Allen County Commissioners' Meeting Minutes

IOLA, KANSAS
OFFICE OF THE ALLEN COUNTY CLERK
January 13, 2004

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

Commissioners corrected and approved the minutes of the January 6, 2004 meeting.

Roy Smith, Allen County Undersheriff, discussed having to remove the doorframe from the new jail to install water heaters. Discussion followed. Commissioners will visit with the architects.

Donald Leapheart, City of Iola Fire Chief/Allen County EMS Director, discussed a light bar for an ambulance. Discussion followed. He requested the county to purchase the replacement for the ambulance, usually the city pays for any cost under $1,000.00. Discussion followed. Commissioners approved Chief Leapheart to purchase a light bar not to exceed $1,000.00.

Chief Leapheart discussed information from the hospital concerning the ambulance service schedules. Discussion followed on options to solve the scheduling.

Bill King, Public Works Director, discussed the airport. He reported there is a DC4 setting at the airport.

Bill discussed mutual aid to the City of Humboldt on transportation. The county hauled a machine for them.

Commissioner Works moved to pass the Chairmanship to Commissioner Kent Thompson. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 2-0-1

Loren Korte, Personal Service Insurance, Inc. discussed service his company can offer to Allen County for Property and Casualty insurance. They are an Employers Mutual Company, Inc. carrier since 1987. He has nine full time employees in Iola and Moran offices, all residents of Allen County. He has a full time person to handle Commercial/Municipality Policy Service. Mr. Korte has over 20 years insurance experience and has been a lifetime resident of Allen County. PSI currently writes 16 cities/schools/rural water districts with EMC. Mr. Korte stated he has the time and the staff to handle Allen County’s needs. Discussion followed with questions and answers. The commission to EMC insurance is a fixed rated to all insurance companies. Mr. Korte stated he would be available to bid.

Jack Shaller, Allgeier, Martin & Associates, Inc., discussed the next phase of the airport expansion. The paving and lighting will be presented as a contract for this spring or early summer. We would be changing our airport rating. Discussion followed on economic development. The grant project is a 50/50 cost share with Allen County and the State of Kansas. Discussion followed on what the county is doing for in-kind work share cost.

Commissioner Thompson took a call from Shirley Grewing concerning signing for Dodge Drive. He requested Bill to review the request.

Sharon Utley, Allen County Treasurer, Cara Barkdoll, Register of Deeds, Bill King, Public Works Director, Sherrie L. Riebel, Allen County Clerk, discussed raises for county employees.

Sharon discussed interest rates. She mentioned the Governor wants to raise sales taxes. Discussion followed on all kinds of taxes.

Mark Murrill, Murrill Insurance Company, discussed service for county insurances for Property and Casualty insurance. He is the current EMC carrier for county insurance. Mark stated he would first like to state his appreciation for the opportunity for past service, and secondly apologized for past service and is at a better place now to service the county in the future. Discussion followed on changes within his company. He is working his own Commercial/Municipality Policy Service. He stated he is looking to have improved service due to on hand service by him. One employee has been with the company for 10 years and has one new employee who has been with him about one year. He handles nine cities in the area and two schools within Allen County. Discussion followed on premiums and dividends. He stated he would like to say they should be stabilizing premiums.

Commissioners moved to nominate Larry Hart and Donna Talkington to the Allen County Hospital Board.

Commissioner Works moved to reappoint Ken Gilpin, Tom Nevans and Neal Barclay to Allen County Revolving Loan Committee. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0.

Commissioner Works moved to reappoint Commissioner Walt Regehr, Jr. to SEK Mental Health Board. Commissioner Thompson second, motion passed 3-0-0.

Commissioner Works moved reappoint Andy Dunlap and Commissioner Dick Works as his alternate to the Regional Planning Revolving Loan Committee. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0.

Commissioner Regehr moved to reappoint Dr. Porter, Joan Willis and Jean Barber to the Multi County Health Board. Commissioner Works second, motion passed 3-0-0

Commissioner Regehr moved to reappoint Commissioner Kent Thompson to Resource, Conservation and Development Committee. Commissioner Works second, motion passed 3-0-0

Commissioner Thompson moved to reappoint Anna Mae Weilert-Works and Verna Devine to the Southeast Kansas Area Agency on Aging Board. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0.

Commissioner Works moved to reappoint Ben Middleton to the SEK-AAA Advisory Council Members. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0

Commissioner Regehr moved to reappoint Kent Thompson and Bill King, alternate, to the Southeast Kansas Solid Waste Operating Authority and Operating Authority Board of Directors. Commissioner Works second, motion passed 3-0-0

Commissioner Thompson moved to reappoint Dick Works, to the Executive Committee of the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0

Commissioners discussed William Cook, Surveyor, service to Allen County.

Commissioner Works moved to appoint David L. Ensminger to serve another term (March 1, 2004 to March 3, 2008) as non-lawyer member to the 31^st District Judicial Nominating Commission to the Supreme Court of Kansas, as required by K.S.A. 20-2905. Commissioner Regehr second, motion carried 3-0-0

Phil Young, DOC & JJA Administrator, discussed an amendment to the budget to include utilities. Discussion followed on $1800 of un-expended funds. Commissioner Works moved to approve Chairman Thompson to sign the application for un-expended funds from the Department of Corrections. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0.

Commissioner Thompson discussed a request of funding for Big Sister/Big Brother through JJA title grants. Phil requested they contract state for funding.

Sandra Drake, County Appraiser, discussed valuation and hearings.

Alan Weber, Allen County Counselor, discussed change orders for the new jail.

Debbie Taiclet, Rob Gill, and Rick Gill, Iola Insurance Associates, visited with the Commissioners concerning service they can provide to Allen County for Property and Casualty insurance. They provide service for several cities, a few school districts and participate with another insurance company for Montgomery County. They work hard to save the counties and cities monies. Discussion followed. Mr. Gill stated they don’t give back commission but earn the commission they do get. Their main office is in Cherryville with outlet office in Iola with two Allen County residents as employees.

Terry Knupp, Westra Construction, Inc., discussed the boilers (heaters) for the jail. Discussion followed on the size of the door opening. The door scheduled in is a 36" door with a 40 inch opening with out the door in, needs to be at least 42" door with extra inches for jam. There will be a construction meeting new Tuesday; it will be tabled until the meeting. Discussion followed on some other items.

Bill and Sandra discussed the value of merit raises and the cost of living.

Commissioner Works moved to increase employee wages 20 cents per hour (COLA) and in addition each department head will have a pool not to exceed 20 cent per hour per employee per department to distribute based on merit. No employee will receive in excess of .30-cent merit based raise. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed 3-0-0 Appraiser, Public Works Director and Elected Officials are excluded from this increase until Commissioners consider each departments compliance with previous years budgets.

Commissioners reviewed Iola Township, Elm Township and Deer Creek Township Annual Reports.

Commissioners approved the following documents:

a) Clerk's vouchers totaling $25,521.75

b) Clerk's Journal Entries Pay Changes

c) Abatements RE Value 2785, $458.10, Year 2003

d) Abatements PP Value 1484, $215.52, Year 2003

e) Abatements OIL Value 95, #11.26, Year 2003

With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned until January 20, 2004 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.