Minutes, July 15, 2013

 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

July 15, 2013

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 15^th day of July 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 Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of July 8, 2013.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Lonnie Soukup and Janice Essick, representing the Ellsworth Historical Society, presented their budget request for 2014 of $34,000, the same as last year.  They reported that the sale of the church was pending and that money would be going to the funds set aside for the research center.

 

Teresa Shute, Noxious Weed-Landfill Supervisor, presented her three budgets for 2014.  The landfill was $71,800, an increase of $2,250, the Recycling was $38,750, an increase of $23,200 and Noxious Weed $246,884, an increase of $11,074.  The increase in the recycling budget was due to the purchase of new set of recycling bins.  Mrs. Shute also informed the Commissioners of a new law that if the townships do not budget for noxious weeds, the county would have to take care of spraying those roads.

 

Rob Fillion, Smoky Hill Economic Development Director, informed the Commissioners that through legislation this year, the Kansas Rural Opportunity Zones (ROZ) now includes Ellsworth County.  One of the components of the program is the Employer-Sponsorship of ROZ Applicants and Recipients.  Through this program employers would donate money to the program and the state would match those funds to be returned to students moving into the county that had outstanding college loans.  It would be on a first come/first serve basis and a limit on how much would be allocated to each student and county.  However, if funding set aside for other counties is not used, application could be made for those funds.  The county would not have to contribute any funding, however, the funds would go through the county and they would be responsible for the accounting.  If the county is willing to participate, Mr. Fillion will start visiting with the local business to see if they have an interest.  The Commissioners agreed that they would be willing to participate in the program as outlined.

 

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, has found a 2013 770G John Deere motor grader and has put it on hold.  With a trade-in of a 2003 Komatsu, the cost would be $154,389.  Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the purchase of a 2012 770G John Deere motor grader with trade-in at a cost of $154,389.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.  Mr. Nondorf reported on bridges being done and the street work in Holyrood.  They will start sealing next week.

 

Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, presented her budget for 2014 of $305,920 and increase of 9,464.  Mrs. Kasiska asked if they could buy a picnic table from their capital outlay funds for breaks.  Due to the fact that it can only be used a short time during the year and the one in backs of the Courthouse is not ever used, they declined the request.  If they want to get the one at the Courthouse for use, they would be welcome to it.

 

Although not present, the County Treasurer submitted her budget for 2014 of $125,532, an increase of $12,392.

 

The County Clerk reported there was $1,000 in the County/Cities Partnership Fund which has been there since 2005.  The county and all the cities contributed in 2005 to hire a lobbyist to lobby for an addition to the prison.  The plans did not go through and the $1,000 has been sitting there for all these years.  Since the request for $1,000 to have Ellsworth County represented in the county map on the floor of the Capitol Building has been made, she felt that this might be a good use for that funding.  In that way, it would not have to be from tax revenue, essentially no one would have to be asked to help fund the project and the county would be represented.  Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the $1,000 in the County/Cities Partnership Fund to be used to fund the county's position on the State Map in the Capitol building.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Carl Miller, Ellsworth County Appraiser, reported that the Court of Tax Appeals had denied the tax exemption of the Ellsworth County Health Care Foundation.  Therefore, they will go on the tax roll this year with an estimated tax due of $29,500.  Since the hospital leases some of that space from them and the Foundation expecting the exemption to be approved, the hospital might find that their lease could be increased.  Commissioner Kueser will visit with Mr. Masse, ECMC Administrator about the development.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

There were no old business items.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

There were no new business items.

 

The Commissioners adjourned for lunch at 12:00 Noon.

At 1:30 p.m. Chairman Rush called the meeting back to order and a budget worksession was held.  After the session, the County Clerk was given tentative budget approvals to work into the 2014 county budget.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 3:30 p.m.

 

 

__________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk