applications for truck driver to review. Terry Graham made a motion at 11:27 am to go into executive session for a period of 13 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Gary Houston seconded. All in favor. Those to be present were Terry Graham, Gary Houston and Joanne Long. The regular meeting resumed at 11:40 am with no action. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at noon.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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| May 11, 2001
Friday 9:00 am The Bourbon County Commissioners met in open session with Terry Graham and Gary Houston present. Jim Harris and Deputy Clerk, Cecelia Key were also present. Becky and Kent Roberts met with the commissioners to present a petition requesting a benefit district be formed for chip and seal of 240th Street between Kansas Road and US 54 Highway. The petition read as follows:
Terry Graham made a motion to establish a benefit district for chip and seal of 240th Street between Kansas Road and US Highway 54. Gary Houston seconded. All in favor. A hearing date will be set in the future. Mr. Harris discussed the possibility of applying for a radio transmitter grant. A transmitter tower would allow a signal to set off an alarm for severe weather. The commissioners asked him to look into it further and report back. The commissioners looked over applications for a truck driver and told Mr. Harris to hire Don Reeder for the position. They also discussed hiring Heath Lord as full time up from part-time. No action on Mr. Lord. John Daugherty presented the commissioners with a letter of thanks from the Historic Site for the county's support of Armed Forces Day. Accounts payable for the period were approved. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at noon.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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| May 14, 2001
Monday 9:00 am The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners present. Cecelia Key was also present. Minutes of the previous meetings were read and corrected. Sheriff Coleman came to ask the commissioners if he had the authority to ask for an autopsy as medical investigator. The commissioners did not know and asked the County Clerk to look into it. Terry Graham made a motion to ask for bids for hay at Elm Creek Lake. Robert Query seconded and all voted in favor. Resolution 01-15 was drafted, signed and sent to the Fort Scott Tribune for publication as soon as possible. Sealed bids will be taken in the county clerk's office until close of business on Thursday, May 24, 2001. Bids will be opened at 10:00 am on Friday, May 25, 2001. Walter Tasche and James Rourk came to ask for dust control at Bourbon State Fishing Lake. They also inquired about the possibility of chip and seal on the road. Terry Graham said that it would probably be next year before the county could chip and seal the road. He also stated the requirement of a doctor's statement needed before dust control can be applied. The men presented the commissioners with the necessary doctor's statements. The commissioners said the county would do the dust control as soon as payment is received. Audrey Cole came to ask who is responsible for the fence at Dayton Cemetery. Apparently calves are getting into the cemetery and soiling it. Terry Graham said he would check into it. County Clerk Joanne Long told the commissioners she has purchased a domain for Bourbon County on the internet. It will be bourboncountyks.org and will provide information about Bourbon County. It will be paid for out of the county clerk budget if necessary. Terry Graham made a motion to hire Heath Lord as a full time employee. Gary Houston seconded and all voted in favor. The commissioners approved payroll for the period. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at noon.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk May 18, 2001 Friday No meeting as Commissioners in Great Bend, KS, at a conference. |
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| May 21, 2001
Monday
9:00 am The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners present. Jim Harris and Joanne Long were also present. Minutes of previous meetings were read and corrected. Zack Reynolds met with the commissioners to discuss the proposed leasing of county property near the old county barn to Selective Site Consultants. He has corresponded with the company about changes in the proposed lease option agreement and is here today with the final product. Should the county sign the agreement, the company will have to comply with City of Fort Scott zoning regulations but the county has agreed to do what it can to help. He explained that a lease option was only a way to hold a property from being leased by others. The company, Selective Site Consultants, would then contract with a third party to lease the ground. What is proposed is a telecommunications tower for Voicestream. The county would receive $500 from Selective Site Consultants upon signing the contract and if/when the option to lease is taken, the county would receive $500 per month for rent. Mr. Graham stated that he had been contacted by a resident of the neighborhood where the property is located who was concerned with having a tall tower in the area. He suggested a public meeting be scheduled to inform the citizens of the proposal and give them an opportunity to voice their concerns and have those concerns addressed. The commissioners agreed the lease agreement was a good deal and the agreement was signed by Chairman Robert Query. Jim Harris asked the commissioners to set a date and time for a public hearing for the changes proposed in the county's sanitation codes. Terry Graham made a motion to set a public hearing for sanitation code changes for June 25, 2001, at 10:00 am. Gary Houston seconded. All in favor. Mr. Harris then asked the commissioners to set a date and time for a public hearing for the proposed benefit district for 240th St. Robert Query made a motion to set a public hearing for the proposed 240th St. benefit district for June 25, 2001, at 10:30 am. Terry Graham seconded. All in favor. It was discussed that a truck was needed at the county fairgrounds to dump base rock to help even the ground east of the 4-H building to the calf barn before the trusses are put up next weekend. It will be done. Joanne Long presented the commissioners with a petition for vacation of a railroad right-of-way in the Fort Scott Industrial Park she received from David Mullies on behalf of the Bourbon County Economic Development Council. It is for a section of railroad that is unusable and of which a part of the connecting railroad has already been vacated. The petition was signed by representatives of the City of Fort Scott, the Economic Development Council and Mid-Continental Restoration Co. The parties would like a public hearing scheduled for the closing. The land is described as follows:
Terry Graham made a motion to set a public hearing for the vacation of a railroad right-of-way in the Fort Scott Industrial Park for June 22, 2001, at 10:00 am. Robert Query seconded. All in favor. Robert Query said he would not be in the meeting in the afternoon as he would be helping erect the flagpole on the courthouse lawn. It is imperative that it be completed by Friday as this is Memorial Day weekend. Larry Nuss came to speak to the commissioners about Timbers Edge Subdivision. He is aware of a neighbor's concern about the runoff into her pond that may occur should the road be chip and sealed. He stated that he plans to use one lot to build a retention pond in the development to catch runoff. The commissioners would like to meet with the Wratchfords and John Horn this Friday at 9:00 am to discuss this. Walter Tasche and James Rourk met with the commissioners again. It seems many of their neighbors at the Bourbon State Lake would also like dust control. All parties agree that ding the dust control all at once rather than making several trips would be economical to the county and to the citizens. Since all the medical documentation was sufficient to the commissioners, the project will proceed. If the checks are not received before the dust control is sprayed, the person will be billed. Mr. Tasche and Mr. Rourk showed the commissioners on a map which lots were interested to aide in the spraying. Chemical bids were opened at 11:20 am with Lee Davis. Three bids were received. They were:
* Van Diest did not bid proper amounts, so it was altered to fit the others Terry Graham made a motion to accept the AG Choice bid for chemicals. Gary Houston seconded. All in favor. Joanne Long told the commissioners about a letter she received from Dr. Banks, District Coroner. He explained about the deputy coroner and medical investigator. After also speaking with the Department of Vital Statistics in Topeka, she told the commissioners what she learned. There are no statutorial guidelines for or against a person with the title of "medical investigator." As such, there are no laws dictating what a person with that title can or cannot do. Therefore, there are no terms of office either. We must get guidelines from Dr. Banks' office for medical investigator. He may even have some report forms pre-made that we can use for reports of death. It was also explained that since there is a deputy coroner in Linn County, which is also part of the 6th Judicial District, we cannot utilize the special deputy coroner in Bourbon County and must use this newly created "medical investigator." Therefore, Harold Coleman and Jay Reyes will be Medical Investigators. Mr. Banks also stated in his letter that he will sign properly completed death certificates if no local physician will sign them. The commissioners thanked the clerk for the information. Jim Harris gave the commissioners applications to look over for two positions to be filled for part-time summer help on the road department. The commissioners gave their picks to Mr. Harris. Gerald Sheperd and Paul Mendicki, representing General Machinery of Pittsburg, Kansas, came to speak to the commissioners about belts they carry for the rock crusher. They also asked to speak with Clyde Killion. Mr. Killion was called an arrived a bit later. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk |
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| May 25, 2001
Friday 9:00 am The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners present. Jim Harris and Joanne Long were also present. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and corrected. At 9:00 am, a group of citizens met with the commissioners concerning a proposed chip and seal project in Timber's Edge Subdivision. Those present were Robert Farmer, John Horn, Tim Allen, Enid Large and Paul Moore. Mrs. Wratchford informed the county she could not make the meeting. Several of those in attendance expressed the financial hardship they already face since valuation on land raised this year and what an added burden more taxes would bring them. Mr. Horn told the crowd that he intends to use Lot 12 of the development to build a retention pond to help stop the run-off into the Wratchford's pond. There was a pond on the site before the development began and since then the area has noticed a significant amount of silt run-off and erosion due to lack of grass. It was noted that widening the ditches was not a possibility due to water lines running along them. Mr. Horn stated, when asked, that there are plans to plant grass to help stop the erosion. Mr. Graham asked if clearing the south ditch could aide in the drainage. Mr. Harris will look into it. Mr. Graham stated that good roads encourage development and that though taxes may go up on these properties, the values will also rise and owners can likely get more from buyers who want to live on paved roads but still be in the county. Mr. Horn is offering to pay for the chip and sealing of the road and would like cost estimates from the county. Mr. Harris said he could get a price to him next week. Mr. Horn would also like to know a time frame from the county for completing the project. He also stated that he would be starting construction of that retention pond as soon as the weather allowed. Mr. Graham reminded him that grass see is very affordable at this time and would be a great help in stopping the run-off. Mrs. Large asked the commissioners why the street names in Timber's Edge were changed to comply with 911 addresses when the subdivision was platted and recorded while other subdivision streets were not changed. Mr. Harris said that Timber's Edge is not in the city limits of Fort Scott and that is why the streets were changed. He didn't know specifically to which neighborhoods Mrs. Large was referring but guessed that they were in the city of Fort Scott and were therefore not changed to comply with 911 addresses. He said that for emergency personnel, the 911 system is required for quick response and with turnover of employees, a uniform system is more effective than keeping some old road names that may be obvious to residents who've lived there for years, but not to new emergency personnel trying to locate an address in an emergency. Before he left, Tim Allen told the commissioners about a bad area on Rock Creek Road where he bottomed out earlier. The commissioners thanked him for bringing it to their attention and will see that it is repaired. Jim Harris presented the commissioners and clerk with copies of a preliminary Policy and Procedures manual for Bourbon County prepared by the Austin Peter's Group. He would like them to review it and then meet in a few weeks to discuss it. Mr. Harris gave the commissioners a 911 update. He said that the rural mail carriers are verifying addresses on their routes and reporting back to the post office with any addresses that were missing from their list to help fill in the blanks. Fire Chief Jeff Davis, Jim Harris and representatives from Sprint are working on finalizing the addresses. Mr. Harris presented the commissioners with an estimate for roof repair from Gerald Beerbower. It is for miscellaneous repairs and preventative maintenance. The leaks are being contained at present by buckets, but due to large rains on the weekend, the buckets can overflow and would ruin the computers in District Court if they were not contained. These repairs are made approximately every three years but there are no guarantees that they will eliminate the problem. Terry Graham made a motion to repair the courthouse roof per the estimate from Gerald Beerbower. Robert Query seconded. All in favor. At 10:00 am, hay bids for Elm Creek Lake were opened. Only one bid was received. It was from Dale and Leo Bollinger for $1,282.00. Leo Bollinger was present. Gary Houston made a motion to accept the bid. Terry Graham seconded. All in favor. The commissioners thanked Mr. Bollinger for his bid. Joanne Long told the commissioners of a lawsuit that was filed against Bourbon County by John Weeter concerning a motor vehicle accident on Old 69 Hwy in October of 1999. The information has been forwarded to our insurance company. Bob Schweikert came to speak to the commissioners about excessive traffic on his road. The commissioners said they will put a meter there to record the traffic. John Swarts came to speak to the commissioners. He said that he is running under budget for the year and expressed the need for a new fax machine for the Attorney's Office. He presented the commissioners with a sample of a fax that was sent from his machine. It showed a distortion of the wording so that it was illegible. He has had it repaired repeatedly but it is getting to the point that purchasing a new on would be more economical. With the volume of faxes his office receives and sends daily, a normal fax machine would not suffice. He has priced a heavy duty Sharp Fax machine from Midland Office Equipment for $1,115. Such a machine normally retails for $1,700. Mr. Swarts stated that he priced around to Joplin and this was the best deal he could find. The commissioners approved the purchase. Mr. Harris returned to speak with the commissioners. Of the three recommendations given him by the commissioners, only one has accepted a position with Bourbon County. One went to a full time job elsewhere and the other hasn't returned any calls. Mr. Harris needs these positions filled immediately as peak mowing season is about to begin. He needs the commissioners to choose two of the remaining applicants to fill one definite opening and a possible replacement for a current ill employee if he cannot return to work. The commissioners picked two employees at Mr. Harris's request. The commissioners reviewed some accounts payable vouchers at the request of the clerk's office. Lee Davis, Noxious Weed Director, presented the commissioners with the 2002 Annual Weed Management Plan for Bourbon County. Gary Houston made a motion to sign the plan. Terry Graham seconded. All in favor. Three copies were signed by all commissioners and attested to by the clerk. Robert Query stated he would be spending the afternoon working on the flagpole. It needs to be completed by Monday morning for Memorial Day ceremonies. He stated there may be some last-minute expenses to get it completed and asked the board to allow him to purchase anything, within reason, needed for the flagpole. The commissioners agreed. After routine business, the meeting adjourned at 11:55 am.
ATTEST: (ss) Joanne Long, County Clerk May 28, 2001 Monday Memorial Day Holiday----no meeting. |
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