BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Monday, September 10, 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.

ADDS & ABATES

Commissioner Carpenter moved to approve Abates in the amount of -$84,098.50, approval #2070, dated 9/10/01. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

Commissioner Carpenter moved to approve vouchers totaling $252,959.41, dated September 10, 2001. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Commissioner Doll moved to approve the Butler County Commission Meeting minutes of Tuesday, September 4, 2001, as amended. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

MONTHLY BUDGET STATUS

Jay Newton presented a current status report of the budget. The Board compared expenditures & revenue to date with the 2001 Budget. Mr. Newton indicated that overall, everything appeared to be alright. Specific budgets highlighted were the Weed Department, Juvenile Justice Department, Sheriff’s Department, Department on Aging,

HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM REVIEW

Mr. Newton briefly reviewed the County’s health insurance. He informed the Board that Blue Cross/Blue Shield proposed a 34% increase. Further, he noted that while this seems severe, the County exceeded premium costs by 27% last year, depleting the reserve. He acknowledged that another company might lowball this cost, which the County could take advantage of for a year. However, Mr. Newton stated that after a year, the County would be discussing this again. Therefore, he indicated the County had some options that needed to be explored (i.e. increasing the deductible to $500).

CONFLICT OF INTEREST/ETHICAL CONDUCT POLICY

Mr. Newton informed the Board that Norman Manley, County Counselor, was unable to be here to discuss this item. Therefore, since it is a policy issue, which needs to be reviewed with the attorney, the Commissioners opted to defer this item.

RAIL LINE UPDATE

Jay informed the Board that he conversed with Mr. Bailey of BNSF last week. He hoped to have a contract for the Commissioners review by next week. Planning to be able to transfer title in October. Commissioners stated that the Leaseholds is an important issue. Commissioner Shriver stressed that he was seeing more advantages to taking title to this in the County, siting the County’s ultimate responsibility being one of the biggest.

DOUGLAS COUNTY JAIL

Mr. Newton told the Board he spent last Thursday and part of Friday at the New Douglas County Jail reviewing their budget, operations, training, etc. He stressed the urgency for Butler County

to designate a person to head the transition to our new jail. Moreover, a person selected to be jail Administrator should head the transition team.

EXECUTIVE SESSION & ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Doll moved to recess into Executive Session until 10:30a.m., to discuss employee performance of non-elected personnel. Further, due to Quad-County Planning Forum in Hesston, which Mr. Newton & Commissioner Carpenter attended, & having no further business before the board, Commissioner Doll moved to adjourn immediately after reconvening the Regular Session. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motions. Motions carried 3-0.