BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Tuesday, July 3, 2001
Commission Chairman, Bill Shriver, called the Butler County
Board of Commissioners to order.
Present were Commissioners Randy Doll and Will Carpenter, County
Administrator, Jay Newton and Commission Secretary, Marcy Zwall.
ADDS & ABATES
Commissioner Carpenter moved to accept the Adds of +$121,357.66, & the Abates of -$1,696.12, with the approval number of 2062, dated July 3, 2001. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Administrator Newton presented a proposed resolution transferring street lighting from Butler County to the City of El Dorado. Upon annexation of Township Village by El Dorado, the City will assume responsibility for public services, including street lighting. The County has a contract with KG&E that must be cancelled in order for the City of El Dorado to assume cost (on a city at large basis). This will reduce the annual county budget by $2,003, which was an annual assessment to the residents of Township Village.
Commissioner Carpenter moved to approve the transfer of street lighting in Township Village from Butler County to the City of El Dorado, assign Resolution number BU-24.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
This item was discussed at yesterday’s BOCC Meeting, so the agreement could be presented at the El Dorado City Commission Meeting on Monday, July 02, 2001. Darryl Lutz informed the City Commission that the County Commissioners wanted to either define minimum and maximum parameters, or remove the 15% minimum altogether, from the agreement. The City Commission agreed to omit the 15% minimum.
Commissioner Doll moved to approve the recycling agreement between Butler County and the City of El Dorado, and authorize the Board to sign.
Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
SW 70TH STREET GAS PIPELINE AGREEMENT
Darryl Lutz, County Engineer, presented & reviewed a utility agreement between Kansas Gas Service & Butler County for the adjustment of a gas pipeline for the SW 70th St. project. This is a standard form agreement used by Butler County for federal aid road & bridge construction projects. KGS has one major crossing of a 12” pipeline, which should not need adjusted but may need protection in the bottom of the new road ditches. In addition, KGS will remove an existing service line at the intersection of SW 70th St. & Ohio St. Rd.
Commissioner Doll moved to approve the utility agreement with Kansas Gas Service to adjust the gas pipeline on the SW 70th Street project, & authorize the Board to sign.
Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
SW 70TH STREET KG&E AGREEMENT
Darryl Lutz, County Engineer, presented & reviewed a utility agreement between KG&E & Butler County for the relocation of electric lines for the SW 70th St. project. KG&E has approximately 1 mile of primary service electric lines on existing public road right-of-way to be relocated, and they will be responsible for the costs.
Commissioner Doll moved to approve the utility agreement between KG&E and Butler County, for relocation of electric lines for the SW 70th Street project, and authorize the Board to sign.
Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Darryl Lutz, County Engineer, requested permission to purchase and install a flow meter on the force main sewer line for Sewer District No. 12. Type & model of meter to purchase has not been determined, but is currently being researched. Cost, installed, is estimated at $3,500. The City of Augusta implemented new fees this year to pay for sewer line improvement work as well as their new sewer plant, which treats the sewage pumped from SD#12 at the district’s expense. The new fee will more than double the County’s sewer fees assessed to the users. The City of Augusta has agreed to combine the sewer fees as one large unit if the County installs a flow meter. This would significantly reduce the sewer fees for the district & save SD#12 over $6,000 per year. Commissioner Shriver requested Mr. Lutz send a letter explaining the reason for the rate increase, and deliver a copy of it to him.
Commissioner Shriver moved to authorize the County Engineer to purchase and install a flow meter for Sewer District #12 for $3,500; and to have the County Engineer send a letter to the prominent citizen there to explain the action and the net result.
Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT
PROGRAM
Darryl Lutz, County Engineer, presented an updated plan for the Equipment Replacement Program for the Public Works Department. The original plan, developed in 1992 & updated in 1994 & 1998, resulted in budgeting a set amount for the 1st year with a planned increase of 4% annually to offset the cost of equipment upgrades & inflation. The principal changes in the updated plan are modifications to anticipated service life. The proposed plan can be funded with a continued 4% annual increase. Commissioner Shriver raised the issue of possible overspending in Mr. Lutz’s department, & inquired whether he had researched other techniques to save money. Commissioner Doll mentioned the possibility of leasing equipment. Mr. Lutz commented that he had seen other counties utilize leased equipment, but felt, in the long run, it was more expensive. Commissioner Carpenter expressed that comparing Butler County’s operations to another county’s would be beneficial. Similarly, Commissioner Shriver suggested having a “performance review” or “audit” of expenses in the Engineers Department, after budget reviews were complete, to help find areas to deter expenses. Moreover, Shriver recommended cutting this Program amount 10%, subject to said “review”.
Commissioner Doll advised accepting this, subject to the review, or merely receiving this information & not approving it until bids are obtained.
Commissioner Shriver moved to accept this Equipment Replacement Program information as advisory without approval, until an operational review of that department (County Engineer - Public Works Department) has been conducted.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Grant Helferich, Director of EMS, requested approval of an agreement with Sweet Computer Services for the Sweet A2000 software, support, service & updates, at a cost of $720. This is a budgeted item. The EMS billing office uses this program to process their accounts receivable.
Commissioner Carpenter moved to approve the agreement with Sweet computer services, and allow the Chair to sign.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Grant Helferich, Director of EMS; Chris Davis, Director of Emergency Communications; and Jim Schmidt, Emergency Management Director; requested approval of an agreement with Nextel, & encourage other departments to work with the Emergency Communications Department in exploring the use of this vendor as their current contracts expire. The Commissioners requested comparison figures and a plan for the new phones. Between the 3 departments, the number of phones will be doubled from 8 to 16. The Board would like a documented financial analysis.
Commissioner Doll moved to defer this item for a future date until a financial analysis on the proposal is received.
Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Chris Davis, Director of Emergency Communications, requested approval of a contract between Medical Priority Consultants, Inc. & Butler County for hosting a training class in El Dorado, tentatively scheduled for the second weekend of August. Recently the EMD reference materials & procedures were significantly changed, resulting in the need to retrain & re-certify the staff.
Commissioner Doll moved to approve the contract for a 3-day Emergency Medical Dispatch training class, and authorize the Chair to sign.
Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Jim Schmidt, Emergency Management Director, presented & reviewed a Disaster Response Volunteer Team Agreement. United Way of the Plains approached Butler & surrounding counties to propose an agreement with each county regarding managing critical areas of disaster response. No cost will be charged to the County. The governing body of the affected area is still responsible for final decisions; however, this program
allows for a more organized, trained & informed process. The County Counselor has reviewed & approved this agreement.
Commissioner Carpenter moved to approve the Disaster Response Volunteer Team Agreement between Emergency Management and United Way of the Plains, and allow the Chair to sign.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Chuck McGuire, Community Corrections, presented and reviewed a lease agreement for Community Corrections office space in the Smith Building, for the term of July 1, 2001 – June 30, 2002. Mr. McGuire reported that the lease amount has not increased in the past 5 years.
Commissioner Carpenter moved to approve the Community Corrections Lease Agreement for office space in the Smith Building; and authorize the Commission to sign.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
As a break prior to beginning scheduled budget reviews, the meeting recessed at 11:45a.m.
The meeting was reconvened at 12:30 p.m.
County Administrator, Jay Newton, presented the 2002 Proposed General Fund Expenditures & Revenues. He revealed to the Commissioners’ that this large budget is made up of numerous smaller budgets (individual departments).
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BUDGET REVIEW
Larry Powell, Marcie Brewer, & Steve Waite, all of Butler County Economic Development, presented and reviewed the 2002 Budget Proposal. In addition, Mr. Powell communicated his budget requests for the Butler County Port Authority.
The Board discussed options to dispose of land owned by Butler County; located on “Old Highway 54”, ½ mile west of Pickerell Corner, on the south side & containing 3+/- acres.
Commissioner Carpenter moved to authorize Administrator Jay Newton to set up a bidding process to dispose of the aforementioned property.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
COUNTY ATTORNEY
BUDGET REVIEW
Jan Satterfield, Butler County Attorney, was not available to present the County Attorney’s 2002 Proposed Budget.
PLANNING & ZONING
BUDGET REVIEW
Todd Kennemer, Director of Planning & Zoning, presented & reviewed the proposed 2002 Budget for that general department.
BUILDING INSPECTION
BUDGET REVIEW
Todd Kennemer, Director of Planning & Zoning, presented & reviewed the proposed 2002 Budget for the Building Inspection Division.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH BUDGET REVIEW
Todd Kennemer, Director of Planning & Zoning, presented & reviewed the proposed 2002 Budget for the Environmental Health Division.
Commissioner Shriver moved, having no further business before the board, to adjourn. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.