COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
December 19, 2023
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. Ruder called the meeting to order and asked all to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The agenda was accepted as presented.
Eric Biggs, Road Supervisor, was in with his weekly report. With the rain and snow last week, the graders were out on Friday, Saturday and Sunday working the roads. Biggs called some of the crew in from vacation. The road crew has laid down rock on AA Road between 10 Road and 12 Road. Some of the trucks are in the shop for maintenance and repairs.
Biggs presented a job applicant.
Jordon Dettmer, with Penco Engineering was in to have the commissioners sign documents and to introduce himself to Biggs and the new commissioner. Dettmer presented documents that need to be approved and sign for Off Bridge 82 on Paradise Creek. The county will be responsible for the cost of the design, right of way & utilities. The State of Kansas has awesome bridge funding right now. Usually, the funding is 80/20 but now it is 100%. The county will need to purchase additional right of way for the bridge.
Ruder made a motion to sign Kansas Department of Agriculture Application for Permit Off Bridge 82, Estimate of Just Compensation Valuation “Uncomplicated and $10,000 or Less†for a Tract of Land in the NW/4 of Section 8-T10S-R17W and for a Tract of Land in the NE/4 of Section 7-T10S-R17W. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 9:18 am to 9:23 am with the three commissioners and Eric Biggs. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed. Upon returning to open session, there was no further discussion.
Dale Winklepeck was in to thank for the commissioners for addressing an issue in regards to the county taxes and the county appraiser. He feels over time it will be good for the County. He asked if Poore is officially done as county appraiser. Ruder said yes.
Danny Knoll, Sanitation Crew Chief, said he has the fencing ordered.
Rich Bouchey took the overhead furnaces from the Sheriff’s Department when they moved to the new jail to put in the back part of the building at the landfill. The commissioners agreed to allow Knoll to install one of the heaters in the back if the heater will fit and be feasible.
Knoll and the commissioners discussed personnel.
The commissioners received a thank you card from the family of Ted Lambert for their donation to the Lions Club in his memory.
Montgomery and the commissioners reviewed the county general budget and discussed how much to transfer from each equipment reserve fund. No decision was made as to how much from each fund to transfer.
The commissioners reviewed and approved December 5th minutes with corrections.
The commissioners started the second interview process for the EMD position.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session with the first interviewee, Butch Post and the three commissioners from 10:09 am to 10:25 am. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session with the second interviewee, Butch Post and the three commissioners from 10:28 am to 10:46 am. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session with the third interviewee, Butch Post and the three commissioners from 10:48 am to 11:10 am. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
Berland made a motion to sign December 5th minutes. Prockish second the motion and Ruder agreed.
The Rooks County Free Fair received a grant for the show arena enhancement. Ruder made a motion to endorse the check in the from Patterson Family Foundation in the amount of $13,446.74. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Post presented the membership update for LEPC for the commissioners’ review and sign. Prockish made a motion to approve the LEPC update. Berland second the motion and Ruder agreed.
Montgomery asked if they wanted to do one memorial for Terri Moore and Tracy Greive’s mother. The commissioners said to do one memorial.
Commissioners open and reviewed their mail.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session to discuss the applicants for the EMD job from 11:22 am to 11:32 am with the three commissioners and Butch Post. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed. Upon returning to open session, Prockish made a motion to extend the executive session from 11:32 am to 11:42 am with the same persons. Berland second the motion and Ruder agreed. Upon returning to open session, there was no further discussion.
Ruder said they had some wonderful interviews. Ruder made a motion and Prockish second and Berland agreed to hired Adam Bryant. Ruder called Bryant and offered him the position for $46,000 per year with benefits. Bryant accepted the job. The start date will be determined and it will be sometime in January.
Post asked if the commissioners are planning on appointing Adam Bryant to Homeland Security. The commissioners said yes. Post will get him setup to attend the meetings.
Prockish made a motion to go into executive session from 12:00 pm to 12:10 pm to discuss non-elected personnel with the three commissioners and Montgomery. Berland second the motion and Ruder agreed. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
Prockish moved to amend the motion made at the December 12th meeting to terminate Poore as County Appraiser by adding “for being in violation of her employment agreement signed June 1, 2021. Section 2 [EMPLOYEE agrees to perform such duties and responsibilities designated by the Property Valuation Department and the Board of Rooks County Commissioners hereinafter referred to as “COMMISSION,†including but not limited to, the following: Subsection d. Assure adequate record keeping is performed in order that accurate accounting of projects can be carried out and retained.] Section 5 [EMPLOYER reserves the right to cancel this contract at any time for misconduct; for violation of or failure to perform any clause of this agreement; for
inattention to business; or for any infraction of the rules, regulations, or policies of EMPLOYER as to all of which EMPLOYER shall be the final judge.]
And for accounting errors with a cost to taxing entities in Rooks County for the total amount of $123,057.76 which is in clear violation of her employment agreement section 2 subsection d.
Termination shall take effect December 19, 2023 at 12:15 pm. Berland second and Ruder agreed.
The commissioners reviewed December 12th minutes. Berland made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections. Ruder second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Montgomery presented documentations for the commissioners to approve and sign on the CVR Grant that Roger Hrabe has been working on. Ruder made a motion to sign the documents. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Received from the KDHE a discharge permit for Dean Hrabe Farm. It will be posted in the County Clerk’s office until January 20, 2024.
Prockish asked Ronda Morgan to come into the meeting. She contacted the state and the Appraiser’s Office only has one questionnaire that is due January 1st. Morgan has finished it. January 16th is the next deadline and it is for low-income housing.
Morgan’s main concern is the Paid Under Protest because the appraiser’s office has 15 days to set up appointments to hear the protest. She can do hearings but make can’t make any changes because she isn’t certified. She said Poore is only finishing the residential, not commercial or ag etc. Morgan isn’t certified and the state will need to sign off on valuation and PUP.
Prockish asked if Ronda would be willing to be interim. She said yes and the commissioners said they will compensate her.
Prockish made a motion to appoint Ronda Morgan as interim. Berland second the motion and Ruder agreed.
Berland made a motion to sign Resolution 23-R 11 to appoint Ronda Morgan as interim county appraiser. Ruder second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Prockish made a motion to allow Morgan to carry over any comp-time from December. Ruder second the motion and Berland agreed.
Ruder made a motion to review and approve the weekly vouchers Berland second and Prockish agreed as follows.
DECEMBER 19TH WEEKLY VOUCHERS
FUND WARRANTS AMOUNT
County General 82013-82030 21,637.88
Road & Bridge 82031-82042 9,826.08
Health Department 82043-82053 9,059.76
Sanitation 82054-82057 1,235.40
Golf Course 82058-82059 191.44___
GRAND TOTAL 41,950.56
Prockish made a motion to approve and sign the termination letter to Heather Poore. Berland second the motion and Ruder agreed.
With no further business to transact, Ruder made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Adopted this 26 Day of December, 2023
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