June 22, 2021 Tuesday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners, the County Counselor and the County Clerk present.
Also present were the following: (some were present for a portion of the meeting and some were present for the entire meeting), Mark McCoy, Susan Bancroft, Mr. & Mrs. Clint Walker, Michael Hoyt, Economic Development Director Rob Herrington, Anne Dare, Bill Martin, Ben Cole and Bobby Reed.
Clifton made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 15th meeting, Jim seconded and all approved and signed the minutes.
Lynne made a motion to approve culvert permits for Larry Snyder at 150th & Wagon Road and for Galen Love at 1686 Express Road, Jim seconded and all approved.
Dustin Hall with Road & Bridge said they are asphalting near Eagle Road and will then go back to Arrowhead and will then put 2” of overlay on all of it. They are cutting the shoulder on Locust Road and are still fixing storm damage and are mowing at the Landfill and clearing the overburden at the Blake Quarry.
Jim Harris said he had talked to Charley Bowers with KDHE; he said the soybean disposal was approved in 2018, Jim said they needed to put berms around the compost there.
Lynne asked Dustin to make sure that they mow the corners on all of the school bus routes.
Don George with KDWP met with the Commissioners regarding the grant the County applied for to do maintenance at the Elm Creek Lake; he said the grant is being considered and said they should know by the end of July if the County would get the grant. He asked if the County didn’t get the grant if they were going to initiate the work anyway; Lynne said yes they planned to dig a trench and pack it full of clay. Don asked that they keep him updated on this so that KDWP can be prepared to help.
The Bourbon County Soil Conservation District met with the Commissioners to present their 2022 budget request; they requested $40,000. The Soil Conservation District provides many services around the County. Lynne thanked them for their help regarding drainage requests that the County has received.
Lynne announced that the Commissioners had agreed to set up an advisory board regarding County insurance, which will start in July and said insurance companies presenting data will likely do another presentation at that time to the board.
Randy Lueckenotte and Cassie Laemmli with Wallstreet Group as well as Libby Henry with Pareto Health met with the Commissioners regarding the County provided health insurance benefits; Wallstreet Group is a broker service for a partially self funded program that can help with insurance as well as HR issues, they can help employees with enrollment. Wallstreet can provide an “analysis of the current ancillary benefits to evaluate the most competitive insurance carrier and best in-class benefits, including ancillary benefits such as dental, vision, life, disability, voluntary, and worksite benefits.” Pareto is a reinsurance carrier; Libby estimated that with the current State Health insurance and the projected, estimated yearly increase would cost the County $17,456,481 for 10 years, she estimated (based on the current data) that the County could save $3,088,653 in 10 years if the County were to select them.
Representatives from Assured Partners met with the Commissioners; they are a broker that can review options in order to help the County decide if they should stay with the State Health insurance or select a different insurance. They can help with HR issues and help employees with the enrollment process for all health and voluntary benefits.
Susan Bancroft will be in contact with the insurance brokers.
Lynne made a motion to approve the 2021 fireworks permit for Cathy Ramirez at 840 N. Main, Mapleton, Jim seconded and all approved.
Kendell Mason presented the annual statements to the Commissioners for their approval; Susan Bancroft said she had reviewed the tax revenue on the annual statements, Jim made a motion to approve the annual statements, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Representatives from Renodry met with the Commissioners and David Neville; they offered to do a free inspection of the Courthouse basement to check for water damage. The Commissioners asked that they provide David Neville with a report of their findings and that David share this information with the Commissioners.
Emergency Manager William Wallis met with the Commissioners regarding termination of the County declaration resolution 11-21. Jim made a motion to terminate Resolution 11-21 (the extreme cold weather declaration), Lynne seconded and all approved.
County Appraiser Clint Anderson met with the Commissioners to present his 2022 budget request; he requested $290,550.
Bobby Reed presented the 2022 Correction Center budget; he requested $285,000 for contractual, $278,400 for commodities, and for wages he presented the following options: $630,583.76, $679,667 ($1/hour raise), $703,819 ($1.50/hour raise), $728,971 ($2.00/hour raise), $778,276 ($3.00/hour raise). Jim Harris questioned what they needed to do to do away with the overtime; Bobby said they would have to retain people.
Bill Martin presented the 2022 Sheriff’s budget; he requested to change his part time office staff to a full time position. He requested $127,455 for contractual, $125,496 for commodities, $363,250 for capital outlay and presented the following options for wages; $714,931, or a 6.5% increase or a 10% increase. Jim questioned him on his overtime; Bill said his is primarily due to regular operations, manpower and coverage for vacation time off.
County Counselor Justin Meeks met with the Commissioners; he said he has been working on a petition issue regarding recalling the 1% sales tax and said he has a meeting scheduled with Mr. Farmer at the City of Fort Scott on Thursday regarding this issue. Justin said he is getting the publication ready for the tax sale and said the first tax sale will be held late August or the first part of September.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-minute executive session regarding KSA 75-4319(b) (1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy, they will be discussing 3 individuals (1 for job duties and 2 for job performances), the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 11:04, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). Clifton made a motion to resume their normal session at 11:04, Jim seconded and all approved. Clifton made a motion to allow Chairman Oharah to enter into talks with a current employee about their future employment, Jim seconded and all approved.
Jim made a motion to have a memo of understanding for an I/T support technician for shared services with the City of Fort Scott and to allow Chairman Oharah to negotiate the contract with a current employee we have here, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Justin Meeks presented a draft lease agreement (which he said the City Attorney had reviewed) for the Fort Scott City administrative team to relocate to this building (Courthouse) for $1,000/month and the water and sewer fees would be waived for 210 S. National, they would move into the vacant spaces on the 1st & 2nd floor and possibly moving some spaces that are currently here, Lynne said they have had tours of the building. Jim made a motion to allow Chairman Oharah to visit and to sign the lease agreement between the City and County to use the space if the agreement is approved, Clifton seconded, Lynne and Jim voted to approve and Clifton abstained from the vote. Lynne said this is not consolidation and said this would put $7,000-$8,000 back into the County coffers. He said they are utilizing space and said these will still be separate entities.
Justin Meeks presented the 2022 County Counselor’s budget; he requested $78,000.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 10-minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 11:20, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin Meeks). At 11:20, Clifton made a motion to resume the regular session with no action, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 30-minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 11:52, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Rob Herrington and Susan Bancroft). At 11:52, Clifton made a motion to resume the regular meeting, Jim seconded and all approved. Justin asked that the Commissioners schedule a special meeting on 6/25 to discuss the following: the donation of the Mercy Hospital to the County Commission, the contractual service between Mercy and the different providers for the facility and to discuss an agreement between the Commission and a healthcare provider for a possible feasibility study. Clifton made a motion to have a special meeting on 6/25/2021 at 10:00 am; Jim seconded and all approved. Justin said he may need an executive session as well at that meeting.
Susan Bancroft met with the Commissioners. Bourbon County is being audited on the 2015 jail bonds by the IRS; Clifton made a motion to hire Gilmore Bell to assist with this audit, Jim seconded and all approved.
Jim made a motion to donate $2,000 to the Kansas Road Trip to help with tourism, (this will be coming through this area in 2022), Clifton seconded and all approved.
Susan reported that Bourbon County received $1.4 million for ARPA funding; she said it can mainly be used for broadband or healthcare.
The Commissioners plan to have a town hall meeting on June 28; Susan said the Empress Event Center is not available that date, she is waiting to see if FSCC will allow the meeting there, and if not will check with the River Room.
Public Comment: Brent Smith said he had previously talked to Jim Harris, JT Heckman, Eric Bailey and the Commission about 115-120th & Jayhawk regarding a plugged culvert, he said when it rains the road floods; Lynne said this is on the list to be fixed. Brent reported an area that is washed out on 115th between Jayhawk & Indian Road. Michael Hoyt said he would like to thank the Sheriff for providing his budget and for his cooperation regarding the advisory board; Michael said approximately 30 people had expressed an interest in the advisory board.
Commissioner Comment: there were no Commission comments.
At 12:02, Jim made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
June 29, 2021, Approved Date