COMMISSION MINUTES, AUGUST 25, 2008         

 

The Board of Washington County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, August 25, 2008, in the commission room at the Washington County Courthouse.  Present:  Alison Mueller, 1st District Commissioner; Marcia Funke, 2nd District Commissioner; Gene Helms, 3rd District Commissioner, Chairman; Jason Brinegar, County Attorney and Lou Kern, County Clerk.   

 

Chairman Helms called the meeting to order with prayer.

 

County offices will be closed on Monday, September 1 to observe Labor Day

Next regular meeting will be Tuesday, September 2, 2008 at 8:30 A.M. 

 

The board approved bills and payroll totaling $259,133.62.

 

The board signed official minutes from May 5, 2008 through August 28, 2008.

 

Janice Kearn, R.N. County Health Director, presented Public Health  Preparedness and Response grant application in the amount of $11,506.00.  The board approved and Chairman Helms signed the application.  After discussion the board decided that employees that work 10 hour work days will receive 10 hours of holiday pay for the day that they would have normally worked.

 

At 9:00 A.M.  Chairman Helms opened the floor for comments on the 2009 budget.  Appearing were Joselyn Kearn, Roger Otott and Rep. Sharon Schwartz.  Comments were received on the mill levy increase for the jail.  Joselyn asked whey the taxpayers should have to bear the burden of the jail when they did not get to vote on whether or not to build.  Rep. Schwartz said that she and Senator Taddiken often bear the brunt of the increased mill levy because taxpayers call them when taxes increase.  Sharon asked the board if they had thought about increasing fees; better marketing and whether the board had reviewed a projection from the Department of Corrections as to the decline in prisoners statewide.  Marcia Funke said that the date of substantial completion of the jail of the facility was April 1 and an entire year has not yet passed to see what the income will be.  The board agreed to work on bringing the mill levy down.  

 

Ellen Anderson, Director, JJA/Adult Community Corrections presented carryover reimbursement budget summary for adult community corrections for FY2009 in the amount of $2,744.52 to be used for training and computer equipment.  Marcia Funke moved to sign the budget summary.  Alison Mueller seconded and motion carried.

 

Duane Bruna, Noxious Weed and Solid Waste Director, reminded the board that the sericea lespedeza demonstration is Thursday August 28.  Duane asked what projects he could finish in 2008 with the budget cuts made.  The board discussed bringing the solid waste fund into county general with Jason Brinegar, County Attorney.  Jason opined that the resolution bringing the solid waste fund into county general is legal.  The board had previously spoken via telephone with John Denney, county auditor; Bill Bider, KDHE, and Randall Allen, Executive Director of Kansas Association of Counties regarding the inclusion of the solid waste fund in county general.  The consenus was that the board has the authority to provide for county services including the management of solid waste.

 

Sheila Ouellette, Communications Director, reported that she has spoken with the Olson family regarding the lease of a cable tower on their property.  Jason Brinegar, County Attorney, reviewed the lease and found it to be in order but Sheila is to wait for the Olson family to tell her what the dollar figure will be for lease payments.

 

The board adjourned at noon for lunch and reconvened at 12:50 P.M.

 

David Willbrant, Public Works Administrator, gave weekly work report.  Alison Mueller moved to accept the fuel bid from Kramer Oil for $3,598.0 for 7500 gallons of diesel.  Marcia Funke seconded and motion carried.  David reported that the excavator continues to have problems.  Gage County, Nebraska commission has asked if Washington County would sign an interlocal agreement as to signage on a T-intersection.  The board decided not to sign the interlocal agreement.  Work will begin on a bridge in Logan Township.

 

The board worked on further cuts to the 2009 budget.  Marcia Funke left the meeting at 3:00 P.M.  The final result of budget adjustments resulted in a mill levy of 79.701 mills.  Gene Helms and Alison Mueller adjourned at 3:50 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                                    BOARD OF WASHINGTON COUNTY                                                                                                          COMMISSIONERS

 

ATTEST:                                                                      ________________________________

                                                                                    Alison Mueller, Chairman

 

__________________________                                            ________________________________

Louella Kern                                                                 Marcia Funke, Member  

County Clerk                                     

                                                                                    ________________________________

                                                                                    Gene Helms, Member