BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Monday, October 3, 2005

 

 

The Board canvassed the Andover School Bond Election of Tuesday, September 27, 2005.

 

CALL TO ORDER

Commission Chairman Mike Wheeler called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order at 9:03 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.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve the minutes of the Butler County Commission Meetings of Monday, September 26, 2005 and Tuesday, September 27, 2005 as amended.  Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.  Motion carried 5-0.  

 

ITEM #1 – WORK SESSION – EMS STAFFING AND PLACEMENT OF UNITS

Grant Helferich, Director of EMS, came before the Board for approval of the staffing and placement of the new and existing EMS units.  The budget process for the year 2006 allows for the staffing of an additional 24-hour staffed EMS unit.  The El Dorado station coverage area is currently the busiest in the county and most urgently requires the addition of the new 24-hour unit.  The 10-hour unit will continue to serve the southern part of the county and remain a part of the system status management plan.  With the elimination of recall, the EMS Department residency plan can change from city-specific to countywide residency.

 

The commission discussed employee residency and how far away from the station they could live.  Mr. Helferich stated that this would need to be monitored.  He also stated that he would have to inact mandatory staffing.

 

Commissioner Wheeler asked about the ambulance that was in an accident.  Mr. Helferich stated that John K. Fisher has replaced the fender and fixed the front wheel.  He said the ambulance should be back next week.

 

Commissioner Woydziak stated his district is concerned about waiting for an ambulance to come out of El Dorado.  Brandon Russell stated that Andover handles about 24% of the call volume of the county.  Of those, more than half of that, they are handling here in El Dorado when they are on the move, which leaves the western and southern part of the county exposed.  He said a second ambulance here in El Dorado would minimize that truck from moving and will minimize the Douglass truck from moving.

 

Mr. Helferich said the call volume has gone up.  The Department had a record last month of 409 calls with 405 calls the previous month.  He said we are about 250 calls ahead of last year’s call volume.

 

Commissioner Woydziak asked the EMS Director to keep him up-to-date on movement of the ambulances and where they are stationed.

 

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to accept the recommended action of the EMS Director to place the new 24-hour EMS unit in El Dorado, leave the 10-hour unit in the southern part of Butler County, eliminate recall staffing, change the residency requirements for EMS employees from El Dorado or Augusta to a county-wide residency to be effective January 1, 2006.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

 

ITEM #2 – WORK SESSION – ZONING REGULATIONS

Rod Compton, Director of Planning and Development, came before the Board for a work session on Butler County Zoning Regulations.  The Board discussed permitted and conditional uses in the Agricultural district, creation of lots and acreage requirements, regulations in the Rural Residential Development, and adding doublewides as temporary placement.

 

RECESS

Commissioner Wheeler recessed the Board for 5 minutes at 10:00 a.m.

 

RECONVENE

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

 

The Board continued discussion of the Zoning Regulations related to sewer and zoning issues regarding the Planned Residential Development B District (PRD-B) and Planned Residential Development A District (PRD-A) and different sewer systems that are available.  The Board stated that they would like someone to present a comprehensive report and discuss alternative sewer systems.  Administrator Johnson stated that he would contact John Bailey to come in for general discussion on alternative sewer systems. 

 

The Board also talked about a possible new Article related to industrial uses.  Definitions concerning airports and other airport related items were discussed.  Other items were the Planning Commission, special events, and illuminated bulletin board signs in school districts and at churches.  The Board reviewed guesthouses, which are not allowed in the ag zoning district.  Definitions of land use for ag purposes regarding the operation or maintenance of a commercial stockyard or feedlot were discussed.

 

Commissioner Doll left the meeting at 11:00 a.m.

 

The Board discussed the Board meeting on Monday, October 10, 2005, which is to be held at the Douglass Senior Center at 7:00 p.m.

 

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve the vouchers for October 3, 2005 in the amount of $796,531.57.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

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

Commissioner Carpenter said that he attended the legislative reception at the Sailboat Club for Senate Bill 87.

 

Commissioner Waldorf stated that there was a fire at the Leon grocery store and that he would be talking to them about their plans to see if there is something he can do to help.

Commissioner Waldorf stated that they took a sales approach to the position of the Economic Development Director and added language to the job description.

 

Commissioner Woydziak stated that Danny Armstrong left Friday morning at 4:00 a.m. to drive the school supplies to Mississippi.  He said the City of Rose Hill bought $1,000 worth of school supplies and the City of Douglass gave a check for $1,000.  School supply items were also donated from the Butler County employees.  Mr. Woydziak stated that Channel 3 did a live report and Steve Smith was there from the El Dorado Times.

 

Commissioner Woydziak stated that he talked with Ben McClure regarding his property.  Mr. McClure stated that he didn’t intend for the road to be a public road and will be meeting with an engineer.

 

Administrator Johnson stated he would talk to Ron Rausch about mowing the railroad right-of-way in Augusta.  Commissioner Woydziak said that the railroad sprays the weeds to keep them under control.

 

Commissioner Wheeler stated that the Bar Association would like to place a sculpture on the Judicial Center grounds.   Administrator Johnson said that he would be talking to Judge Mike Ward about the sculpture.

 

Commissioner Wheeler said that the Extension Office would like to post a No Skate Boarding sign on the 4-H building.  Skateboarders have been using the ramp and the handrail.

 

Commissioner Wheeler stated that he wanted to make sure someone has responded to Teresa Flowers regarding a turn lane for the Walnut River Apartments and to Larry Patton related to the Wind Farm.

 

Commissioner Wheeler asked about viewing the Sheriff Department Meth truck.

 

Administrator Johnson stated that the Kansas Association of Counties (KAC) Conference would be held in Topeka on November 20-22, 2005.  He stated that the Board needed to appoint a voting delegation.

 

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to appoint Chairman Wheeler as Voting Delegate, Commissioner Carpenter as 1st Alternate, and Mark Detter as 2nd Alternate.  Commissioner Woydziak seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-1.  Carpenter voted no.

 

Administrator Johnson talked to PVD, who said the county should have a County Appraiser in place by March 1, 2006.  We cannot hold hearings, work payment under protests, or certify values without an official County Appraiser.  Administrator Johnson stated he would be advertising this position in the National Appraisers publication.

 

Administrator Johnson stated that David Calvert, Attorney, who specializes in Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), wrote a letter about the elevator in the old courthouse.  He wants to know when the elevator will be replaced so it is in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

 

Administrator Johnson stated that he would like to have participation for The United Way campaign and that we need as many contributions as possible.

Administrator Johnson stated that the Justice is Served Tri-County CASA dinner is on Friday, November 11, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center.  Dawson Grimsley, President Davis-Moore, will be the Keynote Speaker.  This is a fundraising social and dinner to benefit the advocacy program for neglected and abused children in the 13th Judicial District.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner­ Woydziak motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board at 11:45 a.m.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.