Minutes, December 5, 2011

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

DECEMBER 5, 2011

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 5^th day of December 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 Kush moved to approve the Minutes of November 28, 2011.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Ed Behnke, in Thomas Township, asked the Commissioners about a road that is by his house.  He has talked with the township officers and they say it is not one of their roads and if it not a public road, he would like to put some restrictive signs up as he is having trouble with the traffic.  The Commissioners asked the County Clerk to research the road.

 

ElDean Kohrs was present, but did not wish to address the Commissioners as he was here for the update on the windfarm.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Curt Bjurlin, Bryan Coyle and Sam Walker representing the Wind Capital Group, gave the Commissioners an update on the Post Rock Windfarm project.  Mr. Coyle, Project Manager on the construction phase, reported they were 100% complete on the access roads and almost finished on the concrete platforms.  When completed, the concrete facility would be moved and the areas would be used as part of the facility.  The building is almost complete as well as the underground electrical work.  Delivery of the towers will start very soon.  Safety for the crew and the people who live in the area has been a major concern and various meeting on a regular basis have been held to ensure the safety of all.  Mr. Bjurlin gave the Commissioners copies of the proposed transmission line.  They will not be using the county right-of-way as they have secured land on the half-mile.  In regards to what they call the "cross county project", or the Airstream project they bought, it will probably be done in phases and is a future project at this time.  A letter from their financial sponsor will be forthcoming asking that the county verify that the county does not have zoning and that they have secured the necessary permits to proceed with the project.

 

Jo Funk, Sanitarian with the Salina-Saline County Health Department, gave the Commissioners some information on the hours spent in each of the four counties in the LEPP program for both 2010 and 2011.  She is positive that the State will no longer be funding the LEPP program next year and if the services that the LEPP program offered are to be continued, the counties will have to bear those costs.  Last year Ellsworth County contributed $12,800 to the LEPP program as the State had cut funding.  Mrs. Funk felt that $12,800 would be sufficient for 2012 but will check and come back with an agreement for 2012.  The Commissioners also asked if the LEPP program goes away, that if would be nice to have some different levels of service available from the Health Department so the counties could decide what services they deem necessary and could afford.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve Payment Request #1 to Griffith Construction for Cell 12 excavation at the landfill in the amount of $32,434.20.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

The County Clerk reported she had received $50,000, as agreed upon, for the escrow account on the Post Rock Windfarm.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 11R13, A Resolution Exempting Ellsworth County from Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 11R14, A Resolution Transferring From The Road & Bridge Fund To The Special Machinery Fund.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 11R15, A Resolution Transferring From The Health Fund To The Health Capital Outlay Fund.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 11R16, A Resolution Transferring From the General Fund To The Equipment Reserve Fund.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 11R17, A Resolution Establishing the Ellsworth County 911 Fund.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to accept the resignation of John Pfeiffer, Columbia Township Treasurer.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve 2011 Abatements 1-4, 8-27, 29, 32, 33, 40-49, 51-54 in the amount of $36,245.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve 2011 Added Tax 5-7,28,50 in the amount of $1,682.48.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the November payroll in the amount of $190,590.08.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the November accounts payable for $230,749.13 and prewritten warrants for $61,683.17 for a total of $292,432.30.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

 

_____________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk