BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

 

 

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 Recorder Tammy Bridges. 

 

ITEM #1 – SWEARING IN CEREMONY FOR RUTH FECHTER, COUNTY TREASURER

The Honorable Judge Charles Hart swore in Ruth Fechter, as Butler County Treasurer, with a term commencing October 11, 2005.

 

Ms. Fechter stated that she was very proud to serve the constituents of Butler County as Treasurer.  She thanked Judge Hart for performing the ceremony and introduced her family and staff.

 

ITEM #2 – RECESS TO RECEPTION IN COUNTY TREASURER OFFICE UNTIL 9:30 A.M.

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to recess the Board to the reception honoring Ruth Fechter, County Treasurer at 9:10 a.m.  Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

RECONVENE

Commissioner Wheeler reconvened the Board at 9:35 a.m.

 

ITEM #3 – HIGH SCHOOL COUNTY GOVERNMENT DAY ACTIVITIES – 9:30 A.M. TO 11:30 A.M.

The Commissioners, Administrator Johnson, and Scott Stoskopf, Director of Computer Services, introduced themselves and explained the function of the commission, administration, and  Computer Department.  The Board answered questions from seven groups of high school students representing the schools of Bluestem, Circle, El Dorado, Flinthills, and Rose Hill.

 

ITEM #4 – CONSIDER A CONTRACT FOR COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY CONSULTANT THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE OFFICE OF DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS GRANT FUNDS

Jim Schmidt, Director, Emergency Management, came before the Board for approval of the contract for Communications Interoperability and infrastructure plan.  This plan details the communications needs for all county agencies as well as those provided for other cities or agencies served by the county’s 9-1-1 Communications Center.  The current system is over twenty years old and will become obsolete within three years due to FCC mandates for reallocation of frequencies.   This contract has been approved by County Counsel, Norm Manley.

 

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to approve the Emergency Department Director to sign the contract and for the Emergency Management Department to enter into the contract agreement as presented, that all funds for said contractual services are to be paid from the Department of Homeland Security/ODP grant funds administered by the Kansas Highway Patrol.  Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

RECESS

Commissioner Wheeler recessed the Board at 10:20 a.m. for 5 minutes.

 

RECONVENE

Commissioner Wheeler reconvened the Board meeting at 10:25 a.m.

 

ITEM #5 – CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION TO UPDATE WEIGHT LIMITS FOR POSTING ON COUNTY BRIDGES

Darryl Lutz, P.E., Director of Public Works, came before the Board for approval of a resolution to update weight limits for posting on County bridges.  Several bridges in Butler County have reduced structural capacities requiring these bridges to be posted for maximum vehicle weight limits.  Consultants’ recommendations include some bridges that no longer need to be posted and some bridges that can be posted for three different classes of trucks.  The current weight limit postings in effect for County bridges were adopted in April of 2004.

 

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to adopt Resolution No. 05-55 establishing weight limits for certain bridges in Butler County and authorize the Chair to sign.  Commissioner Woydziak seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

ITEM #6 – CONSIDER APPROVING A FARM LEASE AGREEMENT ON COUNTY-OWNED PROPERTY ADJACENT TO THE BUTLER COUNTY LANDFILL

Darryl Lutz, P.E., Director of Public Works, came before the Board for approval of a farm lease agreement on County-owned property adjacent to the landfill.  Bids were received from James Berndsen and Lanny Fieser and opened by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, October 4, 2005.  

 

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve the bid of James Berndsen in the amount of $51.00 per acre per year to lease the farm ground owned by Butler County adjacent to the landfill and authorize the Chair to sign.  Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

ITEM #7 – CONSIDER TABLED ITEM ON MODIFYING THE SCOPE OF THE FLINTHILLS ROAD PAVING PROJECT TO INCREASE PAVEMENT THICKNESS

Darryl Lutz, P.E., Director of Public Works, came before the Board for approval to increase the pavement thickness from 3 1/2” to 4 1/2” for the Flinthills Road paving project.  The cost of increasing the pavement thickness is approximately $400,000.  The Board expressed concern about the number of days the contractor will need to finish the project and also requested a plan to finance this extra cost.

 

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to table this agenda item until next week so the Administrator and the Director of Public Works can put together a finance plan and consult with the contractor regarding additional days needed to finish the project.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

 

 

RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Doll motioned to recess the Board to Executive Session at 12:00 noon for 15 minutes to discuss confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individual proprietorship.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.  Those in attendance were Commissioners Carpenter, Doll, Waldorf, Wheeler, Woydziak, Administrator Johnson, and Linda Jolly, Executive Director, El Dorado, Inc.

 

RECONVENE

Commissioner Wheeler reconvened the Board meeting at 12:40 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF ADDS & ABATES

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to approve Adds & Abates #2237 dated October 11, 2005.  Abates in the amount of $9,373.54 and Adds in the amount of $891.16.  Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Carpenter stated that the Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP) meeting is next Monday, October 17, 2005 and the Board meeting will start at 10:00 a.m.

 

Administrator Johnson asked the Board to open proposals for office supplies.  Bids were received from Office Depot, Quill Corporation, Midwest Single Source, Inc., and Office Max.

 

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to accept the bids for office supplies and allow the staff to review and return with a recommendation.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Administrator Johnson stated that there is interest in a new stadium for the college and possibly a joint stadium/fairground.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Doll motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board at 12:50 p.m.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.