June 21, 2021

June 21, 2021

John Bertram, David White, Bert Lowery, Kristi Cooper, Chay Howard, Jay Schmidt, Kerri Ulrich, Kendal Lothman, Grant Neuhold, Andy Kimble, Aaron Stokes, Steve Heft, Aaron Heft, Jeff Blackburn, Richard McVey, Jonathan Clayton and Matt Christenson attended the meeting.

Consent agenda included: Agenda, Payroll reports, Accounts Payable reports and Commissioner minutes of 06/07/2021.

After the prayer given by Jeff Blackburn, John Bertram opened the meeting at 9:00. John moved to approve the consent agenda with the corrections to the agenda as presented and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously.

John Bertram moved to adjourn the regular meeting and call the Board of health(BOH) meeting to session. Kerri Ulrich came to give updates for Public Health which included; school nursing contracts, outbreak of a virus at Tanginika Water Park, grant works, lawn updates, furniture updates to allow cleanable surfaces, COVID-19 totals, currently no cases, new COVID-19 variants information, countywide percentage vaccination rate 34.8%, State of Emergency order expired. John adjourned the BOH meeting and called the regular meeting to order. She introduced proposals on a new sign to be placed on the west side of the building from RaRa ink creative in several quotes and sizes. After some discussion John moved to approve the quote in the amount of $3258.35 and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next, Kerri presented a social media policy for Kiowa County per KDHE for their department. After review of the policy David moved to approve the policy as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Also presented the County animal bite policy that is shared between all the entities within the county. John moved to accept the update policy and David seconded, motion passed unanimously. Additionally, she presented a bid for sidewalk work at the health department. John opened the bid from Pueblo Concrete in the amount of $7012.50. John moved to approve the bid as presented and David seconded, motion passed 2-0 (Bert sustained). Lastly, she presented quotes on 2020 Explorer from Lewis Motors in Dodge City. After review of the quote from Lewis Motors Bert moved to accept the quote and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Jay Schmidt came and presented updates for the Public Works Department which included road work bids from Heft & Sons for 3 projects for Northern Natural Chip Seal $232,320, North City Service overlay $464,000 and Brenham blacktop $79,200. Bert moved to approve all 3 project bids from Heft and Sons and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next, he presented a payroll change for R Foster(merit) for approval. After review of the payroll change Bert moved to approve the change and David seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Grant Neuhold came to give a presentation on the media center and give a breakdown on what he does as the Technical coordinator for the Media Center which included; streaming events, technical support, marketing for business, providing video support, capturing Kiowa County history through our residents video series, live coverage of community events, KC feature that features our County through video, Live Kiowa County website marketing our County.

Break called till 10:24.

Matt Christenson, City of Greensburg Mayor, Andy Kimble, City of Mullinville Mayor and Aaron Stokes, City of Haviland Mayor, came to represent the 3 communities through the County and to give a presentation on their communities and how they can get Kiowa County on the virtual map and how to get families to move to Kiowa County. They did request $15,000 from the County to get the project up and running and ask for additional support in next year. David moved to approve the pay $15,000 to the Economic Development for the video and marketing and that it will be taken out of the County Commissioners fund and John seconded, motion passed 2-0(Bert abstained).

Kendal Lothman came to present quote from Skaggs Ace Hardware in Pratt for a washer in the amount of $1129.99 and requests for it to come out of the Special Equipment fund. Bert moved to approve the purchase to be taken out to the special equipment fund and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next, he presented a quote from Secure Tech Systems for a panic monitoring alarm in the amount of $19,074 and to be shared between the County Diversion fund and Special Law fund. Wanted to inform them that he updated their vehicle and body camera through Watchguard in the amount of $17,000 approximately and will be paid out of the Special Law fund as well. Last they discussed how they need work on getting wages increased over in his department to help entice individuals to apply with his department. He is working with Matt and will be reporting back on some ideas.

Break called till 11:32.

Kristi Cooper presented a payroll change for J Finch(merit) for approval. After review of the payroll change John moved to approve the payroll change and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. Then Kristi informed the Commissioners that she would like to take a short recess so they could go look at the front steps of the Courthouse and then they would come back to discuss.

Break called till 11:43

After looking at the front steps Kristi informed them of what she has observed and that the steps out front are deteriorating which is a safety liability for the county and patrons. So, she informed them as of today those steps would be closed to any access until they come to a solution on them. She did inform them that in 2015 they contracted pueblo concrete to put a skim coat of a concrete adhesive on them but that didn’t last due to weather. So, they discussed some options on she will work on getting bids and report back. Next, she presented a library board member appointment letter from Kelly Askew to appoint Staci Derstein to the board for a 4 year term. David moved to approve the appointment and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next, she asked about the elected official salaries for 2021 and 2022 and explained that they could look at giving them the increase while setting the 2022 budget per the auditor’s recommendations. Commissioners came to a consensus on setting salaries for elected officials for the next year and Kristi will get those numbers to the auditors before our budget workshop on Monday. And she will get payroll changes ready for the next meeting for the 3% merit increase for the elected officials, DJ McMurry and Ray Stegman. Break called 11:48.

During Commissioner discussion David requested to continue the discussion on the fire chief salary. After some discussion Bert moved to approve to pay Cody Sherer $2500 for assistant fire chief as the same of the other two and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Last David wanted to open the conversation of a County wide daycare and the need we need here and that hopefully we can grab some interest of others.

Meeting adjourned at 12:46.

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