COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
December 26, 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. 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 changed; Eric Biggs was changed to 9:00 followed by Danny Knoll.
Biggs discussed roads and where the road crews had removed the snow. Biggs also, talked about the roads that need the most maintenance.
Danny Knoll, Sanitation crew chief, was in with landfill concerns. He asked about supervisor position. Ruder said the commissioners plan on talking about it later.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session from 9:09 am to 9:15 am for non-elected personnel and salary negotiation with Eric Bigs and the three commissioners. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion
Prockish told Biggs he had a call about 8 Road and Berland said he also received a few calls about roads.
The commissioners and Biggs discussed a job applicant. Biggs said he like the mechanic and the county should offer him something more than base wage. Ruder said the commissioners will discuss and decide later.
Biggs and the commissioners discussed paying for an employee’s CDL Test. The employee must pass the written test with 80% and then an instructor will need to ride along before going to Phillipsburg to get the CDL. Because of the cost, the commissioners discussed options for reimbursing the employee.
Danielle Muir, County Attorney, was in for the sale of Red Bud. Ashley Comeau sent an e-mail to Muir. The Senior Services Board has concerns with the transfer of the title with no funding for repairs on the aging building. The USDA contact passed away about 10 days ago and now there are some concerns about not being able to get the loan. Muir and the commissioners discussed options for a contract/purchase agreement. Rusty Hrabe, Chairman of the Senior Services Board, said they are wanting to lock in the interest rate but can’t until they get title to the property.
Ruder called Ashley Comeau and put her on speaker phone so she could be part of the public hearing.
Ruder opened the hearing for public comments for the future of Red Bud Estates. The purpose of the hearing is to transfer for a minimal fee the property owned by Rooks County, known as Red Bud Estates in Plainville, to the Rooks County Senior Services. With no public comments, Ruder moved to close the public hearing.
Muir told the commissioners the Senior Services Board didn’t want to accept the deed with no funding available yet. All parties present discussed the option of a purchase agreement. If the financing isn’t approved then the agreement becomes null and void and the property becomes the sole property of the county. Muir will work on a purchase agreement and have it available for the commissioners to review by next week.
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session from 10:23 am to 10:33 am with Danielle Muir and three commissioners for attorney-client privilege. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed. Upon returning to open session, there was no further discussion.
Butch Post, EMD, gave Ruder a bid for a new laptop from CK Tech. It was for $1,300 and included the labor to transfer software and programs.
Ruder made a motion to allow Post to purchase a laptop from CK Tech. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Commissioners reviewed December 19th minutes. Ruder made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign letters to the EMD applicants thanking them for the applications. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Berland made a motion to transfer $185,000 from equipment reserve funds to the County General Fund as allowed in the 2023 budget. Prockish second the motion and Ruder agreed.
Ruder opened the public hearing to amend the County General budget and Rooks County Economic Development budget. The amendment to County General was to add back in reimbursement money. The amendment to RCED Budget was to allow them to use carry over money. Ruder asked for any public comments. There was no public comment, Ruder closed the public hearing.
Ruder made a motion to approve the amended budget as presented. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
The commissioners reviewed the Treasurer’s Quarterly statement.
Berland made a motion to sign December 12 and December 19th minutes. Prockish second the motion and Ruder agreed.
Montgomery requested to allow her deputy to carry comp time to be used in January. Kim Northup, Treasurer, requested to allow her employees to carry over their comp time to be use in January.
Ruder made a motion to allow the clerk and treasurer employees to carry over comp time. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
The commissioners discuss changing the Road Supervisor position to non-exempt. Ruder made a motion to change the Road and Bridge Supervisor to a non-exempt position. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
The commissioners requested Montgomery find out if they need to advertise for a Sanitation Supervisor or if they can promote from within the department.
Prockish made a motion to go into executive session from 11:32 am to 11:37 am to discuss non-elected personnel with the three commissioners and Montgomery. Ruder second the motion and Berland agreed. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
Prockish made a motion to compensate Ronda Morgan in the amount of $500 per month while she is acting interim appraiser starting the month of December. Ruder second the motion and Berland agreed.
With no further business to transact, Ruder made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Adopted this 29 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