BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Monday, March 7, 2005

CALL TO ORDER

Commission Chairman Mike Wheeler called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order at 9:00 a.m. Present were Commissioner Will Carpenter, Commissioner Randy Doll, Commissioner Randy Waldorf, Commissioner Dan Woydziak, Administrator Will Johnson Jr., and Clerk Ron Roberts.

ITEM #1 – CANVASS OF MARCH 1, 2005 ELECTION

ITEM #2 – PRESENT MELODY GAULT, DEPARTMENT ON AGING WITH THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD AND GIFT CERTIFICATE

Chairman Wheeler presented Melody Gault, Department on Aging, with the Spotlight Award and gift certificate. Melody was nominated to receive this award by Connie Rausch, Department on Aging Director. Melody worked from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on BMOM Day, February 11, 2005, transporting dental patients, setting up for recognition dinner, and cleaning up afterward. In addition, she helped with Department on Aging’s huge influx of calls over a four-week period in January and February of 2005, this in addition to her regular duties.

ITEM #3 – PRESENT SARA ERWIN, DEPARTMENT ON AGING WITH THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD AND GIFT CERTIFICATE

Chairman Wheeler presented Sara Erwin, Department on Aging, with the Spotlight Award and gift certificate. Sara was nominated to receive this award by Connie Rausch, Department on Aging Director. Sara worked from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. on February 11, 2005, transporting dental patients for BMOM, setting up for recognition dinner, and cleaning up afterward. In addition, she helped with a huge influx of BMOM calls from January 18, 2005 through February 10, 2005, this in addition to her regular duties.

ITEM #4 – PRESENT BRENDA LOUTHAN, DEPARTMENT ON AGING WITH THE SPOTLIGHT AWARD AND GIFT CERTIFICATE

Chairman Wheeler presented Brenda Louthan, Department on Aging, with the Spotlight Award and gift certificate. Brenda was nominated to receive this award by Connie Rausch, Department on Aging Director. Brenda scheduled more than 50 people for the Butler mission of mercy project on February 11, 2005, but handled more than 300 calls all together. This was in addition to her regular duties.

ITEM #5 – PRESENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EMERGENCY MANAGERS AWARD

Jim Schmidt Director, Emergency Management/Homeland Security, came before the Board to receive representatives from Sedgwick County who presented this award. Butler County and 8 other counties partnered in a public awareness campaign for severe weather awareness in 2004 with a special newspaper insert and handout slick that was distributed region wide. This was entered in the International Association of Emergency Managers media awards contest where it received first place. This partnership allowed the counties to share the overall cost and to utilize the talents of graphics arts professionals at Sedgwick County to design the product. This resulted in greatly reduced cost for each entity and for an eye-catching and informative product.

The Commissioners received Randy Duncan from Sedgwick County along with Jim Schmidt, and the Emergency Management Staff accepted the award on behalf of Butler County.

ITEM #6 – RECEIVE JIM SCHMIDT, DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT TO DISCUSS SEVERE WEATHER AWARENESS WEEK AND TO PRESENT A PROCLAMATION FOR SUCH

Jim Schmidt, Director, Emergency Management/Homeland Security, came before the Board to discuss the Severe Weather Awareness Week and request for a proclamation. Each year in March a week is dedicated by Emergency Managers, The National Weather Service and the media to perform a number of public education and training activities related to upcoming severe weather season in the central plains. Schools will have tornado safety drills with students, National Weather Service officials will hold public training sessions in a number of jurisdictions, and Emergency Management personnel will test systems and personnel in preparation for spotting, reporting and warning of severe weather.

Jim Schmidt read the proclamation and Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve proclaiming the week of March 14-18, 2005 as Severe Weather Awareness Week in Butler County. Commissioner Woydziak seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

ITEM #7 – RECEIVE LARRY POWELL, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO PRESENT BCED MONTHLY REPORT

Larry Powell, Director of Butler County Economic Development, came before the Board and presented the monthly report for February 2005. Director Powell also presented the Butler County Economic Development Strategic Plan.

ITEM #8 – CONSIDER AWARD OF TIRE PURCHASES BIDS FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works, came before the Board to consider awarding tire purchases for the Public Works Department.

Commissioner Doll motioned to approve the purchase of tires for the Public Works Department from Norris 66, El Dorado, Kansas in the amount of $21,492.27, from Becker Tire, El Dorado, KS in the amount of $13,943.16, and from Augusta Tire and Automotive Supply, Augusta, KS in the amount of $5,153.26. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

RECESS

Commissioner Wheeler recessed the Board for 10 minutes at 10:00 a.m.

RECONVENE

Commissioner Wheeler reconvened the Board at 10:05 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve the minutes of the Butler County Commission Meetings of Monday, February 28, 2005 as written and Tuesday, March 1, 2005 as amended. Commissioner Woydziak seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

Commissioner Doll motioned to approve the vouchers for March 7, 2005 in the amount of $363,720.46. Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS

Discussion was initiated about going to a single weekly meeting day instead of meeting twice weekly.

Administrator Johnson stated that the jail count is 193 with 125 billable.

Administrator Johnson stated that a lease was worked out with Mike Wheeler for space in the Smith building for $400.00 a month, plus utilities for one year. This space is for the Economic Development Department while the East Annex is being remodeled.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve the lease for one year at $400.00 a month.

Commissioner Woydziak seconded. Motion passed 4-0. Commissioner Wheeler abstained.

Administrator Johnson stated that a group is appealing a decision of the Board of Commissioners in District Court. The commission needs to set a bond amount to cover any damages to the county from the appeal process, if the plaintiffs fail.

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to approve the establishment of an amount for a security bond in the amount of $10,000, for the purposes of litigation in appeal of the County Commission’s decision to approve a decommissioning bond related to the Elk River Wind Farm project. Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion. The motion carried 5-0.

Administrator Johnson presented the revised decommissioning agreement for Elk River project for commission review.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board at 10:57 a.m. Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.