Commission Chairman Will Carpenter called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order at 10:00 a.m. (Late start due to REAP meeting) Present were Commissioner Phil Anderson, Commissioner Randy Doll, Commissioner Bill Shriver, Administrator Will Johnson Jr., and Clerk Brenda Brychta. Commissioner Mike Wheeler was absent.

Commissioner Anderson motioned to approve the Minutes of the Butler County Commission Meetings of Monday, March 10, 2003 and Tuesday, March 11, 2003. Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0

Butler County Director of Finance, Don Engels came to the Board of Commissioners to present the vouchers for March 17, 2003 in the amount of $263,411.30. Commissioner Doll motioned to approve the vouchers in the amount of $263,411.30. Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to approve the Ads and Abates #2137. Ads in the amount of $671.46 and Abates in the amount of $9,565.00. Ads and Abates #2138. Ads in the amount of $12,319.28 and Abates in the amount of $10,817.56. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

County Treasurer, Neal Parrish, came before the Board to discuss accepting electronic payments of real estate and personal property taxes. Mr. Parrish stated that he has researched this plan with the Treasurers of Rice, Riley and Ellis counties and that they were very pleased accepting credit cards for payment of taxes. These counties utilize Official Payments Corporation, the same system that the State Motor Vehicle division uses. The fees charged by Official payments Corporation is 3% of billing up to $10,000.00 and 2.5% for billing over 10,000.00.

Commissioner Carpenter requested that Mr. Parrish investigate other credit card companies for their service and fees and report back to the Board at a later date.

Mr. Parrish also stated that he would like to see the tax roll on the internet for viewing by taxpayers, mortgage companies, title companies, etc. He stated that this would cut down on the volume of telephone calls received by the staff of the Treasurer’s office. Mr. Chastain of the County Computer Services department stated that this could be done in the foreseeable future.

Mr. Parrish reported that he felt the need for an attorney to assist in collection of personal property taxes. Commissioner Carpenter suggested that Mr. Parrish seek information from 4 or 5 attorneys, as to the fees they would charge for collection of personal property taxes. Mr. Parrish will report to the Board with this information at a later date.

Wheat State Telephone Company General Manager, Archie Macias, came before the Board to discuss the disposal of building demolition debris, containing asbestos, in Potwin. Mr. Macias is seeking a reduction in the fee charged for disposal of this material, in the landfill, from $52 per ton to $26 per ton. Mr. Macias stated that the trucks were at the sight and ready to haul the debris today.

Public Works Director, Darryl Lutz, came before the Board to ask for approval of $26 per ton, with the stipulation that the material be hauled to the landfill over a reduced period of a few days rather than a long haul. Mr. Macias agreed that this would be done.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to approve the fee of $26 per ton for the disposal of building demolition debris, containing asbestos, in Potwin, with the stipulation that the material be hauled to the landfill over a reduced period of time. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

Commissioner Doll asked to be excused from the meeting at 10:45 AM for the Quad Counties meeting and therefore there would not be a quorum of the Board, so all other business on the agenda was postponed until Tuesday, March 18, 2003.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to adjourn at 10:55 A.M. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.