November 16, 2020

Kiowa County Community Center

November 16, 2020

Ronald Freeman, John Bertram Bert Lowery, Kristi Cooper, Jay Schmidt, Kerri Ulrich, Jeff Blackburn, Ann Dixson and David White attended the meeting.

Consent agenda included: Agenda and commissioner minutes of 10/30.

After the prayer given by Jeff Blackburn, Ron opened the meeting at 9:00. Bert moved to approve the consent agenda and John seconded, motion carried 3-0.

Kerri Ulrich came for the Board of Health(BOH). Ron adjourned the meeting and called the BOH meeting to order. She came to give updates for COVID-19 update and department updates which included; Covid-19 case totals, hearing/vision checks completed for the 4 schools, 579 flu shots given, office schedules changed due to volume of case and contacts, isolation/quarantine letters being sent to every person they are notified of being tested or being a contact to a positive, new Kansas unified testing strategy regarding testing with one of the symptoms of Covid. Kerri requested an executive session for employee relations for 10 minutes. Bert moved to go into executive session for 10 minutes for employee relations at 9:21 and to include Dave White and the Clerk and John seconded, motion carried 3-0. Regular of BOH session began at 9:31 and Bert moved to go back into executive session for 10 more minutes at 9:32 and Ron seconded, motion carried 3-0. Regular session began at 9:42. Ron called adjourned the BOH meeting and called the regular meeting to order and Bert moved to approve to pay hazard-pay to the 4 employees in the health department till the end of the year at the rate of time and a half and John seconded, motion carried 3-0. This will go into effective today till December 31st.

Jay Schmidt came to give updates for the Public Works departments which included; payroll changes M Allsbury(merit), C Tuttle(department change), D Liggett(department change), Brenham blacktop project completed and shoulder work to start this week, hauling caliche and building the intersection and road up on G St. and 45th Ave, update on the Railroad crossing at 47th Ave. Ron moved to approve the payroll changes as presented and Bert seconded, motion carried 3-0.

Ann Dixson came to give updates on the MT Liggett Art project in Mullinville and informed them of what some of the upcoming events that will be held there. She asked for the Commissioners to show support to the project by submitting a support letter from the County that helps the 547 Art Center to apply for grants to assist with the project and asked if they would match the donation, they received to help fund the project. It was by consensus to have the County Clerk draw up a support letter but that they were not able to full fill her request for financial assistance and that they could make any decisions on giving funds until next during the budget workshop.

Kristi Cooper presented payroll change for K Charlton(merit) and R Tedder(position change) for approval. After review of the payroll changes Bert moved to approve it as presented and John seconded, motion carried 3-0

Jay Schmidt came back and presented an agreement with Kirkham & Michael for engineering services for Biennial bridge inspections for approval. The inspection fee is $97.50 for 73 bridges in the amount of $7117.50. After review of the inspection agreement, Bert moved to approve the agreement with Kirkham & Michael as presented and John seconded, motion carried 3-0.

Matt Christenson came to go present a review of the engineer report from PEC on the Courthouse. He reported that they were no safety concerns but to keep monitoring the settling of the foundation. Matt suggested we look at the existing cistron on the south side of the courthouse and determine if that is something that we need to keep or not. Matt is looking into eliminating that feature since it isn’t being utilized for the purpose it was put in for. It was by consensus to stop using it and to move forward to a solution in a way to deter water from the foundation in that area either. He will report back when he gets quotes on that.

Break was called for 5 minutes.

Matt continued with the presentation of a summary of funds from the Cares Act for distribution amounts that was given to local businesses. He went through the 17 applications and explained in detail in the amount of funds that were initially applied for and to the amount that was approved by the advisory board. The total amount that was applied for was $274,776.23 and $189,550.00 was paid out to the applicants.

During Commissioner discussion there was no topics discussed.

Meeting adjourned at 11.07

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