Neosho County Commission - Regular Meeting

The city of Shenu did like 20 minutes last night for their meeting. We're like, can we do that? All right. I'll call to order the board of county commissioners of Neoso County. This is Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 at 1 p.m. This is our regular scheduled meeting. So, we'll start with the pledge of allegiance and the invocation led by Father David. You'll stand.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. our son, holy spirit. Good and gracious God, we ask for your blessing upon this meeting as we as we approach the pascal mysteries uh of your death and resurrection around Easter. We ask you to uh strengthen your leaders here for this uh local county. We ask you that you uh encourage them in the areas of virtue to lead their people well. Uh we ask all of this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amen. Thank you. Thanks father. Do we have any additions, corrections, or deletions on the agenda? Addition uh appointing for cemetery board show board

and then Cheryl. Okay. And then county attorney Yes. Whenever she gets here. Correct. Uh and then on the consent agenda, we need to take off the payroll clearing of 3926. We just have the one I think we already approved that one last time. We did not approve that last time. Okay. So, commission comments and reports.

I guess this would be a report, but I understand that the new overlay at the end of the new bridge down there on Elk, it drops off. It's got a big bump there on the north side. Yeah, that's Alen County. That's where we ended our repavement. All county supposed to take over and go north. So, that's why they didn't feather it out. Yep. I mean, not that bad. When are they going to do that? They're supposed to be happening very soon. I was going to say, yeah. Okay. They're I believe Bettis is in county or in Allen County redoing part of 169 that goes into uh Allen County

right up there. So, have we got the edging done yet? It could possibly start at the end of this. Okay. So yeah, I think maybe then because I know that they approved to get that repaid. That's what I thought too. But that's the difference. Okay. Well, you did make the paper. I did. You did for Oakrove. Oh, you did attend that on our behalf. So So it was a good thing. Great. Um but then also I attended uh Deep Fusion had a public meeting down in Lebeette County

and you made the paper. and I made the paper. Um I think it's because the reporter used to be from here and I don't know if she knows very many in Leth so I did not know she took my picture but um that was a very interesting meeting. I think with just being the county to the north I wanted as much information as we can get and kind of put my voice in there. They did talk about coming up and talking to us. So, it was just a lot of I wasn't prepared to ask questions because I know from the wind farm it can be kind of divisive and I was assuming there was a group from Kansas City that was here and anyway, but the way they did it, they just had tables and different representatives from Deep Fusion sit down and talked with people. It was really nice and so got to listen to different views and get a little bit more information. So just kind of like what are they doing in Parsons was my big question. Like you know any place in the nation.

Yeah. But um because it used to be an ammunition plant during that time they got a permit for nuclear and so that I guess still carries over even though the county owns the land and so that was one of the reasons that they're here. So there's just a lot of questions like that. A lot more questions that can be asked, but um that's the reason I went down. So was there any opposition there? Well, it was there, but just kind of they did really good at handling it, you know, and it wasn't like they just took over the whole room. So

um yeah, I think a lot of voices were heard and got to talk to a lot of different people from the company instead of just hearing one voice. Um, so that was good. Anything else?

I know you're working hard for the county, but okay. Do we have any public comment? Seeing none, we'll go on to the consent agenda, which is get over there. I'll make a motion that we approve the consent agenda which consists of accounts payable of 151,36629 payroll clearing from 320 of 26 for 2099268 commission meeting minutes from January the 13th and January the 20th and five non-elected department head leave requests. I'll

second it. All those in favor? I I motion carried. I want to thank the clerk's office for almost getting there on our meetings. So, they're still working on the the minutes. So, appreciate that. Okay. Next on our schedule is Kansas Communications. So, County Elevator Line.

Yes. Um, I'm Linda with Kansas Communications. I'm the service coordinator for the company. Um, I had been in contact with the clerk's office as the AT&T contract actually expires next Tuesday, March 31st. Um, and it's set to auto renew with AT&T. However, AT&T has also sent us a notification letter um, letting us know about termination of services and that kind of stuff um, starting April 23rd of 2026. Um, so the reason for the quote that was provided to the clerk was to put an analog card into your phone system. So that way your phone line would still operate as it does now, except for it's going to be voice over IP till it gets to the card. Then the card will convert it back to analog for your elevator to still operate in case somebody gets stuck in there. So, and that 43250 that was on the quote, that includes the card for the phone system and the labor of them um tracing out the wiring and getting it back to the phone system instead of down in the basement where it currently is. So,

so presently what What is our cost? So, currently the cost of the AT&T line is $250ome dollars a month and it is going to increase with the new contract um $135 a month before any taxes or additional fees that go into that for your universal service fund or anything like that.

An additional 135. Yes, AT&T is trying to price out their copper facilities because they are no longer governed by the federal regulations and so the easiest way to get them to people to get off of them is start raising prices till people don't want to pay it anymore. So unfortunately I can't control their price on that part. Nor does it matter they're going to be removing the service entirely. So what's our option? So, it would be moving your that phone line over to our service, but we got to convert it from the phone system back to analog for your elevator to operate the elevator, phone line, whatever when you push the button for an emergency in there. Um,

the quote that was given is the preemptive measures to get that changed before they So, is this just for the next month?

No, it will go forward. So, the the conversion is putting that adapter in to move the elevator line to your phone system currently. Uh, and that will continue forward that way. But AT&T's kind of forcing everyone's hand because they're going to yank the service regardless of if you allow this renewal to take place, pay the extra 100, and however much it was, they're going to terminate the service at the end of April. Period. Um, so we're just trying to prevent anybody from getting stuck by putting that card in and moving the analog line over to the phone system before AT&T plays games or whatever.

And then that 25770 that you guys see on your second detail sheet of your bill will come off of your bill. It would go down to $18.95 for that line. So I mean the upfront cost, yeah, it's there, but in a month and a half it's off and then you don't have to pay that $200 and some dollars um every month afterwards. I mean, we could talk ROI and all that, but the the fact of the matter is AT&T is going to yank the service regardless.

Whatever decision you do or do not come to, they're going to pull that copper line and it's not going to work. So, uh, you know, you have some other options if you wanted to try and explore somebody bringing you a cellular service and getting that hooked up and bypassing the phone system. But as far as a phone provider, that's what we can do to keep the elevator connected is we can hook it to the phone system.

Rocking a hard place. Yeah. I mean, we're not trying to do anything. Sorry. No, no, we're not. Yeah. No, we understand AT&T is doing this all across the country. Do we need to approve this or what? What are we approving? Yeah, just the conversion the cost of the equipment to get it converted. Oh, you don't have it? Sorry, that's from last week. I'll give it back to you. I'll make a motion approve the conversion for the elevator phone line. Total cost of $432.50. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I. Motion carried.

All right. We'll get you on schedule. All right. Thank you. Thank you for coming in.

Yeah. Thank you. You want to copy that contract or you're good with it? Oh, we got one. Okay.

So, we resign that. My gosh. I guess someone needs to sign that contract. Mhm. You can sign it. Can you sign that? I guess. Okay. Okay. Thanks. All right. I think we're on to department heads. So, got Cindy. We only have two. Do we need three? I've already tried. Or five. got more than two department heads here.

Okay. Um good afternoon. Hope everybody's had a good day so far. Um I have a few things. Um we talked last meeting about um David's need for an on like as needed um person like part-time. Um and Nick, you had specifically asked for estimates like how many hours potentially. David expects based on um how things work, no more than 40 hours a month. Um and it it may not even be that many hours. It this person is specifically for those days where you know like heaven forbid another line break in the jail and David needs an assistant to just kind of come in and help. Um and somebody who actually knows electrical, who knows some plumbing, who knows some construction, like they come, they would have to come with that scale based on the need. Um so um based on that, the range would be anywhere from 1267 an hour to 1685. And that's dependent upon the actual qualifications. So, if they come in as just a general laborer um with a little bit of experience, they'd be on the lower end. But if they have, you know, the hopefully the experience that we're looking for, um as a we'd bring them in as a laborer, too, and that's where you get to that higher number. So, it all just depends, you know, on that person.

Approximately $600 a month. Um, it would come out to 6,000 to 8,000 a year. 8,000. I mean, I think he has in his budget. That's what he said. I mean, you know, actually not in in personnel, but he would have it within his budget. I think I just think he needs help. There are times like especially in the summer, you know, mowing the lawn, things that have to be done.

Yeah. Um, I didn't bring an action form for that. I guess we don't know the person yet, but with your approval, um, I'd create finish creating the, uh, job description and we'll get it posted on our website and within the the county first. I don't have any problem with that. I think Dave's done a great job and I think he's doing more than our previous maintenance personnel. And I think that Okay. And it's been done in the past except it was just like during the summer time. Yeah. Right now. Yeah. So, okay. Well, I will get to work.

I think we just need to keep an eye on once we hire someone, you know, what hours that he is using them.

Yep. Yeah. And obviously this would come with no benefits. Um, but it would still cover the county because they're undermployment. So, they can operate a vehicle and all sorts of stuff. They would have to do the pre-employment drug screening of course, but um we'd get all that taken care of. Okay. Um let's see. I do have a couple executives, but I'm trying to knock out other things first before we do those. Um Thursday at 14:30, we have an interview for Roaden Bridge. Is there um anyone available to help us with that one? I'm sorry. When? Thursday at 14:30.

2:30. Oh, I'm sorry. 2:30.

It's turn, is it? Yeah, that's Huh. You can do it, Nick. I don't know yet. I'd have to look my schedule. So, I know I got my counter, but I got been getting calls today. So, what's going on? I could do it if need be. Okay.

Okay. I'll just communicate with you guys and we'll go from there. It'll be in my office like we've been doing. I thank you for that. Um, as far as um hiring, uh, we do have a retirement coming up rather quickly for 911 and ideally we would open up the assistant director position nowish so we can get that filled because our current assistant director is going to be bumping into the director position. And this would allow for um that uh right seat, left seat training while we still have the current director. Um so I just wanted to see what your thoughts were about uh posting that and trying to get someone in.

I think it's a good idea. How does it need to be posted though? It could be my one thing or we we're just automatically going over not posting. Maybe we need to talk about this in executive session. Okay. I think posted. Yes. Okay. Um well then let me um request my first executive session. Um I need them all at once. I'm sorry.

Do them all at once. Unfortunately, not this one. I Greg will be with us on this one. Um, so I need a non-elected executive session or an executive session regarding non-elected personnel in the um sheriff's department/jail um to include myself, commission, council, and uh sheriff Greg Taylor. Please, for how long? Uh 5 minutes. Move to recess into executive session to discuss personnel matters from non-like personnel for five minutes concerning the sheriff's office including commission council and our sheriff.

Come back up 125. Yep. 125. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I. Motion carries.

We're back in session and no action was taken. Okay. Um, let's see. I guess we'll have to be the other executive, but just a couple notes before. Um, tomorrow is our next department head meeting at 09:30. Um we're going to go over um basically all the new policies, most of the new policies, and I say new, the ones we did in like 22 and 23. Kind of make sure you know we're still happy with those. Um see if there's any changes that need to be made and then we'll move on to um the rest of the stuff that we really haven't looked at. So it's kind of the plan. Um, in preparation for that, I have been uh working uh through my HR group and finding out for sure what the new um um mandatory reportings or information that has to be in there. So, I've been kind of getting stuff typed up for that and I'll present that to everybody just so they know. It's not like we can um argue with FMLA or the PW PWFA or anything like that. So, just make sure that's correct. Um, I guess my last two things involve the um 911 and the county attorney's office. So, I'd have to wait for the county attorney piece until Cheryl's here because she requested that. Um, did you want to um have an executive talk about 911?

Yeah. Five minutes. I'll move to recess in executive session to discuss personnel matters of non-elect personnel for five minutes coming back at 132 regarding commission council and 911. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I motion carried.

We're back in session and no action was taken. Okay. So, I will get with the 911 director and get the documents we need um for that conversation. Uh then lastly, minus the executive with Cheryl, um do could we get a motion that if the candidate on Thursday is meets all the qualifications to give them a conditional hire until we can sign the action form at the next commission meeting like we've done in the past? I don't care. Yeah, sure. Okay. We can we make I'm saying as long as one of us can make Oh, yeah. as long as one of you are there. If one of you are not there, then no, we'd have to wait until the commission meeting. Yeah.

So, I'll make a motion to um allow offer conditional high offer. Yeah. Conditional higher for road and bridge after interview with HR Road and bridge and commission before our next meeting. Second it. All those in favor? I I motion carried. Thank you very much. if anyone's willing to work. Yeah, I think that's to work. Well, I think this is going to be a good one. So, um it'll be an asset to the road and bridge department. So, all right, that's all I have until later. Thank you. Do you have anything for me? Yes, I didn't ask. We're working on the purchase policy and hopefully we can just pass it out tomorrow morning. Okay. Just let me know.

Okay. If I need to make copies, um let me know and I'll get it done before then. Okay. Thank you. All right, Mike. Wake up from your nap, Mike.

Good afternoon, everyone. I've got to try to get through this as quick as possible. I've got a quite a few things on my list. Um the first would be um you all seen the the bids and uh CFS's recommendation on the two contracts that were um let at the last meeting. Um, one of them was for the 70th road asphalt overlay from Gailsburg to 169 highway. The low bid was from Bettis asphalt in the amount of 1,189, $227.50. Um, I'll go ahead and pass this out. This is a summary of their their uh findings. They just review the numbers and then get back with us. And I didn't either either myself. Yep. I do have a motion to pull that off. Even though they were much lower, CFS still thought it was a good bid.

Yes. Okay. I think obviously they're in county. Maybe they like being here. They've done a lot of really good good work for us. So, I'll make a motion to accept the 70th road asphalt, the overlay from Gailsburg to 169 highway to Bettis asphalt in the amount of 1,189,22750. Second it. Any more discussion? Been paid out of Silk Road sales tax. Correct. Yes. Just add that to the motion. All those in favor? I I motion carried. Okay. All right. Okay.

Thank you for that. The next one that they did have a night time frame on that. Sorry, I was um No. Um I can't remember the late start date, but it pro most likely uh next fall would be the late start date. September anytime between this fall now and then most likely is is when that is. Um but I'll I'll get with at any time after we accept the bid they could go in and start. I'm just thinking if they're in county right now why you would think mobilization would save them a lot of money. So

yeah, I'll get with Bill Delich and see what his thoughts are on that. Um the next one was for the u the four concrete bridge deck overlays uh various parts of the county. We got some really competitive bids on that and I was pleased that uh we got a really low bid uh from Reese Construction in the amount of $236,231.39. And uh the same deal they recommended we go with them. So there's that. I'll make the motion to accept the war concrete bridge overlay deck uh project to grease construction in the amount of $236,231.39 to be paid out of sales tax.

I'll second it. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I motion carried. I think that's between those bids is the most bids I've ever seen come in is different companies that

Yeah, that was nice to to get a to get both those The next item, these are just payments. These have all been approved in the past, but I still like to put them in front of you. It's for u payment to CFS engineers for professional services in the amount of $44,000 for design plans and letting services for the four concrete bridge deck overlays and that was for $44,000. I'll make a motion to approve CFS invoice number 57538 in the amount of $44,000 for the final plan design for the four deck four bridge deck overlays to come out of the road sales tax.

I'll second it. All those in favor? I. Motion carried. Sorry, that was they were quite a bit hitter. I mean, between the two projects, your glow is 700,000 below engineer. Yeah, that was uh I know the engineers estimate is hopefully usually higher than the actual bid, but that was it was really nice to see that much of a difference. Um the next item is um or some are very very hungry for businesses,

right? I would say that that probably was the case on that bridge overlay. They probably needed the work pretty bad. Uh the next item is for payment to CFS engineers in the amount of $17,400 for design plans and letting services for the 70th road asphalt overlay project. And uh I have that here also. Okay, I'll make a motion to approve payment of CFS Engineers invoice number 57537 in the amount of 17,400 for design plans and lighting services for the 70th road asphalt overlay project.

I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I. Motion carried. That'll be taken out of the road sales tax account also. Okay. Next item. One of those. Is there an extra one? I got one right here. Okay. Thanks.

To approve payment to CF CFS engineers in the amount of $47,800 for construction inspection services on the Elk Road asphalt overlay project uh north of Chinook. And uh while we're talking about that, I did speak with the inspector of the project and they're hoping to start on the rock wedge. Can I do that one? Yeah.

Here, let's we need to put in here invoice number 57536. I'm going to help with the motion. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve payment to CFS engineers in the amount of $47,800 for construction work construction inspection service on the Elk Road asphalt overlay project north of Chinoot. Uh take it out of sales tax. Yep. And I be invoice 57536. A second. All those in favor? I motion carried. Okay. Thank you for

So are those all the invoices for CFS? Is that all the invoices? Yeah. Okay. So I have a spreadsheet here. Mike, if you Here's your copies. So I've kind of been a little worried about we have all these projects and not having really a overview of how much money we're spending. So, in your packets, there should be a uh packet on the road sales tax or maybe there's a financial they're in there somewhere.

Okay. I have a spreadsheet. There we go. So, it has a actually the financial spreadsheet. Mhm. Thank you. I think Brett has them also. So, that's just the financials that we got for February if you guys want to look at those. The second page

is What is your second page? Sorry. So, this is an overview of of the projects that we have so far. So, we have the North Elk Road overlay that we've taken out of the road sales tax. I think Mike, you said there's still going to be maybe a charge for the marking for the railroad crossing on that. Correct. I have a space here. I thought we paid that, but maybe we haven't.

I don't I don't think so. Any Okay. Anyway, so right now we're at 600 603. Um the next project is the 70th road overlay on the west half and we're at 1.3 uh million on that project. We I think there might be extra for the striping. Uh then the deck bridge deck overlays is at 378,000. the 30th road bridge which these are a ways off um which we don't we haven't really got we only have an estimate from CFS there and we haven't got the contra or the inspection from CFS that's at 196 and then the North Island Bridge replacement you can see there and also an estimate from CFS of how much it might cost with the contractor which comes to $3.2 2 million of projects that we have. If you look at the second page, this is the revenue that we have received on the sales tax since uh basically the beginning of last year. This is a breakdown. Um the first six months, I'm not for sure what's January, what's May. They were all put in at the same time, but this is a breakdown per month. So last year we took in 1.7 million. Uh so far I've gotten January's at 152. So you can see about 150,000 is what we're bringing in each month with that sales tax. So we've collected 1.8 million through the end of January. So then as you look at the next page, the only thing that we've paid out so far

is the bridge removal. I'm sorry, the CFS bridge pre-insspection.

Oh, and the North Elk Bridge overlay. So, right now at the end of February, we have $1.2 million in there. So, um if we collect as much as we did last year, we'll have $3.4 million. So, basically, we've spent all the money that we're going to collect by the end of the year. But the probably those last two bridge projects won't be done by the end of the year. Um, maybe one of them that kind of gives us an idea of where we're at. Mike, you look like you have some questions. So,

no, I I I agree with you. Be a while before we don't quite had all the figures yet, but I thought we need to start keeping track of this and not get ahead of ourselves, but I think we've gotten some really good projects for this sales tax. It's really going to make an improvement countywide. So, probably will have improved what, six bridges than the last year. I know. It's almost like we're doing more bridges than Well, anyway,

we're making good progress. I mean, this it's good to I know some of these there we haven't replaced a bridge in the county that that I haven't had a complaint about it. Why are you repl Well, if you lived in that area, you'd understand why. And you know, when we replace these bridges, you're making decisions that's going to affect people for the next hundred years. So, I really don't think there's a bridge in the county that needs replaced that we shouldn't try to get replaced. So, and thank you guys for the or North Elf Bridge is Yeah. I mean, that was just a great start. So, that was an opportunity that we couldn't afford to pass up. So, so, and it was very unpopular by some people, but I mean, but between ARPA and the

road a lot now. Yeah, it it's Yeah, the at 4,000 cars a day. Yeah. And some people don't even know the road's open, you know. So, you open that up. Yeah. So, anyway, that kind of gives us an idea of where we're at and how we want to go forward on the road sales tax. I think right now we'll see how these projects go. So, it's nice to be able to do those debtree though and do the north bridge debtree. I It's pretty crazy when you think about it. So

if you look at I mean even on the show it was a $15 million project that had a balance of $25 million after all the interest payments and I mean by paying it off you're saving such a big portion of the cost that's not going to a bond issue.

Yep. So um it was an opportunity. It came at the right time. You know we still had some ARPA money and then this road sales tax came on. So anyway, I just want to continue to make sure we don't get ahead of ourselves. Um, but also just thank the citizens for allowing us to do this because I think it makes a difference trying to keep our property tax down. So anyway, if you guys have any questions on those, those are the figures I've come up with. I met with Tina and Mike about an hour and a half trying to get those and we still have some CFS projections that we don't have. Um, but I think we're close there. And that we approved all of these invoices. So anyway, we are still waiting on with the audits on Shaw Elkro. There should be in my estimates is about 300 maybe 270,000 to $300,000 left that we can use on that road. But until we get the audit done for 24, I'm not comfortable in

doing with that. So actually it shows 2.7 million still on our books. So hopefully by summer we can maybe do some improvements there. So anyway, I just wanted to kind of give you guys that information, but it kind of was driving me crazy not to have a bottom line of exactly where we're at. So I'll try to keep that up. Um, so then in that pile of stuff also, there was a recap of the equipment reserve. So, you were going to talk about what we just got from our purchases or what we went on purple.

I had one more thing.

Okay, go ahead. Um, this is a motion to accept the proposed lease agreement from John Deere Prairland Partners in Iola for two John Deere 6M130 tractors for 12 months or 350 hours in the amount of $16,800 for both tractors. This is the same thing we've been doing for 3 years now. Uh, there's a slight increase. It's still a very good deal. Um, and it it's working out nicely and I would like to to keep that going. Also, if you could Now, we don't need to pay this until they show up, which will be I sent you an email on this. It'll probably be um late this summer, early fall before the tractor show up. We still have hours on the ones that we have.

Okay. But you can't own the tractor for what they lease it to about the size of what we're using. I'll make the motion accept proposed lease for John Deere Prairland Partners of Biola on two John Deere tractors 6M130 tractor for 12 months 350 hours in the amount of $16,800 to be taken out of

taken out of department operation road and bridge operations. Thanks, Nick. Second it. Hey, we're giving you some new equipment today. So, all those in favor? Motion carried. Second. Yeah. Yeah, it's it's And are you going to sign that contract then? I can sign it. Yep. That's okay. Sounds good. Yep.

Um Yeah. And they even they brag on us. U those things go back to them like brand new. The guy even told us that our tractors when we turn them back in, they look better than any of the others that come back in there. So, but thank you for doing that. That that makes a difference. Um, the next thing I have on my list is the uh uh today we was the purple wave auction that I discussed with you a while back. We got um 2009 Grossy Broom. Um it's an RJ350 for the bid price was $9,200. So I should have had this calculated out. That put us at $10,120 total for that. And we got a very good price on an International 7,400 dump plow truck. And uh it was uh the bid price was $8,800. So that put it at $9,680. Um good deal on both of those items. So

the broom might grow at newer years about 20 years. What? The existing broom is about 20 years old that Oh. Oh, it's older than that. I don't know what year. Want to give it to the museum? It's a relic. Yeah, it's it should go in a museum. But anyway, I didn't know if we needed a a motion to authorize the clerk to issue a check because what we do is uh special AP.

We we get we cut a check and then we put it in express mail and and they're okay with that. I've spoke with Purple Wave. They they like electronic transfers. We don't have the capability to do electronic transfers. Uh so this is the next best thing. Uh this is what we've done in the past. So, we could do that and then we'll get pick the check up tomorrow and get it in the mail and get Okay. So, we need to figure out where we're going to take this out of Didn't we? So, there is a sheet here also with those that has the equipment reserve account number.

So, from the last purple wave when we sold things, we still have about $43,000. Uh we also have the pilot fund which at the beginning we had money for road and bridge. There's still 67,000 in there. And then we also have a special machinery that we have $47,000. So I mean it's only 19,800 but do machinery and let's I think we should clear out the I don't even know where this money came from. It's been on the book transfers out from years ago pretty much. So we would put leftover budget. Is it guaranteed? Sorry.

H is it guaranteed? Well, it's on been on financial reports for six years. Okay. Until we get the audit adjustments put in. We've never used that account. I don't maybe once in the last six years. Five years. Yeah. five or six years. I'll double check it, too. Okay. So, I'll make a motion to authorize the clerk to issue a special AP check to Purple Wave Auctions in the amount of $19,800 for the purchase of equipment for the road and bridge department to be taken out of account 104 special machinery. I'll

second it.

All those in favor? I I motion carried. Okay, thank you for that. Uh the only other thing I have on my list is uh I I handed out the uh traffic count on Queens Road uh before the meeting. So you maybe have time to thumb through it a little bit. There's been some Paul contacted me last week regarding the possibility of uh you know maybe lowering the speed limit if we feel it's necessary. Um, I early on when we lowered the speed limit on the other roads, I'd suggest that we hold off for a little bit just to see what the traffic's doing. And that report gives you a pretty good idea of what's going on down there.

It's a very detailed and accurate uh report. There's more to it than what I gave you. The whole report is about 20 pages long, but that covers most of it. Uh, and I I didn't know what your thoughts were on that. My only concern, Mike, we've done it on every other de or not unofficial detour in the past and we've been able to keep the accidents to not happening or no major accidents, right?

And I kind of supported the fact of lowering it. I mean, what do you think, Tom? You live along there. everybody else 45 let me drive that's what they'll do I mean that's yeah 45 means 50 45 means 55

well and I'm surprised people have done really well on queen I really was concerned about how people do what they've done in the accident done a decent job of trying to keep it patrol he's limited with his staff my opinion would be if we could patrol it a little more heavily to I mean, you don't control it. It doesn't matter what speed. They're going to drive what they want to drive. So, our main concern is we don't have the patrol capabilities right now. Yeah. They already deputize.

Yeah. We get your radar gun. And then the other thing I'm just going to throw this out there to consider would be do you want to drop it on the entire road from the county line all the way to 47 because there's a lot of cars that turn off there at 40th and and go back and get on 59 highway. So or 20th or 20th. I just went that way the other day. Yeah. But 40th is a paved road right there at South. You don't have to drive on any gravel. um take us. I'm not I'm just throwing that out there for consideration.

Have you had any complaints from your Yes. Yeah. My neighbor, she drives that every day back and forth and she said I've had couple other people. John Kramer was another one. And uh anyway, and I'm like with you, Nick. We did this on every other road. You know, we're going to hear about it if we don't do it. I feel like that's my only thing is we we've been able to prevent accidents in the past and it's kind of like we've had a pretty good run. I hate to change what we've done in the past and then we have a major accident or something on that road.

Mike made a good point about this too. You slow people down to 45 a certain speed limit. You have other people that people get blocked takes 15 minutes to get from location A to B and you drop that speed limit to 45. Now you got people driving slow and people trying to speed and get around because well then we drop it down and then we have the sheriff out there. So what's the mileage from 40th to 47? 10 miles. That's what 40th miles. Yeah. I'm sorry I misspoke. I mean, do you think it needs to be 45 the whole way to 47?

I think so because I if you go down I mean Mike's got kind of got a good point, but I think we don't drop it there that people north of there are going to say why why didn't you drop it down here? We did an unusual one. And I know it hits a lot more traffic, but and there's going to be some people who don't like it, but we just leave a little earlier. Okay, leave a little earlier. So, if you if the commission feels that we should lower this, I don't have a resolution to or I what I usually do is type something up, get it to Brett, and then he he writes it to make it legal.

We could have this for ready for the next meeting. That'd be good. It gives a little more time then. Okay. Is the counter still out there? Huh? Is this still out there? Are you still counting out there? Not right now. He had to bring the He brought the the counter in this morning to generate this report and then uh I think we're going to put it on Pratt Road. I imagine it doubled and Oh, I'm sure. I'd have to look at a past traffic count, but it probably tripled Queen from what it once was would be my guess. 47 17 1800 cars a day. So, yeah.

And I just another while we're talking about this, we haven't seen trucks. I didn't see any trucks when I was on a Thursday. Yeah. Um I've seen some trucks, but most of them are grain trucks and they hopefully are, you know, following the rules. And I know there's a couple of producers that live on that road that have semiis. So if their destination is on that road or if they're coming from that road for their from their house, right? I did. No, you can't stop that.

They're illegal. So those aren't the ones we want to stop. We want to stop the over the road trucks that are just cutting through to save a few miles. But uh while we're talking about that unofficial detour for that project, I did send KOT an email requesting reimbursement for the treatment of some of these roads with mag chloride. I have not heard back from him yet. I'll send them another one and maybe we can get that into work because we've had quite a few complaints regarding the dust on Ottawa and and Pratt Road mainly. So hopefully they'll agree to to reimburse us for that because we really need to do something.

I came across one of them that was a lot.

Yeah, they need to be treated. They typically have had this agreement in place in the past and Nick and I have met with them multiple times and they're short staffed also and uh so they're a little behind on that. So hopefully they can make that come together and uh approve us for for reimbursement. So that's all I have on my list. Excuse me. Hey, Michael, you was talking I was talking last meeting about a six district and uh you said something about all the detours down here. Well, I marked it out. I'm seeing only like eight miles of detour gravel down there.

Yeah. So that ain't much. So, uh, we didn't do that when the South River Bridge was getting built out here. So, I really think we need to go six districts. Well, we have six districts now. It's just that I have four. Well, I think we need to divide it out. Six six districts, but right now I would like to keep it the way it is. Well, I'll make a motion to to divide it equally with six districts. Do you have a map or something? Well, I have maps, Nick, and I can send them out to you, but you can't divide them equally anyway. That's not You can get them a lot closer equally by what?

Well, that's land or miles? Miles. There's two people, two graders up north doing four districts. I think we got to kind of figure in volume too. I was going to say I don't think there's nearly the traffic.

There's more to this than just area on a map, Paul. And uh and I've tried to explain that to you and I have explained that to you, but I can't understand it for you. Uh and I think for now we probably should just leave them the way they are. If we get behind in the north part, I can send other people up there to help them. It's just like right now we're partnering with some people to to uh they took out a fence row and a tree row and they wanted to get their fence built back as soon as possible. And I've got a guy over there today uh cleaning the ditch and cleaning that up. So, he's not on a road right now, but he's he's doing something that's going to make that particular road a lot better in the future. And um

is somebody feeling like they're being doing? Well, I'd be I'd be a little Well, if I got to do two districts, this guy down here's doing one. Well, Paul, they're everybody here's working by the hour. So, you grade as much as you can in a day's time. And I've told these guys also, if the road doesn't need graded, don't grade it. And you can think about that if you want, but if if if there's no potholes or anything, don't grade it and go to a road that's got a higher volume of traffic on it and take care of those.

So, we're halfassing things. Okay. Well, that's your opinion. Those are your words. That is my opinion. So I just I I I think you need to weigh in impact of volume of traffic and somehow we'd have to know. You'd almost have to have a traffic on every intersection or every road surface. But cuz I mean you go on Ottawa, I guarantee that sees probably 10 times the my area Ottawa. Yeah. Going north on 39, it's Yeah. It's going to see a lot more traffic than most any other gravel road. Yeah, that that

but you got more gravel roads in district one. A lot more. I just looking at volume. I'm just I'm just thinking the impact is that thing gets traveled a lot as going up and cut off. They don't want to drive to Stark. They'll go straight north and hit and there's also Odin and then cut over be right on Blacktop right there at Odin. There's a lot of truck traffic on that road and we've actually discussed the possibility of making that a no through trucks route and that semis

probably would help that quite a bit. But and if you want to if you want me to draw something up I I can certainly do that. But I just would urge you for now hopefully one of these days we'll get back to normal. you can, you know, fine this thing a little bit. All our graders trained and ready to go. Yeah, cuz we had eight.

Yeah, we did. And hopefully we'll be back there again. But for right now, I just would urge you to let me run my department. Well, we are your bosses. Yeah, I get that, Paul. Okay. But not everybody agrees with you. Okay. Uh that patchwork by advanced systems, they went and tried to fix. It's really rough. They never they didn't do a good job when they come back and did it right there to the north of systems

on el the co as you know it's right as you go north it sunk there and then went back and it's pretty rough in that oh you know what I'm talking about just and it's going north it's not going south going north is the I was told that and I went that he said it was north you you up north and that's there is a pretty rough little I don't need these ground down or what? They they tried to patch it and it just Yeah, they it just made a hump. That wasn't Bettis. That was No, that was Heckard. Yeah, Heckard did that one. I remember that. It is what it is.

But they were right there in the area. But I don't know if grinding it down would be a better solution. Just talk to that. I don't know. Looks like they could feather that out. Almost made it worse last time they did it. So now it's like just leave it as I think they used Didn't they use a grater? No, they had a lady I couldn't remember. Doing some patching on now. So And it Yeah, that's been a couple of years.

There was Yeah, that's been several years. there was a little bit of settling and a little bit of a dip and we had some complaints about that and I told them like you know I think we probably better just leave this alone and there was a couple people in the public that insisted that we do something about it and we did and you know it's going to be a patch when you patch these roads they're not going to be perfectly smooth and I know that's not the best but if you want me to get a contract we don't have the means to grind it No, I didn't know what it would get cost maybe and maybe see what it would cost. I don't think it's that bad. I mean, okay. I mean,

at least we have an idea what it's going to cost us. That might change our whole attitude on that offer or put up with the hump. It's not as rough as Earl Tracks. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Or Elk Road at Ash Grove. Yeah. 435th Street. Okay. Okay. Well, good road. I can give you lots of them that are extremely rough.

I tried messing with them. Well, that's it wasn't that bad. Do what you want to do. Learn my lesson. Don't The other issue I mean other on Gail's district on 21st Street I'm getting they want to bring that speed up once you get past Horizon there chase and go west 55 get get rid of the Okay. We made that permanent a couple years ago, right? Yep. Because of that curve because there was a fatality at that curve. There's been a lot of race on but

but now we've overlaid that track but I still think it's fine. Well, I'm just going I'm going to start dragging. We were going to go just tracks and then you're the one that wanted to go all the way to Well, I think at that time is when we were closed off at that intersection. Yeah. So, we did that when that intersection was closed off and now it's open and I'm I've had several people say bring that back up from Chase and going west. But if uh Wilson County is going to overlay is Yeah. They they're wanting to partner up with us and they missed the cut off date to put in for a grant. That's what Marple told me, Chris. Chris,

but they're going to put him for it again. And that's going to go I think they're going to p him back. We're going to put him back with them to plumber.

Commission. No, I'm just I'm just trying to say if it bring that back chasing going west to Wilson County and I think you need to county. We don't have it all the way out to Yeah. Pass Anderson. No, we're just going to What is it? Brown. Anderson. It's only to Brown. It's only to N. one mile that I'm getting a getting a lot of calls on. I'm just you than Oh, there you go. Yeah. I'll say call G. Well, you're the one that wanted to go all the way out to the intersection. So,

that was when we were closed at the intersection. Two was my big thing on PL. No, I I know it seems kind of a long ways out there, but really the visibility is pretty bad on that curve and then you well the heat pump off brown's pretty bad too. I mean come to that you're pretty good and then if there's you know people getting out of work at a rise if people are slowed down already by the time they come over that hill and see all that traffic let's just I think we should just keep it there.

That's fine. I'm not dying on that. Just tell him don't call me because I'm not going to change my mind about that. I can do that at this point. At this point, I think it's just safer to keep it as is. That road's not in that good a condition. I know there's never enough money, but

if someday we could afford it and this is maybe we could apply for a grant to take that curve out of there. Um that would be that would probably qualify for one of those H tripr grants. Uh we could submit that. We we did submit one for the actually down there at 40th and Queens to take that curve out but I haven't heard anything back from them. Um but those pro those are really competitive uh projects that they you'd almost have to move north toward plant. It would be a it would be a major undertaking to

Well, William Cook always said that road is not on the books. There's something about that road that tracks but is still going with the railroad and trying to get the rightway on the road. Oh yeah. It would be not easy. So, it's easier just to keep it at 45. I think from Brown down to plumber seems safe to me. There's just so much traffic. It's like just slow down, you know. It's like what, two miles? It's not like Queens. It's not 10 miles or Well, yeah, it it is a mile from Brown to to plumber.

Yeah, it's two miles. So, which is Chase. You got Chase and Douglas. Yeah. So, Douglas. Yeah. But you think about it and it's not my I'm out of this battle now. I voiced my opinion. So, I'm not going to fall in that sword. So, okay. It's not worth it.

Nope. Well, anything else? Oh, Mike might try to do something with those chips next season cuz he's out here. The only thing that stuck was a dust. Need to Michael Beer's got a washer, don't he? I don't know. Yeah, he does. I think he got one. Get him to wash them chips. knows from where she put she's going to pay. Do you Well, yeah.

I mean, we we've barely got enough money to make ends meet. So, I mean, if if you're going to do that, that's fine. And I agree, they need cleaned somehow or treated. There's other methods you can do it, but how are we going to pay for this before we get this in the works? We'll just use a road tax. Well, I think you can already see we don't really have any money left. Very well got it maxed out with the projects we've got on the books. Okay. No, I'm I'm I agree with you, Paul. We've talked about this numerous times, but all these things that are good ideas, you got to figure out a way to pay for them. And that's where we're

Well, I think what what we can see now is we've spent this money for this year. So, I think at the end of this year, even during budget time, let's say these are the projects that we'd like to use next year's road sales tax and plan ahead. Yeah. And I'm not sure that would even qualify for using that tax money on. I don't know. That would be something you put them on the road.

Well, I'm not saying we can't, Paul, but I know there was specific verbiage in that that has to be met. And I don't know. I have that right here when we come down to it if we want to know what's qualifies for the road sales tax. So anyway, we just need to plan ahead. Yeah. So we've already committed to what we've committed. So I'm kind of like Trump. If I if I cured cancer, I'd give me a hell about that. Well, what we've already committed the money. I don't know what I'm fine, Gil. I mean, we just put that on the list for next year.

Just tonight. Well, that's what I was talking about. Next year. Okay. No more chips when we put it down. It looks like we could do it. Okay. County Percy policy. It's not going to be dead to Are you done with me? Okay. We need to get it printed out. Printed out. So, so whenever if you could get someone to Yeah. I emailed it to your address, Chassity. Okay.

Take a break. I'll run these up. I can just

Okay. Okay. Oh. Uh, I'll make a motion that we have a five minute recess or a break. I'll second it. Recess. We need a recess, right? Yes, Mrs. Claus. We'll come back at uh 2:30. We'll give you eight minutes. Second. Second. Second it. All those in favor? I. Motion carried.

couple of things that he wanted, I thought.

Okay, we're back in session. Okay, so be before you we have the current purchasing policy. Um, so Brett, do you want to basically what I did was from the last one, uh, there were two issues. One of them was on what uh Nick had uh referred to as a legacy cost, which would be like if we bought a certain piece of equipment, what are the cost likely to be incurred by continued operation of the item? Um I mean I the way I phrased it was all bids would contain any available projections. The cost likely incurred by continued operation of the item purchased that go beyond basic consumable supplies and or maintenance. like you can't really project how much toner or copper you're going to necessarily use, but if it requires a special

drum or something of that nature that you have to replace and you would want to be made aware of that.

So, what I'd like to do is present this to the department heads tomorrow. let them be able to look over it and maybe at the next meeting then get something. Okay. And I did mention conflicts of interest too on paragraph 8. Any confl or any board member and an entity submitting a bid should be disclosed to the board immediately upon discovery. So as soon as you find out there's a conflict or soon think there might be one, bring to everybody's attention. So we're totally transparent. Okay. You going to have those brought down in the morning? Yes. If you could get those Yeah. bring them down. Would you like them? I think they'd like them emailed out.

They can do both. Both. Yeah. That's what they recommended for the other.

Well, I think we need it for the meeting tomorrow. It's always good to have it in hand, but then when you get back to the office, it's good to have an email. So, what else we need to work on is a bids sheet. Um, and Mike, I don't know if you have a bid sheet that you actually use. Here's one that the clerk's office came up with, but that's something else we're going to work on. So, whether it's an informal bid that someone brings us, you know, for a smaller amount, it says, "These are the three contacts that I made. here's the information. Or if it's an actual formal bid like what we got from CFS, we need to work on exactly what that is. I think this is a little bit more detailed than what I would use. Mike, I just haven't gotten with you to see what you have. Um, but if we can get some ideas,

but I think we need to have those forms as a part of the policy so that we're all using the same form and the commission knows what to expect. Well, and helps the clerk delineate. So, other counties have clipboards for during the meeting and set them up on the table or whatnot to present that. So, okay, there's different ways of doing it as well.

We do have a a form that we send out on our tire bids. When we go out for a tire bid, we reach out to all the vendors that participate. We we go out with the the size uh the brand if it's brand specific. A lot of times it is um tread pattern, etc. And we we send that out to the vendors uh on the day ahead. And then we say we need your your bids back by noon tomorrow. And they're supposed to fill out a form. It's not that much different from this uh with the the the amount for each tire and then we award the bid inhouse uh the next day.

Well, I think the commission approved this process, right? So, what I think Gail and Chasse have in mind is more of a standardized throughout the county as best we can. There might be some odd things in what they do more standardized form and that's fine. I don't have a problem if we need to change the form a little bit. I can get with you and show you what we use. Uh if you have one already set that works for you, there's no need to change that. Or even like CFS, obviously they have one, you know, whatever. We just need to come up with one. Yeah. So they that was what they proposed. I just thought I you probably have one or maybe someone else does. So

just something that ties we want to add that to this or you approved a bid from like your tires. Then that sheet goes on top of that and it comes in to us. So, right. Okay. Yeah, that's not a just a couple of slight modifications what we're doing now. Okay. I think what most of us want to get away from is just, hey, I want this when I come up to the counter. You know, sometimes it's hard for us to make a decision. I need this from the office right this moment. And it's like, yeah, we need a little more if we if you've got a form of this is the information when you come and ask for it. This is what we want. You know, we need this information.

And and like on the bigger per tire purchases, uh like loader tires, I always come to you guys cuz yeah, those tires can be $6 or $8,000 a piece. We don't run. So, yeah. Well, we try not to, but it it happens sometimes. But okay.

Okay. That's just one other thing that we need to add to the purchase policy, I believe, is that we're all using the same form or everyone can specialize it, but at least the information is gathered there. Okay. Courthouse internet quote backup. So, we talked about this. This is like a year ago or a year and a half ago where this started. So before the last meeting, correct? We sat down and met with Yeah, it was that morning. I know. Well, I've been to Colorado and back. So, um, we sat down with

Kan Ken Crawlan and had a pretty lengthy conversation with them. So after our last meeting, I took it upon myself to call Steve with uh advantage and he's like, "Yes, go with Crockan." I mean, he says they're the best in the state. Like we should be using them as our internet if that as the opportunity. Like they're in Allen County. They don't have that opportunity really. um in the city. We tried looking at them for a backup a couple years back and they they didn't want to be a backup.

They got a massive federal grant to approve their So, I think what we need to do is go out for bids. So, we're working on trying to get a contract from Cox as to exactly what is our contract with them, you know. Um but uh I think it's worth looking into of changing since Crawan is in Erie. It's a great opportunity I think for us. Their speed is phenomenal compared to firewall protected. Um what was pointed out.

So yeah, we're that's what we're working on now, I guess, is trying to get where are we with Cox? Um, and then we may even get a quote for the telephone because that's actually their a telephone company and then I've gone into internet. So Stephen said maybe you should get your telephones have it all in one. So and then so I asked him like what how many companies have backup internet? I don't have backup internet at home, but um he said if you have a reliable internet provider probably the majority of them don't have enough is there one until they cut a cable and they're really good is going to be your closest

this one. Anyway, so that's kind of a question also, but I think they're pretty competitive on what they can provide for us. So anyway, we'll bring that to you when we get more information and kind of see where we are with the contracts because I've never seen anything on Cox. I think it just keeps renewing. So anyway, that's where that's at. We've already did the bid selections. I will be out all next week for sandborn schooling. So, I'll take as much as I can on this whenever we get Yeah.

Uh, wastewater and NRP. Yes, that one. Pull my notes. You threw me off with the internet. Um, so right now the way it's set up, we have the NRP fund and then we have our wastewater lep fund. So they're both going to be used for the same. We don't understand why we need to do a split. If they write one check, you know, that's putting more pressure onto the treasur of course to get the splits. If we put this all into one fund, it' just be our easiest route to go possibly. So it's Yeah, it's all under general. Okay.

We need a motion for the fun. Yeah. To combine those two funds. Okay. I'd make the motion to combine those two funds. I'll second the motion. Those two funds. That's your wording. So, what two funds are they? I need to write them down. Pick them out. Um Anything to make the trees life easier and also firm. You're right. The praiser.

Yes. So, we should be writing out multiple accounts in our own general right now. the LEP is is under it is under general but it's its own fun and then your NRP wise is actually in a different it's under general under officers officers something so they're under general so you're not going to have it split out on your

it's underneath here. Uh, this general office fees maintenance. So that'd be 47 I believe. Yeah, I think so. I'm sorry. Say again. 47 00147. right here. 47. Oh, okay. Under maintenance. Yes. Is under his as far as income. So, there is a revenue

0147 LEP340 is the LEP. So, that is that one. And then the other one, general officers fees. Yes. 001-00004324. Correct. To merge those accounts. Is that as a non department? Yeah. So, do we want to take it? Which one are we merging? Move it into general out of maintenance into those go away.

Yeah, those would both go away. Well, the candidate one would not go away because that is where we put our candidate filings as well. So, that will remain. But for 2027 is where we would actually create a whole new fund. Okay. For this, we'll just make note, I guess, to auditor-wise that this is what we're doing. I'll second these two accounts into this one.

Okay. I think for the remainder of the applications, Gab's just gonna split it 25 to each. Okay. All those in favor? I. Motion carried. Thank you. We've got me up on the pedestal here. Yes. Do we just want to skip to the county attorney? Well, I've got one thing, girl. Oh, you got one thing? Yes.

Off my county attorney. Um, we received a check uh in the mail from our workman's comp uh fees that we do at the beginning of the year. It's an estimate, so they reimburse us either or we pay back. Um, last year we actually pulled this out of workman's comp in 2026. That was never budgeted. So, there was nothing put into this account for 2026. It's all coming out of other. Where would you like the check be placed? How much is it worth? $8,462.

So, is this for still be 2026 like reimbursement? No, it' be the 2025 reimbursement. So, this would be for the audit to go back and push back in. But where do you want to put for now? 2174 for future work comp or unemployment or uh unemployment insurance. How do we want to do that? It's come back from the insurance company. Mhm. Yeah. The work. It's a thing that happens every year. It's that um

work comp audit. Yeah. that I have to provide. Um, some counties set it aside and that would pay for like our um I want to say party that we have in the fall like it actually goes back to the employees for being safe and everything. Um, so that's just a employee benefit. Put it back in the employee benefit and then just credit. Yeah. Okay. Just credit. Yeah. Employee benefit. Just one of the revenues up. Yeah. Just credit. Yeah. Just put it back in employee benefits and then we'll be done.

Yeah. Yeah. But just a credit on this year. Yeah. Cuz We used to get that in December. The same year this year, we're not going to try and push back an audit. Okay.

It's all I need. Thank you.

All right, Miss Cheryl, we'll just Okay. Put you in here. Okay. Thank you for coming back.

Oh, no problem. Um, so, uh, I wanted to give you sort of an update on the three little pigs of finance, the financial uh, diversion incidents. We'll put it that way. So, the first was the the first thing I covered was the monies that I found in the three envelopes. Remember the three manila envelopes. So the first section is about that and we've got all that money in and thank you for the the volunteers that came and helped uh and and then that's just half the job because then once you have some idea of some of whose money that is then you have to distribute it. So I've been writing checks uh used up my first two books so I have to get more checks. Linda is working on that. I said I need about a thousand. So, she's working on that. Um, but I have distributed $7,765 already to the clerk of the court. And I just don't have the total of the monies, the checks I've written to the charities that were supposed to get that money, but next month I I will I'll have that for you. And I'm still sorting through also um money that's owed because the checks that came that were in that envelope were stale and were not uh honored

tested and I tested some of them and all I got for my troubles was chargeback.

So So I'll be working on that and I will make that good out of money that's legitimately belongs to the county attorney's office. So, I promised Judge Prices I would do that. So, I'm going to start working on that soon. Then the second part of the financial is the account that you requested Tiana to open. I have another different volunteer who's working on that and and she has done and she she's she's not done yet, but it has been a a fabulous amount of work. I'm asking her to keep track of her hours because I want to know I may be reporting to some other people what happened here and I want to be able to say this is just part of the damage is this volunteer worked these many hours. Um she does have enough information that I can start writing checks to the clerk of the court and some charity checks from that amount. But, uh, she said part of the problem was when she opened that account per your request in September of 2024, the first deposit had $20,000 in cash in it. So, so again, we're and it and we found some more receipts and records and she's still she's working now again still trying to solve the mystery of of whose cash is in there. So, we will keep working on that. I'll have an updated report in another month to let you know what's been happening with that. Then there's the monies in account um that Mr. Bill is auditing. Uh I'm starting because there was a story in the Tribune about the money. I

am starting to get uh people calling victims who are owed restitution ordered. the defendant was ordered by the court to pay restitution. Uh there's been about three or four, but the most startling was uh a man who was calling for his wife and the restitution was medical bills and he said he was he was trying to pay a little bit on him to keep from going into collection. But we did investigate and Mr. Bell looked it up, looked the defendant's name, and that restitution is over $7,000, and the defendant paid it back in 2023. It's just been sitting there and was never given to the victim. So, that made me want to cry. So, we I I'll have to work with him because I don't even have any checks for that account that Mr. Bell has. He thinks in his in the boxes there are some checks in there. So, we'll be looking for that, but um I I don't know when we I it's unknown yet when I will start being able to take care of those victims, but I'll give you I'll keep you updated about what's happening with that. And then uh I'm going to skip over the this next thing because I did also want to point out I didn't know if you knew that the uh attorney general's office when they come and assist with cases that they I don't know what kind of a bill they send but they are assisting in the state of Kansas versus Kenneth Wood and State of Kansas versus Luke Shepard. So, I attached those letters so that you would know that that could be representing a bill that we would get. Um, we are uh moving we're moving a pace on the project of getting out of the way

of the of the court clerk. So, you hosted uh Judge K and his um well, I know it was really a request more like an order uh to give over that space that Mr. Then had apparently taken control of with or without anyone's permission. And uh there's still just a lot of paper and so we've I've um

Don't throw the envelopes full of cash. I I would have that's it. I have to look at every file and every single thing because I'm now scared cuz in the receipts and stuff that Kelly bundled up for me and my me and my volunteer on Sunday, we're sitting there looking through that and she goes, "Well, here's a money order." So, you know, it I it just is anxiety raising to even

Have we got away from using cash in our office? So, uh, they can still pay cash, but here's the thing. I what I'm getting away from is we have to stop touching other people's money. So, when they're supposed to pay that money to a charity, they are to bring a check or money order made payable to the charity. We're happy to take a picture of it and mail it to the charity for them, but we're not putting it in the bank anymore and being the pass through guy for the Nom. So, the only money that I we're we're getting there. So, that the only money we take in is the money that is for legitimately fees, the application fee and diversion fee to do with the diversion program. And that's all that's going into the account that I opened now other than this crazy the three manel envelope money that I'm working on. But yes, we're and we're there's it's this whole culture that got started by Mr. Thus a long time ago. So we're having to retrain the attorneys to stop telling your clients and redoing paperwork and making big notices. This is how you pay when you when you owe the clerk of the court. You go 20 feet over there to that office and pay the clerk of the court. If you owe a ch for a chair, then this is how you do that. And so I'm I'm getting closer to having it be that we're gonna stop the practice of taking in money that goes to someone else and and not be doing that because and it's going to be like that. The big all this money that was previously in here has to be sorted out. And in fact, I told one of the attorneys today, you have to help

me find this person because we owe them a refund of $258. Because that's the other thing, because they waited so long, the clerk of the court turns over those accounts for collection. So these people, even though they paid the county attorney's office, are being contacted by the collection agency for the courts and then some of them have paid. So now I have money that now belongs back to the

So like I said it's the wide swath of of damage and to then okay maybe those people they commit they maybe committed a crime they got diversioned but they don't deserve to be treated like this. So I'm also just the master of apology. If you need someone apologize to you should call me this time. Give me an expert. Uh let's see. All right. So, that's all of that. Um, we are going to move some of the files and all those all those filing cabinets. So, I I don't know. I talked to the maintenance person. Where are you moving them to?

Well, uh, some of them I'm going to donate right away when because Tri Valley is going to take care of all this files. There's already 12. Yes. 12 banker boxes full.

12. weighty. That's just the traffic old traffic cases. So, I'm going to be starting on some other categories. We're also now sorting two filing cabinets full of files, some of them from the '9s where people have warrants for their arrest, which we cannot prosecute. So, we're also going to be we actually are going through them one by one, of course, looking for cash, but uh getting the b the bench warrants and warrants recalled because we I've had a couple times already. I've only been there what feels like a year, but two months and people gotten arrested on warrants from like 2001 that we can't prosecute. So, the dispatch people are just excited beyond belief that we're going to get rid of all these old warrants that they should not even be in the system. So, those are going to get pulled out system and the files will be what? Shredded and all the way up to probably 2020. Clean that up. But, I understand the filing cabinets didn't sell so well. So I'm de donating some of them to Tri Valley when they come to pick up these because they said they could use them.

Oh, so therefore good. Now, final thing is I have received a resume and application and uh I've been in conversation with a young man who's very interested in uh being a part-time assistant county attorney and I have a proposal. I put that in writing for you. I didn't know if you Oh, she left.

Okay. she tal she we she we talked about whether we needed to have um an executive session, but I do I do want to offer uh this position to him and um at a rate that is consistent with what the people right out of law school are being offered um with literally no experience. Well, whatever they got if they were an intern or something during law school. Uh he he uh let's go ahead and just do an executive session. Probably how we do that and let's go talk about that. So that's it.

I'll move to recess into executive session to discuss personal matters of non-elected personnel regarding the county attorney for let's say 10 minutes to include the commission, council, HR, and the county attorney. Uh we'll come back at 3:10. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I motion carried.

Okay. 10 seconds. You are live when you're ready. All right. We're back in session and no action was taken. So, I think we're done with Are we done with you, Cheryl? Yep, I think so. Thank you for hanging in there. Okay. Thank you for more, please. Thank you for the update. Thank you.

Well, I'll try to keep you up and, you know, it it allows me to also have some information to go out into the community about what's happening. I think it's sort of been dark about that. That's uh daylight has come. All right. And u

All right. Okay. Next we added um the Neosa Memorial Regional Medical Center trustee appointment which we do every March. So, we got three applications. If we can find Oh, I got them out here somewhere. I probably have two copies if someone needs another. I know which ones they are.

Yeah, I know which ones. I read them. Um, I just want to say I appreciate the three applications that we got and their volunteerism. Um, as you got it.

Yep. I got zero. So, this will be a four-year term at the hospital. It usually takes about four years, I guess, to get up to snuff on all of the hospital things. A lot of things happening right now. So, that's actually been one of my concerns with all the transition and expansion of the hospital. So I think there is one candidate that does have a medical background that may help in this transition

staff and everything else that they've Yes, that is going to occur. I would make the motion to appoint Sandy Firming. I'll second that motion. I think uh sorry discussion. I think also it's nice to have somebody out in the community. She does live in the Eerie area. Um I think we have one other one on the board that's from Eerie. Bruce. Bruce. And there's talk about him retiring retiring. He has been on there for years and years and so I think Sandy would make a good um board member and represent this part of the county. So

well and she was tied to the hospital for many years and I think she said 29 years she worked at the hospital at different levels. She's a nurse but then she also was in um what risk management um hospital administration. So she yeah knows a lay of the land definitely. So there's a lot of things that people outside of the medical field have to get caught up on all of that stuff where she's already had years of experience. So all those in favor I

I motion carried three to zero. Sorry. Um on to new business.

This has not been done before that I'm aware of. Um but Each year, cemeteries and townships are required to report their endofear balances to us and commissioners to sign off after reviewing. So trying to think of the date. I think it's January 15th is when they are due. So and then you are to approve. So this will continue from here on beginning of each year. So, can we if you want to review this until the next meeting?

We can put this on hold until next meeting. Okay. I do have the sheets um that I want you to review as well. If there's any changes that you would like to this, this is what you will sign off on for your approvals. What kind of changes would we be looking at? I guess What kind of changes? However you want the layout of okay just signing off on it. So this will be placed in the book that we keep the original costes with.

Okay. Okay. Have you ever done this before? Really? No annual report. They submitted their budgets usually at the end of Yeah. more budget time for the next year.

So, is our cemetery on this list? I guess that was my question. Yes. Should be under Neosa. The Neossha memorial. Yes. Okay. So, those are the board members that we have. Correct. There should only be two. And then we also do need to appoint Do you need the name?

Uh, no. Oh. So, we did have a work session today with our outside entities and this came up. Someone wanting to be added to the board of the the county-owned cemetery. Do you want to make that motion? I would make the motion to appoint it to the county cemetery board. I'll second the motion. Any more discussion? All in favor? Motion carried.

Yeah. I don't know. Like some of these other ones have like a treasure or primary or president. Um

on your on your senate series, you have your sex, which is main point of contact. Will your president your trust or trustee interesting reading Yes.

Okay. But you remember we were given one of these before. Have you ever? I don't. This was discovered. I was watching uh another county's meeting and this was presented to them and so I actually looked into the statute. One more thing we're supposed to be doing. Yes.

Okay. I have a couple more things here. We have Advantage Computer. I don't think that's on our agenda, but we need to approve their contract or this is effective in June. So, do you know if this is the same price as last year? Dig into it.

Okay. Why don't we table this? Here's the original that you gave me. Um, but looking into what advantage I'd like to see what last year was. Um, love the service they give us. Just want to make sure we're I'd like to read that over compare it. It always be nice to have a previous year contract. Yeah. And it's in the It would sure make a research farm a little bit easier. So you talk to Steve.

I can pull all contacts as well. Less than Um, I don't know. Then there's a letter here from Stark about wanting some sponsorship for Stark Days. Don't know if we've done that, but I do believe we gave Stark a nice amount out of the pilot fund in the last year. So, that probably is covered, I would think. Yeah, that would start at this point. Mission days once. We paid for the fire department or something. Then we gave them we gave them what? We gave the city of Stark 50,000

50,000. So at this point I don't think we don't sponsor anything else. I know we used to do some other sponsorships, but we've really kind of done away with that. Well, we did it when the diversion from was right for the after prom. Yeah, which that kind of makes sense tonight. But yeah, and then we haven't done it since we haven't had the diversion fund. Correct. So, okay, our next meeting is April the 7th. So,

I have like a fivem minute executive session for any litigation just run by everyone real quick. And if I could, I'm sorry, I need five minutes again. Um, regarding what we just talked about. Okay. So, let's go ahead with their Sorry. So, they know you have work to do. I move to recess into executive session to discuss personal matters of non-elected personnel regarding county attorney for five minutes to include commission, counsel, and HR. So, we'll come back at uh 3:26. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I motion carried.

We're back in session. We're back in session and no action was taken. Oh, so it is higher. Yes.

Okay. Well, let's just look at it. I'll send a copy to you. Okay. Which it does cover uh the information on the contract in this one. So,

okay. So, we got one more executive session. I think five minutes be sufficient. Commissioners, myself and Mike. And Mike. I never know which one it needs to do. I move to recess into executive session to discuss matters deemed privilege in the attorney client relationship regarding litigation for five minutes to include commission counsel and road and bridge director. So we'll come back at 3:35. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I. Motion carried.

restart at 6:00 p.m. Audio is off. Good at midnight. Audio is off. Okay, we're back in session and no action was taken. Anything else, commissioners? I think so. Okay, I'll make a motion to adjurnn. I'll second it. All those in favor? I. Motion carried. Be back here April 7th. Um, everyone have a good good Friday off before Easter. So, yeah.