Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Okay, good morning, everybody, on this hot Monday morning. We will stand for the pledge.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Commission review. I really didn't have anything. Our juvenile detention center, we didn't have a meeting this month. We'll go to Morris County next month. The only other thing that I did this past week was I did attend the visitation for former Sheriff Jim Jensen, so I did that on Friday. Yeah, we've had so many of them, probably once a week, but yes, we did have an EDC.

The only reason why I remember is because you needed me to go, but then you changed your appointment. Okay, thank you.

We did have an EDC meeting and went over some information and gathering some thoughts on moving forward, and we'll continue to work on that. We do have a Zoom meeting tomorrow, so hopefully we'll just continue in a good direction. Thank you.

Can we maybe put that on the agenda for next week to talk about as far as what we want to do going forward so we can let the city and the Chamber know what we would like to see? Sure.

I think there's been some folks in the community concerned about the placement of our appointments for Tammy. Jackie and you know I hope they understand you know get in there just placeholders that that's what we plan to obviously get professional business people and the work over seeing part in city folks overseeing part of the process but there should be a mix of makeup of that board

I agree. And I've also talked to some people and I'm like, this is just temporary. I don't think it's fair to put a brand new person on this board when we don't even know what we're doing yet. And so that's why we wanted to have our employees on there. That's what I feel, you know, just so they can help with the transition. And then once we get that transition, then appointing people to represent.

And we've, our finance person has been part of the process so I think that that has been especially for her knowledge and then going forward because she did have some good questions about the finances on that day and I think that's what will continue probably just moving forward with some questions so I think it was good having Tammy there for our UDC meeting last week stuff so I just I just look forward to moving

moving forward, and I think that we will get there.

It may take time, but, you know, sometimes it always, change always hurts, but, you know, in the end result, hopefully good things will happen.

Yeah, you learn from your mistakes, and hopefully we learn from our mistakes.

Yes.

Do you want to go ahead and go?

Sure. So I had a, Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting in Manhattan last week. Financially, we're settin' well. We got about $143,237 in checking as of July 8th. Waitin' on the second quarter reimbursement of $52,000. Something that, and we really didn't have a lot of business. We just passed an amendment Transportation Improvement Program. And it was just some technicality stuff that the state wanted. But the interesting part that I took away from it was we got a report on our Fort Riley safe passage that soldiers can get to Manhattan, Junction City, wherever, pretty much. So it's through Lyft. And in May, they had 585 rides. Now, this is for anyone captain, rank of captain or lower. And they can get two vouchers, $30 each per month. They get about 200 to 250 on the weekends for riders. so in june it jumped up and uh it was it was like 1800 rides in june now and already this far into july they've got 9 000 or i'm sorry 430 rides and and the way it works is they get on an app and i Remember how many they already have signed up. It's like 5,000 soldiers have signed up. But they can get that app and ask for a ride to and from whether they want to go to Walmart or they want to go to Aggieville or wherever. But the way it works is Lyft will build the MPO, then the MPO builds the state, which is a federally funded grant. We get totally reimbursed for it, but we're the administrator for it, or the MPO is, Jared is, and he said it's working really, really well. Writership just keeps picking up. So they look for it. This is kind of a pilot program, by the way, but they're seeing such success that all indications are the feds are going to keep it up, and the state definitely wants to. Then on Thursday, we had our Public Building Commission meeting. We just kind of got our financial updates and everything looks good. I was glad that Mr. Rombo was there. But we had the under sheriff come and talk to us about the criminal justice working group and kind of just tell us what's going on with that group. So he did it. pretty much gave an overview of its whole system of judicial system. Anyway, it'll keep going and it sounds like they're making progress on at least having communication. I don't know whether that's what you, aren't you going to some of those? So the communication.

Yeah, I think it's very good. things that have come out in there and that, you know, each of us, each entity's realizing what the other entity does and is responsible for. Exactly. So I think it is very good. I think it's great.

I was really concerned about the House bill and how that's going to affect things going forward. I can't remember the number.

2444. Okay.

Thank you. And then just for your awareness, next Yeah, next Monday, we'll have a joint meeting with the Public Building Commission. So, and that'll be from 11 to 11.30. So, I'm not sure you've got that on the agenda at all.

Which one? Public Building Commission.

Okay. So, other than that, yes, I also attended former Sheriff Jensen's visitation. And, you know, he served the community well on, well, the military, the PD, and So that's all. That's it.

I had an ADBAS meeting, went over their budget, and we went ahead and approved, even though they haven't gotten final numbers of any decreases from any of the entities. But that's just, they have to have that done before, because our next meeting is after everything is all finalized. I had a Child Care Coalition meeting. We had people from the state come and talk. And there are so many resources for people that are child care providers. I just don't know. And I hope that our coalition is helping with this, but making sure that those providers know all the resources that are out there for them. So it was a good meeting. We had the Flint Hills Regional Council meeting. We had a presentation from Falk County, who has been doing a lot of research in data centers. Shanna Goodman is their ADC director, and she actually came in and did a really good job of just explaining the process that they're going through as far as going. She's actually went to a data center down in Georgia and toured them. So I talked to her a little bit after the meeting, and I think I'm going to hook her up with Troy so she can be a resource for them while our zoning is looking into things. We had legislators from all over the Flint Hills region come and sit with us. They pretty much went over all the bills that they had personally been involved in, and then they took a few questions. They did, one of the things they did talk about was looking at all the state exemptions, knowing that that is a burden on a lot of the state and the counties and cities. And I really hope that they do look at that because there are a lot of exemptions. And, you know, maybe not, you know, remove them all at once, but maybe make it a gradual thing. That would be, I think, doable to people. We talked, you know, taxes was And one of the commissioners was like, I don't know why you guys talk about you want to lower property tax when you really have no direct cause for that. They don't have any say-so over how we budget. But they do have say-so over, and I brought up the House Bill 2444 and how that is going to do an impact on a lot of the jails and the Sheriff's Department budgets. And then I also talked about it, because I gave them these two examples, and none of them knew that it would, but about when somebody's arrested and their Medicaid completely stops, and then all of that care for that inmate goes right on the taxpayers of Erie County. That, again, brought up our unfunded mandates and how we as counties and cities need to do a better job of making sure that those policymakers in Topeka understand what it is that are you know is causing this because they didn't know a lot about you know how that was going to impact and you know that 24 44 is a minimum mandatory bond and bond was totally um uh developed to make sure that that person shows up for support um i think they're making this bond more of a punitive before somebody's even even convicted so um I just think that we need to do a better job, and I know Tammy has sent out another email. The department needs to get those unfunded mandates there so we can do our due diligence in showing our legislators what our unfunded mandates are and what we need to do.

We do have exemptions included on some of that, don't we? I couldn't remember. We did or not because, you know, I was talking to somebody too, you know, and that's what, you know, another one of the whenever, I think that was in like 2012 when they did away with the machinery, you know, and that was a, well, it wasn't as big a loss to Gary County, but for some, you know, but it's still a loss as well as, you know, now with personal property. And again, we don't have, you know, but when you take any of that stuff off the, It has to be made up somewhere, so that's another thing that I couldn't remember. I think in 2012, whenever that was when they did that machine, we got a small distribution back because the state was going to reimburse counties, and then it just lasted for one or two years. think it was, and then it went away.

So, you know, that, you know, it's just another one of those things that hurts counties, so. Are you done with review and update? Yes. Tammy has something for you really quickly. to the clerk and they're doing today an officer of the governing body has to sign these and it has to be county seal on great letter just states the governing body of geary county kansas hereby notify in a no box all the s's are checked on actual Gary County, the Dorothy Bramlish Library, and the Fire District. Each one says we intend to exceed the revenue neutral rate, and our proposed mill levy rate is for the county 60.946, for the library 1.362, and for the Fire District 7.930. This is the part that I need your input on because if this is not the date that's going to work for the hearing, and I need to go change these sheets. But originally, I had it to be done in August. But because of some of the absences we're going to have, we have from August 20th to September 20th that the hearing has to take place. And backing into a date to do that, I don't want to go till the very end of September, that last date possible. because if for some reason the newspaper does not get it published, we don't get another shot. There's no choice. So the latest I feel is the best decision to have our hearing would be September 8th, which is the day after Labor Day. I'm assuming you'll have it on September 8th and not a different day or not cancel completely. So if we do our hearing on September 8th, which is a Tuesday, the clerk would need to have these mailed to the public at least 10 days prior. So they would have to be out August 28th and we have to have it published at least 10 days prior. So that would be August 26th that it would have to be in the paper. And we have to have the notices to them a week before that, which is August 20th.

And so if those, if that will work for you, that's as far out as we can push having something finalized is

that week of August 20th, that Monday, we're going to have to have, which that August 20th is a Thursday, so that would be 17th, August 17th is the last day you can have a work session and be final on what you want to do for the budget hearing. So the next The budget work session, are you going to want to do one before then as well? So August 10th and August 3rd. I was going to be out next week, and I've changed that, so I'm not. So if you want to have one next week, I could do that as well. But I think for the clerk, it would be good to go ahead and give her dates so that she can get those on the calendar.

If your surgery was pushed back, can you meet on the 3rd now?

So we have July 27th, August 3rd, August 10th, and August 17th is the actual meeting dates. And then you just have to determine, I mean, we could always do a special session if we needed to, I don't know if one more session is going to get you where you want to be, and so I think we should schedule two, and we can cancel one. You don't need that second one.

We'll say on the 10th we have August 10th we have the Canvas at 10 a.m., and then the sealed bid openings for talk sale at 12.15, so any other time if they wanted to do the 10th.

So we're thinking of having two more tentative work sessions. Let's go with those dates first. Is that OK?

And then I just need to know when you want to do it.

So when are you available?

Until the 19th.

I'm flexible. So you're out August 3, though, right? So August 3 is still out.

So now you have July 27th, August 10th, and August 17th.

Did you say it's the 27th?

July 27th. Yeah. You're probably doing the morning after.

Well, we've got commission clarified, so that, and then I've got appointments in the afternoon, so I couldn't do, I can't do the 27th. Next one. August 10th and August 17th.

Put those two down.

The 17th, I have an appointment at 1.30, but I should be done by 2.30.

So if we did a 3 o'clock. And then if we don't need the 17th, we can cancel it. But August 10th, do you want to do afternoon? Do you want to start at 2 or 1.30? So 2 p.m. on August 10th and 3 p.m. on August 17th is what we have. scheduled and then the budget hearing on september 8th at 11 o'clock for the county 11 15 for the fire and 11 25 for dorothy bramlage and then 11 30 for the regular budget hearings so those first ones are for the revenue neutral and then we'll do a final one for the budget hearing for everything that's on the eight eight and then i just need um of these for the sign. If you stamp, I'll go make copies so that you guys have them. Thank you.

Yeah, and this is the budget that she uses to put her numbers in.

Thank you.

Crystal Malchow is HR Director Special Projects. I just have a really quick update before our executive session. I will be putting on News Flash today a reminder about us being closed, or sorry, for July 31st being a Friday, and appointment only for the Treasurer's Office. I know a lot of people wait until the last minute to get their tags, so we want to make sure they've got plenty of notice, plenty of heads up. We put it out there, but we want to make it obvious so that they're aware of that. I have one out-of-office notification. Pass it in. And then it's been brought to my attention that we're still having issues with employees driving county vehicles for personal use. The latest example was one day last week, somebody went and picked their child up from a camp or practice or something last week, and they were in their county vehicle. So just to remind the Commission, so if anybody asks, the policy is that If they've got a county vehicle, they can only use it for county purposes, driving to and from work if they've got a take-home one. But they can't have their kids in the vehicle. Insurance bounds on that. They can't take other people unless it's pre-approved and they're going to the same conference or whatever. So this will be a reminder to them that the county vehicles for county use, it's not for running your personal errands. And that's all I have and just ask that we go into our executive session now for 15 minutes for non-elected personnel.

754319B1. 754319B1. 7543. Is that a resolution or what are you telling? That's the statute that we're going to use. Oh, okay.

So it's not just for non-elected or you're stating the statute now? That's what gives us the authority to do that.

Okay. With finance and County Council so moved second Seconded you go executive session For how long 15 minutes, please 10 minutes, and I'm gonna take 10 minutes You're back from executive session with no action taken.

Just my final question is just that I would recommend the commission not make any changes to our existing pay grade step plan mid-year. I think that we should only make those changes at the beginning of the year to make sure that everybody's treated equitably. as far as where they land and when they land there. I agree. So moved.

Second. It's been moved and seconded.

All those in favor say aye.

Motion carried. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Yes, we'll do that. We'll bring it back next Monday. I'm going to be short-staffed starting Wednesday, so we'll see. Good morning, Jeremy.

Whenever you're ready, we are ready for you.

These are ready to go today.

Good morning, Commission. Jeremy Myers, Public Works Administrator.

Kevin Ross, Administrative Services Manager.

To give you a report, first thing we have is an action item, a request to petition for two entrances on Milford Lake Road. You should receive a copy of that. Both locations were checked. There are no site distance issues there. and requiring an 18-inch culvert with two end sections because that's on a paved road. We require end sections on those and a gravel surface that we will install after completion. I recommend commission approval of those two entrances.

Are they building a house?

No, these are just accesses to get into the pasture there off of Milford Lake Road, yeah.

So moved.

Second.

Okay, it's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Okay, motion carried.

Next is chip seal update. As of today, 720 Gary County Public Works crews have 2.5 miles of chip sealing left to complete for this year's chip seal route of McDowell Creek. We'll be working on that the next couple days to complete those. All going well. Chips are sticking down good. Got the ratios about right. ROI Energy LED Lighting Project Update. We will be meeting with ROI and their subcontractor tomorrow, 7-21, for a pre-stall meeting to briefly discuss overall timeline, access, and other general logistics. The lights have been delivered and are currently being stored at the Public Works Facility. So that should be kicking off here pretty quick. courthouse and court dates and things like that, getting them access to some of those areas. But we've invited Nikki Davenport to the pre-meeting so she can have her input as well. LTAP grader training class, we will be sending two Road and Bridge employees to motor grader training class being held in Raleigh County on August 3rd and 4th. Gary County hosted this class in the past and employees who attended found it to be very helpful. They'll walk away with ideas to improve their overall grading of Gary County gravel roads, and we will continue to seek training opportunities for road and bridge and public works employees to further their knowledge of the best practices and to help ensure their success with Gary County employees. Courthouse roof damage. During the storm of 6-8-2026, the courthouse received damage to a copper ridge cap and some slate tiles. We did submit an insurance claim to KCAMP, and we've been working with KCAMP and Stanford Roofing regarding estimates for the repairs. KCAMP has acknowledged and approved of Stanfield's proposal in the amount of $14,595.08. I request approval for myself, public works administrator, to sign the proposal and meet forth with scheduling other repairs. KCAMP will issue a check in the amount of $9,595.08 due to the $5,000 deductible. We've also been working with KDEM and FEMA as CAT-E damages as part of that storm. So hopefully we get the reimbursement for the deductible back through them.

I'll make a motion to authorize Public Works to sign.

Second. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Motion carried. Suir number four, repair and improvements. Aye. received notification from Commissioner Giordano as well as Finance Officer Tammy Robson regarding USDA Rural Development approved loan amount of $136,000 and a grant of $197,000.

While this is a step in the right direction, we're still working with KDHE to complete their work now that they have received the paperwork from USDA.

Once that's completed, the county will need to sign loan paperwork with KDHE once we receive that. So, still in the works. It's gaining traction now that KDHE care over there is working with the documents there and we'll get them over to us just as soon as they get them done. Look forward to getting this one going and kicked off and get those improvements made up there.

Maybe that'll spur work and development out there. Yeah.

And we also have a meeting, I believe it's the 21st, tomorrow, gosh darn it, now I'm drawing a blank, with Carl Valley and a grant coordinator on the water side of things.

Yes, who is?

Is that going to be paid off?

I don't know that we've got those particulars nailed down yet.

Well, yeah, if you're dealing with a bond, Tammy needs to be involved. Oh, yes, for sure. And Kevin Cowan, yeah. For sure. I did want to ask about, you said you were working with an engineer. They reached out to the regional council that represents Dickinson County and not Flint Hills Regional at first, so we just need to make sure that, because each county pays a different, you know, like we pay for Flint Hills, so we should be the ones using them, because they have no problem doing it.

Jana?

Jana Williams?

Yeah, she's the one with Flint Hills. Karen. She's with the Kansas Infrastructure Hubs. Yes. We set monthly meetings with her to say, hey, here's some ideas we have, what grants do you know of, and things like that. We did bring this one up, but it was kind of in the works with her during our first meeting. But now that we have this, we'll loop her in to make sure she's Aware as well.

Yeah, because she was contacted by the regional council that represents Dickens.

Okay. I'll speak with Randy. I can't remember the contact's name that he had for me for tomorrow. We'll ensure that we're in the right spot. And pretty short here.

This round of public works, we're working across the street.

Normally don't chip seal off because of logistics and not sure who may show up and who might not. So we always wait till Tuesday to get on that.

I do have a question. Where are we on East Street?

Waiting on the city's portion of that. They were going to sign the contract because it's all run. So I haven't heard from Ray on that, but I know the contract streets for them. So where that is on the priority list, I'm not sure, but I can reach out to Ray. Got some potholes over there.

I've seen those, so I'll get Thomas on those as well.

Will be nice to get it done. Kind of unraveled pretty quick. Shatters your teeth. Yes. Commission have anything for public works?

Well, thank you very much. Yes.

With our new system, you can see all your stuff. Like everything you put up there, it's on the hub.

Good.

Perfect. Has anybody seen how the audio is working?

They said it's working really well. Except whispers, and I'll be talking about us back there. We've got to step out.

Yeah. And I do have a company that did that through our working on some acoustic paneling information for the court. Oh, nice.

Is there panels out there now?

There is not.

See, I thought at one time when we were doing that, that they were supposed to put panels.

Yeah, I reached out to him, and he thought that that would be extremely helpful if we did something out there. So we'll see what they come back with, and I'll advise you on that one.

We had whatever last week when they were taking their stuff down the hallways.

That was so loud. It's noise.

They have to check.

I make a motion to accept the change orders as presented. I think so.

you

I don't know where you guys are going, Kathy. Yeah, he is. He went to his doctor's appointment Thursday and then got his staples and stuff out and said, you know, It was interesting, you know, because you could see on the actual, you know, x-rays and stuff where, you know, his brain had shifted. They showed the midline and where it had shifted to the right, but now it has started to shift and where, you know, the blood, there's not as much blood there, but there's like an air pocket there.

I'm calling him airhead yesterday.

There was a pocket there that, you know, it's just interesting. see that stuff. So anyway, he's still on guard. He can't do a whole lot. He can't drive in town, but he can't do anything strenuous at all, so it's killing him.

That's clear.

Where does your dog get green? Animal dog. Sky last. So is that you? Yeah, that's perfect. Thank you so much. When I took her, I told the gal that she was fine. She couldn't even help her in her life. Yeah, but I think, well, that's what I asked the gal, because I took her to, so I asked if she'd gotten shampoo or anything, because when I, yeah. She wasn't in very good shape there for a while, but she, the gal said that wasn't, It wasn't a allergic reaction. I told the gal, I said, I got her up out of bed.

She sleeps.

I got her up, and she got up, went potty, did her business and stuff, and I fed her. She went outside and did her business and stuff, and I said, you know, but she don't go out, and I don't let her out in the yard by herself, so she don't scoot around in the grass to where she could. scratched because she when I took her down there she said Randy said she had ulcers in both of her eyes the bottom she showed me there's this green mucusy stuff down there so that short of time it had you know tailored tailored so it was this kind of a weird deal too anyway she had drops in her eyes and she had some pain medication so she's she's been a good patient

Do you take her with you guys when you go?

No. Mary Depp is coming.

She stays with her.

Somebody stays with you. Do you board yours, or?

Um, Diana, um, Hanson is her name now. Oh, that's right, you said. Yeah.

When all three dogs are going, Jason will be home with the other dogs, because it's just Beth and I and Mandy and the kids that are going to Oklahoma. Otherwise, then we board them in Manhattan. Diggs used to be, yeah. She went to R.C. Kennels. Well, our other dog had went to R.C. There's not anywhere other here in town to board. I think there might be someplace in Wakefield that I heard that wasn't too bad.

Pause in. Yeah, pause in. And then I think that there's one out in the county.

So pause in board, so? Because we used to take our other dog, pause in, and then because Tracy began, Johnson used to,

She used to get groomed out there, and then I thought they quit doing all that stuff.

Who is it that works at the body shop out here that took Bob Story's place? The other gal, Robin. I knew her. She's been there this long. She's been around at the dealership if she was there or where, but I haven't seen her for years. Robin. To the secretary or whatever she's, yeah. I talked to Marla to schedule it, but there's nothing.

I'm talking about Patty.

Patty, yeah. Yeah, she has been there. Her and her husband have been there for, you know, her husband's been there as well as Willie.

So she used to do some title stuff for her. Yeah.

So. How much time did you want for EDC on the 27th, the discussion? And is it executive or is it open? It's open. Okay. And how much time do you want?

At least 20 minutes, don't you?

What time does the bus leave?

High noon. We did a pinky promise yesterday that nobody gets any attitudes. Mandy says it's me and I say it's her. See what happens. Jason did side with me. He's a good man.

He's smart.

Yeah. She never has been a backseat driver, but for whatever reason, this last year, she seems to know how to drive better.

It's been six minutes.

Tremont, if you want to adjourn or not. Seeing that we have no one here for public comments, we will adjourn the meeting. Thank you.