Minutes, July 7, 2014

 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

JULY 7, 2014

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 7^th day of July 2014 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.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the Minutes of June 30, 2014.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Teresa Richards, Leonard Haverkamp, Kevin Shoemaker and John Mehler, representing the Ellsworth Senior Center, asked $24,500 for their 2015 budget, the same as last year.  They have had a reduction in their meals served but hope to build it up as that does affect their contribution from North Central.

 

Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, presented her budget request for 2015 of $322,655 an increase of $7,700 or 2.47%.  The Commissioner gave her permission to add a part-time employee to administration of a grant program.  This would keep the administration of the grant within the county rather than farming it out to another county.  Mrs. Kasiska reported she will be coming back next week with a contract for nursing services with USD#112 as the cost has gone up and a new contract will have to be issued.

 

Roderic Rees, EMS Director, gave the Commissioners a quarterly financial report with adjustments for May.  Also, he explained that he and Amy Eck had been working with the auditors to get a run sheet from their billing software that agrees with the totals on the spreadsheet.  The issue is a date of service versus payment issue, but they hope to have that report on a quarterly basis for the Commissioners.

 

Rick Kempke, City Plumbing, presented a proposal for a new heating/air-conditioning unit for the Courtroom.  The present one is a 7 ton one and he will replace it with 2/4ton units at a cost of $12,980.  The present unit is a 1966 one and is hooked to the building's steam heat system.  He will cap the steam heat and the new units will provide both the heating and cooling.

 

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, asked the Commissioners to sign contracts with the State of Kansas for two bridges that were let last week.  They are in the 80/20 state program and the contracts totaled approximately $780,000.  The Commissioners signed the contracts.  Mr. Nondorf asked for $30,000 more for his 2015 budget and that would need to be added to the salary line item.  He is short a couple of employees and is running an ad for one at the present time.  There is a leak either in the fuel tank or lines.  He has lost about 600 gallons of fuel and has pumped the tank and moved the remaining fuel from the tank.  He called KDHE and Double Check and they are going to do a pressure check on the lines and tank before they do anything else.  KDHE, if the leak is from the tank, will want to do some monitoring to see how far the gasoline has leaked.  Cost wise, the State has a trust fund set up to help with these problems and could be tapped for the cost of repair.  The trust fund is derived from fuel sales tax.  Mr. Nondorf will keep them apprised of the situation.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 11:50 a.m.

 

 

_________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk