Minutes, March 7, 2011

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

March 7, 2011

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 7^th day of March 2011 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 Kueser called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

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

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the Minutes of February 28, 2011.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Billy Kryger, Pastor of the Smoky Hill Baptist Church in Ellsworth, was in attendance but did not ask to address the Commissioners.  James Pruitt spoke to the Commissioners about the rat problem in the jail.  His son is incarcerated in the jail and had one in bed with him and it also scratched him.  The Commissioners replied that they had addressed the subject with the Sheriff last week and it was their understanding that he was working on the problem.  However, they will discuss it with them again.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 9:05 a.m. until 9:20 a.m.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, was included in the executive session.  The Commissioners returned to open session at 9:20 a.m. and no action was taken.

 

Sheriff Tracy Ploutz reported he was having electrical problems at the jail and had electrician, Greg Nece, with him to discuss the problems.  Mr. Nece said there were numerous shorts in the electrical system in the jail mostly due to age and wear and tear.  He had used a Fluke recorder to monitor the current in the building for 48 hours and it lasted only 57 seconds before blowing fuses on the equipment.  Sheriff Ploutz said he had budgeted the work in a previous budget, but it did not get funded.  Since costs have changed since the original proposal was given, the Commissioners asked that Mr. Nece come up with some specs and the work would be let out for bids.  Mr. Nece will be compensated for drawing up the specs. The Commissioners told Mr. Ploutz about the complaint of rats at the jail and suggested he call an exterminator.  Upon the request of Sheriff Ploutz, Commissioner Rush moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 9:42 a.m. until 9:55 a.m.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  The Commissioners returned to open session at 9:55 a.m. and no action was taken.

 

Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, presented the following grants for signature:  State Formula, Child Care Licensing, Family Planning, Immunization Action Plan, Maternal & Child Health, and a new one, Chronic Disease Risk Reduction.  All grants would total $42,895.17 with the county in-kind match being $5,060 which was budgeted. Commissioner Rush moved to approve and sign the grant application presented.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.   Commissioner Rush moved to approve the lawn maintenance contract with Charles Huslig and the pharmacy contract with Barbara Kennedy as presented.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0. Motion carried 3-0.  Mrs. Kasiska presented write-offs in the amount of $1,766.90 dating back to 2007.  Commissioner Rush moved to approve write-offs in the amount of $1,766.90.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  A discussion was held on the NACO membership and prescription card.  Mrs. Kasiska has check with both pharmacies and they are both interested.  Roger Masse, ECMC Administrator, upon the request of the Commissioners, has looked at the plan and pointed out some items that need to be discussed further.  In the meantime, Mrs. Kasiska has had some information on another plan that would also offer dental and vision and is not affiliated with NACO.  She will look further into that program.

 

Teresa Shute, Noxious Weed-Landfill Supervisor, has received information from Resource Management that they are increasing their fees for picking up tires.  Commissioner Rush moved to increase the fees for tires brought into the landfill commensurate with the fee for disposal.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  At a conference last week, Clay County expressed an interested in our unused baler.  The Commissioners agreed that she could offer it to them and suggested she try and get $500, the price we paid for it.  Progress on the landfill expansion plans was discussed and it appears that Kirkham, Michael & Associates still do not have the work completed.  Chairman Kueser will visit with them.  Although no motion was made, permission was granted to advertise for a summer worker.

 

Dean Baumgardner, Executive Vice President, and Curt Bjurlin, Project Development Manager, of the Wind Capital Group, discussed the four agreements they have provided for the development of a wind farm in Ellsworth County.  It now appears that 75% of the turbines will be located in Ellsworth County.  The Commissioners felt the Road Maintenance Agreement and the Escrow Agreement were fine as presented.  However, they still had questions on the Pilot Agreement and the Permit Agreement for Use of Public Road Right-Of-Ways.  There has not been a consensus as whether to accept a 10-year agreement or the 20-year one.  In both agreements, they felt there should be some clause that the agreement would be renegotiated after the specified time limit.  Also, on the right-of-way agreement, they wanted more specifics on where the poles would be located, voltage and etc.  A date of March 14^th at 11:00 was set for finalization of the agreements. 

 

Michelle Maze, EMS Director, explained that they had been able to use a power cot for the past three weeks and she would like to purchase one for the ambulance service. Her logic was that after using a newer version than they had tried several years ago, it is a far superior cot. It would definitely save on back injuries to employees and they can purchase one now for $13,599 over a three year period with no interest.  Commissioner Oller asked her about the warranty and Mrs. Maze will check into that and get back to them.   

 

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, requested permission to purchase a new dump truck.  He has had so much trouble with the tires on the International and Sterling wearing on the sides and having to replace them that he has decided to go with a 2012 Kenworth truck with a heavier motor.  The cost of the truck would be $108,173 including the bed and has a 2-year warranty or 250,000 miles.  Commissioner Kueser moved to authorize purchase of the 2012 Kenworth truck.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

There were no old business items.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the February accounts payable and pre-written warrants in the amount of $145,984.97.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve 2010 abatements in the amount of $106.82.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 12:50 a.m.

 

 

_______________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk