Chairman Jake Liebau called the regular June 10 meeting of the Elk County Board of Commissioners to order at 1 p.m. Commissioners Doug Hendricks and Perry Russell were all present as well as Deputy County Clerk Stefni Hebb.
During public forum, Stephanie Ollenborger for the Elk County Drug Coalition shared she has supplies and needs somewhere to store them between public events. It was noted that she could utilize the road office.
Ken Mitchell, with EMS, handed out May’s monthly report. Mitchell talked to Countryside Funeral Home about coroner duties, and they are willing to take them on. He will get them into contact with Dr. Barner to see what they need to do to be appointed to the position. Staff members at Countryside Funeral Home currently serve as coroners in Wilson County. Mitchell also shared that an EMT from Oklahoma was slated to visit on June 13.
Emergency Management Director Erica Cordell reported the Elk Falls siren failed on the siren test the first week of June. It was checked out and retested on June 10 with no issues. Cordell shared that there was some miscommunication regarding the radio tower moving project sched-ule. The project was slated to be completed by June 21. Cordell also shared she had attended the Summer Safety Program on May 29 and was in Topeka for the Emergency Management Institute’s Emergency Management Academy recently. She will also be attending one in July.
Kandy Dowell, with the Health Department, attended the Summer Safety Program with the Elk County Drug Coalition. She asked for an executive session to be held sometime during the meeting. The Health Department Gas Generator will be kept on the Health Dept. annual inventory but will have a note on where it is located in the county.
During the public works update, Don Sanders talked about locations his department has been making repairs and replacements of tubes, with maps handed to the Commission. Sanders talked with the state and filed with FEMA damage that was done to the Green Ranch Bridge.
It was shared that Aaron Kokesch started on June 10 for the Noxious Weed Department. He will be in the mower and brush cutter.
Regarding recycling, E-Waste and Hazardous pickup was Saturday, June 8. There was more chemical, paint and oil than before. The E-Waste was double from previous years and there was less household trash.
Register of Deeds provided a monthly report from May to the commission.
Sheriff John Walker stated that the Sheriff’s Office lost internet the first part of June and learned that the issues was due to a late payment. The late payment was attributed to the county’s warrant processes and the speed of mail. The sheriff’s office paid the late payment by credit card and it was reconnected. AT&T also had the Sheriff’s Office classified as residential instead of a 911 center. Sheriff Walker talked to the Commission about paying the bill by credit card every month. County Counselor Paul Dean suggested to have AT&T email the internet bill, so it would give the county more time to pay before the due date. Sheriff Walker will look into this more.
Sheriff Walker would like to hire a second part-time jailer, for days when the other jailer is off work. This would help the dispatch not have to have contact with the inmates or miss calls when they would be doing duties in the jail. Sheriff Walker stated that verbal exchange with one of the inmates caused a dispatcher to resign. The jailer would be in charge of all duties in the jail, take inmates to local court hearings and be available for anyone who comes in for Zoom court. This also frees up deputies to patrol and not have to stay near the jail for court.
It was also shared that the Dodge Charger has returned; however, it is not fixed. Sheriff Walker would like to strip it down to sell on Purple Wave, as well as the three vehicles that are still in the impound lot.
Counselor Dean selected the Pawnee County CDL Agreement to revamp and add some items to. Dean will email this to the Commission to review. Dean also asked for an executive session to discuss legal matters.
Regarding community development, Shari Kaminska talked to the Office of Broadband Development in Cowley County about expanding internet in Elk County. It was shared that the grant cycle is getting ready to open, which includes $451 million in grant funding from the Federal Government allocated to this. Kaminska stated that 50% of Elk County is underserved with high-speed internet. About 47% of the West Elk School District and 52% of Elk Valley School District boundaries are underserved. Kaminska also talked to Twin Valley, they were planning on applying for some of the grant funding and stated that it was important to have letters of support from the county, local businesses, schools, and county citizens who wish to be served by broadband.
Kaminska had several teens and adults coming to remove the carpet in the Moline Methodist Church.
Lemonade Day will be held in July throughout the county.
Department of Commerce came last week with two representatives. They chose 20 rural communities to get feedback from. Discussion was on community needs, what grants they would like to see in the future, having smaller dollar grants and lower match dollar grants. Smaller communities do not always know how to fill out the grant paperwork due to the complexity. It was a good discussion by all.
Regarding the property at 1285 Evergreen, Counselor Dean and the commission held discussion on when a good date to open the sealed bids for the house would be. Dean stressed that all of the Commission and himself should be present for the meeting. A special meeting date had not yet been set.
Regarding Road 27 and Limestone, Juli Young addressed the Commission about a letter from Dean in April. Young stated she tried to talk to Dean, but her calls were not returned until the morning of the June 10 meeting. The fence in question has been in the same location since her family purchased the land in the 1980s. In March, the Young’s replaced the fence and put it back in the same location as the previous fence. The family stated that there had been an agreement with the past commission to keep the fence where it was to help with weed control and corner visibility. The section of land that is being discussed does not show that it is county property in plat maps or on the online appraiser map. Young would like to purchase this 0.37 acres of land at a reasonable price from the county if they are not planning on using it. Discussion was had by Commission on selling the land and why the letter was sent. Commissioner Russell moved and Commissioner Hendricks seconded to allow Jontra’s Property Knob LLC to purchase the said property at Road 27 and Limestone for $1.
Commissioners held a five-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel with Dowell and County Counselor Dean. The commission then held a five-minute executive session with Counselor Dean for legal matters. No action was taken following either session.
Vanessa Pearce from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Wichita wants to formally recognize Elk County as Storm Ready. The recognition is due to all of the work Cordell has done to adjust the plans for the county as well as the communication with the NWS so they can get information up, and having booths up and local events in the county. The NWS presented a sign and certificate of support.
There was one bid for cleanup for the property located at 1285 Evergreen. There was a brief discussion about extending time for more bids. Kaminska stated that it was well advertised and she did not want to drag this out for another two weeks. The Commission agreed. The bid was read out loud with a discussion following, with a reminder that this would be paid from the grant money.
The bid from Midwest Land Management, totaling $9,300, to clear the property at 1285 Evergreen as approved.
The council held a 10-minute executive session to discuss the EMS Director position with Counselor Dean and Gillian Beaumont. After returning to open session, the commission approved to hire Beaumont as the new Director of EMS effective immediately, to work with Mitchell until his retirement, with a salary of $57,000 annually.
Sheriff Walker asked if he could get approved to purchase a tag for the new patrol truck, with a possible cost of $54. The request was approved.
The Commission discussed the Courthouse HVAC, Windows, and Electric with Don Sanders. It was decided to look into more options, contractors, and plans. The Commission is not ready to proceed yet but would like something started before winter starts. They will revisit the topic in future meetings.
Dean recited the Fence View Order between SK Ag Land LLC and John Cannon, which was approved and later signed.
After some discussion, Commissioner Liebau said he would reach out to all EMS Director applicants and thank them for submitting their applications. Mitchell talked to Commission on forming a letter to appoint Beaumont as the EMS Director to notify the Board of EMS. Mitchell will get one ready and have Liebau sign once he finds out how many days before the Board will need to be notified.
The May 28 regular meeting minutes were approved as presented. The commission also approved the regular warrants for $98,594.72 and May payroll for $277,147.30.
The meeting adjourned at 3:25 p.m.
The Elk County Commission meets weekly at 1 p.m., on Mondays.
