Minutes 01/27/2009

January 27, 2009

The Morris County Commissioners met on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., all members present.

The list of county employees authorized to make purchases at the Federal Surplus Property Center in Topeka was updated.

Glen Yadon expressed his opinion that the county should build a jail facility.

The condition of one of the county’s vehicles was discussed.  Commissioner Hay made a motion to direct the Sheriff to list a 2004 Blazer formerly used by the County Clerk’s office on the Purple Wave Auction Site.  Commissioner Revere seconded the motion, which carried.

The county received notice that Eric Nelson has appealed a recent Court of Appeals (COTA) decision to deny a tax exemption on improvements made at Neosho Gardens in 2007. It will be the county’s position to oppose a tax exemption when the appraiser and county counselor attend the hearing.

Jimmy Lerner and Bob Collins, extension board members, introduced Laura Marks, the county’s new Extension Director/Agent.

John Lee gave the weekly noxious weed and solid waste department report.  Commissioners approved the county’s 2008 Noxious Weed Eradication Program report.  It will be filed with the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Allen Fisher reported that several roads or intersections in the Delavan area need attention.

Bids were opened for a used wheel loader.  No decision was made pending further review of the bids. 

Action was taken (Hay, Revere) to sell the county’s 1980 Fiat Allis 645B loader to Reed Equipment for $5,000.

The road superintendent and road foreman gave a report of activities for the highway department.  The inspection results of five bridge decks were presented.  Four additional bridge decks will be inspected in the near future.

A preconstruction conference on bridge project 64 C-4268-01 will be held on March 5^th.

A department head meeting was held with the following in attendance:  Gloria Auchard, county treasurer, Corrine Blosser, register of deeds, Laura Allen, county attorney, Scott Coover, sheriff, Ed Teghtmeyer, road superintendent, Marvin Barlow, road foreman, John Lee, noxious weed director, Don Smies, emergency management coordinator, Sharon Pittman, appraiser, Geneva Mason, district court clerk, Bill Kassebaum, county counselor and Michelle Garrett, county clerk.

Various topics were discussed, including the possible shortfall of state and federal revenues that were anticipated when 2009 budgets were made last year.  It was decided to schedule department head meetings on the last Tuesday of every month.

The commissioners received notice that Morris County is eligible to receive communication equipment valued at approximately $94,000 through the Northeast Regional Homeland Security Council.   A decision to accept the equipment was tabled pending further review.

Don Smies submitted his resignation as Emergency Management Coordinator, effective February 10^th. 

Sheriff Coover gave a status of the E-911 project.  The system is going through a test process before being put into service.

The sheriff submitted quotes for two (2) 2009 Chev Impala vehicles for his department.   Wilson Sales bid $22,272.90 per vehicle for a total of $44,545.80.  GSA, a company that sells vehicles to governmental agencies, bid $20,149.50 per vehicle for a total of $40,299.00.  Action on this item was tabled pending further review.

Due to a history of price differentials for patrol vehicles, action was taken (Hay, Revere) to make future purchases from GSA.

Shelly Lautt, road secretary, presented various road, vehicle and equipment maintenance reports, and explained the process for developing them.  She also presented information on upgrading the current public works program.  Action to approve the software upgrade was tabled until next week.

The meeting was adjourned at 4:20 p.m.