BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

 

 

CALL TO ORDER 

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

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve the minutes of the Butler County Commission Meetings of Monday, October 23, 2006 and Tuesday, October 24, 2006 as written.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.        

 

ITEM #1 – CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A PROPOSAL TO COMPLETE A COMPREHENSIVE FEE APPRAISAL ON FRONTIER REFINERY IN EL DORADO, KANSAS

Elysa K. Lovelady, Butler County Appraiser, came before the Board for approval to complete a comprehensive fee appraisal on Frontier Refinery in El Dorado, Kansas.  Request for Proposals (RFPs) were sent to five firms and Thos. Y. Pickett and Capitol Appraisal submitted proposals.  The bid for Thos. Y. Pickett is substantially lower for the comprehensive appraisal the first year and is $5,000 higher for the next two years.  Thos. Y. Pickeett is proposing to do a comprehensive appraisal all three years where Capitol Appraisal would do a “mass” or limited appraisal in the second and third years.  

 

Commissioner Carpenter said he would like to see what the taxes and valuations have been for the previous 5 years.

 

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to table Agenda Item # 1 until next week.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

ITEM #2 – CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT AND THE BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE GRANT AND ALLOW THE CHAIR TO SIGN

Carol Borger, Health Department Administrator, came before the Board for approval of the contract between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Butler County Health Department for the Public Health preparedness and Response Grant.  This grant award is for $64,170.00 and there is no match required.  This contract has been reviewed by County Counselor and approved for signature.

 

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve the contract between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Butler County Health Department for the Public Health Preparedness Grant and allow the chair to sign.  Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

ITEM #3 – CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CONTRACT BETWEEN THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT AND THE BUTLER COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AS FISCAL AGENT FOR THE SOUTH CENTRAL METRO REGION GROUP AND ALLOW THE CHAIR TO SIGN

Carol Borger, Health Department Administrator, came before the Board for approval of the contract between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Butler County Health Department as fiscal agent for the South Central Metro Region Group.  This grant award is for $57,474.00 and there is no match required.  This contract has been reviewed by County Counselor and approved for signature.

 

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve the contract between the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Butler County Health Department, acting as fiscal agent for the South Central Metro Region, and allow the Chair to sign.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.  

 

ITEM #4 – CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 06-54 AUTHORIZING A POLICY FOR COMMUNITY PROJECT WIND FARM FUNDING APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Will Johnson, Administrator, came before the Board for approval of Resolution No. 06-54 authorizing a policy for community project wind farm funding application procedures.    

 

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve Resolution No. 06-54 authorizing a policy for community project wind farm funding application procedures.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

ITEM #5 – WORK SESSION – REAL ID, MOTOR VEHICLE DEPARTMENT

Ruth Fechter, Treasurer, came before the Board to discuss federal legislation that was passed in May 2005 in the form of the Real ID Act.  This act creates a new federal identification card in an effort to tighten homeland security and prevent another 9/11 disaster.  This ID card will be issued to all U.S. citizens replacing existing drivers’ licenses.  There has been discussion of creating regional centers that will replace existing drivers’ license offices managed by County Treasurers.  Ms. Fechter feels this would be a hardship to senior citizens, disabled drivers, and the working class.  Ruth asked the Board for approval to display petitions for signature to provide the drivers license service at the county level.  

 

It was the consensus of the Board to allow the Treasurer’s office to display petitions asking for signatures to support providing driver’s licenses at the county level.  

 

Ms. Fechter also informed the commissioners about some improvements that have been made in the Treasurer’s Office.  She said they are scanning driver’s license renewals, cross training between the tax department and the motor vehicle department to help with renewals, have given the opportunity for more education, and had meetings with other departments to streamline the tax statement process.  Ruth and the Board discussed the Municipal Investment Pool (MIPS) interest rate versus the bank rates.  There was discussion about a more consistent process in collecting delinquent personal property taxes, and the yearly tax sale was discussed.   There was discussion about abating specials and taxpayers paying their specials directly to the county.

 

Commissioner Woydziak said the Board of County Commissioners will follow the state law on abating specials and is requesting a legal opinion from our attorney and an opinion from the Attorney General.

 

Commissioner Woydziak said there are a lot of good things going on in the Treasurer’s Office and appreciates the effort of the staff.

 

Ms. Fechter said tax statements are targeted to go out on Monday, November 20, 2006.

 

RECESS

Commissioner Woydziak recessed the Board meeting at 11:00 a.m. for 5 minutes

 

RECONVENE

Commissioner Woydziak reconvened the Board meeting at 11:05 a.m.

 

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve the vouchers dated October 31, 2006 in the amount of $414,474.21.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

APPROVAL OF ADDS AND ABATES

Commissioner Waldorf motioned to approve Adds & Abates #2281 dated October 31, 2006.  Adds in the amount of $735.60 and Abates in the amount of $1,789.12.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.

 

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

Commissioner Carpenter said the 4-H Achievement dinner is Saturday, November 4, 2006 at 6:30 p.m.  

 

Administrator Johnson said the Justice is Served Dinner is November 10, 2006 and the Extension Council Dinner is November 14, 2006.

 

The Board discussed the meeting on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 in Towanda at 6:30 p.m.

 

Commissioner Waldorf said he would be in the committee meeting interview for banks this afternoon.

 

Commissioner Woydziak motioned to appoint Tamara Potter to the Economic Development Board to replace Eric Bolig.  Commissioner Waldorf seconded the motion.  Motion carried

4-0.

 

Commissioner Woydziak said he and Administrator Johnson attended the meeting regarding the new stadium and fairgrounds.  He said they discussed locations and infrastructure costs.

 

Administrator Johnson said he and Mark Detter would be attending the Kansas Area City Managers meeting on November 8, 9, and 10, 2006 in Hutchinson.

 

Administrator Johnson said projects that were discussed at the KDOT meeting last week included the Hwy 54 corridor study between Andover and Augusta and possible sites for overpasses on Hwy 254 including Ohio St., Benton Rd., Butler Rd., and Hunter Rd. or River Valley Rd.  

 

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board at 11:25 a.m.  Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion.  Motion carried 4-0.