Chairman Jake Liebau called the regular meeting to order at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12. Commissioners Doug Hendricks and Perry Russell were present as well as County Clerk Kerry Harrod and County Counselor Paul Dean. Others attending included: Others: Todd Winscher, Rural Fire; Ken Mitchell, EMS; Kristina Kraft, Deputy Treasurer; Don Sanders, Public Works; Chris Miller, Deputy Appraiser; Stephanie Ollenborger, ROD; Erica Cordell, EM; Nick Miller, Noxious Weed; Stefni Hebb, Deputy Clerk; Jenifer Clatt, EMS; Shari Kaminska, Community Development; Malarie Chamberlain, Payroll Clerk; Kaye Spooner and Benjamin Butterfield.
Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of Jan. 29, as presented. Motion carried 3-0. Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to approve the special meeting minutes of Feb. 5, as presented. Motion carried 3-0. Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to approve the special meeting minutes of Feb. 8, as presented. Motion carried 3-0.
Spooner stated she would be attending the election board workers training and equipment testing for the Presidential Preference Primary Election. Mitchell, with EMS, presented the department report for January. There were 19 total runs with total collections being $20,133.58. Mitchell stated the new employee will start paramedic classes in August.
Deputy Appraiser Miller presented three NRP applications and they have all been accepted.
EM Cordell stated the Grenola siren failed the siren test recently. Action Communications was contacted and will be looking and working to resolve this issue. Genasys sign-ups are making progress. The Storm Fury on the Plains annual storm spotter workshop with the NWS was Feb.29, at 6:30 p.m. at the Cox building in Howard.
Sanders, with Public Works, presented a quote for a 2021 F550 with 37,680 miles for $73,284 from Century Trucks & Vans out of Texas. Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to pursue the purchase of the 2021 F550 for the Noxious Weed Department in the amount of $73,284. Motion carried 3-0. The truck will be paid out of the Public Works Special Equipment Reserve Fund ($60,000) and the Noxious Weed budget ($13,284.39).
Ollenborger, with ROD, presented the report for January 2024. They had a total of 38 instruments recorded and a total deposit of $2,435.25.
Winscher, with Rural Fire, stated the Moline rescue truck has been sent to Wolfe’s Auto for a major oil leak.
Clerk Harrod presented the membership renewal for the National Association of Counties. Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to renew the NACO membership for 2024 in the amount of $450.00. Motion carried 3-0.
S. Kaminska stated the legislative delegation was planning to be at the Swinging Bridge on Saturday, Feb. 17. The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was Feb. 28, at Elk Valley. There were 38 kids participating in the challenge. The trade show portion of the challenge was from 9 to 11 a.m. The electric at the Methodist Church in Moline has been turned on.
Following a 10-minute executive session to discuss the potential purchase of real estate with County Counselor Paul Dean, Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to put down $1,000 earnest money on the property at 1285 Evergreen Moline and approve the contract pending the termite inspection and title insurance closing within 30 days. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Hendricks stated he was contacted regarding that no progress has been made on the fence. County Counselor Paul Dean stated the landowner would have to get legal counsel and that there was nothing more the county could do.
Kaminska stated there is grant funding available through the National Heritage Trust. There are several different resources out there. Kaminska will look further into the grants available. Following a six-minute session, to discuss wages with Clerk Harrod and Counselor Dean, Commissioner Russell moved and Commissioner Hendricks seconded the motion to give Hebb a merit increase from $17.60/hour to $18.10/hour. Motion carried 3-0.
Following a five-minute executive session, to discuss a employee review, with Counselor Dean and S. Kaminska, Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to give S. Kaminska a merit increase from $20.70/hour to $21.70/ hour. Motion carried 3-0.
The Elk Falls High School Gymnasium has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places as of Jan. 5.
Commissioner Hendricks moved and Commissioner Russell seconded the motion to approve the warrants in the amount of $121,210.40. Motion carried 3-0.
The meeting adjourned at 2:45 p.m.
