Allen County Commissioners' Meeting Minutes

IOLA, KANSAS
OFFICE OF THE ALLEN COUNTY CLERK
June 17, 2003

The Allen County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 8:30 a.m. with Chairperson Dick Works, Commissioner Walt Regehr Jr., Commissioner Kent Thompson, and Sherrie L. Riebel, County Clerk.

Commissioners corrected and approved the minutes of the June 10, 2003 meeting.

Bill King, Public Works Director, discussed the current bridge project 1C-3663-01. The project started June 16, 2003.

Bill discussed the county auction that had been held on Friday, June 13, 2003. The total sales were $7,159.00. Some items didn’t get a bid on what they were worth so they were withheld from sale.

Chris Hotop, Burns & McDonnell Waste Consultants Inc. Engineer, and Tom Brown, Burns & McDonnell Waste Consultants Inc. Project Manager, gave a presentation of Past, Present and Future of Subtitle "D" Landfills. Mr. Brown explained the past of dumps, landfills and current Subtitle "D" landfills. Mr. Hotop reviewed some of Allen County’s previous projects and explained where the future of Subtitle "D" landfill would be headed. Discussion on items Allen County will be required to do like landfill expansions in 2-3 years for new cell (hydrogeology, permits & construct), gas collection system expansion (air permitting consideration), and continued ground water monitoring (semi annual detection and assessment) and items Allen County could do like Master Planning, Public Involvement, Resource Recovery, leachate management and such. Mr. Hotop explained the consideration of facility name change to Resource Recover and Disposal Facility which would improve public image before expansion, to review proposals from Burns & McDonnell such as task oriented work authorizations, schedule intensive, to estimated Not-to-Exceed which would allow for cost control & future budgets. Discussion on options open to the landfill and commissioners.

Bill May, Allen County Hospital Administrator, wanted to visit with the commissioners about HCA and rumors that are circulating. He stated the doctors that are leaving are leaving because advancements for them and cardiac rehabilitation was schedule to shut down before the takeover. Mr. May discussed some future expansion projects and future plans of Allen County Hospital. Discussion followed. Mr. May discussed the scheduled first board meeting since HCA has taken over. He stated the board is going from 11 to 9 persons and serve as an advisory board only. He stated there have been no policy changes since the takeover.

Gary Kline, Mid-States Communications, discussed near future plans with the phone system in the jail. Discussion followed. Commissioners requested Mr. Kline visit with Sheriff Atkins about what his plans are for within the offices.

Robbie Atkins, Allen County Sheriff, discussed bid specs for the phone system in the jail. He reported the jail construction is on hold until the conduit for security is in. The meeting scheduled for today was cancelled due to a death in the corporate office. Sheriff Atkins discussed the size of the jail. Discussion followed.

Commissioners and Sheriff Atkins discussed budget cuts.

Jerry Williams, Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging, presented a 2004 budget request for $1,035 to assist in the Senior Care Act matching funds requirement. This is not an increase from 2003 budget. Mr. Williams discussed services the agency provides for the elderly. SEK AAA serves Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson and Woodson Counties. The cost is estimated per participant per county. Commissioners will take the request under consideration.

Commissioners approve Community National Bank to use the South side of the square for the Sidewalk Sale August 2, 2003 to serve refreshments. Commissioners approved.

Alan Weber, Allen County Councilor, reviewed Shaughnessy Fickel and Scott Architect’s billing for the new jail. Discussion followed. Alan reported they are within the up-to-date schedule of billing.

Alan discussed the occupational tax for a liquor store. Allen County cannot charge an occupational tax but the townships could by statute.

Donald Leapheart, City of Iola Fire Chief/EMS Director, discussed ambulance runs that are made but refused. Chief Leapheart discussed charging a basic fee for habitual calls. He explained some situations that are occurring consistently. He suggested a $50.00 fee. Commissioners will research this consideration.

Chief Leapheart discussed remounts for ambulances. He requested the commissioners consider using the old chassis as flat beds with tankers to donate to the rural fire districts within Allen County. Discussion followed on cost and long-term use. Commissioners will consider.

Commissioner Regehr moved to approve the request for $82,624.00 for 2004 budget year. Commissioner Works seconded, motion passed 3-0-0

Virginia Foster and Roy Smith, Allen County residents, discussed their property taxes.

Commissioners approved the following documents:

a) Clerk's Journal Entries # 17-18

b) Clerk's vouchers totaling $ 129,510.86

c) Payroll Changes

With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned until June 24, 2003 at 8:30 a.m. in the Commission room of the courthouse.

Please remember, minutes are unofficial until approved by the commissioners' at their next meeting.