Minutes, June 1, 2010

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

June 1, 2010

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 1^st day of June 2010 at the Ellsworth County Courthouse. 

 

                                                            Members Present:

                                                            Albert W. Oller, 1^st District Commissioner

                                                            Kermit Rush, 2^nd District Commissioner

                                                            Terry L. Kueser, 3^rd District Commissioner

                                                           

                                                                                                                       

OPENING BUSINESS:

 

Chairman Rush called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Agenda as printed. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of May 17^th as printed and May 24^th with a correction.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

No one was present for the Public Forum.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Roger Masse, Ellsworth County Medical Center Administrator, presented the financial statements for the month of April showing a year-to-date loss of $469,631.  He officially informed the Commissioners that the Board had decided to put off any bond election at this time due to the economy and a getting a better definition of projects to be funded by a bond issue.  The 2011 budget was presented with a request of $152,768 from the county tax levy.  Mr. Masse projected a budget loss of $84,819 for 2011 but is hopeful that the budget this year is more reflective of the actual costs. The newly passed health reform bill will have some impact on the hospital, but it is too early to access that impact.  The Commissioners thanked Mr. Masse for the clear and concise budget format and explanation.

 

Commissioner Rush left the meeting at 9:40 a. m. to attend a funeral.

 

Sheriff Tracy Ploutz had some new security light installed on the outside of the building and asked if that cost could come out of the County Building Fund.  Commissioner Oller moved to allow $1,947 for the security lighting to be paid from the County Building Fund.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  Investigator, Mike Schoenhofer, was used to help clean out the evidence locker last week.  Sheriff Ploutz is still having some difficulty with the new burn resolution but will visit with Rice County Dispatch this week to help clear up that problem.

 

Commissioner Rush returned to the meeting at 10:30 a.m.

 

Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, did not attend the meeting.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Chairman Rush visited with the other Commissioners about a road in Langley Township.  The road in question is an open road; however, the renter of the property keeps putting up a fence across the road.  It has been taken down several times, but is put back.  It is a township matter but if it continues, the County Attorney could be asked to write a letter to the landowner.

 

The Clerk reported that Mid-Continent had looked at the front entrance granite that has cracked and they thought that a new piece of granite may have to be installed.  He is going to visit with the original architects of the building in Hutchinson and then get back to us.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the May payroll in the amount of $174,414.75.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m.

 

 

________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk