BUTLER
COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Monday,
July 30, 2001
Commission
Chairman, Bill Shriver, called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to
order. Present was 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, July 23, 2001,
and Tuesday, July 24, 2001, as amended.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion.
Motion carried 3-0.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS
Commissioner Doll moved to
approve vouchers totaling $790,640.88, dated July 27, 2001. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the
motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Stephen
Jeffery Craig is requesting a Cereal Malt Beverage License in order to sell
liquor the Beaumont Hotel, located at 11651 SE Main, Beaumont, KS 67012.
Commissioner
Carpenter moved to accept the Cereal Malt Beverage License for The Beaumont
Hotel; and allow the Chair to sign.
Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.
Larry
Powell, Butler County Economic Development (BCED) Director, presented a monthly
report and update to the Board from his department as well as the Butler County
Port Authority (PtA). Items reported were as follows:
Beaumont
Hotel:
Request by Beaumont Hotel for help with state funding or grants available for
remodeling. Tourism Grant is the only
one applicable (applications available 8/6/01). Will need to go through the Board, since Beaumont is not
incorporated.
Microloan
Grant: Public hearing will need to be held within
the next 60 days for to report how grant was used. All but $2,000 has been loaned.
Should be allowed to hold it.
Also looking for more funding.
Pittsburgh
Letter: Jay had asked for a review of a letter from
City of Pittsburgh, which Mr. Powell noted there was a miscommunication. Can not have a “Tax Abatement Request”
legally, but property given to the Port Authority could become tax exempt as
per KSA 12-3418. Commissioner Shriver
stated he did not feel comfortable with that process. Mr. Newton informed the Board that he and Norman Manley, County
Counsel, are reviewing this currently.
Next Meeting: to be held August 23rd – discussing Wichita Utilities (Wholesale
Water District). Mr. Powell invited the
Commissioners to attend.
Airbus: Mr. Powell announced to the
Board that Irene Hart informed him that they found a facility in Wichita to
lease. They will then hire engineers.
Augusta
Railroad: David Alfaro, Bill Mauk, Sr. & Sherman
B. Parry, all residents of the City of Augusta, were present for discussion on
this matter.
Mr.
Powell indicated that nothing, on the part of BCED & PtA, has changed in
the last month. The Commissioners’
timeline request has been submitted to the appropriate people (BNSF &
attorney), with no response as of yet.
BNSF must do an environmental inspection, with the report to be approved
by the attorney. Then the appraisal can
be ordered. However, he did note that The
City of Wichita & Sedgwick County have met regarding this issue.
Commissioner
Shriver inquired how Sedgwick County got interested. Mr. Powell informed the Board that Mr. Kurt Vaughn told him that
the County was concerned about the new pipeline that follows the railroad. Mr. Vaughn didn’t think that the easements
were purchased for the said pipeline.
When asked, Mr. Powell said he had nothing to do with Sedgwick County
getting involved.
Mr.
Alfaro inquired what Joe Brown’s status is at this point. Mr. Powell replied that he has not discussed
anything with Mr. Brown since the Augusta City Meeting, which they both
attended. Mr. Powell commented that Mr.
Brown has all of his paperwork in order but cannot do anything until the
property is acquired. Further, Mr.
Alfaro wanted to know if Mr. Brown was involved in anyway with Wichita or
Sedgwick County. He felt, since this was the PtA’s project, Mr. Powell should
be kept in the loop. Mr. Powell
indicated that if Mr. Brown was involved, he was not aware. Moreover, Mr.
Powell explained that, although requested, BNSF has never permitted them
(BCED/PtA) to go over the county line, so he is not aware what activity is
going on over “the line”.
Mr.
Powell affirmed that he had not received anything in writing from BNSF allowing
connection to the main line in Augusta, only verbal communication and their
original letter stating their willingness to serve the line. However, he went on to say that the
connection negotiations are with a different department. In addition, Mr. Powell confirmed for Mr.
Alfaro that the right to connect would need to be given from BNSF.
Mr.
Mauk announced that he felt Augusta was the key to this whole issue. If the railroad did not grant access for
connection, then it would be “moot from there, west”. Furthermore, he voiced that it appeared whoever was involved,
BCED or PtA, should be working with Augusta to cement relationships there. He said it seemed important for Augusta to
be directly involved, & their approval received before any of this would
work. Both he & Mr. Alfaro
indicated they felt that BCED & PtA intended to proceed whether Augusta was
in agreement or not.
Mr.
Powell noted that with the two meetings held with the City of Augusta, all his
information had been given to them.
When questioned if Wichita would need to get authority through Augusta,
He stated that since Wichita has a connection at the 17th St. area,
they did not need to get involved with Augusta at all.
Commissioner
Shriver voiced his concern about this high-priority issue losing enthusiasm,
and then another player appearing. Mr.
Powell rebutted that BCED/PtA’s viewpoint has not changed: they are still
greatly in favor of this project & want to develop the Butler County
side. Further, he noted that “If there
are opportunities that Wichita has decided to act upon, we have no control over
that.” Or, “If there is an opportunity for another entity to put those two
together…recently heard about…that would be something we should pursue.”
Mr.
Newton asked Mr. Powell if Jim Michaels (hired originally by the Board to do
the Environmental Clean Up Plan) was involved in this railroad project in any
way at all, to which he affirmed Mr. Michaels’ employment with Sunflower Land
Trust. Mr. Powell was not aware of
what
capacity Sunflower held with the railroad project. He did state, however, that Mr. Michaels gave him information
last week that Sunflower is “working on what they think is something that would
allow Sedgwick County to participate on their side of the coin, to save the
rail port on their side, & he would like hook that up to make one complete
port.” When asked by Mr. Newton, Mr.
Powell denied any involvement with Mr. Michaels “in this”, other than “him giving
me information”.
Commissioner
Shriver wanted to know more about Sunflower Land Trust, including who is on
their Board. Commissioner Carpenter
suggested inviting Jim Michaels to a meeting to find out his interest in this
matter.
Commissioner
Shriver moved to go into Executive Session until 10:45a.m., to discuss
confidential data relating to financial affairs of a trust, as well as land
acquisition.
Commissioner
Doll seconded the motion. Motion
carried 3-0.
The
Board reconvened the Regular Session at 11:40a.m.
Commissioner
Doll moved, having no further business before the board, to adjourn. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the
motion. Motion carried 3-0.