Minutes 09/22/2009 & 09/28/2009

September 22, 2009

The Morris County Commissioners met on Tuesday, September 22, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

Jennifer Kassebaum, Emergency Management Coordinator, gave a report of her department.  She presented an agreement for call notification equipment with the Northeast Kansas Regional Homeland Security Council.  The equipment was provided through a Homeland Security Grant Program.  Action to sign the agreement was tabled pending further review of the system requirements and capabilities. 

Documents will be submitted to The Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM) for an FY 2010 Emergency Management Performance Grant.   Grant will be pay fifty percent of the county emergency management coordinator’s personnel costs.

There will be a H1N1 table top exercise conducted at the Morris County Hospital on September 23^rd.   A planning committee meeting for the development of the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is scheduled to be held on October 27^th.

The Red Cross, Flint Hills Chapter, plans to conduct sheltering classes and would like someone in each county in the Chapter to host a class. 

Zack Krause, KVK, will inspect the wrappings on the heating/cooling system pipes and report back next week. 

John Lee gave the weekly report of the solid waste and noxious weed departments.

Jeff Blosser, road engineer, gave a weekly report of activities which include mowing, ditching, cutting and trimming trees and brush and grading.   Minimum maintenance signs have been put up on designated roads in Township 14.

Freddie Worrell asked about the county’s policy for providing entrance tubes.  He was directed to the road and bridge department.

The minutes of the September 15^th meeting were approved (Revere, Hay).  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.

September 29, 2009

The Morris County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, September 29, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

Laura Marks, Extension Director, reported that the hiring freeze has been lifted for the Morris County Extension office and the agency will be looking for a FACS Agent.  A field day will be held on October 12^th to observe a Sericea Lespedeza test plot.

Jennifer Kassebaum, emergency management coordinator, received a $2,000 grant to conduct a table top and full scale training exercise.  She has proposed a railway hazardous material spill accident exercise to be held in White City.  Morris County’s cost share on the grant is 20% which can be an in-kind contribution.

The county counselor reported on a meeting held in the Lake Kahola area to discuss options for providing a road for public access.  Also attending were the Morris County road engineer, Chase County road foreman, Matt Peterson, Boyd Bacon, Dan Bacon, and members of the Kahola Association. 

The county counselor reported on a recent small claims hearing on the Lipson property valuation appeal.  The Court of Tax Appeals have ruled three different times in the past year on appeals by Lipson, and has given a different decision each time on the same property.   Action was taken (Revere, Jost) to direct the county counselor to appeal the latest decision.  Motion carried with Commissioner Hay abstaining.

Jeff Blosser, road engineer, gave a weekly report of his department.  Work completed includes the Helmick Rd west of 1200 Ave and rebuilding the salt shed at the White City mixing strip.  Crews are continuing to mow rights-of-way and work on ditches as needed. 

The working days on the Dunlap Bridge project (64 C-4570-01) were increased from 45 to 55 days by KDOT.   A revised proposal for construction engineering services by BG Consultants was approved (Hay, Revere).  Motion carried. 

The monthly department head meeting was held with the following topics discussed:

§        Departments were reminded that inventory lists are due by October 15^th.

§        An update was given on the status of heating/cooling piping project

some offices may be inconvenienced while work is being done.

§        A county wide household hazardous waste collection will be held on October 22^nd.

§        The county will pay $15 (Hay, Revere) towards cost of the flu vaccine for full

time employees.  Motion carried.

§         The employee personnel policy has been revised and will be formally adopted

next week.

The emergency management coordinator and the sheriff discussed the call notification system and will review the system requirements and capabilities further before making a recommendation to implement it.  They also reported on the status of the E-911 system.  Addressing issues are being reviewed and it is anticipated that they will be resolved by the first of the year.

Resolution No. 2009-14 to designate minimum roads in Township 15 was approved (Hay, Revere) with a public hearing set for October 20^th.  Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.