Commission Chairman Will Carpenter called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order at 9:00 a.m. Present were Commissioner Phil Anderson, Commissioner Randy Doll, Commissioner Bill Shriver, Commissioner Mike Wheeler, Administrator Will Johnson Jr., and Clerk Brenda Brychta.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to approve the Minutes of the Butler County Commission Meetings of Monday, April 28, 2003 and Tuesday, April 29, 2003, as amended. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Butler County Director of Finance, Don Engels came before the Board of Commissioners to present the vouchers for May 5, 2003, in the amount of $811,283.78 Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve the vouchers in the amount of $811,283.78. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve Adds & Abates #2144. Adds are in the amount of $1,664.98 and Abates are in the amount of $9,755.48. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Dr. Ed Flentje, of Hugo Wall School, came before the Board to present Mini-MPA Certificates to Don Engels and Grand Helferich. Mr. Helferich was not available to accept the certificate.

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works, came before the Board for consideration of vacating a 2-mile section of road in Lincoln Township. Commissioner’s Doll and Wheeler and Mr. Lutz viewed the section of road on May 5, 2003 and found that the road was completely grown over and used for rangeland.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve vacating a 2-mile section of road in Lincoln Township and allow the Chair to sign. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

ITEM #3 – CONSIDER APPROVAL OF REVISED BILAWS AS ADOPTED BY THE BCED BOARD. (Butler County Economic Board)

Larry Powell, Director of Butler County Economic Development, came before the Board for consideration and approval of the revised By-laws as adopted by the Butler County Economic Board.

Commissioner Shriver asked that a statement be added noting that the Department of Economic Development is now a county department.

Commissioner Doll noted that the authorization for expenditures was entered as $5000.00. Mr. Johnson stated that correct amount should be $2500.00.

Commissioner Doll motioned to table the revised By-laws as adopted by the Butler County Economic Board pending corrections and additions and a review by County Counsel, Norm Manley and Administrator Johnson. Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Larry Powell, Director of Butler County Economic Development, came before the Board for consideration and approval of the leases for Railroad properties in Andover and Augusta. One lessee, McClure Construction, agrees to pay $2,000.00 per each year of the two-year lease, which is renewable on a year-to-year basis. The second lessee, Schneider Grain Company, agrees to pay $1,000.00 per each year of the two-year lease, which is renewable on a year-to-year basis. The lease with Mr. Snodgrass is pending the results of measurements of the leased land.

After a brief discussion it was the consensus of the Board to include a guideline to follow in the event the property should be put on the market for sale.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to table approval of the leases with McClure Construction and Schnieder Grain Company pending an amendment to cover the possible sale of the land. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Larry Powell, Director of Economic Development, came before the Board to present his monthly report. The report lists his meetings and contacts with existing and new businesses, Rail Road activity and Close Out projects.

Administrator Johnson came before the Board as requested to discuss the implementation of a county sales tax. Mr. Johnson stated that there could be a dedicated sales tax which would pinpoint to what the revenues collected would be applied or a 50% split of revenues collected going to Butler County cities and townships and the remaining 50% to the county.

Administrator Johnson will compile more information for presentation next week

Captain Craig Murphy, of the Jail, and Don Engels, County Financial Officer came before the Board to review the status of the Jail’s cash account. Mr. Engels provided a slide show of graphs to show the deficit in the Jail’s cash account.

The Commission instructed Captain Murphy and Mr. Engels to consult with Sheriff Stan Cox today, May 5, 2003, and report tomorrow morning with a proposed suggestion for lessening the deficit in the Jail Cash Account.

Administrator Johnson informed the Board that Wind Farms are not Public Utility companies, however they can apply to become a Public Utility company.

Commissioner Doll reminded the Board of the Quad County meeting on June 2, 2003. Butler County is the Host County.

Administrator Johnson will schedule a meeting of Department Heads, with the Board, on May 19, 2003 at noon.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board on May 5, 2003 at 11:40 AM. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.