IOLA, KANSAS
OFFICE OF THE ALLEN COUNTY CLERK
February 13, 2001
The Allen County Board of
Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. with Chairperson Kent
Thompson, Commissioner Dick Works, Commissioner Walt Regehr, Jr. and
Sherrie L. Riebel, County Clerk.
Commissioners corrected
and approved the minutes of the February 6, 2001 meeting.
Ron Boren, Boren Roofing,
and Bill King, Public Works Director, discussed Rhode Island Road. He
stated he had heard Colt Energy had offered to black top a portion of the
road. Discussion followed. Mr. Boren state he would rather see Rhode
Island Road done before some that are scheduled. Commissioners stated the
roads are usually on the list for several years before action is taken,
due to preparing the roads. Commissioners stated they could put a traffic
counter on the road.
Bill discussed an unhappy
county resident. This resident is unhappy with the road work in the
county. Commissioners assured him, his men are doing a good job, that some
people are never happy. This episode brought up a security issue.
Discussion followed. No action was taken.
Bill discussed a meeting
with the Allen County Solid Waste Committee held on Monday, February 12,
2001. He explained some comments expressed during the meeting. He stated
several were discussing recycling. Bill discussed all the different items
a tire shredder would shred. Commissioners will be scheduling a hearing
within the next few weeks to discuss the recommendations of the committee
and the county's solid waste plan..
Bill discussed a call from
Woodson County requesting Allen County to enter into an inter-local
agreement to chip seal 20 miles of their roads. Discussion followed as to
the pros and cons. No action was taken. Bill will continue discussions
with Woodson County road and bridge personnel.
Bill discussed a letter
from Green Thumb. The current Green Thumb worker is working at the
landfill. Green Thumb is requesting a $250 donation from Allen County.
Commissioners approved the donation.
Dan Willis, Chairman of
the Solid Waste Authority Committee, discussed the half cent sales tax.
for solid waste Commissioners stated that the half cent sales tax has to
be used back for landfill purposes only. The only monies that can be used
from the landfill are the tipping fees collected from other counties.
Discussion followed on the different types of things that can be recycled.
Mr. Willis stated the committee thought the tipping fees were too low. It
was explained the tipping fees would have to be kept competitive or we
would lose business and revenue.
Bill reported on Senate
Bill 210. He reported there will be a hearing at state on February 14,
2001. Discussion followed. Commissioners will contact Derrick Schmidt,
Stanley Dreher and Jerry Williams, our district representatives in Topeka.
Bill discussed a policy
for Quarry (haul) road reimbursement from KDOT. Commissioners reviewed the
policy. A Quarry Road is considered to be a road leading from a material
producer whether a rock quarry, sand pit or gravel pit. Quarry Roads are
distinguished from Haul Roads which are roads leading to and from a plant
to the work site and which are covered in the latest edition of the KDOT
Standard Specifications and applicable Special Provisions. Implementation
procedures and Administrative procedures are listed. Discussion followed.
No action was taken at this time. Alan Weber will be asked to review the
proposed contract.
Brad Fagen, Schwab-Eaton
Engineer, discussed bridge project #1C-3662-01 on Central Street. He
presented three drawings of possible re-alignment of the Central Street
bridge. Discussion followed. Brad stated he felt they could do the
replacement in 120 days once they start. No action was taken at this time.
Bill discussed the bridge
project #1C-3663-01 (Nebraska Rd) was scheduled to proceed with
engineering right a way. Brad reported the low water bridge was accepted
by the KDOT to be replaced. This is the next bridge on the five year
replacement plan.
David Beck, Emergency
Preparedness Director, discussed tentative approval he had received on
grants to benefit firefighters. He stated one grant was for a technical
level of firefighting (City of Iola employees). The grant would be to send
9 firefighters to class, wages, room and board not included. The second
class grant is an operations training grant to send volunteer firefighters
to achieve another level of training which would pay for training; wages,
room and board not included. Discussion followed. Commissioners approved
to go forward with the grant.
Robbie Atkins, Allen
County Sheriff, discussed setting up line item funds to track the expenses
associated with the K-9 drug dog. Commissioners reminded Sheriff Atkins of
his statement that the dog was not supposed to cost the county anything. A
revenue and expense account will be set up to track expenses of the dog.
Sheriff Atkins discussed
transport for prisoners located out of state. One is in Indiana and one in
Florida. Discussion followed. He discussed expenses of his staff to go get
them. His undersheriff is investigating the cost of a prisoner transport
service. Commissioners requested he check with the City of Iola to make
sure they were willing to stand the cost of retrieving their prisoner from
Florida..
Sheriff Atkins stated he
had received bids on radar units to measure speed. Chanute Radar would
take the two old radars as trade in and $2000.00 for a new radar gun, and
Kustom $1,940.00 for a radar gun with no trade. Commissioners approved the
purchase from Kustom.
Sheriff Atkins stated the
tower the 911 antenna is on is for sale. Commissioners stated they are not
too concerned as the new owner would probably like the income.
Sheriff Atkins requested
to raise the new starting rate for deputies to $9.99. Discussion followed.
No action was taken at this time.
Sheriff Atkins discussed
the need for new vehicles. Commissioners explained that vehicles are not
necessarily replaced every five years. Discussion followed on conditions
of existing vehicles.
Sheriff Atkins discussed a
911 portable radio request from the City of LaHarpe for their seconded
radio. Sheriff Atkins reported Allen County is also short one radio.
Commissioners stated that the 911 fund purchases the initial equipment but
the division is responsible to replace and update their own. Discussion
followed. Sheriff Atkins was instructed to follow up on his earlier
request for a secure channel for emergency situations. The idea was that
he could purchase radios meeting this new criteria and use the replaced
radios for LaHarpe's second officer.
Sheriff Atkins reported he
had cancelled his class due to sickness. He requested to attend a
conference in Wichita. Commissioners approved.
Betty Daniels, Allen
County Treasurer, was in and checked on a bankruptcy action.
Kendall Ashford, Allen
County Cartographer, discussed the Historical Society possibly purchasing
an Allen County plat map that is for sale at a local auction Saturday.
Commissioners denied the
request for matching funds for the Juvenile Justice Grant for 2001. They
will pay the matching grant funds for the 2000 grant.
Sandra Drake, Allen County
Appraiser, reported there are two appraisers qualified to value Monarch
Cement Company. She reported one had appraised the cement plant in Wilson
County. Discussion followed. Commissioners approved Bob Taggert and Assoc.
to appraise Monarch with an estimate of $6 to $10 Thousand for his
services. The other bid was for $10,000.
Donald Leapheart, City of
Iola Fire Chief/EMS Director, Jill Allen, EMS Billing Clerk, and Bill May,
Allen County Hospital Administrator, discussed FAA outlawing the
helicopters landing at the airport. Mr. May explained a letter from FAA
concerning a complaint from a neighbor on helicopter service. Since 1975
helicopters have been landing at the hospital. Mr. May explained the
problems existing. Discussion followed. The aircrew are paramedics and
need to go to the hospital to stabilize patients before flight. Mr. May
stated the turn around time is around an hour, and the delay could be a
life and death matter given the extra time to go to the airport. Chief
Leapheart explained as much as this happens the Iola EMS cannot cover the
extra expense of running crews from the airport to the hospital and back.
They currently provide a firetruck and crew to stand by whenever a
helicopter lands at the hospital. Discussion followed. Commissioners
requested Chief Leapheart to visit with his administrator on costs.
Commissioner Regehr moved
to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel for 5
minutes. Those present will be Commissioner Thompson, Commissioner Works,
Commissioner Regehr, Sherrie L. Riebel, Allen County Clerk, Donald
Leapheart, EMS Director. The time is 11:25. Commissioners came out of
executive session at 11:30 a.m. No action was taken.
Alan Weber, Allen County
Counselor, discussed the change of ownership of Iola Bank and Trust.
Commissioners approved to keep the landfill trust with the same bank,
since they weren't aware of any other trust services in the county.
Commissioners discussed
wages with Sheriff Atkins.
Sherrie discussed the
proposed renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance for 2001. The
current rate is $235.23, proposed to raise to $253.38, $248.07 or $237.82
with the difference being the drug card. Commissioners approved to change
the drug card from $10/15 to $15/$30 and to keep the other benefits the
same. The cost per employee would raise to $237.82.
Sherrie requested an
increase from 32.5 cents to 34.5 cents as per State Standard Mileage Rate
for 2001. This information is from the website published by
IRS.USTREAS.Gov/prod/tax on February 12, 2001. Commissioner Works moved to
move the mileage rate from 32.5 cents to 34.5 cents for 2001. Commissioner
Regehr seconded, motion passed 3-0-0.
Commissioner Works
discussed an entrance along Central Street east out of Humboldt. Numerous
propane trucks use this corner and have difficulty making the turn. An
accident could result in a serious hazard for the City of Humboldt. Bill
stated he would review the pipe to see what the best action would be.
Commissioners discussed
after reviewing the number of hours by Jay Daniels, that they are well
over 30 hours therefore qualifying him for benefits. Commissioner Works
moved to give benefits to Jay Daniels, Maintenance Department employee.
Commissioner Regehr seconded, motion passed 3-0-0.
Commissioner Regehr moved
to purchase five matching chairs for the Commissioners office.
Commissioner Thompson seconded, motion passed 3-0-0.
Commissioners approved the
following documents:
a) Clerk's vouchers
totaling $
b) Clerk's Journal Entries
#
With no further business to
come before the board, the meeting was adjourned until February 20, 2001,
at 8:30 a.m. in the Commission room of the courthouse.
