Minutes, April 29, 2013

 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

April 29, 2013

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 29^th day of April 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 Rush called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

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

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the Minutes of April 22^nd with corrections.   Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 2-0.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Ron Etchison and Kenneth Parks, representing the Holyrood Senior Center, presented their budget request for 2014 of $9,508, the same as last year.  The Commissioners thanked them for their service to the community and their ability to hold the budget the same as last year.

 

Carl Miller, Appraiser, Joe Shepack, County Attorney and Patrick Hoffman, Attorney for the Smoky Hill Child Care Foundation and the Ellsworth County Health Care Foundation, met with the Commissioner to discuss the Court of Tax Appeals hearing for these two properties being held on June 5, 2013.  Both entities are seeking a tax exemption. The Ellsworth County Health Care Foundation has already been denied on the former Century Building.  However, a new hearing has been scheduled on June 5, 2013. The Appraiser thought it would be good to discuss the exemptions before the hearings and see if the county and owners of the properties were on the same page.  The Commissioners agreed that the properties were deserving of an exemption and will draft a letter to the Court of Tax Appeals to that effect.

 

Upon the request of Appraiser, Carl Miller, Commissioner Rush moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 9:45 a.m. until 10:00 a.m.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  The Commissioners returned to open session at 10:15 a.m. and no action was taken.

 

Keith Harberer, Emergency Management Director, reported that new Tablets for mapping had been distributed to the EMS and himself from the NW Regional Council.  A pamphlet on CERT training had been mailed out but a training date has not been set.  He has passed out NIMS Field Guides to the Sheriff and County Clerk and has more if other departments are interested.  He attended a hospital exercise in Salina last Friday.  It was on ice storms and left many questions to be answered in regards to power outages.  The Commissioners discussed the new fuel containment regulations that go into effect on May 10, 2013.  He will try and find out more information on those regulations.

 

Joe Shepack, County Attorney, Rob Fillion and John Sherman, Smoky Hill Economic Development Corp. and Carl Miller, Appraiser, met with the Commissioners to discuss the Agenda Item of Donation of Property.  Smoky Hill Economic Development Corp. has requested that the County donate to them a tract of land in Hospital Addition to the City of Ellsworth, Ellsworth County, Kansas described as follows:

 

            Beginning at the Southwest Corner of Legion Addition, to the City of Ellsworth, thence West along the South line of Hospital Addition to the City of Ellsworth a distance of 134.40 feet, thence North a distance of 580.00 feet to the South right-of-way of O'Donnell Drive as platted; thence following the South right-of-way radius of O'Donnell Drive as platted to the West boundary line of Aylward Second Addition to the City of Ellsworth, thence South along the West boundary lines of Aylward Second Addition and Legion Addition to the City of Ellsworth a distance of 598.35 feet to the point of beginning, being a tract of 1.7 acres more or less.

 

Also referenced as PARCEL 027-085-16-0-30-10-002.00-0 by the Ellsworth County, KS Appraiser.

 

The fair estimated value of the property as provided by the Ellsworth County Appraiser is $25,430.

 

Mr. Fillion is requesting the land as a potential business has expressed interest in purchasing the property.  When questioned as to what the business is, Mr. Fillion could not answer.  Also, the Commissioners asked if the individual would be willing to bid on the property rather than going through economic development.  Again Mr. Fillion answered that he would not. The potential buyer would not be interested in all the property and what property is remaining, Smoky Hill Economic Development Corp. would be paying taxes on that property until it is sold.

Mr. Fillion stated that he had visited with Mr. Masse, ECMC Administrator, and the hospital has no plans for the property.  Commissioner Rush moved to approve Resolution 13R02, A Resolution Authorizing the Donation of County Owned Real Estate to Smoky Hill Development Corporation.  Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Rod Rees, EMS Director, reported the roof at the EMS is leaking and he feels they need to look into replacing it.  The Commissioners asked that he seek two to three bids on the replacement and in the meantime, fix the leaks.  So far, they have received seven applications for the position of Paramedic and will interview on Tuesday.  The Region 4 meeting this year is in Ellsworth and will be held on June 11^th and he invited the Commissioners to attend.

 

Leonard Haverkamp invited the Commissioner to attend a cookout at where the old VFW hall used to be on May 4^th at 11:30 a.m.  They will be honoring all the people who helped with the fire and getting relocated.  The Commissioners thanked him for the invitation and will make every effort to attend.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

Due to the fact that almost every community in the county has some celebration during the summer, it was decided not to contribute to the Ellsworth Fireworks.

 

The Commissioner will be sending a memo to Eric Reed addressing his concerns on the underage drinking in the county and expressing their desire to cooperate with him, law enforcement and the judicial system to resolve this problem.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the April payroll in the amount of $199,826.54.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.

 

 

____________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk