Minutes, July 25, 2011

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

JULY 25, 2011

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 25^th day of July 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 an addition.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the Minutes of July 18, 2011.  Commissioner Kueser 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:

 

Roger Masse, ECMC Administrator, presented unaudited year-end financial reports.  The reports showed a profit, but Mr. Masse cautioned that they were unaudited and some changes would probably be forthcoming.  They have been chosen to be involved in a pilot program, Patient Centered Care, which would focus on management of chronic diseases, wellness and prevention.  Other topics discussed was the Medicare and Medicaid programs being discussed at the federal and state level; the letter from the Board giving a summary of the trend options; some of the resolutions on the financial status of the administration building and the support received through the county mill levy.  Also, the Board suggested a meeting sometime this year to discuss some of these items.

 

Roderic  Rees, EMS Director, reported he filled the vacancy by hiring Jeremiah Brown.  Mr. Brown will start on July 28, 2011.  A refrigerated cooler needed to be purchased for medications carried in the ambulances.  He talked with the County Clerk last week and she gave them authorization to purchase the cooler using their debit card.  Although they may have to purchase one for every ambulance, Mr. Rees wanted to see if this would work before spending additional funds.  The County Clerk was asked to send a letter to KMESA confirming the appointment of Mr. Rees as EMS Director.

 

George Hieschel, Lorraine resident, again discussed the proposed transmission line on 10^th Rd.  He reported that two or three residents of the city have indicated that if the transmission line does go on 10^th Rd., they intended to move and that one resident has already put his house up for sale.  Although he would not confirm the transmission line was the reason the house was put up for sale, he had heard that it was.  He also felt that if the line was moved one-half mile, the people in Lorraine City would be happy.  The Commissioners responded that it was the decision of the Wind Capital Group as to whether to move the line and they knew they were in negations with land owners about easements.  Until more information was received from Wind Capital about the progress of the easement and because of possible litigation, the Commissioners replied they had no additional information at this time.

 

OLD BUSINESS ITEMS:

 

The Russell County Commissioners telephoned the Commissioners to see if they had made a decision on the shared Emergency Management Director position.  Chairman Kueser responded that the Commissioners had made a decision not to go with the shared position.  The reasons being, the cost was more than they wanted to pay for a shared position as it would be more than half of the Russell County Emergency Management budget.  However, Chairman Kueser expressed their sincere appreciation for their work and consideration and agreed that their director, Keith Haberer, would have been a real asset to Ellsworth County.  The Commissioners asked that the County Clerk prepare an ad for a part-time Emergency Management Director.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 2911R09, State of Disaster Emergency Proclamation (Burn Ban).  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

The County Clerk informed the Commissioners that the county's experience mod for Workers Compensation had decreased to 1.10.  Also, the legislature passed a new 911 bill (SB50) effective January, 2012 that would combine the hard line funds and wireless funds into one fund.  There are also new restrictions on how the money can be spent.

 

Commissioner Rush discussed the possibility of replacement of the vehicle used to transport meals to senior citizens in Ellsworth and Kanopolis.  It is on its last leg and the cost of repairs at this stage is not cost effective.  He has looked at a repossessed vehicle that would serve the purpose and could be purchased for $6,439.58.  After a brief discussion, the Commissioners agreed, after Commissioner Rush discusses it with the Ellsworth Senior Center, and they were interested, the county would purchase the vehicle for the Center and gift it to them.  All insurance and maintenance would be their responsibility.  It would also be understood that this is a onetime event and was being done because of the need.  In the future, if other centers have needs that they cannot fulfill, they could come to the Commissioners for consideration.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 11:30 p.m.

 

 

____________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk