Minutes 01/12/2010 & 01/19/2010

January 12, 2009

The Morris County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

The minutes of the January 5^th meeting were approved (Hay, Revere) as written.  Motion carried.

Gloria Auchard, county treasurer, presented the monthly financial reports and a summary of the activities in her department.  There were 11,513 motor vehicle transactions made during 2009, and 6600 driver license renewals.

The Commission reorganized for the year and Commissioner Revere was elected (Jost, Hay) to serve as Chairman.   Motion carried. Commissioner Hay will serve as Vice-Chairman (Jost, Revere).   Motion carried.

The following designations were made (Hay, Jost).  Motion carried.

• The Council Grove Republican was designated as the county’s official newspaper.
• All banks in the county and the State Municipal Investment Pool will serve as depositories for county funds.
• Courthouse business hours will be from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

 The following appointments were made for county representation (Hay, Jost).  Motion carried.

• Commissioner Hay will serve on the LEPC and Rural Lakes Region Boards and attend Morris County Hospital meetings.
• Commissioner Jost will serve on the North Central Ks Juvenile Detention Facility Board and RC&D.
• Commissioner Revere will represent the county at Greater Morris County Development Corp and RC&D meetings.
• County Clerk Michelle Garrett will serve on the ECKAN Board

 An Interlocal Agreement with the Flint Hills Regional Council was executed (Jost, Hay).  Motion carried.

A letter was drafted (Jost, Hay) in support of the Morris County Senior Citizen Center’s grant application to KDOT for operating funds for the public transportation vehicle.  Motion carried.

Bob Collins and Tom Jernigan, representing the 2010 Extension Council, requested that the Commissioners approve a Resolution authorizing the Morris County Extension to form an Extension District with Chase County. 

Resolution No. 2010-04 was approved and passed (Hay, Jost) establishing the Flint Hills Extension District No. 11 with Chase County.  The District’s operational agreement was also approved.  Motion carried.

An agreement was signed (Hay, Jost) with KVK for resealing the insulated pipe joints on the courthouse heating/cooling system.  The project cost is not to exceed $15,000. Motion carried.

Jeff Blosser, road engineer, gave the weekly road and bridge report.  A D-6 dozer was rented to help with snow clearing and to widen out the roads.  Blosser gave a report on the fire damage claim at White City.  After negotiations with KCAMP, the county’s insurance carrier, it is anticipated that the county will receive approximately $460,000 as a result of the loss.

Blosser was authorized (Hay, Jost) to purchase two motorgraders from Murphy Tractor for a total cost of $303,819.50.  Motion carried.

Phil Rippee, loss control specialist with KWORCC, the county’s work comp carrier, visited with the Board.  The county will receive a plaque for having the second lowest loss ratio in its premium size for 2008.

Jennifer Kassebaum, emergency management coordinator, reported that she has been in contact with FEMA concerning possible recovery of expenses due to the recent snow storms.

A storm spotters training meeting is scheduled for February 18^th.

The meeting adjourned at 2:55 p.m.

January 19, 2010

The Morris County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

Brenda Bell, Attorney, discussed attorney/client matters.

John Lee gave the weekly solid waste and noxious weed reports.  The status of the recycling program was discussed.  The cost to operate the department is substantially higher than income received from the sale of commodities.  Additional methods of funding the service may need to be considered. 

Jeff Blosser, road engineer, gave the weekly report of the road and bridge department.   Crews have completed the snow removal from county roads, however, due to extreme muddy conditions, it is counterproductive to haul gravel until it dries up.

The county received an insurance check in the amount of $250,000 from KCAMP which is the first installment of proceeds as a result of last month’s fire at the White City shop.  The county will receive the final installment of approximately $211,000 in the near future.

Utility agreements were approved (Hay, Jost) for the bridge replacement project located northeast of Council Grove (64 C-4540-01).   Motion carried.

Peggy Peters, Director of the Council Grove Senior Citizens Center, presented a copy of the grant application the Center is submitting to KDOT for operational funds for the public transportation vehicle.

The county will contract (Jost, Hay) with E & N Land Titles for abstracting services on delinquent real estate properties that will be included in the upcoming Judicial Tax Sale.  Motion carried.

Duane Blythe, White City, discussed roads and other issues.

Jennifer Kassebaum, emergency management coordinator, gave a department report. 

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.