Minutes, February 6, 2012

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

FEBRUARY 6, 2012

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 6^th day of February 2012 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 Oller called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the Agenda with an addition.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve the Minutes of January 30, 2012. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session to discuss matters deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship with County Attorney, Joe Shepack, from 9:06 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  The Commissioners returned to open session at 9:30 a.m. and no action was taken.

 

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, discussed the trade in of two tractors and mowers on a new one.  However, the transmission went out of one that was to be traded in.  Therefore, they will sell the tractor outright for salvage and then try and sell the mower.  Chairman Oller read a letter from a citizen about the condition of 13^th road.  Mr. Nondorf will contact the windfarm project manager about the condition as it is being used by the windfarm and ask them to respond.  The 1995 Chevy pickup needs to be replaced and Mr. Nondorf had three bids for the replacement.  Commissioner Kueser moved to accept the bid from Holm Motor Company for a ¾ ton, 4x4 pickup at a cost of $22,847.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  The Commissioners expressed their appreciation of the good job that was being done on the bridges in the county and asked that Mr. Nondorf relay that appreciation to the bridge crew.

 

Larry Sharp, K-CAMP representative, reported that Ellsworth County had a low loss ratio last year of 23% versus a statewide ratio of $71%.  He explained the Risk Avoidance Grant Program that sets aside $2,000 per member for activities that relate to Risk Management of your property and liability losses.  The county has received the grant for the past two years.  The Clerk replied that she had sent out notices that the grant is available again to the Department Heads and to contact KCAMP for applications and present them for approval to the County Commissioners.

 

Mark Lawlor, Director of Development for Clean Line Energy Partners, explained the proposal for their company to build a high-voltage direct current transmission line across central Kansas.  The Texas-based company is considering two routes for the 3,600 mega-watts line.  One would be from the wind resources in Ford County and then north to Great Bend, then north through Ellsworth County and into Lincoln County and then follow a natural gas pipeline to Concordia.  The line would continue to travel east through Illinois/Indiana to serve the grid from Chicago and eastward.  The line will cost $2 million per mile to build and would parallel existing right-of-ways.  Mr. Lawlor stated several meetings will be held the third week of February to give government and business representatives more details about the project.

 

Jo Funk, Salina-Saline County Health Department Sanitarian, talked with the Commissioner on the "conditional use" permit for the one property owner at the lake.  The one Salina uses is based on zoning and very long.  She will continue to work on it and get it to them as soon as possible.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Chairman Oller signed the contract with Hedlund Electric for the jail electrical repairs.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Abatements 86-96 in the amount of $1,409.18.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the January accounts payable in the amount of $585,279.61 and prepaid warrants for $183,425.60 for a total of $768,705.21.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the League of Kansas Municipalities dues with the reduction of 2 subscriptions for their magazine making the total $486.47.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Oller adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.

 

 

____________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk