Minutes 02/23 & 03/02/2010

February 23, 2010

The Morris County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

Judy Pio reported that gravel was need on a road in her area.

John Lee gave the weekly solid waste and noxious weed reports.  The results of a recent ground water sampling at the old landfill site were received from KDHE.  The analysis indication no volatile organic compounds or heavy metals exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels.  The next sampling will be conducted in January, 2015.

Jeff Blosser, road engineer, gave the weekly report of the road and bridge department.   It was decided not to purchase three dump trucks from Pendleton, Oregon.  The road engineer had been given authorization earlier in the month to buy the trucks if arrangements could be made.  The company in Oregon demanded that payment be made up front and before the trucks were scheduled for delivery. 

The minutes of the February 9 and February 16 meetings were approved (Jost, Hay) as presented.  Motion carried.

Tax abatement orders 2009-67 through 2009-98 were approved.

Jennifer Kassebaum, emergency management coordinator, gave a department report.  Forty people attended a recent storm spotters training session.  There were 12 attendees at the hazard mitigation planning session.

The meeting adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

March 2, 2010

The Morris County Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

Cheerie Baker and Diane Bolton, representing the Council Grove Pride Committee,

discussed plans for the annual community-wide spring clean-up.  April is designated at “Green up the Grove” month.  Selected items picked up by Council Grove city personnel

on the clean-up dates may be taken to the transfer station at no charge.  Items must be sorted as required by the solid waste department.

Jim Reagan, administrator, gave the monthly hospital report.  There were 43 emergency runs made by EMS during the month of February. 

Permission was granted (Jost, Hay) for a car show to be held in the courthouse parking areas during the annual Wah-Shun-Gah celebration in June.  Motion carried.

Bill Persinger, executive director of the Mental Health Center of East Central Kansas, gave a 2009 report of the services offered by the agency.  Revenue shortfalls have forced the Center of cut expenses in many of its programs.  Services for the youth and school based programs, however, will not change.  Velma Dickson and Sally Newcomer, Morris County members on the Mental Health Board, also attended the meeting.

Jeff Blosser, road engineer, gave the weekly report of the road and bridge department. 

The new shop building at White City is scheduled to be delivered on March 3^rd and construction will begin the following day.

Colleen Anderson, Chairman, gave a report of the Flint Hills Resource Conservation

and Development Area (RC&D).

Jennifer Kassebaum, emergency management coordinator, reported that the communications tower at Dwight will be upgraded to allow for continuous 800 digital coverage.  The project was approved by the Northeast Kansas Regional Homeland Security Council. 

The meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.