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 Bill Shriver, Commissioner Mike Wheeler, and Administrator Will Johnson Jr., and County Clerk Ron Roberts.

Mr. Dick Morris came before the commission to discuss the Liberty Memorial project.

Morris informed the Commissioners that $135,000 had been spent on the Freedom Memorial, not counting donated materials and volunteer labor. They have 300 additional bricks sold and instead of tearing up the existing walk way they would like to construct the walk from the flagpole to the Liberty Statue. In addition they would like to add a 30- foot circle of bricks around the Liberty Statue, repair the existing limestone base around the statue to original condition and replace the existing statue with the original one currently on display at the Historical Museum. The original statue has been restored with an $8,000 gift from a local citizen for that purpose. They would also like to place a computer in the front foyer of the Courthouse to provide information on veterans to the public. He further informed the commission that they were preparing to raise funds to provide for perpetual care of the Memorials.

Mr. Morris indicated there was some problems with a couple of Memorial trees that would need to be removed or would probably die from root damage when they run the walk very close to them. Morris stated that he does not want to be responsible for damage to the lawn sprinklers, so he hopes they can get the lines marked accurately.

He would like to not have any Christmas decorations placed in front of the Memorials this year, and thinks the Christmas lights should be removed from the trees after the Christmas Season.

Morris suggested the Commissioners might want to consider using the services of a landscape professional to remove some of the existing trees on the Courthouse lawn and replace with smaller plant material to improve the view of the Historic Court House Building. The Memorial plaques by the trees could be placed on a memorial wall of some type.

Darryl Lutz, County Engineer came before the Commission to discuss designating a boundary line around the City of Andover to define the Metropolitan Planning Area.

Jeff Bridges, Andover City Administrator, and Les Mangus appeared before the board to present suggested revised boundary lines and discuss the effects of the changes.

As a result of the 2000 census, the City of Andover and certain rural areas adjacent to the city limits are now included in the metropolitan planning area. The MPA designation puts the city into a different pool of money for federal aid funding of road and bridge improvement projects. Butler County has the ability to expand the MPA boundaries beyond the boundaries established by the federal government. Having the expanded area around Andover would allow Butler County to submit project requests for metro area federal funding, but this would also require Butler County to submit their projects within this fringe area to the MPO for project priority approval. Andover will also be allowed to appoint a representative to represent them on the MPO Board.

Fringe areas can use both County Federal Funds and Metropolitan Area Funds.

The revised boundary would be from County Line Road east along a line ½ mile south of SW 130^th to Meadow Lark Road north along Meadow Lark to 21st, west to Mulberry Street north on Mulberry to SW 60^th, west on SW 60 to County Line Road south on County Line Road to beginning point.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to approve the boundary changes as presented, and authorize Andover to appoint a representative to serve on the MPO. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion Carried 5-0

This item was moved up to accommodate County Counselor Norm Manley.

Consider amending Resolutions 03-13, 03-14, 03-15, and 03-16 as they relate to legal descriptions associated with the approved conditional use permits for Elk River Wind Farm

Counselor Manley suggested a recess to executive session for legal matters.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to recess the Board to executive session to discuss legal matters with the board attorney at 10:00 AM for fifteen minutes. Session to include all 5 Commissioners, Administrator Johnson, and Counselor Norm Manley. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0

Chairman Carpenter called the meeting of the Board back to order at 10:15 AM.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to adopt Resolution 03-47 amending prior County Resolutions No. 03-13, 03-14, 03-15 and 03-16 to reflect that the specific area for which conditional uses have been authorized shall consist of an area which is 1000 feet inside the property boundary of the legal descriptions, taken as a whole, contained within such resolutions. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion Carried 3-2.

Carpenter-NO, Shriver-YES, Wheeler-YES, Doll-NO, Anderson-YES

Economic Development Director Larry Powell presented the 2003/2004 Strategic Plan to the commission for their consideration and approval. This is a three-year review of the Strategic Plan for the County Enhanced Enterprise Zone. Commissioners reviewed the plan with Economic Development Director, Larry Powell, and suggested some modifications they would like to have made to the plan.

Commissioners requested Mr. Powell make the revisions and bring the plan back for approval, along with the resolution to adopt the plan.

Commissioner Shriver also requested Director Powell to submit a summarized status report on all inactive railroad segments of the BNSF from Andover to Beaumont.

Chairman Carpenter called a 5-minute recess of the Board at 10:05 AM.

Chairman Carpenter called the meeting of the Board back to order at 10:10 AM.

Emergency Communications Director, Chris Davis, was unable to attend, so Supervisor Gretchen Fooshee came before the Commission to present an agreement with Harvey County 9-1-1 for assisting in times of disaster. After reviewing the plan Commissioner Shriver requested that the county counselor as to any liability issues that could affect Butler County as a result of signing the agreement review the plan.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to table approval of the plan to allow for the County Counselor to review the agreement and make recommendations on the plan. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Doll. Motion Carried 5-0

Chairman Carpenter requested a PBC update at next weeks meeting.

Commissioner Anderson reminded the commissioners of the opening of the Hopalong Cassidy Museum at Prairie Rose this week. Commissioner Shriver indicated he was planning on attending.

Commissioner Doll motioned to adjourn the meeting at 11:40 AM. Commissioner Shriver seconded by Commissioner Shriver. Motion Carried 5-0.