Commissioner Doug Hendricks called the March 11 regular meeting to order at 1 p.m. Chairman Jake Liebau (via telephone) and Commissioner Perry Russell were also present, as well as County Clerk Kerry Harrod and County Counselor Paul Dean. Others present included: Todd Winscher, Rural Fire; Don Sanders, Public Works; Ken Mitchell, EMS; John Walker, Sheriff; Jenifer Clatt, EMS; Kristina Kraft, Deputy Treasurer; Stefni Hebb, Deputy Clerk; Stephanie Ollenborger, ROD; Chris Miller, Deputy Appraiser; Erica Cordell, Emergency Management (EM); Shari Kaminska, Community Development; Nick Miller, Noxious Weed; Robin Jackson; and Kaye Spooner.
The minutes of the Feb. 26 meeting were approved as presented.
Mitchell, with EMS, presented the department report for February. There were 16 total runs with total collections being $5,870.94. The new ambulance is still in the shop.
Chris Miller, Deputy Appraiser, asked the commission if the department could put up a parking sign for the appraiser’s vehicle. The commission agreed to allow the sign to be put up.
Cordell, EM, attended the March KEMA meeting in Neosho County. A Storm Spotters training was held with approximately 25 participants on Feb. 29. Action Communications found an issue with one of the batteries on the Grenola Siren and it was replaced on March 7. A test was run March 11 and the siren was online. The bill will be split three ways as it has always been done in the past.
The commission approved entering into an agreement for engineering services for FAS and Off-System Bridge Inventory and Appraisal on 132 bridges at $127 each totaling $16,764. The County will continue dust control on Limestone Road. The open house for the Public Works building was March 28.
The 2023 Annual Noxious Weed and Eradication Progress Report and the 2024 Noxious Weed Management Plan were approved.
Ollenborger, ROD, presented the report for February 2024. They had a total of 48 instruments recorded and a total deposit of $2,309.
Kaminska stated the E Community Meeting was March 30, the MakerSpace Bootcamp was March 1214 at ICC Fab Lab and the Heartland Economic Development Course will be April 23-26. Kaminska has been working on the BASE Grant which is a grant for infrastructure for the Elk County Industrial Park. Kaminska has been working on several different projects which include the Moline United Methodist Church, Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, Industrial Park, Neighborhood Revitalization Program, Land Bank and Housing Needs Assessments. The commission approved for Royalty Construction to clean out the gutters and repair the roof of the Moline United Methodist Church, in the amount of $1,230. The Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge was a success with 36 individuals and 21 businesses.
Winscher, Rural Fire, presented a quote from Security Oil for a fuel tank for the Grenola location. Winscher was going to contact SEK COOP for a quote. The rescue truck should be finished this week. Winscher stated SEK COOP was contacted and they will supply everything needed, including fuel, at the Grenola site.
Sheriff Walker presented the February Report. He would like to purchase a thermal camera and presented a quote from Cookson’s. The commission approved to purchase a NightRide 360 High Resolution Thermal Camera with a 360-degree remote control for $4,350. The camera will be paid out of the Sheriff’s equipment reserve fund. The department had four dispatchers go to Chaunte for NCIC class and all were certified. Sheriff Walker, Tina Blackburn and Susan Klien took a TAC Class and all were recertified. A dispatcher was scheduled to go to the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy April this week for NCIC training and mock 911 training. Sheriff Walker stated the department has been working with West Elk Administrationand they now have purchased six hand-held radios that are on Elk County’s frequency to be used in case of an emergency.
County Clerk Harrod stated the Presidential Preference Primary Election was March 19.
The commission approved the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment Grant Application for 2024 for $18,247.
The closing on the property, located at 1285 Evergreen, in Moline, was March 14, at Elk County Title.
Following a 10-minute executive session for non-elected personnel with the justification of discussing wages, with Sheriff Walker and County Counselor Dean, the commission approved to give Kelly Young a merit raise for completing the academy from $15.53/hour to $16.53/ hour.
The commission also held two executive sessions, totaling 25 minutes, for non-elected personnelemployee review to include County Counselor Dean and EMS Director Mitchell. No action was taken.
Another executive session was held for attorney- client privilege to discuss legal matters with County Counselor Dean for six minutes. After returning to open season, the commission approved abatement TK24-010.
The commission also approved: the regular warrants for $243,164.80 and the Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge warrant in the amount of $2,500.
The meeting adjourned at 3:20 p.m.
The Elk County Commission meets weekly on Mondays at 1 p.m.
