November 15, 2021

Kiowa County Commissioners Meeting
November 15, 2021

John Bertram, David White, Bert Lowery, Chay Howard, Kristi Cooper, Jay Schmidt, Kerri Ulrich, Rhonda Fernandez, Kendal Lothman, Karen Butler and Jeff Blackburn attended the meeting.

Consent agenda included: Agenda, Payroll reports, Accounts Payable reports and Commissioner minutes of 12/6/21.

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

John adjourned the regular meeting and called the Board of Health(BOH) meeting to session. Kerri Ulrich came to give updates for Public Health which included training exercises, discussion jail nursing agreement with Sheriff office, health fair preparation starting in January, COVID-19 case totals and vaccine totals and working on a document regarding school quarantines guidelines with the school and medical director . John adjourned the BOH and called the regular meeting back to order. David requested a 10-minute executive session for non-elected personal to discuss personal matters regarding the health department at 9:27 and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously. Regular session began at 9:37 with no action taken.

Norval Ralstin came to talk with the Commissioner’s regarding the roof at the round barn south of Mullinville. He is requesting them to help with the expense to replace the roof. They have gotten a bid in the amount of $54,000 to put a tin roof on the building and that they did get approval to change the type of roof with the historical society. David informed him that they would discuss this and see if they could help them.

Jay Schmidt came and presented updates for the Public Works Department which included; concrete projects on 5th Ave is completed, engineers will be out to inspect the intersections north of Haviland regarding the signs, local safety plan discussed regard paining edge lines on the blacktops, install cattle guards on Belvidere road next week, received 2 JD tractors last week, track loader at the landfill final drive needs repairs and a rebuild on a 953C.

Matt Christenson came to request to transfer $7476.91 for IT equipment support agreement building control software into a Special Equipment fund and additional $5000 for workstations. Bert moved to allow $12,476.91 and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. Next he presented a quote from BCS for support agreement for control $ Bert moved to approve the expense of 4010 and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

He requested to revisit the COLA discussion from last meeting. After much discussion David moved to approve a 4% COLA increase for 2022 and John seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Chay Howard presented a resolution 2021-10 which elects Kiowa County to participate in the National Opioid Settlement. After some discussion it was by consensus for us to register as a subdivision to receive settlement paperwork and to have him be the authorized person for Kiowa County. John moved to adopt the resolution presented and Bert seconded, motion passed unanimously.

Break called till 11:52

Rhonda Fernandez came to give claim updates on how claims are sitting for BCBS.

Kristi Cooper presented tax corrections for approval, After review of the corrections Bert moved to approve them as presented and John seconded, motion passed unanimously. She asked if they would allow the courthouse and facilities could close on December 23 at noon and it was by consensus to close at noon.

During Commissioner discussion they discussed the round barn assistance, on call pay with the sheriff office,

Meeting adjourned at 11:41