COMMISSIONERS’ PROCEEDINGS’
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
The Rooks County Board of Commissioners met with the following present: Chairman, John Ruder, and Member, Tim Berland. Member, Greg Balthazor was absent but called into the meeting. Laura Montgomery, County Clerk, was present to write the minutes. Virgie Laska was present to write a report for the Stockton Sentinel. Ruder called the meeting to order and asked all to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
Ruder talked with David Reed on the phone about the expense for the building repairs being paid out of the golf course funds. Chuck Comeau, from Red Bud was added to the agenda at 10:15. Agenda was accepted with changes.
Julie Yarmer with Freedom Claims visited with the Commissioners about 2023 Health Insurance for the County. The rates from BCBS are up about 5% and the dental increased 6%. Superior Vision had no rate increase. The cost for the 750 plan is under 8.5% from the estimate and the 1500 plan is under 21.44% from the estimate. Yarmer explained the savings report. There is a new procedure for prescription claims. The employees will not see this as it will be reflected at the pharmacy. There will be new cards for BCBS and Freedom Claims along with new information. Berland asked about providers being the same. The majority of providers in Kansas are in network.
The commissioners reviewed the minutes from Oct 31st. Ruder made a motion to approve the minutes with corrections. Berland second the motion and Balthazor agreed.
Berland weekly report: Damar blacktop starting to fall apart in a two-mile area. The worst area is between P and O Roads. He will talk with Rich Bouchey about it along with some other road concerns.
Balthazor weekly report: He has received a lot of telephone calls about rocking roads that don’t lead anywhere, mostly on 30 Road. People are also concern about losing so many Road & Bridge employees. He wants an executive session with Rich Bouchey.
Berland received a letter from USPS about not being able to deliver mail on Logan Road to three people. Bouchey fixed two miles on the road but not all the way to the brown school house as he had talked about. Now the entire Logan Road is bad, very rough and bumpy, but not dusty. Ruder said he also received the same letter.
Rich Bouchey, Road Supervisor, weekly report: The Zurich blacktop was denied for the second half of the program.
Ruder made a motion to sign the Landfill check in the amount of $9,765.40. Berland second the motion and Balthazor agreed.
The commissioners accepted the fuel bid from Farmers Union Coop out of Stockton in the amount of $23,527.20.
Bouchey presented the October fee report for Road & Bridge and Sanitation.
Bouchey presented the payment schedule for the loader. The total cost is $213,000, with three payments of $77,508.13. The first payment is due in 2024.
Bouchey informed the commissioners the Road & Bridge is going to be over budget for 2022. Ruder said the clerk will get the budget republished in December.
Bouchey said he is losing employees left and right. Dryden had given his notice so he can farm and Butler has given his notice due to a disability. Axelson is on Family Medical Leave. There are several employees that need to take vacation time before the end of the year.
Bouchey had an annual safety meeting last week and 21 out of 24 employees where there. Bouchey did the meeting by himself and didn’t have anyone else come in to do the safety training. He plans on holding another safety meeting in February or March. What he got out of the meeting is the employees are wanting incentives for staying on the job for long term. The employees who have been with the county a long time, over 25 years are asking for a reason to continue working for the county.
Bouchey has an employee who is expecting a baby after the first of the year. He requested to allow the employee to carry over his comp time to next year. The request was granted by the board.
Bouchey also received letter from the USPS. The road crew is working north of Woodston laying down rock. They are also hauling rock on E Rd between 30 and 31 Roads. Berland asked about the Damar Blacktop. Bouchey said it just needs patched.
Ruder requested an executive session to discuss non-elected personnel for 10 minutes, 10:01 to 10:10 with Bouchey, Berland, Balthazor and Ruder present. Upon returning to open session there was no further discussion. Balthazor left the meeting.
Bouchey and commissioners discuss equipment.
Chuck Comeau, with Red Bud, was in to discuss Red Bud Facility in Plainville. in current state. The 501c Board contacted —- who helps with special action care plan. They have made major strives to getting our own staffing. They have also helped with the Feasibility Study. They looked at three sites; the existing site, one on Mill Street and one out by the hospital. The existing site is the most economical. They are looking at USDA for financing. Engineering and Architecture needs to be completed before the financing can be done. The Department of Commerce has a Kansas Housing Loan Program. It is for housing and adult care facilities. The engineering and architecture will cost $777,000. Because the county still owns the property, they have to guarantee the loan. As of January 20th, the program will no longer be available. The money comes from the state and Astra Bank is willing to do the loan. They get 2% over the 4.92%. If they have the commitment from the USDA there is no liability to the county, if they don’t get the commitment then they won’t do the loan. The 501c Board is asking for commitment from the County to guarantee the $777,000. They have 120 days for the engineering and architecture to be completed for the closing. The money will be reimbursed back to the County within one year. Comeau needs commitment before the end of the year. The clerk will find out if the ARPA Funds can be used for the loan guarantee.
Ruder made a motion to sign the CMB for Chesapeake Road House, LLC for consumption on premise and for unopen containers not for consumption on premises. Berland second the motion.
Ruder made a motion to approve employee annual gift cards in the amount of $75.00. Berland second the motion.
Berland made a motion to sign the minutes for October 31st.
The commissioners reviewed and approved the Treasurer quarterly report.
Heather Poore, Appraiser, was in to discuss the value of land. She informed the commissioners there is 15% to 20% increase in land value. Her office will have class this week. The State is moving to new program that will allow the appraisers to pull data from adjoining counties. She is going reclassify her new employee.
Montgomery presented a request from Jack Glisson for KS State 8-2010. Designation of Authorized Emergency Vehicles. “Any particular vehicle listed in subsection (b) is K.S.A. …shall be designated, … as an authorized emergency vehicle….”. Rooks County has no procedures or resolution to allow the request. The commissioners agreed not to allow the request and not to allow any other such request.
The commissioners moved to do the canvass for the November 8, 2022 General Election. Balthazor, who was unable to attend, appointed Chet Look to be on the Board of Canvassers.
The Board reviewed all votes casted for and sent to the Secretary of State’s Office on election night. They found one error on the Supreme Court Judge, Melissa Taylor Standridge. This was corrected.
The commissioners reviewed all provisional ballots casted in the General Election. There was a total of 27 provisional ballots with 14 being accepted and hand counted by the commissioners. There was 12 rejected provisional ballots for the voter not being registered and 2 rejected ballots for the voter being registered out of county.
With no further canvass business, Look left the meeting and Ruder and Berland continued the commissioner’s regular meeting.
Ruder made a motion to review and sign weekly vouchers as follows. Berland second the motion.
FUND WARRANTS TOTAL
General 79222 – 79309 55,913.28
Noxious Weed 79310 – 79314 5,483.46
Sheriff Equip Reserve 79315 – 79316 3,285.00
Health Department 79317 803.46
Custodian Equip Res 79318-79320 840.46
Golf Course 79321 – 79326 2,305.18
RCED 79327 – 79328 149.73
Dare Fund 79329 850.91
CKLS 79330 511.29
Total 70,142.99
Ruder made a motion to pay for the repairs to the building at the golf course out of the Federal Land Payment. Berland second the motion.
With no further business to transact, Ruder made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Berland second the motion.
Adopted this 22nd day of November, 2022
ROOKS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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John Ruder, Chairman
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Greg Balthazor, Member
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Tim Berland, Member
ATTEST:
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Laura Montgomery, Certified County Clerk