Neosho County Commission - Regular Meeting

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.

So stay standing. Heavenly Father, we do thank you for this opportunity to gather together to get some business taken care of for this body, uh, this part of Kansas, Neoso County. Thank you for our county. Thank you for our commissioners. Thank you for all of the county workers who take care of the business, uh, that needs to be done within these this geographical area. Thanks, Lord. Would you bless and would you help us to seek and find a solution for every problem that's presented here today? And would you help us to seek and find some way to make it happen? In your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you.

Are there any corrections, additions, or deletions to the agenda? I made a 15minute not possible means the date change from the 18th to the 14th. Okay.

Okay.

Um I would like to add something now that I'm chairman. Um, a suggestion that I've seen other commissioners do is at the beginning of their meeting is they have a commission comments and reports. This is a chance for each of us to either voice an opinion that we have that we'd like to let the public know or any reports of places that we've gone since the last meeting that we're actually representing the county and kind of report back to the other commissioners. because when you are on these boards or on these committees, you are representing the county as a whole. And so I think it would be nice to kind of give a report and let the public kind of know. Um so if we can add that underneath um but right before public comment, I guess commission comments and reports.

I'm good with that. Okay. And do we want to leave when uh change we made last year? Do we still want to have public comment at the beginning and the end? Just wondering if it worked like you thought it was going to. I just thought it might give some people later tonight, but it doesn't seem like we've had much public at the end of comment at the end of the meeting. So, it's fine to me. So, we just delete the public comment at the end. Yep. Okay. We've done it that way for years. Well, I just figured it was being more convenient somebody come in late with me. So, okay.

So, I'll make a motion that we accept the agenda with the changes as presented. I'll second it. All those in favor? I.

Motion passed. So, I'll start with an example of commission comments and reports. Um, I did the last week because we just met a week ago, um, Thursday, I did attend a K dot uh, preconstruction conference with Mike over in Pittsburgh about the 59 overpass. So, that is soon to start. Um, be lots of changes there. It's going to take about a year for that project. So, that'll affect some of our county roads. And I was glad that we were there. We were the only county present to kind of voice our opinion and make sure that our voices heard that this is really going to cost us. So neither was the city of Pittsburgh. So anyway, it was good that we were there that evening. Then I also attended Neoso County Farm Bureau kind of a late Christmas party for their board. Um so I've been invited to that and that was nice to kind of share some things that are going on. And then Joe Neland, who is the president of the Kansas Farm Bureau, was there and kind of gave his report. He had been to the nationals and so it was just a good evening. So mine's been pretty uneventful.

An eventful week. Yeah. How about you, Paul? Oh, uh, regional planning committee, uh, we're doing good things. We're trying to get some more counties involved, you know, reaching out to other counties and uh we're doing pretty good far as the revolving loans. I mean, they're paying most of the payments. Some of them,

we got one that's uh we got in legal because they won't make their payments, but anyway, it's going pretty good. Uh juvenile detention is going great. uh Mike who's a director over there at Gerard uh he's trying to get us it's called a secure care and that's a facility you know that where PE kids can stay in the in here and not have to go somewhere else like his problem is you get a kid in your yard and then they go out to Witchah for a few days and they come back they get influenced by all these other kids so you know so this here if he gets this made gets it through uh I I think our premiums will go down for our port in the county, you know.

Good. All right. Next, uh public comment. Seeing none, consent agenda, I'll make a motion to approve consent agenda, which consists of special accounts payable from 114 of 26 for 99,082. And then we have three department head leave requests. I'll second. All those in favor? I.

Motion passes three to zero. And we don't have any scheduled attendees, department heads. So, we had Tiana Mroy County Attorney on first, but apparently she's not here. I think they moved her down, didn't they? Yeah. Oh, okay. I think they had an update on it. Oh,

okay. They got all kinds of updates. Okay.

Not that I know of. That's okay. I'll go get him. I'm good. Jeez. I don't [laughter] care. All right. Greg, did you need on here, too? Do you want to visit? Two minutes. Okay. Do you guys mind if Greg? Okay, let's put Greg down.

Good afternoon. Um, I was asked last week if there was a way to get out of the cuz we had ordered that Dodge truck in June of last year. There's still not even an anticipation of when it'll be built. Um, we did check we can get out of that without any penalty. Um, and the GM dealer that we just got the two Chevy trucks from last week has two on the lot. So, if you Not your color though. Close enough.

We'll make it work. There's There's a black one there. Um, one of the guys lives in town could drive it. Um, it's the same price. It's the police package for $49,8.98. If you wanted to switch that Dodge for this one, that's fine. If not, it's whatever you guys want to do. Well, we've been waiting almost a year, haven't we? Yeah. 9 months.

So, the price on the other one was 45 for 54. So, the difference is about $4,400. But it is a Chevy and not a Dodge. Yeah, they are nice. [laughter] I'll have to get creative.

If our new ones are Chevys, so then maybe we're kind of shifting into uh Chevys, it might also help. So, um, okay, I was looking at the funds. So, if we, because we did, I still set aside funds for the one that we had committed to. Um, so we would have enough money in the equipment reserve to make that change. Um, I just think we need a good fleet of vehicles and this is a good chance to get one faster. Yeah,

sure. I mean, waiting a year to get our vehicles. We've had two wrecks. I would I'd make the motion to cancel current order for the Dodge and see if we can get the other one in Park City. Okay, I'll second the motion. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Do you want figures on that motion? So, this is the Dodge. This is the Chevy. See, I'll just include that.

Yeah. The amount from the Chevy $49,889 $98. Sorry. 498.98. Okay. instead of the Dodge at 45454 which difference of $4,400. Okay. All of those in favor I I motion passed. Okay. So, do we need to do a special accounts payable then? Again,

if you would. Yeah. So, I'll make a motion that we authorize the payment for the Chevy with the special accounts payable for 498. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I motion carried. Okay. All right. Thank you. I think Yep. Let's get that done. Okay. You know, we have even less money in that account, but [laughter] Well, we'll be uh I mean, upgrading his fleet a little bit. Oh, yeah.

I think our deputies deserve that if they're out on the road as much as they are. Let's have good equipment. So, it's a good chance to to get that done at the first of the year. So, um that does kind of deplete that equipment reserve. We do have money in the pilot fund. Um, but I think we're just going to have to watch how we spend our money. I know this is January and we're saying that, but these are important things uh that we got the desk done for 911, which we've been putting off. So, um, I think those are just some things that we need to keep an eye on.

Oh, one thing, Greg, did you have a question if you could add uh equipment to our auction? So, we have that old junk Tahoe that's out there that's in the sheriff's name for it's junk um in that impound lot. And then the Suburban we've had um I got to pull the equipment out of it and as long as I get the stickers off of we could put it in there as well. Um sure. I don't think there' be a problem adding. It will start and run, but it overheats and has some sort of electrical issue, but it it's got 170,000 miles on it.

Does that at least give two other vehicles to full? Yeah, it's surplus. So, yeah, surplus. Yeah, I didn't realize the auction was coming up until I saw it on mines. Sorry. As long as we can probably get the information chassis been added on to the publication on their site. Okay. Got it. Well done. All right. Thanks, Rick. Sorry, I just remembered that. I already lost it. All right, Lori.

I don't I don't need anything. Sorry. I should have had you take take me off. always. [laughter] So, now that Nick says we're out of money,

she [laughter] Okay, let me go back to that sheet. Let's see. So, we have a an estimate for window tenting on the courthouse. [snorts] this was brought about because we just had some moving around of doors and had windows put in them in our office. Um, and I had asked David because he said that there was some window tenting going on in the county if he could get me a price on having my doors done, which led to having the outside of the courthouse done. The front in the lobby area has been done. Um but coming down the rest of the the west side and then the first set of windows on the north side uh are still yet to be tented. And it's thought that it would kind of help with the efficiency with the new system in here and it would also keep down the glare. Um help a little bit with the utilities. I'm not sure how much on that obviously, but anything to keep the heat out. U the other two sets of windows that are out of my office and the middle office, those were tended at the time that the the new windows were put in. So, they're not necessary, but the others are. Um, what I would like if the commission would consider it is the exterior windows. If they could pay

for that out of general, I would be willing to um cover the interior, the doors um out of my budget. Okay. Okay. So, you're just talking about your So, the highlighted in yellow, yes.

Would be what would come out of my budget. Um, that would be $535 and that would cover all of the windows and all of the doors on the inside in the hall. And then the exterior door and the exterior windows along the north and west side. Um, I would appreciate it if the commission would consider covering the cost of those and the price of that is

the cost of that is 2263. However, there is $50 that will be taken back off of that bid because David said that he can remove the bar on one of the doors, uh, the ex the exit bar, which the guy had built in $50 to that bid because it's hard to work around that, but David said he could take it off the day of. So, he said he would drop that that bid by $50 on that. And on that one, we do have some tenting on that door. It's just not enough. This time of year when your desk is right there, it's like you have a spotlight on you part of the day. It's It's crazy. And you just have to come down and see how much she's lit up and it just causes a lot of computer screen glare.

That' be on the east side, correct? Yes. Yeah. That one we have wanted to have done for for quite a while, but just having one door done just didn't seem worth getting a bid on. But there's quite a bit to do here. And this would also aesthetically even up the courthouse where you don't have dark light.

We started in We did start it and then didn't didn't continue it. But [clears throat] um and I can't think of the gentleman's name and Greg left, but this is the same guy that's been doing the ones out at the sheriff's

the same company. Oh, she doesn't have any price on there. All right. I'll make the motion to pay for the remaining windows on the west and north side of the outside of the courthouse through courthouse general and interior doors and windows will be covered by the individual apartments in the tune of whole bid was $2263.

No, for the general general minus minus yours. So 17 or 1727 doors. No, the the 2263 minus $50 uh for the door bar is the general portion and then the 535 is uh department head. You got those numbers. I'm sorry. I didn't put a total down there. I'll second it. All those in favor? I Motion carries three to zero. I appreciate that. Yeah.

So, we still have an issue with our software provider and the rebates for the NRB program are not calculating correctly. The software provider is aware and they have escalated the issue onto programming who has been working on it for a while now. I don't know how long a while is. Probably six weeks or more from just what I know. Right now, there's no ETA on the solution. So, at this time, there are no rebate checks for those who paid it in full um in the NRP program. Typically, we pay that out. Um if they pay it in full in December, they get first distribution in January. right now that can't be done because the computations are not correct in the system and it can't be put through. Uh we know this is going to cause [snorts] some problems. I know people are going to be unhappy. I would be unhappy also, especially if I scraped everything together to pay on time and early. Um all we can tell you is that they're working on it.

We're staying on top of them. I've made a couple of calls today, have yet to get them to answer the phone today, but when I go back up, I will continue. I don't know what's holding programming up, if if it's something that they're still having an issue with or if it just hasn't been completed. I've not been able to get a good answer on that. Um, if you'll recall, they were here over summer and looked over everything we had. everything we've got in our system is correct. So, it's something to do with the calculations in the background and that's not something that we have any control over. Uh Gabby does want you guys to know that all other distributions are being done on time. They are fine. Um it's just this program that is not going to be done. Um and

we the only one in the state I mean everyone's do what? We're not the only ones using CIC in the state. Is it a whole problem with other counties or I don't know. I haven't spoken with other counties to see. I don't know. You know, all I know is that our calculations are not correct. We can look in our system, we can see that our percentages are right, but when you go to hand figure them, they are not correct. And so it it's all done through the system. And there's this one been set up CIC was set up with the county. Wow. So, I mean, it's it's just not right, but it's it will be just maybe

not sure when, but we will stay on top of them and we'll try to answer any questions any taxpayers have. As soon as it's right, those distributions will be made. All right. Okay.

All right, Cindy. Good afternoon. Um I don't have a lot today. Um I do have um a few interviews set up at the end of the week and then one on Monday if you I know Nick is unavailable. Um but if um Gail or Paul if either of you would be able to. We have one at eight o'clock in the morning on Friday and then we have a one o'clock and a two o'clock in the afternoon on Friday. Um two those the first two are for the appraiser. The sec the third one is for road and bridge and then there's another appraiser one on Monday at 4:15. So, if you would wouldn't mind looking at your schedules and letting me know if you're able to attend um and or if someone is not able to attend, do we have your permission to still have the interviews? I mean, we really need to get these positions filled.

I mean, I think I can. Kind of depends on the weather. It's supposed to snow, isn't it? Friday. Friday morning or Friday? Nope. They took the snow out Friday. Now it's Saturday and Sunday, which is when I was traveling. No snow. So, I should be able to do Friday. Okay. 8:00 a.m. and then one and two. One and two. Uh there might be a 9:00 one as well. I'm waiting on a call back on that one. Yeah, I'll just plan on being here Friday. Bring a lunch. Bring a lunch. All right.

Okay. So I have that and then next week is a payable week. Um I also have um an employment law conference in Topeka. So I will be out of the office Wednesday and Thursday and I'll be back on Friday. So payroll will be done. Sounds good. Okay. Um other than that, everything is coming along for what needs to be done this month. Um I need um a 10minute non-elected executive session regarding the health department to include myself, commission and council please.

Non-elected. Yes, please. Move to recess into executive session to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel regarding uh health department. Mhm. For 20 minutes. No, 10, please. 10 10 minutes to include commission, counselors, and HR. And we'll turn back here at 142. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I figured five minute break. Yes, we just got started. You don't know how this goes. [laughter]

You want a very good All right, we're back in session and no action was taken. You're done with Cindy? Yes, I'm done.

Okay, Mike. Good afternoon, everyone. I have a pretty good list today to go over. Uh Gail mentioned earlier that the the 59 highway Union Pacific Railroad overpass project will start uh February 23rd. That's a tenative schedule. So I did notify the sheriff's department and 911 and emergency management just so they would all be aware of that. Um, and we we're going to have to meet with u Jared with KOT at some point and uh figure out, you know, if they'll reimburse us on some magite and other in expenses that we're going to incur. We've been getting roads ready now. So, uh, graveling all the putting additional rock on all the roads that we anticipate that people will be traveling on. So, it'll be here before you know it. Um, little good news. Uh, last week we we got a check from FEMA for $80,4542. And that's reimbursement for the April of 2024 flood. That does not include any reimbursement money for the bridge that we lost on Greenwood Road. We're still

working on that. Hopefully we can get funding to replace that, but it's painfully slow on that stuff.

That's nice to get that though. So, I have u the what should be the final bill for the Neoso River Bridge, Elkroad River Bridge project. It's application number 16, which would be paid to Bridges, Inc. in the amount of $434,558.87. I have a motion here as well as uh some additional copies for you to look at. motion. Have some So I have been keeping track of that map that pretty well is [clears throat] like that net change order that's close to. So, I think a project this size and only have that much change in what we originally agreed to is pretty good.

And I I do have an additional change order for that project that Okay, that's not included in that. I probably should have done it first, but doesn't really matter.

Maybe we should do the change order first. Doesn't make sense. Okay. To do the total. That's different than what it will have to be signed.

So, it was nice to get down K DOT. They're also doing the overpass bridge on 59. So, I did get to meet some of the executives at Bridgees and uh just tell them the work we appreciated they did. So, is this basically the extra rock that you

That was the extra rock when they they had to take out a little more asphalt than they anticipated on the plans. There was no way of knowing that when they designed the project, but they had to take out a little bit more than they thought they would. And uh it resulted in with a little bit more rock, base rock underneath the asphalt, but it didn't overrun as much as we feared that it might [cough and clears throat] This is percentage of over%.

Do the change order first. I think so. I'll make a motion to approve payment for change order number two bridge zinc for the Elk Road bridge product project bridge number BSN 661 K project number 67 C520901 in amount of 28,25948 out. Special bridge. Special bridge. I'll second it.

All those in favor? I motion carried. Three to zero. I was going to say that's the last one. We need that one. The one we first gave. Okay. Also make a motion. So I think that change is actually on this one here. Correct. We just owe them the one amount. Mike,

I think the changes in this one in that total in the total Do you know if we have both of them?

It does show a change order on there, but it's not the same amount. So change. Do we have any change?

I can't. I tried to call this. We need to probably take a look at getting a different cell phone booster cuz that thing's not working. And I had a question on one of these other ones a while ago and I I can't get a signal down here. So, because it says it doesn't say the change order says the total increase. It doesn't say total due. So, I think it's the increase that is actually on the total of the 434587. So the final that's my understanding that the total bill has that increase built into it. This is just a change order. So the change order is on this which gives a total. Then they have the total gross amount less previous payments and now they have a total. So I think we just owe that 434. Not that one.

Yeah. Why don't we Why don't we approve that one and in a few minutes I'll step out and call them and find out for sure. Don't you think this is what we owe? We just owe this one because this is in this increases the the difference of payments then is that okay? question met changes in total.

So I think they took off. So previously there were some changes that decreased. I didn't bring out my paperwork but I think changed the net to be less. So then we shouldn't have to pay that change order. So that wouldn't have been a payment on that change order. We approved the change order. reapprove change order, but the payment is just one payment. You don't usually pay the change orders. They come on this invoice that's approved by CIC or I'm sorry, that would be not paid out in any account. Yeah,

we're just approving the change order. I don't know what see what we're saying on that as far as Yeah, I feel change order should have been already included in their final [clears throat] similar mistake on another one. [cough and clears throat] cuz I'm showing that like this was our original contract and then this is how much they're over. We have gone over.

Okay. So, we'll move to that would be a payment that would just be approval of that change order. I've rewarded it to Gilmore motion to approve amount of change order to Bridges Inc. for 28,25948. I think we should. So, you're going to approve that, but you're going to pay the We'll pay the full 434. [clears throat] Yeah.

Okay. So, I'll make that motion to approve payment application number 16 to Bridges, Inc. for Elk Road Yosha River Bridge project bridge number BSN 661 K dot project number 67C 520901 in the amount of $434,5587

make a note that this is the final payment. This is the final payment. I'll second it. Any more discussion? All in favor? I. Motion carries. Three to zero. Is that a special special bridge? Sorry. Yes. Should be the last one. Special bridge. If you could sign that all the

I signed this one. That's just the change, isn't it? [clears throat] So, even though we're not meeting for another three weeks, we will have payments that will be on schedule in next week. So, those will be out next week once approved by Brett. So just FYI, it won't take 3 weeks for those to go out. So,

um, I spoke with Kenny and Lonnie, [clears throat] pardon me, earlier this week and we set the bid letting date for the Gailsburg asphalt overlay from Gailsburg to 169 Highway going west. uh and the four bridge concrete deck overlays for March 10th at 1:30 p.m. I emailed you guys that yesterday. So, if we can get them on the agenda for that day, we'll be in good shape. They'll probably be calling you, but So

1:30.

Yes. March 10th, 1:30. [clears throat] I have a uh credit application here for U Fleet Fuels. They are the uh company that got our fuel bid this year for the gasoline and the diesel fuel. and uh we've got it pretty well filled out. But typically when we do credit applications, we have the commission approve that and sign off on it. I gave Brad a copy earlier to ask him to look it over. I have a copy here and I don't have a motion. Great.

Straight forwards on We did put u $50,000 on that and that way it'll if we have to order two loads of fuel that should cover it. I'll make a motion. Have you sign the credit application as chairworn? [panting]

Is that a motion? Yeah. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I [panting] So, is this at the very bottom over here? Okay.

She's got that. She's got my signature. She read the fine print. The joys of putting your name on that. There just those two. I think two on the second page. I think sticker in the middle. Another signature line there. Oh, Mike. Mike. That was for 50,000, correct? Yes. But I'll get you

actually. Thank you.

[clears throat]

Pardon me again. I have another payment request for status. asphalt in the amount this is for the overlay Elk Road overlay project south of the new river bridge in the amount of $513,53656. that will include the uh the pavement of 240th west of Elk uh that we added to the project.

So, does that get part of Country Club Road also? Is that paying for part of Country Club Road also in that? Yes. Yeah. Yeah, it sure did. I'm sorry. I should have mentioned that. Um yeah that will cover the the the work that was done on country club road over their the new half tank culbert. So so what is the net change on this order of 131 that will be for 240

you mean 31,000 just for that little strip? No, no. All of Elk Road and Well, but there's Sorry, that would be for the patch on Club Road and the the 240th road. Okay. It's going to be a lot thicker. Yeah, cuz I had down there it was $350,000. So, it's a little bit more. Um the original estimate was like 395. 395. Yeah. And I have that I thought that was 70th vote. I got them mixed up. Okay. But then we added the Does this include the um edge? No.

Wedge? No. Okay. Yeah, I guess I had that down as the 70th code, but um but it's all coming out the sales tax, so they're all viable projects. Yeah, I have it here if if you care to look at it. It's 395130. Yes. Okay. Okay. I do have that amount. So then they just added the other two.

And then we still have the 42272 for the edges. Okay. Yeah. So, I'll make a motion to approve payment application number one to Bettis Asphalt for the Elk Road Overlay project in the amount of 513,53656. I'll second it. All those in favor?

I motion carries. Three to zero. It's good to get that done. You can just get the edge done. It's It's coming. We didn't have a wreck on them. That's right. It's making me nervous. They were possibly striping today. Yes, they were going to try stripe today. I thought it had to be wore. They're supposedly striping today. Okay. Well, it is hard to see at night. Yeah. Well,

it's always hard that road. Have we had a counter on that road yet? Not yet. We found some other problems. I'm not going to get into it today. I'm sorry. Did I say that came out of the road sales tax? Other issue has Bettis contractors with Allen County about finishing through the interchange. They they were supposed to. Yeah. Uh their director told me that that was their intention to go ahead and they didn't have take it on north. So why does

so I don't know when plans on doing that. I went to the meeting when they approved it. I did uh talk to Kenny and Lonnie the other day also about whether they wanted to inspect the rock wedge that's going to be placed along the edge of the asphalt. I really don't think we need to do that, but if you guys feel otherwise, u there's just not a lot that can go wrong. So, you did a great job on Gailsburg. Yeah, they did.

So, so if you're okay, we'll just leave the inspection. I mean, we'll we can still look it over and I mean, it's just a little strip of rock along the edge. There's just not much there that can happen. If you're okay, we'll just not do the inspection.

Okay, that would be my recommendation. Um, another thing that we've had going on down there, we've our fuel tank gauges on our bulk fuel storage tanks is they're just they're the original gauge. Uh they're not accurate. They're very hard to read. And u I I it's time for an upgrade. And so I got a a quote and I think I I sent this to you, I believe, last week in an email with the explanation. But new gauges, these gauges would be set up to where they can email us when it's time to order fuel. You can actually look it up, see what your capacity is anytime, or you can actually just walk out there, open the door on the control box and and read it, and it'll tell you how much fuel's in there. The the situation is we have to let those tanks get pretty low before we can hold a full load of fuel, which puts us in risk of running out if if we miss it. Uh, but this would make life so much easier. And we're going to have to do something anyway cuz those gauges are just shot. So, I have a quote here from company in Humboldt at BPCO. I'm I'm not sure if that's just an abbreviation or what, but it it's anyway, it includes everything needed for both tanks um in the amount of $14,970. and that would be complete.

He did cheapened up a couple of thousand dollar because he said he would have to rent a lift to get on top of the thing to do the work and I said we can provide a bucket truck. I showed it to him. He said that fine. So bucket truck already.

There you go. the guy up there and with a lighter. [laughter] I've seen that in Noville before. Doesn't have a very good ending. I' never really thought about how much fuel goes through out there until we, you know, have these fuel bids in this power early winter and it's like you got a lot of gas going through the gas.

Yeah, we do. You got to let it get down to where you got about a foot and a half before you can hold a full load. And so if you forget to read it or read it inaccurately, it's it can get you in trouble. I'll make a motion to get the gauges that Mr. grounds presented from BPO Humboldt in the amount of $14,970 taken out of road and bridge operations. Taken out road bridge operations. I'll second it. All those in favor?

I motion car. Okay, thank you for that. The other thing I have here is um I guess Brett, did you happen to get a resolution for the 5year solid waste plan drawn up? Yes. Okay. So yeah, I think there's one in here.

This is for the meeting we had back in October. We have to have a meeting once a year for solid waste solid waste plan. Okay. Really the only major changes on it was our

our hours of voluntary our hours and days of operation at this building. If you could approve that, this one's not going to cost you anything. That's kind of nice. Okay. if you will approve that and then I'll have you sign the document it which requires all the commissioners to sign it. Um, and we'll get that turned in. I'll make a motion to approve the 5-year solid waste management plan that was updated during the solid waste committee meeting on 1025 2025. I'll second it.

All those in favor? I motion carries.

Okay. Thank you for that. And then if I can get your signatures on this sheet here. Um, we'll get this sent off to There. Mike.

Okay, thank you for that. So then we need to pass a resolution on that adopting it. Uh yes. So is this B? Yeah, it's always B cuz we still going to do the financial statements as A. Is A. Yeah, B. So, I'll make a motion to adopt resolution R26B as a resolution relating to the solid waste management plan of Neosa County, Kansas.

I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I motion carries.

Do we have an original? Yes. Straight. Let's start it again.

Yeah, bring it back. Okay. Um the next thing is uh I just wanted to discuss how we wanted to handle the the payment to Foley for the two new graders that we have. I don't pay him.

So, can we pay it in the special AP that's coming out tomorrow? Yep. Can we add it to that? The money's been put in special equipment, correct? Yes. Do we have a total or have a total? But we just authorized payment on. We've already Okay. Signed all the documents for release of funds to FY. I'll make that motion to authorize a special AP to pay the graders.

I'll second the motion. Any more discussion? So, we should put a date on there of tomorrow. Yes. I guess that's when you're doing the special. [snorts] All those in favor? I. Motion carried. So, will they You want me to have him come pick it up or you going to mail it to them or I believe he was probably wanting it uh pick up. So, I have his number. Okay, you call him. Okay, that work.

Great. Yeah, that'd be perfect. Thank you for doing that. Um [clears throat] Brett, did you want to do the the road speed limit reduction today.

I can uh I sent it upstairs, emailed up to Chassity to print out. I can read it and we can approve it or we can have her print out and bring to us. I don't have a list here with me. I forgot to bring that.

We're not just repealing the one that we did. This is for the uh overpass project. Oh, sorry. Designating the unofficial detour.

And probably what we'll do is maybe just get the post set and then wait till the like the day of the project to to start before we put them up. Well, did they say that they weren't going to close right away? They were trying to do a section without actually closing 59 for the month.

No, I don't I don't think that's going to happen. I think when they on the 23rd, I believe they'll close it. What they indicated earlier in another meeting was that they were going to start the work on the highway to the north of the project because changing the elevation of the bridge. The br the new bridge is going to be longer and taller than the existing bridge. Hence, when you raise the bridge up, it's going to change the profile of the road. So, they've got to go back to the north. I I was told about 1,000 ft north of the county line. And they were going to do that part of the highway first. Then this is what they would said two or three months ago. And they were going to do that part first and then close from 10th road on south to the bridge later. But they did say in that meeting the other day they were going to try to keep 10th road open, you know, for the whole project across that intersection there. So they said they may have to close it for like a day to change a pipe. You were part of that or heard part of that. Okay.

They even talked about maybe doing it at night, but I think if they closed it for one day, I wouldn't see a problem with that. So, but she went to go get the resolution. Okay.

So, did you have anything else? Um, I need an executive session. Yes. Uh, with uh probably 10 minutes to include the commission, Brett, Cindy, myself, and Kobe. I'll move to recess an executive session to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel regarding road and bridge for 10 minutes to come back at 231 to include commissioners council HR and road bridge director and assistant director correct

yes resume back here at 2:31. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? Bye. Bye.

We are live. We're back in session and no action was taken. I did lay out the resolution. Okay. C for the room. I have original.

Yeah, absolutely. I'll let him have this one. all their territory.

What's that? You make motion to make for every road. I'll just make a motion to approve resolution number R26 C for the speed limits presented on this paper. Do I need to read them all off? Well, it just it's for the it's for the past project and to be lifted when project and that's that's in yeah when the project is finished temporary speed limit will be terminated. Should we make this should you state it goes into effect on February 23rd?

It goes into effect when it's publishing paper. Okay. So we'll just hold on. We get a hold of publication off till closer to that time. Yes. All right. Good enough. Yeah. Okay. When do you want publication? Be just needs to be publicized once prior to the once. Prior to the 23rd. What is it? How many times? February. Once the newspapers there, they should be able to tell you when they're we can get it in there. You see that is not my department. [laughter] That is one thing I don't not my business. Now, will this will this be uh published in I really think we should publish this in the Schneood and Parsons. Oh, agree. Sure. Parsons. Parsons.

Well, I mean, well, it always is. I think classified as Okay. All right. Good enough. And it'll be in the eerie paper, too. Right. So, okay. I'll second it. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I.

Motion carried three to zero. I guess speed limits. That's production right there. We made more speed speed limits resolutions since I've been around this year, which is good progress. They're going to use a lot of our roads after looking at the the project and the detours. I mean, south of that is basically industry. You know,

Leette doesn't really have that many roads, but you look north and it's all us. They would talk about, oh, the [clears throat] county, and I'm like, you got to say counties because there are two counties involved in this project. It is right on the county line. Correct. So, yeah, the project's in Lebec County, but it's going to affect Neoso County more. Yeah.

So good. So, I have another question for the commission. Uh, now that the North Elk River Road is complete, um, we have the two plaques that we took off the old bridge. [snorts] Well, Mike has them. So the question is what do we want to do with those plaques? Um we had talked about maybe getting like a picture and frame a picture with the old bridge, a picture with the new bridge and have the old plaques and then a picture of the new plaque. Um,

I think I believe the museum here would restore that plaque for us. I think they wanted one of the plaques. I don't know if it really belongs here or in Shenoot. We also have a museum. Uh, but it's not two plaques. So,

yeah. So, I don't know if we want to keep [clears throat] the possession, you know, at the county, you know, have something displayed with the plaque or whether we just want to take pictures of it. I guess that's the question. But the museum here in Erie did approach me that they would restore the plaque if we wanted it restored. So, it's just something to think about because they're just setting down that road and bridge right now. So, it is a very nice project that we got done and I think to see if we can get pictures of before and after it just be pretty interesting for people to see.

Yeah. Just let me know what you want to do with them and we'll get them wherever they need to go. But they're both in pretty good shape. One of them's a little more tarnished than the other, but I think with the proper cleaning, they would both be in good shape. So, they're probably bronze, aren't they? Or what are they? They made Yeah, they're bronze. Bronze as well. [snorts] Yeah. So, resolution there is for signatures.

[clears throat]

Oh, okay. Okay, we shall have resolution R26A which is Neoso County, Kansas has determined that the financial statements and financial reports for the year ending December 31st of 2026 to be prepared in conformity with the requirements of KAS75-1120A. So basically it's not relevant to the requirements of cash basis and budget laws. So it's something we have to pass every year just stating what we're using for a basis for our financials. So I'll make a motion motion that we adopt resolution R26A.

I'll second it. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I motion carries three to zero. And do you have that original? Yes. Is that all the resolutions? That's all.

Um, we discussed briefly resolution R240 which governs speed on 240th road. That one automatically drop when they reopen. I see that now. Yeah. So, I think we're fine there. So, uh the sign's been taken down on 240th. Okay. So, yeah, basically the resolution stated that when we opened up the bridge and Elk Road that those speed limits would go away on 240th and Douglas, correct? This is 240. Was it both or just 240th? I think Douglas was still established with 169 project, was it not?

I said the Douglas Road signage is still saying 45, I think, but we left that in place at that point. There's going to be some discussion about whether it would go back up or stay where it was. My understanding, I mean, I thought you guys were together private. Well, we couldn't meet. We got three weeks. I know. Mike called me to go meet him and then he backed out on me last second.

All right. So, next on the agenda, I guess waiting on the county attorney, cyber security. Yeah. Is there anything else we need to discuss? We did get um the invoice for that was due on the 12th. So, we have that going into the SAP. They were okay with waiting until the 29th to receive it. Oh, they were? Yes. So, that is taken care of officially.

And then bank signatures. Yes. So I have the document we need to sign off on. It does contain account number. So we will need a motion without account number. from another motion. So you got to go have fun at all the banks. Yeah,

they will be calling you. You'll have to go to each location. Uh, I'll make the motion. Um, change signature card and removing myself from accounts, keeping Gabby Sands, Keley Dodge, Chastity, 4acre, and Keley Sees, Kelly as signers and adding Gail Clawson. I'll second that motion. And all those in favor? I I motion carries 30.

We probably need to make a note. This is just change in chairmanship.

Yeah. So then um we did have so that's basically the change of chairmanship which happened in the last meeting and we have had out um accounts payable go out and the special AP so we need to make a motion that authorizes me to sign those until this change takes effect.

Oh, I'll make a motion to replace me signing on special AP and payroll. No, we need to not replace Oh, approve me. Oh, to continue to continue until this takes Okay. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I motion carry. the zero.

Did you have it on the left still? No, I don't need it. Okay, I'm fine.

Well, second. Yes, I did. Okay. kind of FYI, I just wanted to looking into the future here, kind of show you where we're at as far as the road sales tax and projects that we've approved. Um, I do just have that $350,000 on the North River Bridge or the overlay. So, that was a little bit [clears throat] higher. Let me get my notes. I put that here. Uh, but as far as looking at things for next year, this kind of tells us where we're at as far as our sales tax. I wrote that down in there. So, right now as um our last balance, we have $1.6 million. And as you can see here, need to add a couple hundred,000 more, but we've got about $2 million in projects that we have committed to. Um, of course, all these projects, I don't even think we'll see all these projects next year.

Um, but I think it's a good start on the sales tax money. So, um, the bridge 45-6.2 two is the one southeast of the we have the north island bridge and then we have the overlay on 70th and then the four bridges that we're going to overlay the decks. Is that how you say it? Yeah.

So that's kind of where we're at now. If we get we're averaging about 160,000 a month. This would take us about 3 months to get up to this number. Um, but obviously some of these aren't even well those two pro bridge projects haven't been let out yet. So, um, anyway, that's kind of where we're at on that. Sorry, I wrote down those numbers, but I can't find just kind of we need to keep an eye on on where we're at on that fund because we are spending making commitments for that, which I think is good. I think that uh we can see changes around the county with that. I think that's what people want to see, you know, that we're actually spending the money. equipment in the infrastructure of the county.

Yeah. I mean, we wouldn't be able to do these projects if we didn't have that sales tax. Um, so anyway, just when did you guys have that information? Other thing we might look at is on Shaw Road if we're going to crack zill or

right and we're still waiting shoulder on the 24 audit to see exactly where the balances and that. So, we have we know we got a refund of $25,000. So, we know we have at least in that account we have $25,000 to take care of some of those repairs at least. So, hopefully there's more. Um, we're not for sure. I think we're going to have a lot more money than that, but we'll see. Until we get the audit done, we don't really know. So, oh, I did ask last week to kind of get an update on the 24 audit. Anything? November they were closed down yesterday. So, okay.

It'll be 26 or 27 or 14. Well, we have gotten an audit before January. I know in January before. Hi. Hi. May I be heard? Excuse me. May I be heard? I did put myself on the agenda. Yes. We have one more executive session to do. If we could do that right quick and then we will do we're going back in 10 minutes 5 minutes. I move to recess an executive session to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel regarding road and bridge for five minutes to include commission council HR road and bridge director and assistant director. So we'll come back out at let's say 3:00.

I'll second that motion. All those in favor? I motion carries.

Okay, we're back in session. No action was taken. Um I'd like to request um a motion to approve um the action form as presented. Also move. I'll second the motion. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I motion carried. Thank you. Do you guys need anything else? I don't think so. I'll be upstairs if you need something. Thank you.

All right. Last on the list here, we have Tiana Mora, County Attorney.

[clears throat] The first thing I'd like to do is to move to approve the action form that was the only one not approved last Tuesday, which was for my pay increase.

I I'll I'll start. I just think there were some questions and I've personally been contacted with your availability to the citizens in Yosha County. There's some been some people calling me that you're not in office or not available and there's been some concerns. I know when you came here it was you're going to develop our time for Neoso County and it seems like I'm getting you're getting outside counties and working for what your deputy county attorney for Allen County now and that that's been a concern and when I'm getting the complaints from the legal system call me and say hey we're having problems.

When you say complaints from the legal system what do you refer to? I mean, I just they say they haven't been able to catch you at and and who's that? Oh, I I will tell you those names personally. I won't straight out. So, okay. [clears throat] So, I mean that that's my thing and that was when we got away from we raised the salaries to be a full-time position. We made a lot of effort to raise that up and bring it up into a time. That was the that's the main issue that I've I've been getting is connectability and

Okay. Um [clears throat] so I'll address that issue. Um when I first started I believe it was 72,000. I could have my numbers correct. Uh Commissioner Clawson did in fact move to increase that to 92,000. Um I am an attorney with almost 22 years of experience. I came in here to an office that was not working properly or efficiently. And I've spent the last year and a half fixing that office. And every time I come in here, I address all of that with all of you. And I specifically invite you to come to my office and to come to my dockets. If you have any questions or anything about how my office operates now, when I'm in court, there's nothing I can do about that. I have to be in court. That means I'm not in the office. Am I assistant county attorney for Allen County? Yes. When I left Bourbon County as county attorney, I was making $110,000 a year. When I came here, I assumed that my work would be seen and appreciated and I'd be given a a decent raise. Then I get not the raise I requested, but it was a raise and I was happy. Okay. Still not making as I have estimated it. Um, this commission, and don't take don't get me wrong on this because these attorneys are are great attorneys and and worth the money, but this commission pays um four private attorneys to handle a portion of the cases that I handle, the contract attorneys, and they're paid $5,000 a month. That's $240,000 a year, again, to handle a fraction of the cases that I handle. I am the only prosecutor in that office. I handle all of the cases and I don't even get paid half of what you pay the contract attorneys. Not only did I come in and that would be $120,000 a year would be half and I'm

making 92 and even with the raise I think it was 101 if I'm not mistaken. So [clears throat] when if there is ever an issue with me, people can reach out and contact me. Every one of you have or should have my cell phone numbers yet. That was never brought to my attention at any previous meeting I've attended, nor did you contact me with it. And no one contacted me after because no one from the commission or the county counselor, not saying it's his obligation. But when you refused to pass approve my action form, no one told me. I found out from HR that it wasn't passed. That everyone's wasn't passed except for mine. H [clears throat] so when I leave a job and I had several other jobs as well. I left that job in Bourbon County because I was going to go into private practice because I could be making three to four times what I was making there. I had people reach out to me and say Neoso County Lionus is not running again. Would you please come help? And knowing the salary, I still came and did it. And I rebuilt that entire office. And if any of you had come in at any point in time to observe my office from the time that I took over until now, you'd see the changes. If anyone had reached out to any of the judges that I appear before, you'd see the changes. If anybody had reached out to any law enforcement, any of the agencies or any of the defense attorneys that I work with, you would see the changes that I've made. And I did that at a low pay and with a lot of stress and anxiety. But I did it and it's good now. It's fully staffed. We are paperless and it's good now. So, am I not in the office? You're right. Because I also had to and now I'm glad I did since my raise wasn't approved. I had to start taking cases outside of what I already do because I have bills to pay, too. I have expenses that I have to pay.

And I had to do what I had to do to supplement my income. I've never ignored my job. Not once. I am always there for my staff. If someone comes by and wants to speak with me, they let me know if I'm there in the office, they text me or they email me. So, I'm not sure who's calling wanting to speak with me, but any victims who have asked to meet with me, I have met with them. Anyone else? No. If you're a defendant and you have an attorney, I'm not going to meet with you. If you're a defendant and you want to talk to me about your case, I'm probably still not going to meet with you because you don't have counsel. So, I'm not sure who it is who's complaining that I'm not not there. Um, and h had this been brought to my attention

normally when you took the job and we gave the position and raised the rate up. It was to be in Yosho County full-time for $92,000 a year. No, but you sit there and I I don't want to be argumentative. You said yes, I'm good with that. I can do that. It's just when we're starting to hear I'm hearing Allen County and outside cases going on and if and then I get other calls within the legal system saying that you're not a When you say within the legal system, what are you referring to? I I'll tell you it's other lawyers, other attorneys. Yes. Okay. All right. Well,

it's not it's not clients, defendants, or anything like that. And honestly, that's no problem because I'm going to be resigning as county attorney. So, no one will need to try to reach out to me or anything else because I can't trust this board to not simply reach out to me and talk to me. Instead, you take away my raise, something that I had worked for and that I counted on. I can't trust that even if you approve it today, that we won't come back and you guys will have another issue with me and say, "Well, we're going to take away your raise now or we're going to cut your budget." I can't work with a board that I cannot trust. Well, I want to say I'm getting the same feedback that he is. I have not reached out to you because of May the 24th of 2025. You sent me a text and said, "I will not talk to you. I will only speak to you at commission meetings."

Yep. And so, can I elaborate on why? Because that was when I had an assistant county attorney and he was covering When did you ever have an assistant? May I finish? Okay. Um, and you should know that because you also work for CASA and you were in court when you texted me and my assistant county attorney was handling that case and I think it was in May. So when [clears throat] my assistant county attorney was handling the sync docket, you texted me and said, "You really should be up here." And I said, "My assistant county attorney is handling it." And you said, "But as county attorney, you really should be up here." And my question to you was, why are you as a county commissioner telling me how to do my job? Because I'm an elected official. That's what led to that.

That was my opinion. There was more to the conversation. Okay. Okay. So, I still have all of those texts. The text started out. You texted me and said, "If I don't get $150,000, I'm walking." Yeah. Because I deserve 15. So, then the conversation went on. Um, well, did I walk to I didn't walk, right? I didn't walk. I'm going to resign. That's what you said, right? But I haven't. The exact quote is I need $150,000 a year or I'm going to have to resign,

right? Because the next day you come back, if my salary is increased to 130,000, it's as much or more reasonable salary for all that I So is this in response to No, no, no. Is this in response to why you didn't approve my raise? Then is is all is all this in response to why you didn't approve my raise? uh part of it because I don't think you're going to be happy with the raise that would I was I was happy with the raise until you took it back

two days later on May 19th you told me well I'll do 110,000 if I can keep my part-time position at county because I have bills to pay and I have 22 years of experience and I have no

and I'm an experienced and able attorney and I've shown that while I've been county attorney okay so let's talk about some other things. Um, my staff got sick during the mold remediation. Nothing was ever done about that despite me bringing that up numerous times, advising that my staff was sick and having to leave. I've come to you three times, three separate meetings telling you about a security issue I have with my office and nothing has been done on that. Um, and then when um you refused to pay my invoice because you say that I was going to pay it out of my diversion funds when frankly, you know, I can't pay it out of my diversion funds because every single time I have come to this board, I think what you're remembering is my very first board meeting I attended when I said, "Hey, there's this account that the previous county attorney had and it has, I believe it was $300,000 in it. I can use this money to pay for CarPel and everything else." Then as I went through and realized how messed up the office was, I said, "Gh, I can't use that money because I don't know what part of that money I can actually legally use because payments were not being sent out of it." Money was being collected and nothing was being sent out to where it needed to go. Those accounts are being audited and you know that because I requested that they be audited and you approved it. And until that audit is complete, I cannot touch that money. In fact, there's a diversion fund under the general fund I can't touch either, which is why we had to open that second diversion fund for me to deposit my diversion funds into. So, my email to you, which I I feel feel was why my raise wasn't approved, was in response to you not paying my invoice because you said, "Well, she said she was going to pay it out of diversion funds." What diversion funds? The auditing is still going on and I have told all of you that every single time that I have been here. Now what I planned on doing was once the audits

were done that absolutely I was going to then try to balance that budget and use the diversion funds to start to pay other things since the my budget had been used to pay Carpel. I would use it to pay any other expenses so that I didn't end up going over my budget at the end of the year. And that is what I have told you guys every single time that I've been here. Every single time. So I don't understand. Then let me back up a little bit. So then after I found out, not by any of you. [clears throat] Fortunately, the county clerk told me that you hadn't approved approved my invoice. Again, no one reached out to me and told me. Um then I sent an email on Monday and asked that the clerk pass it on and I said, "You don't get to dictate how I use my diversion funds and you have to cover my budget by statute." And that is all a fact. And so when you then don't approve my raise the very next day, it feels like a flex to me and it feels like I can't trust you. So I'm resigning. I don't think this needs to go any further. I can clearly say you're not going to give me a raise. I wish you the best. Um and now I'm going to go and I'm going to make more than $92,000 a year. And I feel bad for the citizens of Neoso County because I care and cared very very much about my job. I understand you're getting complaints. Most attorneys do have people who complain about them. No one ever reached out to me and no one ever talked to me about it. Um I have done a tremendous job quite frankly in rebuilding that office. That office is running smoothly. There are no complaints from judges and there's it's just going well. So, I cared and I I I just can't work with this board anymore. So, thank you. I'll submit my letter of resignation to the governor.

So,

I think we need to know where we go from here. Uh, I guess nothing's final until she gives us the letter. So, um I am kind of worried that we aren't going to meet for 3 weeks. Um Brett, what do you advise us? Some I mean because someone's going to have to coordinate her office and her uh staff. Well, I mean first of all it depends on the immediate letter of resation first and go from there

and then um that once we receive that you don't when when resignation is going to be is it effective immediately? Is it effective April 1st? Is it effective May 1st, June 1st? We don't know that yet. We could have a special meeting if need be if that once we see what that is and then in the resignation process and just need to see what uh what date it's effective and then start the process getting somebody else appointed to step in.

Um I mean as a pharmacist in charge if I didn't transfer my files or allocate for patients to have care for 30 days, they would pull my license. Yeah, I I wouldn't assume. I know. I I'm just I just I just I just it's it's I don't want to get into it. I I but I understand there's there's a process that she'll she'll go through too. I mean there is no assistant county attorney.

She had one on contract but she doesn't have one now as far as I know. So um I'm sure when everyone reads the paper they give first definition right resation. today. We'll take those steps at that point and we will then process we follow.

All right. Um well, no, he's not here. Um there's a lot of things that I'd like to achieve, I guess, that I feel that have been neglected. Um, do you want to start? Do you have

Oh, I I just I I've uh there's certain policies I want to see um changed. Um, I talked to Brad a little bit month or two ago on u establishing um what you call it a disclosure form of any vendors if somebody's related to them if they're running a bid in the bid procurement process that there's no possibility of and I ain't saying there is but just they have a protection for the citizens of the county.

So, I look at it, I'm kind of looking at the overview. We have like an employee handbook, but as far as setting down policy for the county, we don't have a policy book really outside of employee handbook. And it seems like I think other counties do have a policy um that I think that we could look at. Um not everything falls underneath the employee like that. So we should I know almost like it what it would be considered a conflict clause like we have to disclose our financial reporting to run for office if you're getting a

I mean could you have that part of the purchase policy?

Mhm. So the purchase policy is another thing that I would really it's the policies that need to be updated or new policies put into place, but the purchase policy has not been in place basically for the last five and a half years. By statute, we're supposed to have one. So I want it to be simple. I want it to be workable, you know, that everyone can understand, but we really, really need to get that. And we got it down to pretty well, I think, what we wanted. and then we never passed it. So that and getting the employee handbook updated. Um I think we're just talking about goals for the next year. I think policies, one of the new policies they talked about is having a policy of how AI can be used at the county. So like this is for instance, county clerks can put our meetings into AI and it produces minutes. you know, there's I mean AI can do so many things and

AI is not perfect. It's still a computer program, you know, so that may be something some counties are putting in like the limits of what can be done on AI. Those that's just an example of

just a lot of things that I think that we can improve on. I know I told you guys that my son-in-law now is a city commission over in Clearwater. And so the first thing is he gets this book about this big and it has all of their policies. It has their employee handbook and you know it has all of those things put down and the city of Shannoo has you know one that I that when my husband was city commission that there's policies and I just think we don't have things written down that we should have and it's going to take a process. Um but I think we need to work on that. And then the employee handbook. We're like halfway done. Um I don't know how to complete this. Bourbon County, they taped it, too. They had a meeting the other night, five and a half hours, and they hashed out their employee handbook and got it done. All the department heads came and went, and they all decided on it, and they got it done in five and a half hours. I don't think it would take us that long because we're halfway through it. But we could do that or we could have, you know, HR have um department head meetings again, start those back up. But we've got to have some kind of process because I'm even confused about what policies are are current.

Um, so one thing else I would like to adopt is the CIP, which is capital improvement plan. I think we've got to look, we're in really good shape as a county, but looking forward into some of the projects that we know as far as capital that's going to have to be done. Like something's got to be done with Road and Bridge. Let's just admit it. We can't stay in that location forever. Okay. We know the health department came and talked about they're the only building that's rented. You know, she'd like to look at something. We know that some stuff needs to be done at the jail and the sheriff's office.

There's some there. We're like, how are we going to fund these things? Um, so we have coming up in May will be our sixth payment of the pilot fund. So our last payment is only a half a million dollars. So we have to budget outside of this seven, eight, and nine. So we have $3.5 million that we know is coming in. I would like to set that money aside. Don't use it to budget, but yet use it for capital improvement. Like we're going to set this money aside. These are our, you know, goals to do that. It's an opportunity we're not going to get again. I don't think we're going to get ARPA money. I don't think we're going to get sparks. I, you know, all of that is behind us and we need to really look at where we're at, be able to stay R&R, but yet still look into the future. So, um I know I don't know if you've ever done a capital improvement plan in the past. I came across I have a five-year plan for bridge replacement.

I had that done back in 2005, I think. Anyway, the commission went to 59 bridges and decided to make their list. You know, I mean, those are the kinds of things that we just got to start doing as a commission and looking long. Probably the last thing you guys did was eating air and then prior to that we did the roof and windows. Yeah. So, we now have the HVAC here at the courthouse, you know, paid off. That was a huge investment of a couple million dollars. It's made a huge change in the environment here. Uh, and so we got that done. And, uh, you forgot the jail.

Yeah. So I think if we can start thinking about you know in the next usually it's a fivey year and a 10 year what do we need to do uh probably with road and bridge the first thing in my opinion is to find a new location I don't think we should be building in a flood zone but um you know there's different options but I think into the future when we get into the budget for 27 you know I'd like to see the pilot fund just kind of earmarked for for long-term improvement. So, you got any

Oh, I agree with everything you say. Definitely. But, like you say, that pilot money is not going to be there forever, you know. Yeah. We might as well get used to not having it. Yeah. Because as far as just our day-to-day operations of the county, we've got to have property tax as long as we have it, you know, to that to cover just those things and not knowing what the future holds here as far as what the state's going to do to us. I mean, at least we still have we'll have the sales tax for a while, you know, right? But uh you know that's going to end too not once it gets voted on again which you know if we show the community that we're making improvements.

Sure. I think we are. Oh I totally agree with as far as I think we've done more for physical structures, roads and bridges than it's been done in a long time. And Nick would know that because he's been around here a long time. Oh yeah. I have. Don't keep reminding me. I would have got out of prison for murder for the amount of term. You know, better parrolled me by now. But [laughter] wouldn't you Brett seal?

Hey. Hey, Mike. I forgot to tell you, but I had a couple complaints. Complain about that river gravel down there with all the horse boards. And I drove down there and they are pretty bad. I don't know what we need to do about that. Yeah. That road. It's great. Yeah. Great. It's on 20th between Grady and Harper. I mean, I drove down there and it's just war heck. I don't know if I could mix some AB3 with that. I don't know. Usually it takes just a little bit of time that stuff get worked, settled in couple time, it'll get better. Some spots are thicker than others. just I know a gentleman called up my fellow commissioners about it. So yeah, I'm not they already know about this.

So another thing that I would like to do um is to actually have a quarterly review of the financial reports in departments so that we actually sit down where are we at? Um, and I think we really need to keep an eye on our courthouse general this year cuz it went way over budget and it's like, well, how did that happen? You know, so I want to sit down because we already have insurance that comes out of there. Sorry. Was that partly because we paid the HVAC off early, took that extra payment at HVAC? HVAC wasn't in the courthouse general. Yeah, that's kind of messed up. I don't know.

Okay. There's four things I think that just got pushed into there and we weren't keeping an eye on it. But I think we need to write down exactly what comes out of courthouse general. You know, there's utilities, there's Brett's bill, there's insurance. It's just a lot that comes out of that one.

You budget, I think, is only $300,000. And so we just really I think by the time budget time gets here, we need to have an idea of what exactly is that account or we want to divide things out where because we have county counselor in some of the account listing. I think it might be under county attorney. I mean that's another thing where you know county attorney was paying for it and then I think we paid for it for a year and then it's bumped into courthouse general. It's just kind of that we're not really budgeting for that. But the review, I think we need to sit down, see where we're at, and maybe get some input from department heads. Um, make it maybe a work session where we can just come in and and see where we're at. And if department heads are saying, well, I have this coming up. You know, we don't have anything in equipment reserve now. you're going to have to see exactly, you know, how we handle things. So, that's one thing that I'd like to work on. Um, I think we need to update our moratorium for wind and solar to include battery storage

cuz um that's a big thing coming out. That's I agree. Really hitting everybody. Crawford County is doing that. I think they're doing some solar, too. Yes.

So, um, we have wind. That's enough, right? We do have a new solar plant. I think they're coming along pretty good over at the city. It's, uh, fins to fence solar panels. So, one other thing that I would like to work on is our cyber security training and get that now that we have I guess we're going with the same company though, correct? With cowbell, if that's how you say it,

that anyway, it just needs to be a process. But um I think we really need to look at the policies and somehow, you know, maybe come back in 3 weeks and see like the employee handbook. Do we want just input? We could just take it policy at a time and get input from department heads, have HR get together with them and bring back what they find or Yeah. Just for or get two policies for every meeting and then shortly hitting it. That's a good idea. Yeah,

we need to get an outline of exactly which policies need to be updated. Hopefully none of the new ones unless they just on handbook so far. Yeah, that's one thing. Yeah. And then the other purchase policy, I think we just need to look into that again. Maybe bring back the last revision that we had and see what we want to change on that. I mean, you talk about AI is maybe put in some policies and AI and let them I've already had my phone done. Huh? I've already had my fun with that. Yeah. [laughter] Does it work? Uhhuh.

It's It works scary well on some things. It does. Needs a lot of But you got to read it real carefully when it's done. So I think the last conference was I think it was KAC. They actually had a professor from Witchah State came and spoke and he's like it's not 100%. No, you can't rely on it to be 100%. You know, we just have to keep thinking about that. that it's a great tool, but yet we can't, you know, you still have to look at it and it makes mistakes. So, it's really good at presentation, you know, I mean, I mean, the layout and presentation, it's really good at that. So,

okay. I I would just like to say that when you do get ready to put the purchasing policy in place that you ask the department heads for a little bit of input because this has been a hot topic in the past and there are certain things for example how we go out for tire bids. I think that we should we've got that fixed. That was a problem for a while. I feel that we have that fixed now. it's fair and I that we buy a lot of tires. Um, and another example might be our how we purchase courts now. We have an arrangement with a local vendor and yeah, it seems to be working fine and and uh

Well, and we don't have to stockpile, right? We used to stockpile truckload. Yes. Once or twice a year. Use half of them and then Oh, yeah. I know. Stockpile. Well, we had to buy and there for a while the the the price was fluctuating pretty wildly. Oh, yeah. And so that's when almost everybody quit buying a year. We used to buy a year supply. What our best guess was for a year and we'd have two or three truckloads come in, but the price was going up and up and then sometimes it would drop. Uh well, another problem we went to is you'd have

10 4-footers and then you run out of 13 to 18 inch covers and you won't use the other ones and those like you have to buy another truck one. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, I I do understand it needs to be put into place, but I would just like to have a little bit of input when that time. I think I mean yeah I will say kudos to our department heads because they're always good about coming forward to us you know but like

Chassity doesn't really have any kind of policy of she gets invoices you know where if we had a policy that she could go by would be much helpful for her and not all of our department heads are going to be here forever you know so if we have something in place that they're working with when a new person comes in things can be be done somewhat the same instead like just trying to figure it out on the fly. So, um yeah, I don't think it would take that much to get it done, but there were some some questions on having a limit for different departments, right? So,

capitalizations or where we extend the credit and how much. Yeah. Yeah. and and also things like there some counties have policy where it's if it's over a certain amount you have to go out for bids and we had a good example of that what we two three years ago we needed a part for our crusher and it was a very expensive part it was like $65,000 and there was one in the whole continental United States I remember that and so you can't go out for bids on stuff like that. You just have to pay whatever and and go on.

Well, and talk to that in the procurement part of it. I want to see as a rubric type thing is legacy cost how much this piece of equipment is going to cost, how much we use it. Just the true cost of the maintenance of it. Warranty on this company's going to charge you this item. is going to cost you this much for the end result, right? Cuz sometimes it's not just $2,500. Then they hit you with a $300 year maintenance fee and the add-on cost to it that

it might be this purchase price, but it doesn't have what it's really going to cost you in 5 10 years, right? Anyway, thank you. We just need to start working on it again. Yeah. So, we've got a starting point. So, it's in my pile at home. I'm sure that I think Brad had a You might want to send out another email then. Okay. Again, I think it was meeting with department heads to maybe individualize it. So, I think it's going to be a good year. We'll see what the legislature does. But as far as, you know, where we're standing, I guess,

is that coming up or did it was this last week? Did you Were you going up to speak at um on the 28th? 28th. Okay. I knew two weeks from tomorrow. Next week. Yeah, next week. Yeah, it's next week. Might be snow on the ground. It doesn't sound so exciting, but um yeah, it's next week. Take a plow. Those are bad words. Don't you just said that? My senator, our senator just just emailed me. So, yeah. No snow or ice. No snow or ice. Saves our fuel cost. Yes. So, yes, it all winter. Yeah.

So, they've already started one week and they've already passed some bills on budgets and stuff. So, they only have 90 days. They're doing 90 days and that's it. Kind of like last year. So it's a in and out because it's election year. So unless they call back to extend it.

Okay. So we're going to meet in 3 weeks. Um Brad's going to look over something pops up. Yeah. Unless something Yeah. as well discussion. So I'll make a motion to journ the meeting if everybody's done. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I motion carries the February 10th