Minutes, June 6, 2011

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSIONER MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

JUNE 6, 2011

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 6^th day of June 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 with changes.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the Minutes of May 31, 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 wish to address the Commissioners.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Sheriff Tracy Ploutz, Michael Wise and Fred Butler was present for the presentation of a retirement plaque for Fred Butler.  Chairman Kueser presented Mr. Butler with a plaque thanking him for his service to Ellsworth County and expressing best wishes on his retirement.

 

Jan Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk, presented her Election and County Clerk budgets for 2012.  The request for the Election budget was $50,450.  Since 2012 will be a federal election year, the budget for those years is always higher.  The 2012 request is only $250 more than in 2008.   For 2012, she is requesting $108,982 for the Clerk's budget, a 10% increase.

 

Pam Hays and Glenn Walker, representing the Ellsworth Soil Conservation District, passed out an update of the district projects and their budget request for 2012.  They are requesting $29,000, the same as last year.

 

Teresa Shute, Noxious Weed-Landfill Supervisor, discussed a program the state is encouraging participation in by Noxious Weed Departments.  It is a pesticide container recycling program which would allow citizens to bring in triple rinsed pesticide containers for pick-up by a recycling company.  The containers would be picked up at no cost when appropriate amounts are available (1000# minimum).  Mrs. Shute is interested in starting the program in the fall and would provide information to those purchasing chemicals.  The Commissioners agreed that it would be Mrs. Shute's decision as to whether she wanted to start the program.  The floor in the recycling building has ruts and she feels is dangerous to patrons so she would like to talk with Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor,  to see if they could do something.  Chairman Kueser suggested that maybe some millings could be laid.

 

Michelle Maze, EMS Director and Gaye Woods, Assistant Director, presented the financials for May showing a year-to-date collection of $161,107.50.  The response to the recent accident on the interstate involving illegal immigrants will cost the county $3,657 since they had no insurance.  Mrs. Maze presented a request for educational grants for Brandon Doubrava for paramedic studies and Anthony Bricker for training officer 2 for signature.  June 10^th will be Mrs. Maze's last day as director; however, she would be available for part-time work on weekends.  The Commissioners thanked Mrs. Maze for her service to the county and her many years in the EMS service.

 

Chairman Kueser recessed the meeting at 12:00 Noon.  The Commissioner returned to session at 1:00 p.m. and Chairman Kueser called the meeting to order.

 

Curt Bjurlin and James Gilreath, representing Wind Capital Group, gave the Commissioners an update on the Post Rock Wind Farm.  Included in the update was the hiring of a General Contractor, RMT.  They will be in charge of the project and any questions on the construction phase would be directed to them.  They are going to be in the county next week and Mr. Bjurlin would like to set up a meeting with the Road & Bridge Supervisor and the Commissioners.  The meeting time for the Commissioners will be Wednesday, June 15, at 1:30 p.m.  Mr. Bjurlin will call with the time for meeting with the Road & Bridge so at least one of the Commissioners can attend.  They are progressing with the transmission line and Mr. Bjurlin showed a map with the easement they had obtained, the ones that have not signed and some that cannot be gotten due to the fact there is already an easement on that property.  There will be no overhang on private property where there is no easement.  There has been some concern over the line and they are trying to address those concerns.  Nothing is set in stone and they are trying to accommodate those dwellings on the transmission line.  The construction phase of the project will begin in September of this year and they plan to be in operation in June, 2012.  As requested, they will get copies of maps showing the easement for the transmission line and where the towers will be located.

 

A group of citizens, Don Kozisek, Dennis Rolfs, Kenton Janzen, Terry Boeken, Melinda Boeken, David Wessler, Genifer Wessler, Steve Soukup and Gayle Soukup addressed the Commissioners about their concerns on the transmission line.  Another gentleman, Joe King, was present but did not voice any concerns.  The concerns addressed by the individuals were how close the transmission line would be to their dwellings, the interference it would cause to their TV's, cell phone and other electrical equipment, the reduced value to their property and most of all the danger of EMF (electromagnetic frequencies) to their family's health.  They also voiced their displeasure with the Commissioners' decision to sign the right-of-way agreement without a public hearing.  Mr. Bjurlin spoke to the concerns saying they would do everything they could to accommodate the individuals, but in some case could not do anything due to the fact that another wind farm company has leases and transmission easements on property that could be used to redirect the transmission line.  He was asked if he could set up a meeting with that company to see if some accommodations could be made and he agreed to try with no guarantee of success.  If the meeting can be arranged, the group asked that it be a public meeting.  Also, transmission lines are subject to certain regulation when being installed and the group asked that he supply them with a copy of those regulations.  The Commissioners thanked the individuals for coming to the meeting and would continue to work with Wind Capital about their concerns.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

There were no old business items.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

The Commissioners reviewed the EMS Director applications and asked the County Clerk to arrange for two interviews next Monday.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the May accounts payable and pre-written warrants in the amount of $243,070.62.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 2:40 p.m.

 

 

_______________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk