IOLA, KANSAS
OFFICE OF THE ALLEN COUNTY CLERK
January 20, 2004
Disclaimer: These unofficial minutes are not official
until approved by the Commission. Please contact the Allen County
Commission Office or the Clerk’s Office regarding any questions or
accuracy of the minutes prior to the Commission approval.
The Allen County Board of Commissioners met in regular
session at 8:30 a.m. with Chairperson Kent
Thompson, Commissioner Walt Regehr Jr.,
Commissioner Dick Works, and Sherrie L.
Riebel, County Clerk.
Commissioners corrected and approved the minutes of the
January 13, 2004 meeting.
Hugh Lester, Shaughnessy Fickel & Scott, discussed
the size of a door on the jail for inserting equipment. Discussion
followed. The size of hot water heater in the bids was smaller than the
one delivered. Commissioners decided it wasn’t necessary to redo the
door because items can be ordered to fit through the door.
Commissioner Works moved to accept Iola Register as the
official newspaper for Allen County for 2004. Commissioner Regehr
seconded, motioned passed 3-0-0.
Commissioner Thompson moved to reappoint Beverly
Franklin to serve on the SEK Mental Health Board for a three-year term.
Commissioner Works seconded, motion passed 3-0-0.
Commissioner Regehr moved to accept the Board’s
recommendation for Diane Bertone to represent Allen County as County
Health Officer. Commissioner Works second, motion passed 3-0-0
Commissioners discussed ambulance subsidies. Discussion
followed. No action was taken at this time.
Commissioners will not be meeting on February 10 to
attend Kansas Government Days in Topeka.
Bill King, Public Works Director, discussed up coming
bids for machinery and equipment.
Bill reported Steve Cole would be retiring March 16,
2004.
Bill discussed landfill costs. He will gather
information for 2003 expenses.
Bill discussed the airport project. He stated Swab
Eaton had to cancel his appointment for today.
Bill reported Marty Taylor, G.I.S., is working on land
description for farmland at the airport. I t will be put out for bid late
this winter.
Bill reported the Bobcat is not working, as it should.
Discussion followed. Bill will check into replacing the Bobcat.
Robbie Atkins, Allen County Sheriff, and Roy Smith,
Undersheriff, discussed vehicles for the sheriff’s department. Sheriff
Atkins stated there is no money in the 2004 budget for new vehicles and he
is looking at paying out vacation and sick leave to a retiring employee.
Discussion followed on used vehicles and light bars. Johnson County is
buying LCD lights, and that is what he would like to buy for a new
vehicle. He requested to purchase used highway patrol cars to replace two
of the current vehicles. Discussion followed on maintenance on some of the
other deputy cars. Commissioners requested Sheriff Atkins check prices for
new vehicles before decisions are made on the used vehicles. Sheriff
Atkins stated the used vehicles would be a "stop gap" fix for
the department. He mentioned that the pickup trucks are needed to haul any
meth equipment confiscated. No action was taken at this time.
Claudia Christiansen, Southeast Kansas Community Action
Program Interim Director of Transportation out of Girard, discussed what
they do for Allen County; they provided 5,000 miles of transportation;
they actually transported 1,522 persons (she stated some of these maybe
the same person); donations from the riders totaled $273.00; the
transportation operation cost was $4,567.86 for Allen County in 2003.
Discussion followed on total services provided to the entire Southeast
Kansas, which include Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Linn,
and Montgomery. Ms. Christiansen discussed future visions concerning
computerizing vehicles with GPS systems. She stated grants would have to
be applied for a new facility and equipment. Discussion followed on the
need for lifts on vehicles and other needs. SEK CAP is available to
general public; no age limits or ride limits. She stated it is published
twice at year in the local register. Ms. Christiansen stated if any extra
funding is available for transportation to keep SEK CAP in mind and that
since Allen County’s transportation is strictly elderly, that they could
work more in our area.
Sandra Drake, Allen County Appraiser, presented wage
information on appraisers in the 17 SEK counties.
Alan Weber, Allen County Counselor, discussed farmland
rent at the airport.
Commissioner Works moved to go into executive session for 5 minutes to
discuss non-elected personnel. Commissioner Regehr second, motion passed
3-0-0. Those in the room will be Commissioner Thompson, Commissioner
Works, Commissioner Regehr, Alan Weber, and Sherrie L. Riebel. The time is
now 10:40 a.m. Commissioners reconvened at 10:45 a.m. No action was taken.
Commissioners met with Mark Ledbetter, Westra Construction, Inc., Terry
Knupp, Project Manager, and Hugh Lester, Shaughnessy Fickel and Scott, to
review the jail project progress. Mark discussed April 9, 2004 being the
absolute move in date. He reviewed the projected schedule. He reported
some concern with the demolition of the judge’s offices. Discussion
followed. Mark stated the work on the judge’s chambers is scheduled to
start February 2, 2004. Hugh requested the schedule for the court area be
on paper so that everyone would be expecting the same time frame. Terry
reported metal frames are in place and reported on other items.
Commissioners reviewed Geneva, Osage and Salem Township’s Annual
reports.
Commissioners approved the following documents:
a)
Clerk's Journal Entries # 1
b)
Clerk's vouchers totaling $380,919.77
c) 16/20 M Trucks Abatements Value 1644, $163.00, Year 2003
With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was
adjourned until January 27, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. in the Commission room of
the courthouse.
