COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
MARCH 12, 2024
The Rooks County Board of Commissioners met with the following present: Chairman, John Ruder, and Members Tim Berland and Jake Prockish. Laura Montgomery, County Clerk, was present to record the minutes. Virgie Laska was present to take notes for Stockton Sentinel. Ruder called the meeting to order and asked all to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The agenda was accepted as presented.
Butch Post and Adam Bryant, EMD was in to discuss the courthouse exercise on Friday. Post thought it went well. They are working on the after-action report and improvement plan. The courthouse staff did a good job and the participating was good. The exit points for the courthouse should be addressed. Bryant recommended cameras in the courthouse. Bryant gave reasons why the cameras are needed. Dispatch would be able to see the suspect and to let the responding officers know where he is in the courthouse.
One of the things that didn’t go well was the alert system didn’t work properly. Bryant and Post have addressed some of the issues. The alert messages were delayed. Bryant said there is an 800 system that we can use to update the alert system notices to the phones and e-mails that cost $120 per year. The extension office in not on the courthouse phone system but needs to be so they get the same notifications and alerts as the rest of the courthouse.
Post, Bryant and the commissioners discussed installing cameras in the courthouse and where they would be installed.
Prockish said his takeaway on the exercise is the security system needs to be fixed, having a uniform procedure plan and then installing cameras. Shutting the courthouse doors may not be the best idea to secure the building because of the parking and the design of the building.
Ruder made a motion to update the alert system to the for $120 a year as discussed by Bryant. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Bryant will look at and price cameras for the courthouse.
Gary Knight, County Sheriff, needs body and vehicle cameras. He is requesting APRA funds to help pay for them. Knight presented estimates from Axon and Motorola for 5 years.
Axon Plan A Motorola
$26,433.78 per year for 5 years Year 1: 25,384.00 then 21,984.00 for 4 additional years
Axon Plan B
$21,137.08 per year for 5 years.
Axon Plan A provides new body cameras after 3 years and new body and vehicle cameras after 5 years. Axon Plan B doesn’t include the new in car camera at 5 years. Motorola doesn’t provide installation like Axon. It will cost approximately $3,600 plus mileage and overnight charges. Most of the other counties are switching to Axon because of better service.
Knight and the commissioners discussed what Stockton City will help pay.
Eric Biggs, Road Supervisor, weekly report: Biggs presented the monthly fuel bids. Berland announced the bid from Midland Marketing for 6,000 gallons of diesel at $2.9290 per gallon and 1,000 gallons of unleaded at $2.6619 per gallon.
Biggs presented February Road and Bridge monthly report.
Biggs presented An Agreement Relative to Performing Certain Work and/or the Occupancy of the County’s Highway Right of Way by the Facilities of a Utility for KDOT Project #82-C-5235-01. Ruder made a motion to sign the agreement between the County and Western Coop Electric Assoc. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Biggs and the commissioners discussed roads. There were two graders working on Saturday.
Biggs is keeping the water trucks full in case of fire.
Biggs and the commissioners discussed road equipment. He is still looking for a couple of pickup trucks.
Ruder inquired about the rehired-retired employees. Montgomery and the commissioners discussed when the county has to pay 30% to KPERS. Road had one employee and the clerk’s office has one employee.
Kim Northup, Treasurer and Denise Murchie, were in to inform the commissioners Denise Murchie received the appointment to County Treasurer from Governor Kelly. Murchie will be sworn into office on April 1st.
Northup said the banks will need new signature cards and contracts but first they need a motion in the minutes giving Murchie and Regina Muir authority to sign and conduct business for the County.
Ruder made a motion to appoint Denise Murchie and Regina Muir as authorized signers and to have the authority to conduct business for Rooks County effective April 1, 2024. Ruder moved to have Kim Northup and Terri Moore removed from the bank signature cards as of April 1, 2024. Berland second both motions and Prockish agreed.
The commissioners reviewed March 5th minutes.
Ruder made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign the Check Signature Change Request for Aumentum for new signatures on the AP and Payroll Checks. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
The commissioners received a letter regarding the sale of the personal property at the golf course. Commissioners discussed the letter.
Prockish weekly report: He had a Work Force One Quarterly meeting on Friday morning then he attended the courthouse exercise on Friday afternoon. He drove some of the county roads. Prockish has a Community Corrections meeting on Thursday in Hays.
Prockish received an e-mail regarding the property in Stockton for the Ambulance Shed. The County Attorney is working on an agreement for the property. The county agreed to purchase the property for $4,000. The EMS is to cover the cost of putting up a building to house the ambulances.
Berland made a motion to sign March 5th minutes. Prockish second the motion and Ruder agreed.
Berland said the County Attorney had contacted him regarding law firm the commissioners hired to represent them. The law firm wants to meet with the commissioners by zoom. The commissioners set a special meeting on Wednesday March 13th at 1:00 pm with confirmation of the day and time from the law firm.
Ruder made a motion to have a Special Meeting on Wednesday March 13th at 1:00 for the purpose of meeting with their attorney. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Berland weekly report: Berland visited with Jason Nyp and Tim Colburn about the county removing the chat from the Nyp’s property.
Ruder weekly report: Ruder said he had followed up on the Wood River Energy bill the county clerk had contacted him about.
All of the equipment at the golf course has been serviced. The bridge on the course is almost rebuilt, they are waiting on the wood so they can finish.
Berland made a motion to review and sign weekly vouchers as follows. Prockish second the motion and Ruder agreed.
WEEKLY VOUCHERS
FUND WARRANT # AMOUNT
General 82534-82569 $19,617.93
Road & Bridge 82560-82581 $13,654.75
Noxious Weed 82582-82586 $994.96
Sheriff Equip Reserve 825875 $1,399.00
Health Department 82588-82611 $4,028.79
Sanitation 82612-82619 $3,035.66
Golf Course 82620-82622 $177.16
RCED 82623-82624 $164.96___
TOTAL $43,073.21
Ruder reminded everyone there will no Commissioners’ meeting next week, Tuesday March 19th.
With no further business to transact, Berland made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Prockish second the motion and Ruder agreed.
Adopted this 26th day of March, 2024
ROOKS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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John Ruder, Chairman
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Jake Prockish, Member
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Tim Berland, Member
ATTEST:
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Laura Montgomery, Certified County Clerk