By JACKIE TAYLOR | July 20, 2022

The commissioners opened Monday’s meeting with a prayer from Pastor Jeff Fulk; after which they approved bills in the amount of $415,720.05.

They also approved ads and abates on tax issues that came out increasing taxes by $237.06.

Sheriff Kevin Friend sent his inmate report that showed 18 total prisoners with 16 in-house and two farmed out. They are still waiting for the Kansas Fire Marshall’s notice that occupancy is approved for the new Justice Center.

Friend reported approximately 500 people went to the open house for the Justice Center that was held last Friday and Saturday; three hundred toured Friday and 200 people Saturday.

AMR Supervisor Paramedic Louis Aloi reported they have been able to hire a paramedic after AMR elected to pay for paramedic training. They were down two paramedics and an EMT.

They are finding new ways to recruit employees and paying for schooling is one of them.

Fire Chief Randy Hegwald was approved to hire two firefighters, Bobby and Katie England, for Station 920. Both will be probationary firefighters and were on the department, but had to quit when they moved. They since moved back and have volunteered to go back on the Pleasanton station.

South Road Foreman Mike Nation was approved to use the county roller and blade at the fair. County Counselor Gary Thompson said since it’s for a public purpose it would be fine. Nation will run the blade for the fair.

Public Works Administrator Shaun West said CDL training is set for the county. Those who want to be trained so they can get a commercial driver’s license can do the course at their own pace.

He said the meeting concerning a culvert that was taken out on Stateline went well; the Noxious Weed Department continues to spray weeds on hard surface roadways, plus follow the mowers; a Public Hearing for the Comp Plan is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. at the Commissioner’s Annex.

Change order #19 for the Justice Center was approved for $75,855.64. Commissioner Danny McCullough said it was commendable that a project the size of the Justice Center only having 19 change orders, at this time, is very unusual. He said many times, that is a much higher number.

A 10-minute executive session for non-elected personnel was held with no action taken.

Botkin Road north of K-31 is closed for a box culvert replacement for the next 60 days.

County Clerk David Lamb said he spent more time this weekend, following a special meeting on the budget Friday, and said he picked up some tax revenue from delinquent taxes. He also adjusted fuel sales at the airport to match closer to what is being bought helping with numbers – all to get the county below the revenue neutral level.

He said with the current desire to give employees a five-percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that would take the county over revenue neutral by $170,000 to $171,000. He said he could reduce reserve funds to be at the revenue neutral amount.

Lamb continued that the Rural Fire Budget was a few dollars short of meeting revenue neutral, with no COL increase, so he said Hegwald’s salary that is split between Rural Fire and Emergency Management (EM) could be moved more on the EM side that is taken out of the county’s general fund.

He said if they publish the budget next week, the county could hold a public hearing on Aug. 8.