April 18, 2022

Kiowa County Commissioners Meeting
April 18, 2022

David White, Bert Lowery, John Bertram, Kristi Cooper, Chay Howard, Jay Schmidt, Kerri Ulrich, Jes Pfannenstiel, Harvey Felzke, Kendal Lothman, Victoria Yohn, J.L Spurgeon, Clayton Fischer, Kelly Askew, Staci Derstein, Tracey Barton(via phone), Julie Lyons, Jennifer Kooken, Curtis Zerr and Matt Christenson attended the meeting.

Consent agenda included: Agenda, Payroll report, Accounts Payable reports, and Commissioner minutes of 4/4/2022.

Prior to the meeting, the pledge of allegiance was recited. David White opened the meeting at 9:00. Bert moved to approve the consent agenda as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Kerri Ulrich came to request a session for Board of Health. David adjourned the Commissioner meeting at 9:02 and called the Board of Health meeting to order. She reported they attended the annual conference in Topeka last week, Health Fair April 23rd, kindergarten round up beginning and a grant was received to help purchase bikes for the Safe Kids program. David adjourned the Board of health and called the regular meeting to order at 9:09.

Jay Schmidt came to give updates for Public Works which included, approval to purchase a batwing mower at a local auction today and he has received bids up to $24,000 so he will see how much it goes and go from there. It It was by consensus to allow him to purchase if the price is fair. David asked about the recycling container for glass and plastic and Jay informed it would be $40 a month per container and it was by consensus to allow the recycle dumpster to be placed at the landfill with the cardboard container. Next Chay discussed the track loader lease briefly. Jay then requested an executive session for 5 minutes for non-elected personal regarding employee relations. David moved to go into executive session at 9:16 and Bert seconded, motion carried unanimously. Regular session began at 9:21 and Jay Schmidt presented demotion payroll change for approval. Bert moved to approve the payroll change as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Jes Pfannenstiel with Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties (K-WORCC) came to present a prorated quote for 8 months in the amount of $26,626 and $39,939 for a yearly premium. Harvey Felzke with KCAMP presented a prorated quote for 8 months in the amount of $128,576 and $191,558 for a yearly premium and explained the breakdown of coverage comparable to EMC.

Kendal Lothman came to present a separation payroll change for C McElroy for approval. After review John moved to approve the change as presented and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Break called till 9:55

Victoria Yohn came with Clayton Fischer and J.L Spurgeon to present the 2023 Conservation District budget request in the amount of $15,000that they have requested for several years and gave some updates on their programs.

Kristi Cooper presented minutes of April 4th, payroll reports and accounts payroll reports for signatures. Also, she informed them per Theron McKinney that they had appointed Evan Jacks as the new captain for Haviland.

Kelly Askew and Staci Derstein came to discuss the projected library budget request which would include an insurance stipend for their employees. They explained the increase of $9600 which would allow $400 monthly stipend for the 2 full-time employees. They will look at this during the budget workshop in June.

Tracy Barton called to continue the discussion regarding to the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition (KNRC) Rails to Trails program. She requests them to adopt Resolution 2022-11 for the Rails to Trails program for local government by the KNRC and this gives a 3-year commitment to them as they moved forward with the project. After some discussion and clarification, it was tabled.

Julie Lyon came to give updates with Economic Development which included, cheese factory being built in Ford County, dairy farms growth, daycare updates.

Jennifer Kooken with Homestead Insurance and Curtis Zerr came to give an insurance quote from Homestead Insurance and explained that their carrier EMC only allows one quote per year so they would be the same as Banco Insurance quote from the previous meeting. Curtis explained how they could assist in reducing the premium in the next few years. Bert informed they would make a decision hopefully during Commissioner discussion if they would like to wait around.

Matt Christenson came to give some updates for the ARPA funds report.

Break called for 10 minutes at 11:55

During Commissioner discussion they continued the discussion regarding the three insurance quotes from EMC with Banco, KCAMP, KWORCC and EMC with Homestead Insurance. After comparing the quotes with the significance of $116,000 between them. John moved to adopt resolution 2022-11 and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 12:09