BUTLER
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Tuesday,
October 30, 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.
Larry Powell, Butler County Economic Development Director, presented a Tourism Attraction Grant application, on behalf of Prairie Rose Chuckwagon (PRC). He added that the match would be born by PRC. There will be no cost to the County. Mr. Powell reminded the Board that the county applying would enable PRC to receive a larger grant than if the owners applied as individuals. The Commissioners, seeing no down side for the County, deemed this appropriate and necessary to show their cooperation to PRC. In addition, Commissioner Doll inquired if a Benefit District would be formed for any cost over the grant received. Mr. Newton advised that there were not enough adjacent property owners to justify a Benefit District. Commissioner Carpenter went on to ask if the county could bond the balance to allow PRC to make payments. Mr. Newton confirmed that a Benefit District could be formed with PRC being the sole participant, if PRC petitioned for it. Both Commissioners Shriver & Doll acknowledged that PRC could be allowed to make payments over a 5-10 year period.
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to approve the Tourism Attraction Development Grant Program
application for Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper; and allow the Chair to sign.
Commissioner
Doll seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
Brian Woods, Attorney for S.J. Craig Enterprises, LLC, approached the Board requesting to amend a previous license by Mr. Craig to comply with the Commissioners’ ruling. In September, the Board requested that, in order to take a CMB license in a corporation’s name, a local contact should be noted on said license. Mr. Woods introduced the Beaumont Hotel’s innkeeper, hired in August, Judy Kleymann. He suggested that she be added to Mr. Craig’s license as a local contact, with S.J. Craig Enterprises, LLC, named as applicant. Further Mr. Woods, asked to amend the license to include carryout beer. Ron Roberts, County Clerk explained that the Department of Revenue advised that a separate license for carryout must be applied for. The Commissioners asked what comments County Counselor Norman Manley has made. Mr. Roberts stated that he has not made a ruling. The Board, while supporting the request for permission to sell beer to be taken off the Hotel’s premises, felt a decision in writing should be received from Mr. Manley. Mr. Roberts informed Mr. Woods that he would be notified to apply for a separate license, as soon as Mr. Manley made contact.
Commissioner
Doll moved to amend the Cereal Malt Beverage license from applicant S.J. Craig
Enterprises, LLC, with a local contact of Judy Kleymann.
Commissioner
Shriver seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to approve the application for Tax Exemption on the New Courts
Services Building and the new Butler County Jail, which includes the Gray,
Pratt & Wiebe properties; and allow the Chair to sign.
Commissioner
Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Commissioner Doll asked that if 12-14 properties were acquired in Bridlewood, why is there only 3 deeds? Kyle McMallow of the County Appraiser’s Department explained that as property was acquired, it was combined into fewer parcel numbers. Since there are properties not contiguous that were unable to be bought, the parcels could not be joined into a single deed.
Commissioner Doll moved to approve the application for Tax
Exemption of the County owned property that was acquired during the Bridlewood
FEMA Buyout; and allow the Chair to sign. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Administrator Newton advised the Board that the Insurance Committee reviewed the options presented last week and debated the fact that 25% of County employees currently pay the majority of the employee premium. The Committee felt it appropriate to disburse the cost evenly throughout the employees, charging a family rate of $57.64/pay period & a single rate of $26.10/pay period. The Board felt that the plan chosen was very competitive. Further, they were pleasantly surprised with the committee’s recommendation.
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to approve the Health Insurance Contract from November 1, 2001
through October 31, 2002, with Blue Cross/Blue Shield & Delta Dental, in
accordance with the memo dated October 30, 2001, whereas the employees will now
pay 20% and the county will pay 80% of the premium; and authorize the Chair to
sign.
Commissioner
Doll seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
Administrator
Newton reminded the Board that the Director of Detention Services position is a
result of the resignation of the under-sheriff and construction of the new
jail, which will need a position established to aid in the transition to, as
well as operation of, the new facility.
Sheriff Stan Cox & Detective Craig Murphy were present for
discussion. Commissioner Doll asked
what the grant received by the US Marshall required for this. Mr. Newton responded that the US Marshall
agreement with Butler County provides that the county will follow the standards
for Adult Local Detention Facilities for both construction and operation. Commissioner Carpenter acknowledged that
someone was needed as soon as possible to fill this position; however, he felt
it was important that the Sheriff was in agreement with the terms &
description of position. In addition,
he thought it was necessary not to make a hasty decision on a new
Director. Sheriff Cox wholeheartedly
agreed with Commission Carpenter but said he felt it was important that someone
be hired by 1st of next year.
Further, he felt that a competitive wage should be set to ensure a
quality employee, especially the County advertised nation wide. The Board agreed and suggested that Sheriff
Cox review the job description and requirements, that he & Mr. Newton
discuss salary and return next week for a decision.
Commissioner
Doll moved to table this item for further discussion.
Commissioner
Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
·
Larry
Powell announced that BCED’s annual dinner would be held December 15, 2001 and
invited the Board & Mr. Newton to attend.
·
Administrator
Newton informed the Commissioners that he requested the County Engineer to
obtain an appraisal of the tract by Pickerell Corner owned by the County. Previously, the Board requested researching
the possibility of disposing of this tract.
Mr. Newton indicated that the County is now in a position to advertise
the land, but statute mandates not selling it outright, due to the value. Commissioner Shriver stated that he felt it
appropriate to notify the adjacent landowners first.
·
The
Commissioners discussed the letter received from Norman Manley regarding his
opinion about taking title to the BNSF line in the County’s name. His letter stated that he felt that if the
Port Authority took title, the County would “probably be insulated from
exposure”. However, after visiting with
Jay, & reviewing Kansas’s statutes, he agrees that maximum liability for
the County would be $500,000.
Commissioner Doll voiced his concern about Mr. Manley contradicting
himself, and stressed he felt the Port would have to answer to the Board
anyway. Both Commissioners Shriver and Carpenter
rebutted that they were under the impression from the Port Authority that the
Port is independent of the County. They
were uncomfortable with not having absolute control over the rail line. Mr. Newton suggested inviting Mr. Manley to
discuss this matter. Commissioner
Carpenter asked that Attorney Mike Coash also be invited. Further, Mr. Newton recommended reviewing
the County’s agreement with the Port Authority along with Kansas’s statutes
that pertain to this issue.
·
Commissioner
Carpenter announced that he planned to attend the REAP meeting next Monday,
from 8a.m.-noon. Therefore, he would
not be available for Monday’s Commission meeting.
·
Mr.
Newton presented the Board with a current Treasurer Accounts & Investments
report, adding that County Treasurer, Neal Parrish, would be coming before them
in the near future to review statutes & policy as well as discuss these.
·
The
Commissioners requested a report on the status of the tax statements. County Clerk Ron Roberts and Scott Stoskopf,
Computer Services Director, informed the board that the mill levies have been
calculated and entered into the system.
Mr. Stoskopf is in the process of print testing. Mr. Roberts indicated that the statements
should be printed by the end of this week, & envelopes stuffed next
week. Mr. Newton proudly informed the
Board that this is the first year that the County has been on or ahead of
schedule for distributing tax statements, and congratulated Mr. Roberts &
Mr. Parrish and all involved for a job well done.
Commissioner
Doll moved to recess into Executive Session to discuss longevity pay of
non-elected personnel until 11:15a.m.
Further, having no further business before the board, he moved to
adjourn immediately following reconvening the Regular Session. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the
motion. Motion carried 3-0.