COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
DECEMBER 20, 2022
The Rooks County Board of Commissioners met with the following present: Chairman, John Ruder, and Member, Tim Berland. Member Greg Balthazor was absent. Laura Montgomery, County Clerk, was present to write the minutes. Virgie Laska was present to write a report for the Stockton. Ruder called the meeting to order and asked all to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The agenda was accepted as presented.
Plainville City Mayor, Quinten Meyers and Charles Comeau was in to ask for more money for Red Bud to help keep it open over the next two years. They are asking for $250,000 for next year and $200,000 for the following year. This will get them through until the facility is completed and Plainville City can take over. They asked about the APRA funds the County has available. Berland said we have more projects than Covid money. They need $250 thousand but if the county can come up with $125 thousand then there is a match to get to $250 thousand. Berland said he knows what it will take to get to new facility but is it possible to tighten their belt. Comeau replied no one has control over the wages and cost of medical care that has gone through the roof. They have already tightened their belt and have gotten rid of lots of overhead. Within the last year, there has been a fiscal turnaround. The facility is now full which will help with cash flow issues. Comeau and Meyers discuss the draws of the new building which will include a memory care unit. They are asking for the county to sustain what the county owns. The cost of closing it down will be more than $125 thousand. Last year they paid $220 thousand for building maintenance. Memory care is the greatest need in the area and should draw people from outside of the area. The new facility is projected to be self -sustaining in three years and will not be a burden to the county. The administrator passed her test. She has clinical but not financial experience.
The commissioners reviewed the minutes from December 13th and 14th. Ruder made a motion to accept the minutes with changes. Berland seconded the motion.
Rich Bouchey & Jerold Deboer was in to open bids on the Zurich Black Top; County Road 10 from K-18 Hwy North 7 miles to Q Road, Project #82 C-5187-01. There were 2 options. The first bid was from APAC. Option 1: 1,809,309.56 Option 2: 1,408,229.56 Additive: 508,356.48. APAC is out of Hays. The county will get $1 million in K-DOT funds. The second bid was from Venture Corp. Option 1: 1,881,160.00 Option 2. 1,488,210 Additive: 511,920.
Bouchey asked how long will it take to get the job done. Jerold replied they must start on or before October 30, 2023 and be fully completed within 20 working days. Berland asked how long the state funds would be available. DeBoer said he could ask for an extension. Bouchey said he would like to table the bids until the county could find a way to pay for the project. DeBoer also recommended postponing the project. He will call APAC and see how long they will hold the bid and call the state to ask for an extension. The commissioners agreed to table the project.
The bridge project to replace LPA Bridge OFF 70, NBI Structure #000820615004104, located 2.2 miles south and 2.5 miles east Plainville, FY 2024 Off System Bridge Program was approved. The trust bridge out by Woodston was inspected on the 30th. It is a historical bridge. DeBoer was asked to resubmit the project.
Bouchey asked DeBoer if the county was eligible for the High-Risk Rural Roads Program. He said yes and Bouchey should apply. It would pay to replace all of the signs on the primary roads.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session for 15 minutes; from 10:00 to 10:15, for non-elected personnel.
Those in attendance were Ruder, Berland and Bouchey.
Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
Berland said that last week, Darrell Keller had taken it upon himself to grade the road by where he lives. Would it be possible for the county to contract with Keller to take care of that section. He has the equipment that he can use. It was discussed having non county employees grading roads because the road department is short on grader-men. Discussed what it would take to contract out road work.
While it is slow, Bouchey is putting in as much time as possible in the dozier. All of his crew will be back to work next week. He will be gone on January 12th & 13th to Salina for a survey seminar.
Kim Northup, Treasurer, was in to discuss the delinquent tax sale. She hasn’t heard back from Klenda. She talked with the County Treasurer in Haskell County and she said Klenda does charge $275 per parcel. There was a discussion as to what it could cost the county if the mineral interest didn’t sell. Northup also said there has been some recent discussion between offices as to if it is still realistic to continue to tax non-producing mineral interest. The county collects just under $170 thousand from taxes and it cost about $25,000 a year to get them on the tax rolls and to collect the tax.
Northup requested to allow her staff to carry over unused vacation days and personal time because of being short staff. Commissioners agreed to allow her employees to carry over to the new year unused leave.
Gary Knight, Sheriff, Danielle Muir, Attorney, Lindsey Mongeau, CDC Clerk, April Brown, Register of Deeds, Ronda Morgan, from the Appraiser’s office and Kim Northup, Treasurer, was in to listen to the discussion on budgets and the County General Fund being short on cash. Montgomery went through the budget with the commissioners explaining what each department had in reimbursements and the budget balance. Using the budget and what was in cash, she estimated the expenditures for December. The budget looks like it will be close but she estimated the general fund to be short $150,000 to $200,000 in cash. There was much discussion about why the general fund is so short on cash after money had been transfer into the fund in October. The commissioners decided not to allow any of the departments in general to transfer money into their equipment reserve fund except for the Sheriff, he will be allowed to transfer $80,000. The commissioners also decided not to transfer the balance of the airport line item in their budget to the airport. Ruder made a motion to transfer $150,000 from ARPA to reimburse county general for salaries from January and February 2022. Berland second the motion. Ruder made a motion to transfer $20,000 from Ambulance Fund to County General Fund to cover cash for December. Berland second the motion.
The commissioners reviewed the lease agreement with Chesapeake Roadhouse LLC. They will have Jason Kephart review the agreement before signing the contract. The county attorney did recommend they require him to carry $500,000 in public liability insurance.
The commissioners reviewed the Bylaws and Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties (K-Worc Contract). Ruder made a motion to sign the agreement. Berland second the motion.
Ruder made a motion to sign Resolution 2022-R9. Berland second the motion.
RESOLUTION #2022-R9
COUNTY OF ROOKS, STATE OF KANSAS
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners, (Board) of ROOKS COUNTY, KANSAS (County) has authority under the Kansas Municipal Group-Funded Pool Act, K.S.A. 12-2616, et seq., as amended, the Interlocal Cooperation Act. K.S.A. 12-2901, et seq., as amended, the Kansas Tort Claims Act, K.S.A 75-6101, et seq as amended, to participate in and form a county self-insurance pool for workers compensation coverage; and
WHEREAS, the Board has reviewed an agreement to cooperate with other counties to form such a self-insurance pool entitled By-Laws and Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Kansas Workers Risk Cooperative for Counties (KWORCC). A copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated by reference into this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE ABOVE STATE COUNTY THAT:
- The Bylaws and Interlocal Cooperation Agreement for the Kansas Corkers Risk Cooperative for Counties (KWORCC), a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated by this reference into this Resolution is hereby approved.
- The Chairman if the Board is hereby authorized and directed to sign the Agreement on behalf of the County.
- Neither this Resolution nor the Agreement approved hereby is intended to nor does it waive, nor shall it be construed as waiving, any immunity or limitation on liability proved to the County, its officers or employees, by any law, including but not limited to any such immunity or limitation appearing in the Kansas Tort Claims Act or amendments thereto. Furthermore, neither this Resolution nor the Agreement is intended to, nor does it provide for coverage in excess of the limitation on liability within the Workers Compensation Act K.S.A 44-504 et seq., or amendments thereto.
- The County understands and further by execution of this Resolution and the Agreement agrees that it will comply with the requirement of the Worker Compensation Act and amendments thereto and furthermore understands that in accordance with the BYLAWS AND INTERLOCAL COOPERATION AGREEMENT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE COOPERATIVE MAY BE SUBJECT TO ASSESSMENT.
- One copy of the signed Agreement shall be Mailed to the Administrator of KWORCC, along with a copy of this Resolution, one copy of the signed Agreement shall be filed with the County Register of Deeds, and one copy of the signed agreement shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Kansas
The foregoing Resolution was adopted by a majority vote of the Board of County Commissioners of the above County, State of Kansas on this 20th day of December, 2022.
___John Ruder
ATTEST: CHAIRMAN,
Laura Montgomery Board of County Commissioners
County Clerk
Berland made a motion to sign December 13th and 14th minutes. Ruder second the motion.
Ruder made a motion to review and sign the weekly vouchers as follows. Berland second the motion.
FUND WARRANTS AMOUNT
County General 79544 50,000.00
County General 79888-79613 18,094.38
Road & Bridge 79545 – 79576 34,813.78
Noxious Weed 79577 193.86
R&B Spec Hwy Improv 79578 106,000.00
Sanitation 79579-79587 5,866.99
TOTAL 196,874.63
With no further business to transact, Ruder made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Berland second the motion.
Adopted this 20th day of December, 2022
ROOKS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
______________________________________
John Ruder, Chairman
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Greg Balthazor, Member
______________________________________
Tim Berland, Member
ATTEST:
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Laura Montgomery, Certified County Clerk