BARBARA PROFFITT | April 26, 2023

By BARBARA PROFFITT

Linn County News

linncountynewsreporter@gmail.com

The Linn County Commissioners began their meeting on Monday, April 24, with the approval of the minutes of the last meeting followed by approval of claims in the amount of $420,780.

Linn County Attorney Burton Harding spoke with commissioners regarding staffing issues reporting that Justin Meeks is willing to resign his current position in Bourbon County in order to take on more duties in Linn County if the county could raise his pay. Harding noted he had looked at several attorneys and had landed on a solution through which he and Meeks would be splitting the duties at that point and asked commissioners to take the $50,000 they had said he could use to hire another part-time attorney and split it between the two of them. Harding requested $42,000 of the money promised be added to Meeks and the other $8,000 to his salary and that avoids the need to add another person on the benefits side. He added that Meeks’ current salary is $48,000. He added the increases would still leave Linn County paying less for attorneys than either of the other two counties in the judicial district. County Counselor Gary Thompson noted a new contract will be needed and commissioners agreed to enact it as of May 1. Thompson will draft a new contract for the next meeting.

Commissioners approved an amendment for the agreement with AMR that allows Linn County to be grouped with Allen County as AMR takes over ambulance service there and allows for an ambulance to go there or come here if either county goes status zero, meaning all of the ambulances stationed in that county are out of county on transports. 

Linn County Sheriff Kevin Friend reported on current numbers for his department and noted that Sgt. Klayton Parscale had taught a two-day class for 27 employees at the jail last week on CPR/Stop the Bleed.

County Counselor Gary Thompson noted a new and final change order had come in on the Justice Center, number 19, which amounts to $46,924 that comes back to the county and is no longer set aside for contingencies. Commissioners accepted the change order.

Linn County Rural Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Randy Hegwald reported on weekly incidents his department handled and requested permission to hire Guy Kinder for station 930 in Centerville. Commissioners approved the hire contingent on him passing his physical.

Linn County Health Department Director Amanda Snyder reported on activities with her department and requested an executive session of 10 minutes for personnel matters.

Linn County Economic Development Administrator Jessica Hightower reported that 10 employers had been selected to receive the youth employment grant.

EDA Hightower also reported that the first daycare grant had been awarded to Jennifer Johnson of Pleasanton who used the funds for a covered sandbox and a class and has already turned in all of her receipts.

Shawn West, Public Works Administrator, presented culvert bids, noting that some are for plastic on the smaller sizes and asked commissioners to open the bids and return them to him for qualification. Commissioners noted five bids received and asked West to qualify them.

Discussions with West then turned to the landfill repairs and remodeling with West noting he had new estimates on the tipping floor repairs and on the construction of a new roll-off for the compactor sites. (See related article in this edition)

Commissioners then heard from Johnny Taylor regarding the cost share program for noxious weeds with Taylor noting the rules set up for the program. Commissioners approved resolution 2023-20 for the program cap at $30,000 and McCullough asked that the rules be posted on the county website and Taylor stated they are working on that.

Commissioners entered into an executive session with Snyder for personnel matters for 10 minutes. No action was taken following the executive session. 

Max Murray with GFL Environmental, the parent company of Waste Management, spoke to the commissioners regarding their contract for their landfill at Arcadia with Murray noting that in the past, corporate had overcharged the county so the company is currently offering a credit on the current contract for services at the landfill. Murray stated that because of a letter he received from the county counselor he had discovered corporate had begun adding fees that were not part of the fixed contract with the county. Murray proposed a $2,000 per month credit until the total overcharge of nearly $24,000 is recouped by the county. Commissioner Hightower asked if their corporate is aware of the agreement or if they will continue adding the fees. Thompson explained that the proposal is to continue with the contract they currently have until it runs out in 2025. Commissioners stated they would discuss it and noted their appreciation of GFL looking into it. After GFL representatives left, Hightower noted Pfefferkorn had estimated a $54,000 annual savings by switching to Allen County. Commissioners stated they would discuss it further at next week’s meeting.

West then stated he needed a 15-minute executive session for land acquisition and five minutes for personnel matters. Commissioners moved to enter into a 20-minute executive session. 

Following that executive session McCullough moved to purchase the Memaw’s building, 602 Main Street, in Pleasanton for the negotiated cost of $73,000 along with closing costs and fees. Hightower seconded the motion and it carried on a 2-1 vote with Johnson voting against. Commissioners then moved to start the process to accept sealed bids on the sale of property that currently houses the Pleasanton Senior Meals site while reserving the right to reject all bids. That motion carried on a 3-0 vote. 

Commissioners discussed building codes briefly with Darin Wilson who requested some directives from commissioners. Wilson noted it would cost approximately $400 for him to take the online test and classes for inspections. Following that discussion, the commissioners tasked Thompson with drafting a resolution for final inspections on all building permits to ensure that what the permit was issued for is what was built.