March 21, 2022

Kiowa County Commissioners Meeting
March 21, 2022

David White, Bert Lowery, John Bertram, Kristi Cooper, Chay Howard, Jay Schmidt, Kerri Ulrich, Jes Pfannenstiel, Harvey Felzke, Michael Rainger, Kendal Lothman, Julie Lyon and Stacy Weaver attended the meeting.

Consent agenda included: Agenda, Payroll report, Accounts Payable reports, and Commissioner minutes of 2/28/2022.

Prior to the meeting, prayer was received by Stacy Weaver. 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 Board of Health meeting session. David adjourned the Commissioner meeting at 9:00 and called the Board of Health meeting to order. She reported she has turned in 8 grants and they have been submitted, office will be closed March 28th through the 31st for training in Topeka, preparations of the health fair are ongoing, generator issues, reminded them that the community center is a temporary shelter for residents when power outages occur and actual administered vaccine totals reported. David adjourned the BOH meeting and called the regular meeting to order at 9:12.

Jay Schmidt came to give update for public works which included the following. He reported they received the new track loader at the landfill last week. They revisited the discussion of salvaging and reuse at the landfill and they informed they would have to make several changes for this to be allowed and after some discussion it was by consensus, they will leave the plan as it is at the landfill and not allow any salvaging. They continued the discussion on the resolution that were presented at the last meeting from Chay. After some discussion John moved to adopt resolution 2022-9 regarding enacting regulations for the excavation of section corner monuments within the county’s right of way and 2022-10 regarding enacting regulations for the use of the county’s right of ways and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. David asked about recycling containers for county residents and Jay explained why they choose to go away from them several years ago, but he will look into the prices and suggests it could be placed at the landfill and report back.

Jes Pfannenstiel with Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties (K-WORCC) came to give a presentation for workers compensation insurance and Harvey Felzke with KCAMP also came to give a presentation regarding business and personal property insurance coverages that they offer and informed them other services they offer as in training for our employees that could result in less claims in the future. They will get with Kristi and start compiling the information for a quote to be presented next month.

Kendal Lothman came to present a separation payroll change for K White for approval. After review Bert moved to approve the change as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next Kendal reported that he has signed the contracts with Verizon and X911 last week and they are running a test phase right now before they go live.

Break called till 10:36

Michael Rainger came to talk to them more regarding his services in energy savings and how he is working with companies on conserving energy for overall savings.

Kristi Cooper wanted to revisit the discussion that was tabled at the last meeting regarding budget requests. She explained that yearly they allow the departments to figure a 3% merit raise in their budget request for the pay plan we have for merit raises but asked if they would consider allowing them to figure a cost of living increase this year since they gave one at the beginning of the year and that wasn’t budgeted in their requests for 2022. After some discussion it was by consensus to allow departments to figure in a 5% COLA increase in their 2023 budget requests. Next, she presented a personal property tax correction for their approval. After review Bert moved to approve the correction as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Last she presented payroll and accounts payable reports and minutes from February 28th for signatures.

Julie Lyon came to inform them that she is working on multiple project grants such as a $21,000 grant for the round barn for painting and looking into a new sign as well. She also reported she has been helping the City of Haviland with a BASE grant for wastewater treatment plant improvements and grants to be used on housing needs within the county as well. Last she requested $21,000 for the startup daycares she is helping with in Haviland and Mullinville and reported her goal is to have 5 new daycares countywide. They requested Matt to look into where the funds could be paid out of and report back at the next meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 11:54