February 22, 2022

Kiowa County Commissioners Meeting
February 22, 2022

David White, Bert Lowery, John Bertram, Kristi Cooper, Chay Howard, Kerri Ulrich, Jay Schmidt, Kari Kyle, Stacy Barnes, Kendal Lothman, Gene Yohn, Michael Granger and Stacy Weaver attended the meeting.

Consent agenda included: Agenda, Payroll report, Accounts Payable reports, and Commissioner minutes of 2/7/2022.

After prayer given by Stacy Weaver and the pledge of allegiance, David White opened the meeting at 9:00. Bert moved to approve the consent agenda as presented John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

David adjourned the regular meeting at 9:02 and called the Board of Health(BOH) meeting to order. Kerri Ulrich came to give updates for public health which included the office will be closed from March 29th -31st for state conference in Topeka, lot purchase is on hold at this time, drive up window project still is pending, health fair preparations beginning, continuing to work on family planning grants that are coming due soon, will be receiving reimbursement of testing supplies from the state, received home testing kits for the public and vaccines still being dispersed. David adjourned the BOH at 9:15 and called the regular meeting to order. Next, she presented a merit payroll change for J Steyn. Bert moved to approve the payroll change as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Chay Howard presented resolution 2022-6 for approval with changes as presented and he explained after resolution 2022-5 was adopted at the last meeting he was informed that there were some changes that need to be addressed and changed. After reviewing the changes, John moved to adopt resolution 2022-6 and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next, he asked to continue the discussion regarding fees assessed to use of county right aways and included Jay in the discussion. Chay will make the changes as directed by Jay and the commissioners and will present a new resolution. Jay also wanted to discuss the application to excavate for section corner monuments within road right of ways because he felt the fee under section 6, regarding the fee assessed for the hourly rate for the use of county backhoe was below the FEMA rate and suggested that it needed to be raised. After some discussion John moved to change the fee from $34 to $80 per hour for use of county backhoe, motion died due to no second. Jay did mention that he has received an application from MKEC with the current fees and just wanted to get those fees updated. Chay suggested they would need to look into how the fees were set He informed them that he would like to create a resolution to set the fees for the application of excavation for section corner monuments with road right of ways.

Jay Schmidt came and presented updates for the Public Works Department which included CDL drivers, attended the miner safety refresher course hosted by Heft and Sons, major tree trimming and tree removal on the Sun City Road, Wilmore Road, Soldier Creek Cemetery Road, Thompson Creek Road and around Belvidere, starting to build up M St. west of 183 this week, some excavation work for MKEC engineering on 29th Ave through 25th Ave for locating survey markers this week.

Break called till 10:01

Kari Kyle came to request them to reappoint Jane Case and Farrel Allison as board members to the Kiowa County Council on Aging board. Bert moved to reappoint the members and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next Kristi presented a funding letter from SWKAAA (Southwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging) in the amount of $1200 and explained that since 2012 they have funded them $700 and asks them to increase the funding and then she asked Kari to explain what the program is for and how our funding helps our local center. After some discussion Bert moved to approve the full funding requested by SWKAAA in the amount of $1200 and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Kendal Lothman presented a termination payroll change for C Vergis. Bert moved to approve the payroll change as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next, he asked if they would be open to getting a quote from KCAMP for our business and personal property insurance and explain the benefits they can provide for the Sheriff’s office. Lothman explained how his experience from a previous employer. After some discussion it was by consensus to move forward with receiving a quote from KCAMP as our renewal is coming up in May.

Stacy Barnes presented a letter of support for the City of Greensburg for BASE grant application for development at the Greensburg business park. Bert moved to sign the letter of support and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Kristi Cooper presented resolution 2022-7 for appointing a voting member of the South-Central region homeland security council for Kiowa County in Rays absence. After review, John moved to adopt resolution 2022-7 as presented and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next presented were tax roll corrections for gas and real estate. John moved to approve the corrections as presented and David seconded, motion passed unanimously. Also, she presented the February 7th minutes, payroll reports and accounts payable reports for signatures.

Gene Yohn came as a private citizen came to talk to them regarding an old and ongoing criminal investigation and Michael Granger also came to let them know that he was back in the community and that he will be coming back at a later date with some information to share with them regarding energy conservation.

Meeting adjourned at 10:53.