August 23, 2022 Tuesday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with the three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.
Clint Walker, Don Hutchison, Rob Harrington, Susan Bancroft, Shane Walker, and Matt Quick were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim announced Clifton had a flat while driving in. He will be in momentarily. Nelson made a motion to approve minutes from the last meeting. Jim seconded. Both approved.
Eric Bailey gave an update on asphalt. We have ½ mile left in the Uniontown area. The water pump went out in the laydown machine. Should have it fixed and be back out there later today if not tomorrow. We moved the rock crusher last Thursday to Blake. While our dozer was being repaired; and having the landfill kit put under it, we rented a dozer. We took that dozer out to Shepherd Quarry and cleared out some overburden. We are almost ready for another blast. Culvert crew had a great week last week. 145th between 54 and Osage they went in and re-ditched and added some culverts and got the area cleaned up a little bit. Tomahawk and 185th to 195th we did some more ditching and built the road up. 145th and Poplar, they did some culvert and ditch work there. 145th & Range culvert and ditch work there. 135th & Range and 135th & Tomahawk and then Poplar & 95th culvert and ditching in that area. Andy Johnson, in our Noxious Weed Dept, has resigned and taken another position pursuing another career. We’ve got some interest internally. We have a shipment of chemicals in if anyone needs to get their fall chemicals. BNSF called yesterday and they are going to closing 230th between Grand and Hackberry tomorrow from 8am to 5pm to do some crossing maintenance. We had our field check on the bridge at 160th & Fern and everything went well with that. We are moving forward with that project. KOBIP Program with funding to be able to repair bridges that are located on RS roads and off system roads. Rob and Emily have worked hard to get paperwork put together for bridge 518 which is between Valley and 215th that goes over the railroad tracks. With this program it is a 90/10. Our part would be the 10%. We are clarifying some information that we heard from some of the KDOT people that were there for the field check and we have some bridges on our inventory program that are old metal truss bridges that actually have bridges located right next to them. We have 4 identified now. They are on Yellowstone between 35th and 65 Highway; 225th between Poplar and Quail; 255th and Yale; and 265th between Xavier and Wagon. With this program they have an incentive to remove the bridges from the inventory list and they will provide $1,000 per linier foot per bridge. This would include bridge 2.0 B.1 Yellowstone 35th and 65 Highway; bridge 21.0 J.8 on 225th between Poplar and Quail; bridge 24.0 B.0 255th & Yale; bridge 25.0 D.0 265th between Xavier and Wagon. I think we may have more but those are the ones we would be interested in at this time. Clifton made a motion to remove the bridges from inventory as stated by Eric. Nelson seconded. All approved. Jim asked about the money on the big bridge if that is Federal or State money. Eric stated Federal brought down through the state. Jim asked about the off system roads is the also 90/10. Eric stated that off system is 100%. We would like to look at the one at 160th & Grand for sure as the farmers have made a path to the west of it to get around. Eric stated there is no guarantee we would be awarded the grant but I believe we should apply. Jim stated that once we get the big one locked in money-wise I would like to look for money to rehab the metal one on the blacktop down by Garland. Eric stated this is going to be an ongoing program. Clifton made a motion that the money received from the inventory bridges be used toward other bridges. Jim seconded. All approved. Nelson asked if Public Works would be responsible for dismantling the bridges. Eric said we will take them off of our inventory list and then he would need to work with Justin and see if we can find someone who may want to purchase the bridges.
Greg Post asked about the possibility of annexing Timberhills Lake Ranch into Mapleton so that we can get some revenue. Justin stated if the landowner and the city agree then they need permission from the commissioners. Justin stated that legally we would have to have a resolution to do this. Justin stated it would mean additional taxes for the landowner. The commissioners were ok with working on the annex.
Bob Reed stated that as of last Friday, at 5pm, all inmates are back. Hopefully, in two weeks we will be fully staffed. Jim stated he appreciated the hard work from Bob Reed to make this happen. Bob thanked his employees, those that stayed and rode out the storm. Thank you to those who have come forward and taken a job. Clifton thanked Bob Reed.
Matt Quick stated that he has 3 vehicles in his fleet right now. Was going to try and make it through this year with the 2007 brown chevy. The field appraiser was out in it and stepped on the brakes and heard a clunking noise and brake pedal went to the floor. She found the brake pad on the ground. It’s wore out. Want to get approval to purchase another vehicle to replace that one. We have the money in our vehicle reserve. Jim stated that we want to shop local. Nelson asked if they buy brand new. Matt said new or as close to new so that there is a warranty on them. Also, want to buy something we can work on local. The brown chevy has been in our fleet for over 10 years. Stock is hard to find. They are just getting their 2022 vehicles and they should be getting the 2023’s. Nelson asked if the equipment reserve account county wide. Matt said this account is just for his office. Clifton made a motion to approve Appraisers to use his equipment fund to purchase a vehicle up to $35,000.00. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Rob Harrington asked for executive session. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships for 20 minutes including 3 commissioners, Justin Meeks, Rob Harrington, Susan Bancroft, and Shane Walker returning here at 9:49am. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session at 9:49am. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to go back into executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust, and individual proprietorships including 3 commissioners, Justin Meeks, Susan Bancroft, Rob Harrington, and Shane Walker for 10 minutes returning here at 10:00am. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to normal session at 10:00am. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Justin Meeks asked the commissioners to make a motion to allow Rob Harrington to start negotiations for acquisition or sale of real property. Any contracts would come before the commissioners in an open session. Clifton made a motion as stated by Counselor Meeks. Nelson seconded. All approved. Justin asked for executive session. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship including 3 commissioners, Susan Bancroft and Shane Walker for 5 minutes returning here at 10:08am. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to normal session with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy including 3 commissioners, Justin Meeks and Susan Bancroft for 7 minutes returning here at 10:16am. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to normal session in this room with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Susan Bancroft stated that securities are on track. Sales tax is down $15,000.00 this month but is still up $132,000.00 for the year. Everything else is coming in where it should be. I’m watching the Medical Building & EMS Services. EMS seems to be back on track to what it was in 2020. The sewer district is run through the monthly bills at the water dept at the city and they forward over to us. Our bond payment is due the middle of the year for principal. We don’t have enough cash flow in that fund to pay for it. I’ll have to pay for it out of the general fund and then move it back over.
Shane Walker – CIO: Cost estimates for the parking lot is between $75,000 and $90,000 from two different contractors that Ag Engineering contacted. They are going to tear everything out and build a whole new drainage. The city will come back in after we’re done and re-index all the bricks and fix the hole which is due to drains that was covered by asphalt. Nelson asked how long it will take. Shane said he thought several weeks. Susan said the money will come from the sales tax fund. Clifton made a motion to allow Shane to go out for bid on the parking lot on the north side. Nelson seconded. All approved. Shane stated David Lee from Nuwave is an Allen County Commissioner and they are working on a grant called the Middle Mile Grant for fiber expansion. They are going to get fiber in the ground all the way out to Mildred. He wants to apply for the grant here and we would have to be the sponsor because it’s a county private thing to get ground-based fiber out to Hidden Valley Lake.
Public Comment: Clint Walker thanked Shane. Devon and Mapleton need high-speed internet. Clint stated regarding the annexation for Mapleton that you need to be careful what you wish for. Clint stated he is glad we are going for grants to get things done.
Commissioner Comment: No Comment
Clifton made a motion to allow the commissioners to attend the REDI Visioning session at the River Room. No county business will be conducted. Nelson seconded. All approved.
At 10:31am, Clifton made a motion to adjourn. Nelson seconded. All approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Jim Harris, Chairman
(ss) Nelson Blythe, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk
August 30, 2022, Approved Date