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

Commissioner Doll motioned to approve the minutes of Monday, June 23, 2003 and Tuesday, June 24, 2003, as amended. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Financial Officer, Don Engels, came before the Board for approval of vouchers in the amount of $1,161,190.63 for July 1, 2003. Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve the vouchers in the amount of $1,161,190.63. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Director of Economic Development, Larry Powell, came before the Board with the monthly Economic Development report. Mr. Powell reported on meetings with existing businesses/owners, railroad activity, new businesses and continued activity with new businesses and/or people.

Mr. Powell stated that Cox Cable will move their cable from the railroad right-of-way into the existing utility right-of-way, rather than lease the railroad right-of-way from the County.

Mike Caro has agreed to lease, from the County, his interest in the railroad right-of-way for the next six (6) months for the lease amount of $250.00. Thereafter, he would be interested in purchasing this property from the County, pending appraisal.

Director of Economic Development, Larry Powell, came to the Board with a proposal, from Martin Goedecke, of Goedecke Contractors, for four (4) legal descriptions of railroad property for review and to seek approval of hiring a firm to prepare the legals for the sale of four parcels of property. Schneider Grain and McClure Constructions would like to consider the purchase of the property that they currently lease. The cost to the County will be $1,000.00, to be passed on to the purchaser along with market cost to purchase.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve hiring Martin Goedecke Engineering to survey and provide legals for four (4) properties in Augusta. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

ITEM #3 – RECEIVE BEN CROOKS, BUTLER COUNTY DETENTION FACILITY DIRECTOR, SEEKING APPROVAL TO FILL TWO (2) DETENTION OFFICER VACANT POSITIONS.

Captain Ben Crooks, Director of Butler County Detention Facility, came before the Board for approval to fill two (2) Detention Officer vacant positions. Mr. Crooks stated that there are 116 inmates as today. Of the 116, there are only 57 inmates that are billable. Mr. Crooks stated that lowering the number on staff could create liabilities for staff and inmates.

A lengthy discussion followed.

Commissioner Doll suggested that Sheriff Stan Cox and Mr. Crooks come before the Board for a work session on Monday, July 7, 2003, after the budget hearings.

(About 12:00 noon)

Commissioner Doll motioned to table the decision on filling the two (2) Detention Officer vacant positions. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Commissioner Carpenter called a recess of the meeting of the Board, for 10 minutes, at 10:05 AM.

Commissioner Carpenter reconvened the meeting of the Board at 10:15 AM.

Grant Helferich, Director of Emergency Medical Services, came before the Board for authorization to purchase a 2003 Medtec Type III Modular Ambulance from Midwest Vehicle Professionals, at a cost of $104,783.00. This ambulance will be purchased from the EMS Equipment Reserve Fund.

Administrator Johnson suggested selling the old ambulance for $2,000, rather than using the trade in of $1,500. Emergency Management is interested in purchasing the old ambulance for $2,000.

Commissioner Doll motioned to approve the purchase of the 2003 Medtec Type III Modular Ambulance from Midwest Vehicle Professionals at a cost of $104,783.00 and selling the old ambulance, for $2,000, to Emergency Management Division #1. (Potwin) Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Connie Rausch, Director of the Department on Aging, came before the Board to discuss the Senior Center funding allocations. Ms. Rausch stated that she met with members of the Senior Centers and that the smaller centers did not feel that they had the potential for growth, because of the lack of funds. Ms. Rausch stated that she recommended the centers look into alternative methods for funding, such as Federal Grants and assistance from their respective cities. Ms. Rausch stated that they, the senior centers, are working on a five (5) year plan for managing the centers. More meetings are planned and a report will be presented this fall.

Don Engels, Financial Officer, came before the Board to present a letter addressed to the Towanda Historical Society regarding funding for and budget information needed from the historical societies in Butler County. This letter was to insure equity in the allocation of these funds. The new museum, mentioned requesting funds, was the Butler County Historical Society.

Director of Public Works, Darryl Lutz, came before the Board for approval of a contract, with Banks Construction Company, for the construction of leachate recirculation lines for the landfill in the amount of $53,915.44. This work is budgeted for in the landfill CIP.

Commissioner Anderson motioned to approve the contract, with Banks Construction Company, for construction of leachate recirculation lines for the landfill in the amount of $53,915.44 and authorize the Chair to sign. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Director of Public Works, Darryl Lutz, came before the Board for approval of vacating

1-½ miles of road right-of-way (SE Sunflower Road), a section of road in Logan Township, subject to a favorable report of viewing.

Mr. Lutz stated that he has been contacted by a LLC member (Lucas family) and requested the decision be deferred for two (2) weeks until a vote of LLC members can be taken and returned to Mr. Lutz.

Commissioner Doll motioned to table a decision to vacate a 1-½ mile of road right-of-way (SE Sunflower Road), in Logan Township, for two weeks, until the LLC members able to vote on the issue. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Mr. Lutz reported that he requested the State post a "No Pedestrian, No Bicycle" sign on Santa Fe Lake Road, during construction of Hwy 77, due to a near collision on this road.

Mr. Lutz stated that he would like authority to purchase a paint striper for the Public Works Department, for an amount not to exceed $27,000.00, from State surplus.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve the purchase of a paint striper, for the Public Works Department, for an amount not to exceed $27,000.00. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Commissioner Carpenter called a 10-minute recess of the Board at 11:05 AM.

Commissioner Carpenter reconvened the Board meeting at 11:15 AM

Administrator Johnson came before the Board to ask Commissioner Doll to reappoint Vic Cox to the Council on Aging, from which he had previously resigned, because there was difficulty finding a replacement.

Commissioner Doll motioned to reappoint Vic Cox to the Council on Aging for the remainder of his term, which expires 12/31/04. Commissioner Carpenter seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Commissioner Doll stated that there is now a 90-day extension for getting the grant for Bridlewood, from the Kansas Health Foundation, and that he has not heard anything new from FEMA.

Commissioner Doll stated that he has reviewed a copy of a budget from Blue Earth County in Minnesota and found that it is very user friendly and would like to see the Butler County budget report be placed in a similar format. It was the consensus of the Board to try to re-format the new budget to be user friendly and more easily understood.

Commissioner Doll motioned to adjourn the Board to Executive Session, for 15 minutes at 11:35 AM, to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0. Those in attendance were Commissioner Anderson, Commissioner Carpenter, Commissioner Doll, Commissioner Wheeler and Administrator Johnson.

Commissioner Carpenter reconvened the meeting of the Board at 11:50 AM.

Commissioner Anderson motioned to adjourn the Board at 11:50 AM. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.