BUTLER
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday,
October 29, 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
Carpenter moved to approve the Butler County Commission Meeting minutes of
Monday, October 22, 2001, Tuesday, October 23, 2001 and the Public Building
Commission Meeting minutes of Tuesday, October 23, 2001, as amended. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.
Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner
Doll moved to approve vouchers totaling $267,572.16, dated October 29,
2001. Commissioner Carpenter seconded
the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Due
to a schedule conflict, Larry Powell, Director of Butler County Economic
Development, was unable to attend the meeting today. Therefore, Administrator Newton advised the Board that a BCED
Update would be given next week.
Jim
Schmidt, Emergency Management Director, briefed the Commissioners on the Butler
County Disaster Plan. Kathy Guy,
Assistant Director, reviewed the Kansas Statutes covering requirements for such
plans, as well as planning standards & updates/upgrades. Mr. Schmidt went over several disaster
principles. He also examined the
responsibilities of the Commissioners, including their authorities, the process
of declaring a disaster, making policy decisions. Mr. Schmidt recommended that the Board delegate some key
reference people, especially a Public Information Officer (PIO), so the
citizens have one person to direct questions & comments to. Mr. Newton indicated that, in his experience,
it is better to have a staff person act as the PIO. Mr. Schmidt suggested that Mr. Newton bring recommendations to
the Board for discussion. Commissioner
Shriver requested that a letter be sent to Attorneys Norman Manley & Mike
Coash, notifying them that they might be called in an emergency for legal
advice regarding disaster plans, etc.
Mr. Schmidt informed the Board about the purpose of the Emergency
Operations Center, reviewing the different information levels & who is
involved with each level, as well as the “chain of command”. He also brought up the importance of
relationships between the Commissioners and citizens, other elected officials,
response personnel & the media, during a disaster. Mr. Schmidt analyzed steps to preparedness
for the Commissioners. A disaster
scenario was given to summarize & wrap-up Emergency Management’s
presentation.
The
Commissioners called for a 10-minute recess at 10:25a.m.
The
Regular Session reconvened at 10:35a.m.
Administrator
Newton presented a proposed Conflict of Interest/Rules of Ethical Conduct
Policy as well as a Disclosure of Interest Statement. This is as a result of a recommendation from the County Auditor. The Board reviewed the proposed policy,
noting that a definition of “County Employee” should be added. The Commissioners also examined the
suggested Disclosure Statement, discussing in detail the topic of “Ownership
Interest”. The Commissioners discussed
whether or not there should be a minimum percent of interest owned. Mr. Newton stated that County’s Counselor,
Norman Manley, has reviewed the policy & statement and approves them
both. Commissioner Shriver inquired if
completing the disclosure should be condition of continuing employment. Mr. Newton commented that if this is policy,
completion of the form should be mandatory.
Further, he noted that this would be updated annually.
Commissioner
Shriver moved to adopt the Conflict of Interest Policy (Item C3 on the Agenda),
and amend it to define County Employees as “elected officials, Department
Heads/Directors, and Supervisors with purchasing & contract negotiating
authority.”
Commissioner
Doll seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
·
Commissioner
Carpenter requested that the United Way be invited to make a presentation at
the next Department Head meeting.
·
The
Board reviewed the letter sent to BNSF by Mr. Newton.
·
Mr.
Newton informed the Board that Counselor Manley is revising the County’s
employee handbook.
·
Commissioner
Shriver announced that he received a letter recommendation for a replacement on
the Fire District #6 Board.
Commissioner Shriver moved to appoint Brent Nelson to replace Kenny
Unruh on the Fire District #6 Board.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.
Motion carried 3-0.
·
Jay
announced that on November 13, The Whitewater Kid’s Club (Senior Citizens
Center) is having a Meeting that the Commissioners have been invited to.
·
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to appoint Joyce Allen, of Potwin, to replace Elwood King on
the Butler County Department on Aging Council.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.
Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Doll moved, having no further business before the board, to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.