COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS
MARCH 26, 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.
The commissioners review March 12th and March 13th minutes. Ruder made a motion to approve March 12th minutes with corrections and March 13th as presented. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Prockish met with the Golf Course Board and they discussed the sale of surplus personal property in the restaurant building at the golf course. The sale needs to be published three times and then they can accept seal bids for the property. The Golf Course Board will organize and set up for the sale. Prockish made a motion to sell the surplus personal property located in the restaurant building at the golf course by sealed bids. Ruder second the motion and Berland agreed.
Prockish weekly report: He had a Community Corrections meeting. He has received some feed-back on the issues at the school and day care center. Prockish talked with a fair board member and Eric Biggs, Road supervisor, about the track at the fairgrounds.
Kim Northup, County Treasurer and Denise Murchie presented signature cards for Solution North Bank for the commissioners to sign. Ruder made a motion to sign the signature cards. Prockish second the motion Berland agreed.
Northup and Murchie presented small funds vouchers for the commissioners to review and sign. Prockish made a motion to sign the small funds vouchers. Ruder second the motion and Berland agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign March 12th and March 13th minutes. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Craig Poe, with High Plains Mental Health, was in to visit with the commissioners about next year’s budget request. He discussed his background and his current position with High Plains. They saw over 300 people from Rooks County in 2023. He is requesting the same funding. They provide services at the hospital and the three school districts. He would like to expand the services at the schools. Poe answered questions from the board.
Eric Biggs, Road Supervisor, weekly report: He presented bids for three pickup trucks.
The road crew has been rocking and putting down shale on AA Road, 12 Road and 10 Road out of Zurich. They will be taking out trees by Niblock’s on 20 Road and B Road. On Codell Road going into town they will take out trees and clean out the ditch along that section.
There is one loader that needs work on it due to neglect going to Central Power for maintenance and repairs.
Biggs presented two job applications. He has an employee who will leaving for a couple of months.
Osborne County is having an auction and has a service truck and grader for sale. If purchased, Biggs will retire an older machine. Commissioners discussed biding on the grader. Commissioners approved to bid on grader. The service truck is a 2003, it comes with a crane and on-board air and doesn’t require a CDL to be operated. The commissioners approved bidding up to $60,000 for the grader and $35,000 for the truck.
Danny Knoll, Sanitation Supervisor, said Ray Swaney had finished spraying the inside of the building at the landfill.
Jan Johnson, with CASA, was in to visit with the commissioners about next year’s funding. In 2024 the child service is the same as three years ago. She explained what the program does and how it helps children. Johnson said there is a need for more advocates in Rooks County. Advocates are volunteers and require background checks and 40 hours of training. She discussed expenses and where she finds funding.
The commissioners discussed the Water Resource Building rent. The rental contract is due to be renewed. Prockish proposed asking for $1,800 a month in rent. Berland and Ruder agreed.
Ruder made a motion to endorse Township #3 and #9 bond insurance checks. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign the check from the State of Kansas for the Water Resource Building in the amount of $1,000. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign the JJ Oil fuel application for the Emergency Manager Director. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign the Airport Insurance application with Garret Insurance. Berland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
Ruder made a motion to sign the Grant Application for the Health Department from the State of Kansas in the amount of $79,676.00 and a second Grant Application for the Health Department from the State of Kansas in the amount of $42,630.00. Beland second the motion and Prockish agreed.
At 11:00, the commissioners canvass votes for the 2024 PPP on March 19, 2024.
There were four provisional ballots, 2 were opened and counted and two were not counted. The votes casted were read and compared to the tally sheet. There were no corrections.
Ruder made a motion to review and sign the early vouchers for March 15th and the weekly vouchers as follows. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
March 15 Vouchers
Fund Warrants Amount
General 82625-82635 $3,525.97
Road 82636-82638 $1,094.65
Health Dept 82639-82640 $1,473.71
Sheriff VIN 82641 $250.00
Grand Total $6,344.33
March 26 Weekly Vouchers
Fund Warrants Amount
General 82642-82719 $20,785.97
Road 82720-82734 $44,662.31
Noxious Weed 82735 $184.48
Health Dept 82736-82748 $25,513.08
Sanitation 82749-82752 $10,830.13
Golf Course 82753-82754 $3,671.08
RCED 82755-82758 $1,776.62
CKLS 82759 $2,668.88
Sales Tax 240312 $22,525.00
Grand Total $130,617.55
Ruder made a motion to go into executive session from 10:36 am to 10:46 am with three commissioners and County Attorney Danielle Muir, on the phone, to discuss client-attorney privilege. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion.
The commissioners presented retirement plaques to Butch Post, EMD, Kim Northup, Treasurer, and Terri Moore, Deputy Treasurer for their years of service to the county. Post, Northup and Moore are retiring April 1st.
With no further business to transact, Ruder made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Prockish second the motion and Berland agreed.
Adopted this 2nd day of April, 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