BUTLER
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday, August
13, 2001
Commission Chairman, Bill Shriver, called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order. Present were Commissioners Randy Doll & Will Carpenter; County Administrator, Jay Newton; and Commission Secretary, Marcy Zwall.
Commissioner
Doll moved to approve the Butler County Commission Meeting minutes of Monday,
August 6, 2001, and Tuesday, August 7, 2001, and the Special Meeting on
Wednesday August 8, 2001, as amended.
Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to approve vouchers totaling $290,901.35, dated August 10,
2001. Commissioner Doll seconded the
motion. Motion carried 3-0.
BIG BROTHERS/BIG SISTERS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Gina
Thompson, Executive Director, gave an overview of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters
program to the Board. Also present were
Leon Leachman, Board Member & past Board President; & Joyce Demo,
current Board President. Ms. Thompson
informed the Commissioners that, due to the new offices in Augusta &
Andover, an additional part time caseworker has been hired. In addition, while
County funding continues to support their budget, Ms. Demo noted that they hold
numerous fundraisers, the biggest being “Bowl For Kid’s Sake”. Further, they are diligently seeking more
financial sources, including grants available. When asked by Commissioner Shriver, Ms. Thompson explained that
the qualifications for the children in the program are to be 5 – 17 years of
age, coming from a single parent home, & referred by their parent or a
counselor. Likewise the adult
volunteers need to qualify: 17 plus
years of age, submit 3 positive references, & pass the program’s screening
process.
Larry
Powell, Executive Director of Butler County Economic Development, reviewed the
State (CDBG) Micro-Loan Grant Program.
He requested that the Commissioners approve a public hearing for the
closeout thereof. Mr. Powell explained
that this is a mandatory step.
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to set a date of Tuesday, August 28, 2001, at 9:15a.m., for a
public hearing for the closeout of the State (CDBG) Micro-Loan Grant Program
for Butler County Economic Development.
Commissioner
Doll seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
When
asked, Mr. Powell indicated he was not aware of what transpired in Mr. Rich
Batie’s meeting with the City of Wichita & Sedgwick County last Wednesday,
but would try to find out. Mr. Newton
announced that he received second-hand correspondence from Jim Michael stating
that Butler County is “…anticipating taking the rail & salvaging it &
keeping the money in their general fund….”
Mr. Newton commented that
this
letter was misleading, & “inflammatory”, since there has been no discussion
about keeping the money for the General Fund.
Commissioner
Shriver shared with the Board & Mr. Powell a letter received from the Rose
Hill City Council President voicing a concern about the Neighborhood
Revitalization Program as it pertained to Courier Collections, Inc. (CCI). Further, he noted he was troubled about a
misunderstanding with CCI & Rose Hill regarding the Board not back-dating
the Rose Hill Revitalization Program.
Mr. Powell explained that CCI was advised to apply for a Constitutional
Tax Abatement from the State, which requires an existing business. CCI opened in November of 2000, getting on
the tax rolls in July of 2001. Since
the Constitutional Tax Abatement was unsuccessful, it was suggested that CCI
try to participate in the Rose Hill Revitalization. However, the Board voted not to backdate the Revitalization
Program, so CCI is excluded from any tax relief, which is one issue that
attracted them to this area. The
Commissioners noted that they were under the impression that they were voting
for the 1st year and did not know why CCI could not participate from
the date voted on (1/1/02).
Commissioner Doll suggested Mr. Powell research with Clark Allemang,
County Appraiser, how CCI could get involved.
Commissioner Doll said he would call the Council President & inform
her of the Board’s stand & actions to be taken.
Commissioner
Shriver recessed the meeting for 5 minutes, at 10:30a.m.
The
meeting reconvened at 10:35a.m.
Commissioner
Shriver told the other Commissioners that he had met with Riley Walters
regarding the problem he has had with a landowner. Mr. Walters informed Commissioner Shriver that it has been a 5-year
battle to spray the land owned by this gentleman. Commissioner Shriver asked Mr. Walters if he was able to send a
Legal Notice, which he affirmed & sent one noting he “was instructed to do
so”. The Commissioners requested a
meeting with Mr. Walters regarding this issue.
Mr. Newton set a tentative meeting for Monday, August 20, 2001.
Commissioner
Carpenter reminded the Board that, due to another meeting in Wichita, he would
only be able to attend tomorrow’s meeting until 10:00a.m.
Commissioner
Doll moved to recess into Executive Session, until 11:45 a.m. to discuss
non-elected personnel matters, and, having no further business before the
board, to adjourn immediately following. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the
motion. Motion carried 3-0.