October 24

COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS

October 24, 2023

The Rooks County Board of Commissioners met with the following present:  Chairman, John Ruder, and Members Tim Berland and Kayla Hilbrink. Laura Montgomery, Clerk was present to record the minutes.  Virgi Laska was present to write a report 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.

Julie Yarmer with Freedom Claims and Hadley Gillum with BCBC was in to visit with the commissioners about the county contract for 2024. The claims for 2023 increased by 28.32%. Since the county started the plan in 2014, the average rate increase is 5.01%. Yarmer recommended keeping the rates the same for 2024. There is enough in the reserve fund to handle the increase.

Ruder made a motion to sign the contract with BCBS. Berland second the motion and Hilbrink agreed.

Danny Knoll, Sanitation Crew Chief, was in to discuss landfill concerns. M & D Excavating is working at the hospital and is requesting 15,000 to 20,000 yards of dirt from the landfill.

Tim Collins, with the State Permitting Office will be here the week of November 13th. Sadie Look, Road secretary, is working on the permit for the landfill.

Brandon with Penco will be out to shoot the grade and boundaries at the landfill.

Knoll is getting ready to start a new pit.  He will visit with M & D Excavation and if they can help us dig the pit, then they can have some dirt.

The commissioners reviewed the minutes from October 17th. Ruder made a motion to accept the minutes with corrections. Hilbrink second the motion and Berland agreed.

John Ruder reported, Chuck Comeau, with Red Bud Board, has been working with outside council to transfer the Red Bud property. He said the county is allowed to sell the property at a nominal fee, however the language on the deed needs to read that if the building/property in not used as a nursing home, the property reverts back to the county.

The commissioners also discussed the buildings for the ambulances.

The commissioners reviewed and discussed IT Bids. It was decided not to do an IT contract at this time but to budget and plan for IT Services in the future.  

Butch Post said he added to his job description. Also discussed with the commissioners and the county clerk, Montgomery, his time card and how the comp time is being calculated.  Post also requested to carry over more than 30 hours of comp time. Hilbrink said to make that request when the time arises.

The commissioners approved Post to get bids on a new laptop.

Ruder made a motion to go into executive session with Butch Post and the three commissioners to discuss non-elected personnel from 10:45 am to 10:50 am. Hilbrink second the motion and Berland agreed.  Upon returning to open session, there was no further discussion.

Heather Poore, County Appraiser, was in to request to put her modeling on the county website and around the courthouse. The commissioner approved her request. Poore discussed the sales of houses since June.

Poore informed the commissioners she is thinking about applying to another county as a part-time appraiser and continue to work for Rooks County.

Hilbrink had to leave the meeting.

Montgomery had a person call about waiving fees on delinquent mineral interest. The person’s mother passed away in 2016. We changed the tax record to deceased and address unknown. After visiting with an aunt, this person found out her mother had mineral interest in Rooks County. The property is in the delinquent tax sale. The commissioners said the property is too far into the delinquent tax sale process to waive the fees.

The commissioners received a request from World Pest Control to put up a bill board sign at the intersection of Y Road and Hwy 183. Ruder made a motion to sign the request. Berland second the motion and agreed.

Berland weekly report: Darrell Keller asked about the millings on the Zurich Black Top. The county has plans to use the millings. If there are extra millings, the commissioners would discuss the option to sell them.

The commissioners discussed the condition of the roads.

Berland motion to sign minutes for Oct 17th, Ruder second the motion and agreed.

Ruder made a motion to sign the weekly vouchers as follows. Berland second the motion and agreed.

OCTOBER 24, 2023 WEEKLY VOUCHERS

FUND                                    VOUCHERS                         AMOUNT

General                                81622-81631                       11,584.94

Road & Bridge                      81632-81636                           811.45

Noxious Weed                      81637-81641                        3,712.84

Golf Course                          81642                                        71.04

GRAND TOTAL                                                               16,180.30

 

With no further business to transact, Ruder made a motion to adjourn. Berland second the motion and agreed.

Adopted this 31th Day of October, 2023

ROOKS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

______________________________________                     

John Ruder, Chairman                                                                                                                                                                              

______________________________________

Kayla Hilbrink, Member

______________________________________

Tim Berland, Member

ATTEST:

__________________________________

Laura Montgomery, Certified County Clerk