By JACKIE TAYLOR | August 17, 2022

Commissioner Jim Johnson was unable to attend Monday’s meeting, so Commissioners Danny McCullough and Rick James approved bills in the amount of $424,958.60. Also approved was a pay request from River City Construction for $55,313.13; they are 99.65 percent complete with the Justice Center project.

Sheriff Kevin Friend’s report showed 23 prisoners in-house and zero farmed out. The commissioners mentioned Friend received a contract from Wyandotte County to house their prisoners that he is reviewing.

Linn County District Court has moved to the Justice Center but court will still be held in the old courtroom for this week.

County Clerk David Lamb said the Kansas Association of Counties meeting is Oct. 17 – 19 and the commissioners need to assign voting delegates for issues with KCAMP and KWORK.

Fire Chief/Emergency Manager Randy Hegwald reported 13 incidents week-to-date and 340 year-to-date.

He said they are cleaning around his office and various stations and received permission to surplus old, unusable items. Anything that may be good can go to other county offices.

Hegwald said that auto-aid mutual aid agreements need to be renewed as they have been expired since 2018.

The commissioners approved Joshua Marshall and Jimmy Watts as probationary firefighters on Pleasanton’s Station 920 crew. Also approved was Farrah Bogan for the Prescott station.

Emergency Management deputy Linda Simons received a raise to $17.88 per hour after completing her Emergency Management certification.

Hegwald also told the commissioners that Prescott would like to proceed with a welcome to Prescott sign that they want to locate on the corner of the Prescott Fire Station lot. The commissioners asked for a rendition of the sign before approving the request; and, that the sign does not violate state law for right-of-way.

AMR Operations Manager Galen Anderson reported 19 transports week-to-date and 37 month-to-date. He also said they have hired a full-time EMT and one paramedic and should know about another full-time paramedic soon.

Anderson said that Paramedic Supervisor Jeff Boyd was nominated as a finalist for KEMSA Paramedic of the Year.

Planning and Zoning Administrator Darren Wilson was appointed as third canvasser for the vote canvass in the absence of Commissioner Jim Johnson. Lamb said that the deadline to file for recount on the Primary Election is Friday at 5 p.m. and they are expecting a recount for State Treasurer, at least in a few counties.

He said that someone was challenging the Constitutional Amendment vote but has yet to place part or all of the $229,334.35 cost to pay for the recount.

The commissioners scheduled a special meeting of the Board of Canvassers Friday morning at 8 a.m. to go over any recount totals.

Lamb said the county ended up with 98 provisional ballots with 53 “they should count,” 17 partially count with two voting with the wrong party, and 28 not to count as 25 of those were not registered to vote, two were registered in another county and one had no photo ID.

Public Works Administrator Shaun West was approved to purchase tires from Conlan Tire for $14,875.84 for eight grader tires and four ADR 22.5. Other bidders were Goodyear at $16,701.08, and Kansas Land for $19,374.28.

Pleasanton Airport fuel will go to $5.99 per gallon until a new part is installed in the pump that allows the county to display the charge of $6.25 per gallon.

Executive session for personnel was held for 20 minutes with no action taken.

The county’s comprehensive plan was discussed and will be considered for approval next week when a full commission is present.