Allen County Commissioners' Meeting Minutes

IOLA, KANSAS
OFFICE OF THE ALLEN COUNTY CLERK
May 17, 2005

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

Commissioners corrected and approved the minutes of the May 10, 2005meeting.

Thomas R. Williams, Allen County Sheriff, presented the Allen County Sheriff’s Mission Statement for signature. He will frame and hang it in the foyer of the Law Enforcement Center.

Becky Robb, Allen County Fair Board, requested be allowed to offer Allen County employees a free ticket to the tractor pull and draft horse pull on July 31, 2005 to show their appreciation in all the hard work throughout the year. Commissioners said "Yes, Thank you for the support of our employees".

Jan Kershner, Allen County Hospital executive assistant, emailed coupons for the annual health fair. The employer’s portion is $10, the employee’s portion is $5.00 Commissioners approved.

Jane Brophy, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Director, Fred Lorentz, 31^st Judicial District Judge, Judge Creitz, 31^st Judicial District Judge and Cindy Adams, Director of Development of Allen County College, was present to thank the commission for the office space. Jane reported they have their state Kansas Office of Judicial Administration certification. Discussion followed on services and other information. Judge Lorentz discussed how CASA would be funded. Discussion followed on other incomes.

Commissioner Works moved to appoint Barbara Chalker Collins, Jim Gilpin, Max Snodgrass, Jim Talkington, Larry Crawford (City of Bassett Mayor), Lorraine Price (City of Elsmore Council Member), Darrel Catron (City of Gas Mayor), Tom Rutledge (City of Humboldt Mayor), Joe Kerby (City of Iola Administrator), Marilyn Boyd (City of LaHarpe Mayor), Michael Becker (City of Mildred Council Member), James Mueller (City of Moran Council Member), and Kathy McMurray (City of Savonburg Mayor) to serve on the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission for the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Committee. Commissioner Thompson seconded, motion passed 2-0-0.

Craig Abbott, City of Iola Commissioner, Joe Kerby, City of Iola Administrator, discussed a tax break for a farm store. Mr. Kerby explained a farm store business wants to build four stores this year and would like one to be in Southeast Kansas. They are looking at the City of Iola but are enquiring into ½ cent sales tax abatement for 15 years. Discussion followed on other options or benefits. Mr. Kerby asked if the county would consider any of these options? Commissioners discussed local businesses already established and what effects it would have on them. Commissioners requested time to weigh the information.

Commissioner Regehr came in.

Bill King, Public Works Director, gave a brief report of roadwork.

Elaine Dugan, Allen County EMS, discussed having an EMT-D Class. She explained that would be for classes on deliberators. $293.00 per person offered at the college, would be six weeks long total would be $2,051 for current EMT’s. Discussion followed.

Elaine followed up with the First Responders class; the testing is $50 per person. The request was to have Allen County pay for the test; it would be $600 for the persons in the class. Commissioners approved.

Alan Weber, Allen County Counselor, and Elaine discussed the Ambulance Task Force meeting. She reported Marv Ray, Humboldt Administrator, Cheryl Ginn, City of Moran Council member, and Donald Leapheart, City of Iola Fire Chief, Jennifer Jackman, Allen County Administrator, and attended the meeting. Elaine explained findings at the meeting, current cost of ambulance services, what insurances pay. Discussion followed. Alan explained about the option of Allen County paying for county RN insurance that would allow the RN’s to make Humboldt, Iola or Moran transfers. Discussion followed on incentives to the RN’s to attract them to make transfers or work on weekends. Commissioners discussed raising the RN’s actual runs to $150.00 and weekends $225.00. Elaine will get approximate cost on surrounding RN charges. Alan stated higher quality is more money. Elaine discussed the city’s are on board for raising the RN rates. She asked on about "on call" rates. Discussion followed. Alan will investigate more on the RN insurance and on call rates.

Jim Daugharthy, A & W owner, issued a complaint about the Allen County Attorney and his handling of the two juveniles changed in the felony theft of his A & W Family Restaurant last fall. He expressed his concern that justice was not served.

Commissioner Thompson moved to go into executive session for 12 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Commissioner Works second, motion passed 3-0-0. Those in the room will be Commissioner Thompson, Commissioner Works, Commissioner Regehr, Elaine Dugan, Allen County EMS Director, Alan Weber, Allen County Counselor and Sherrie L. Riebel, Allen County Clerk. The time is now 10:48 a.m. Commissioners reconvened at 11:00 a.m. No action was taken.

Commissioner Thompson moved to go into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. Commissioner Works second, motion passed 3-0-0. Those in the room will be Commissioner Thompson, Commissioner Works, Commissioner Regehr, Jerry Hathaway, Allen County Attorney and Alan Weber, Allen County Counselor. The time is now 11:05 a.m. Commissioners reconvened at 11:20 a.m. No action was taken.

Jerry Hathaway, Allen County Attorney, discussed Mr. Daugharthy’s letter concerning A & W.

Jerry will present bids for a copier next week.

Alan presented a transfer of sick leave to be added to the county policy:

Employees who have completed at least 5 years of service with the county may transfer up to 16 hours of their accumulated sick leave and/or vacation leave hours to any other county employee upon approval of his/her Department head. The Department heads of both the transferor and the transferee must approve the transfer if more than one department is involved. Hours may be transferred only if the transferor has at least 160 hours of accumulated sick leave and/or vacation leave hours available and only after the transferee has exhausted all of his/her sick leave, personal leave and vacation leave. Except as provided below, no employee may receive more than 16 hours in total transferred sick leave.

In the event that an employee must take an extended leave of absence and requests and qualifies for leave under the Family Medical Leave Act, the Allen County Commissioners may, upon approval of the employees’ Department head(s), permit employees with at least 5 years service with the county to transfer additional accumulated sick leave and/or vacation leave hours to the employee claiming Family Medical Leave. Hours may be transferred only if the transferor has at least 160 hours of such leave time available and only after the transferee has exhausted all of his/her sick leave, personal leave and vacation leave. In no event may any employee transfer more than 20 hours to another employee nor may the employee on leave receive more than 480 hours in total transferred hours.

In the event that the hours transferred hereunder come from a different department than that of the employee on leave, then and in that event, the hours transferred shall be charged against the budget of the department from which the hours are transferred.

Commissioner Works moved to adopt the policy and for the policy to be added to the Employee Handbook. Commissioner Thompson seconded, motion passed 3-0-0.

Hal Pannel, Allen County Citizen, asked if the Commissioners could raise taxes to fix county roads and bridges. Commissioners stated they could, but he should visit surrounding counties before he judges Allen County.

Mr. Pannel asked if the Allen County Airport is tax based. Commissioners stated yes, the voters of Allen County voted to levy .5 mills per year to support this service to Allen County.

Commissioners approved the following documents:

a) Clerk's Journal Entries #40-42 and C0012

b) Clerk’s Vouchers totaling $ 47,712.87

c) Pay Changes

d) Abatements PP Value 225, $22.88, Year 1998

e) Abatements PP Value 2110, $220.00, Year 2004

f) Abatements 16/20MT Trucks Value 7097, $774.94, Year 2004

With no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned until May 24, 2005 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.