BUTLER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Tuesday, June 8, 2004

POTWIN COMMUNITY

BUILDING

Commission Chairman Will Carpenter called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order at 7:00 P.M. Present were Commissioner Phil Anderson, Commissioner Bill Shriver, Commissioner Mike Wheeler, Administrator Will Johnson Jr., and Recorder County Clerk, Ron Roberts. Commissioner Randy Doll, was absent.

ITEMS OF BUSINESS:

ITEMS #1 –PUBLIC COMMENTS

City of Potwin Mayor Dean Schmidt welcomed the Commissioners to Potwin and the New Community Building. Then Mayor Schmidt and Potwin Council Member Joyce Allen discussed the process of getting the CDBG Grant. Potwin furnished the

$ 10,000 match in the form of local labor at $10.00 per hour or one thousand hours. Ms. Allen estimated the community actually put in close to 2,000 hours. They described the changes made to the building and the efforts to keep some of Potwin’s heritage through out the remodeling process. It was evident that there was a great amount of City and Community pride in the finished Community Building. The availability of the Community Building will allow the town to host events.

ITEM#2-ITEMS OF MUTUAL CONCERN BETWEEN BUTLER COUNTY AND THE CITY OF POTWIN

Mayor Schmidt inquired about the status of County road up keep in their area.

County Administrator Johnson stated the County operated on a four year cycle with their chip and seal program and he thought their road was coming up next year to be sealed.

Mayor Schmidt inquired about the status of wind farms in Butler County.

County Administrator Johnson said that all lawsuits against the County over Wind Farms had been dropped and there was a site in Butler County where Wind Farms could be built. However to date no company has applied for a building permit.

Mayor Schmidt stated that the appraisal on his house went up $15,000 per year the last two years. He felt that they were being treated like Andover and Rose Hill who had a lot of growth. He said that only two new houses had been constructed in Potwin in the last 5 years. He felt that the high appraisal rates were hurting Potwin and other small communities in the county.

The Commissioners spent a considerable amount of time discussing the appraisal process with the Mayor and other members of the audience. It was pointed out that while the Commissioners hire the appraiser and fund the department, that in reality they have no control over the process. The appraiser and her staff pick the comparables and they use a Computer Assisted Mass Appraisal program (CAMA) to set the value on all property in the county each year.

ITEM#3-CONSIDER MOVING JULY 13, 2004 MEETING IN ROSE HILL TO ALTERNATE LOCATION AT THE REQUEST OF ROSE HILL.

The consensus of the Commission was not changing the time and date but to consider moving the location to the new Fire District #3 station. Discussion was to hold the August evening meeting at the Courthouse, and use it as the budget hearing meeting also.

APPROVAL OF ADDS & ABATES

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve the Adds & Abates #2189. There were no Adds. The Abates are in the amount of $5009.70. Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

OTHER ITEMS

Commissioner Wheeler suggested looking to sharing employees with the City of El Dorado. Such as Planning and Zoning Director, Purchasing Director and Human Resources Director.

Administrator Johnson said that he and the city manager were looking at ways to save money by sharing services. He felt that some of their positions were a full time job for an operation the size of Butler County.

Chairman Carpenter discussed the REAP Water Meetings and the possibility of someone from Butler County attending those meetings.

Administrator Johnson informed the Board the jail count was 193 with 138 billable.

He also reminded the Commissioners that Monday was Flag Day and at 6pm there would be a dedication ceremony for the Liberty Memorial Statue.

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Shriver motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board at 8:10pm. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.