Neosho County Commission - Regular Meeting

All right. I'll call to order the board of county commissioners in Yosho County, Kansas. This is Tuesday, February the 10th, 2026. This is a regular meeting and we will start with the pledge of allegiance and invocation from Caleb Stober Luther Church here in Erie and it's a little D.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God with liberty and justice for all. You'll stay standing.

Let us pray. Oh most merciful father in heaven, from you comes all rule and authority over the nations of the world for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well. Graciously regard your servants here in Yosho County and across our nation, those who make administer and judge the laws of this nation and look in mercy upon all the rulers of the earth. Grant that all who receive the sword as your servants may bear it according to your command. Enlighten and defend them and grant them wisdom and understanding that under their peaceable governance your people may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness and unity. Protect and prolong their lives that we with them may show forth the praise of your name through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Amen. Amen. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any additions, corrections, or deletions on the agenda? I'd like to move up the um in new business, we have attorney client privilege. I'd like to do that executive session while Gabby's here. Um she'll be in on that one. And then it's okay. Um anyway, our county counselor Brett is uh home but is available uh by phone. So any executive sessions we have I have asked him to set in on those for us. Commission comments.

There's a date change. Oh, I'm sorry. Um on the June 2nd I might need to switch or I will not be here.

So that whole week like we can't just move it a day or I'm gone. I can move it up anytime the week before if possible. So, I don't really That's Memorial Weekend is the week before. Do we want to do it later in the week like Thursday or something? The 28th. Yeah. Is May 28th work? It's probably like the last day of school or something.

I think it's over before then, isn't it? And then let's tentively change Thursday, June 2nd to Thursday, May 28th. We'll see 1 p.m. we go. There's another one at the end of April, which I think we have the Kansas County Commission Association conference in Hutch, which is over that 21st of April. But I'm double checking on that. But we might have to move that back a day or forward a day, but I'll let you know. Do you have anything on comments? No.

Okay. I have a couple of things. I asked Dave to come. I went Saturday to our auction and kind of give a update on that. First of all, I just want to say thank you to Button Auction. They came and just really out of the goodness of their heart and wanted to serve the county did it, but we everything is gone. Everything is gone. That's what we wanted. So, I haven't got any hard numbers back from them yet. Um, but just in from what I was able to pay attention to, just in five items, we'll be somewhere between 5,500 and 6,000 on on that. So, you won't have to move it again.

I had to move it all in there and then they volunteered me to move it out. So, I'm tired of moving it, but but yeah, it was a good sale. Everything was sold and got a lot more space here to start again. So, so and it was a couple vehicles, so that will replenish our equipment reserve account hopefully a little bit because we pretty well spent all of that this year. So, thank you. Thank you for your work because I know it was a lot of work coming in on a Saturday and so I just really appreciate you doing that and glad we got it done. Right. I had a friend of mine showed up too and his he brought his boys and they helped assist in moving everything out. They got paid to do that by some people. So, it was a good day. It was a good day.

Thank you. So, also I did attend a pipeline safety meeting on the 21st, which I think was the day after our last meeting. I think it's maybe my third time to go. It's interesting. Um, so just to see all the different entities from uh emergency um within the county and how they all work together. So, it's always an interesting day. Public comment. Okay. Seeing none, um do you want to go ahead and jump down to our scheduled attendee since they are here? We'll do the consent agenda here in a minute. Yeah.

Because we've got a couple of changes. Yes, sir. So, uh, Richie and David, good afternoon. Afternoon.

We've been doing this for several years, so we kind of, I guess, have a a kind of a protocol to it. Uh, so by my approach, I have the profit and loss for the countywide ambulance service for um updated with 2025 numbers. And if you kind of look at the second the top two columns or two lines. You can see since 2021, we've had a little increase in the in the actual right revenue from insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, but it's kind of kept us at the same bottom line loss around 300,000 for the same four or five years. Uh and um so we're back obviously um wanting like we have done the last two years to get an initial dispersement of uh 2 million or 2.2. That's obviously up to the county commission. But then we may come back later in the year as the fund builds back up to try and whittle down to kind of eliminate the loss because cash on hand and debt service coverage ratios are things we monitor closely to meet the bond covenants. Good news is we don't have our final audit yet, but preliminarily um uh we this for 2025 we met the debt service coverage ratio and we had sufficient days cash on hand better than the prior two years but every little bit helps. So that's kind of what we want to do is is ask for the 2 million because we know there's a little bit more than that in the fund built back up, but then leave it open to come back later in the year. Kind of give you an interim progress report and see if we can get

some additional funds to kind of cover recover the loss that we've had the last four or five years. And I'll let Richie talk. Surprisingly, we had a pretty it's a good thing, but we've had an increase in the people needing rides in Neos County. So, I'll let Richie hit you with the stats. I'm going to bring you some numbers.

Um you can see we went up over 200 runs from what we were the year before on how many was. Um and I just kind of I didn't do a five I did five year total. I didn't put the other two years on there, but just to show you what we average every month about the the calls that we average. The second page is long-distance transfers. And with the lack of specialty care in Southeast Kansas, you can see from 2016 to 2025, it has gone up significantly. So, I have trucks, we're we're averaging sometimes three transfers a day.

Um that many people going out. Yeah. So we still maintain a truck and area and a truck and shinoot at the same time. The only time that I would ever go down to one truck is if it was emergent and we couldn't fly them or if there was a just it's the only way to get them out. But we still maintain having that truck down here with a full paramedic unit or advanced life support unit. Sometimes I have A's, but 99.9% of the time is there a medic on the truck. And then the same in Shenoon. So, if you wanted more data, I could give you data that would just you would it makes my head swim sometimes. But if you want have questions that I could answer um about those numbers or or just the acuity of patients, I mean, our our cuity is going up higher and higher. Um I'm still I'm three staff members short right now. Um and it's that way across the entire pit of Kansas. I mean, it's just we're we're actually one of the lucky ones. We actually I'm on better staff than most. So, but if you have any kind of questions for that, you can sure have to answer them for I did receive the the new unit. Um, we went and got it. It's here. Um, I was talking to him about so he can go over and get the other one. It's in good shape so he can so they can go get that so the county can red bridge can have that.

So, and then the next unit is not till 27. So, we're got a little time. We got a little time. Um it's it'll be an F552. Um so we'll have to start really looking at the sales tax cuz it's dwindling down time frame. Is it two years? Are we years 27? It started in 28, didn't it? Or 18, sorry. Yeah, 2018. So it was 10 years. 10 years. That'll get here fast enough.

Yeah. Yeah. So, um, but no, I think we'll with the county's blessing go back with the same ballot language because as Richie shows you with the stats, the needs increased since we took it over hasn't gone the other way. So, I mean, there's just no way we could provide less staffing than what he's doing and less ambulance because of the increase in usage. So, um, that's where we are. So, at the end of December, we had $2,340,72.78. So, we do have the $2 million to cover that. Um, and then of course we're a quarter behind. So, that will be more money coming in. Um, so I think I think if we can do the 2 million and then you come back and let's look at where we're at halfway through the year or something.

That makes sense. Yeah. probably late summer we'll come back. I can bring you stats for the half year then too and that'd be good if you I'd like to show you all the numbers you want. I just don't want to end up in date. I I I do it's about this month every month that I do of just data that I mean just shows you where Well, I know we used to during budget time get a report kind of towards the end of the year. Okay. I've never done that for you, but I'd be happy to do that for you. Nobody told me that that was supposed to happen. So to estimate exactly how much you know that that we think we need is there certain information you want.

Well I think what she's getting at is how much if we need to increase that due million that we have set aside on an annual basis. Yeah it's always I'm interpreting that correctly. I mean it's always going to be a little bit of moving target because it kind of like the hospital operation itself. It kind of depends on who we're picking up, what the patient mix is, how good their insurance or Medicare or Medicaid is. It's kind of that mix that so we don't always know going forward exactly what our revenue is going to be even if our rights increase if if they're self-pay and there's some situations where it doesn't necessarily increase our revenue, but we can ballpark that and that's all you can do really, you know.

Sure. Which is nice to report.

Yeah. And again, we do provide the county commission when our final audit is done of the entire operation of the medical center. You get that that's usually May, June. So, we do provide you with that. Um, and I I think sometimes we have a budget that we know we have for the whole hospital for 2026. I think as you can imagine this year our our CFO is going to be amending that budget a couple times going forward. So we it probably wouldn't do any good to send us what we what we budgeted you know last October or November what the board budgeted for this year because we've got some new things going. So

sorry for the account number. So, I'll make a motion that which will come in two weeks when we have our next vouchers to release release $2 million to the hospital out of account 390 which is the ambulance sales tax fund for 2026. I'll second it. All those in favor? I motion passes three to zero. All right. On behalf of Thank you.

Appreciate the figures. All right. Now, do we have everything? Sorry, we're going to go back to the consent agenda in just a minute. Okay. So, these are your reports themselves. And then here is the consent. Okay. So, we just Where's the consent?

That one right there. So, we just added an invoice. Sorry, looking at our totals here. They're just getting big. Um, an invoice for $35,000 and some sense. Um, our new vendor that we're buying fuel from, there was kind of a mixup on the invoice, the date, and the timing and everything. Uh, so we'd like to add that. We know we all received Friday accounts payable. So that amount has been added. Um know what page that's on.

Sorry. Just so I know what the new printer looks like. Fuel.

Yep. It's going to be on page 14. I haven't seen that. Okay. So, we have two fuels, one for diesel and one for regular. So I'll make a motion that we approve accounts payable from 128 of 163,57545 payroll clearing from 130 for 10153146 payroll clearing from 22 of 26 for $86,3760 and we had two special accounts on 121 for 622 $22,223 and one for 49,901. And then accounts payable for uh tomorrow will be 1,167,840,74. And then we have department leads uh sorry department head leave request also.

I'll second it. All those in favor? I I motion carried.

Thank you for the clerk's office for adding that one more invoice for us. Okay, so here are our signatures. Here's the new one. This is the old one. Pass that back to her. This one's not. Okay. All right. I think this one's here. Okay.

Too much paperwork. All right. Yes. Next we have a department head. We got Gabby Sans. Hello. I'm here to present the proposals for the um.5% retailer sales tax for the roads and I did go ahead just in case you were curious. Thank you. You're welcome. There you go. Thank you.

You're welcome. Okay. So, um we received four out of six proposals. Um and based off of after reviewing the four, um my recommendation would be the Bank of Commerce. Um the highest return for the interest rate is tied closely to the US Treasury bill rates. And then uh the current estimated return is approximately 3.5%. In comparison to um community national bank and trust is 3%, commercial bank is 2.9% and then imprice bank is 2.6%. Um the higher interest rate earnings mean more dollars available for the county road and bridge projects without increasing um task or excuse me taxes or risk. And then um the Bank of Commerce, they have no monthly service fees, no platform fees, and no balance requirements. Um other than there is a actually there is a minimum balance of $1,000, but I don't think that

hopefully we'll meet that. Yeah. in the account.

Um, other banks uh may charge monthly or platform fees, require a minimum balance, which I guess so does Bank of Commerce, but um offer fees that are waved, which can change in the future, and then um cost. Why this matters for the um for the no fees in balance is that cost requirement is predictable and interest earnings are not reduced by bank fees. And then um Bank of Commerce uh online banking reporting access unlimited transactions, no additional charges for functionality and um um there is additional fees for a wires or multiple user accesses. and then um full compliance with the uh statutes for collatis collaterization. Um so they properly collaterize public funds per Kansas statutes. Um and they meet all legal security requirements. Um and then just the overall comparison summary would be the highest for interest. Um no fees. Uh they have the 1,00 minimal balance and then online banking full access and then they do um they have legal compliance to what we need. So that's where I stand. I'll make the motion to accept the bid from Bank of Commerce for the halfsent retailer sales tax account setup.

And this might be I'll second it. Hold on. We just got a motion. Any more discussion? Okay. So, sorry. Um, I don't know if this would be the right time to add the online banking access with just view only and then who we need to add to that bank account as well. Um, I just figured we'd probably need to get that out of the way now so we don't have to address it again because that's what we've had to do prior with other accounts. Let's make this motion finalizing all who uh okay all those in favor I I motion carried since we approved it so online access availability to

usually the clerk deputy clerk and the No sir I I'm the one that has um view only access I miss. Yeah, that's okay. This chair, do you want it? You only I'll just get with Gabby at this point. Okay, that's fine. I didn't know cuz every time we change chairman this we have to change the card. So, I think that's fine. Yeah, I can just Okay.

Yeah. Happy to share whenever you need the information. That won't be a problem. So, I'll make a motion that we allow uh the treasur to get online viewing. Yes. View only access. Only access. I'll second it. All those in favor? I motion carries. Thank you for doing that. Yeah, that'll just benefit like you said the county even more on on that sales tax.

Yes. Interested and all. All right. Um, so I'm going to call it executive session attorney client relationship and uh we'll have Brett online. So I move to recess into executive session to discuss matters deemed privilege in the attorney client relationship regarding um audits. I didn't get that. Did you try um for five minutes to include the commission, council, treasurer, and uh county counselor. So, we'll come back at 1:30. I'll second it.

All those in favor? I motion carried.

All right, we're back in session and no action was taken. That's all I had. Okay, I think that's all I've got to for now. All right, thank you guys. You have a great day. Thank you. Good to see you, too. All right, Tanya, are you on the schedule? In a roundabout way. Oh, yeah. Okay, we'll go with Cindy next.

Good afternoon. Good afternoon.

Hey. Um, just a couple of updates for you guys. Um, AirMed is this month, so I have the rates for that. They haven't gone up. the last two years. So, um, one year is 75, 3 years is 195, five is 295, and 10 years is $585. And we still give them the option of one payroll deduction or two, which is done in the March payrolls. And then we pay the um premium in April. So, I'll be making appointments with the department heads to come around and bring this bring them this information. And if um they'd like, I'll have our representative come down to answer more questions. So that's going on. Um I just completed our Kwork premium payroll audit. It's all submitted. Um that um basically tells us um the purpose of the audit is to ensure that the premiums charged um Kworks members are appropriate for all their activities. So, this could, you know, help us get a deduction or, you know, it could cause a little bit more premium, but um usually we turn out pretty good with that. Um I do need to have um an executive session for five minutes to include um regarding non-elected personnel in the appraisers department um to include myself, commission and I guess legal and the county appraiser. I move to recess into executive session to discuss personal matters of non-elected personnel regarding the appraiser for five minutes to include the commission council HR the appraiser and yep to resume back here at let's say 140.

I'll second the motion. All those in favor I I motion carried.

We're back in session. I'd like to make a motion to approve the transfer of one employee from the treasur's office to the appraisers's office effective uh March 9th of 2026. I'll second. All those in favor?

I motion carried the bottom line. Okay. All right. Okay. And then I have one last thing. It's kind of a couple things in one. Um so we've talked a little bit I mean you've you and I have talked a little bit, you know, last year and then um we had a conversation earlier about um like codes um being rec correctly reflected. so we have the correct numbers out of say solid waste or we have the records for call out pay or whatever. Um I need advice like what how you guys want me to handle this um going forward and then I think um based on how I think it might be able to work. might need to create some sort of an agreement so that the Road and Bridge employees understand um what's going to happen with callout pay um so we can accurately reflect it because what's been happening up until we had our conversation about making sure that things were accurately reflected on like the labor distributions and whatnot for budgeting. Um call out pay would get turned into earned comp for those that want earned comp. problem is is it deletes callout pay completely out of the the scenario. Like you won't see how many hours each person had which therein causes a problem. Say we have a flood or whatever and we're supposed to um send in like how much overtime we had, how much regular hours we had, whatever for reimbursement. Um I can't provide that accurately. So we're not going to get the correct numbers. And that's just one example of why, you know, it's an issue. Um,

my recommendation, and it's going to take a little bit of work, and this is why I think we need the agreement so the employees understand, is currently callout pay is it's automatically paid at time and a half. So, if I was to adjust, say they had two hours of call out pay, they had 40 hours in the week. If I was to adjust two of the regular hours of those 40 hours into um earned comp, which is the equivalent of what the callout pay is, they're double dipping on like leaves. Basically, you're getting paid time and a half for a code and then you're getting, you know, two hour well um three hours in your comp bank. So, that's essentially doubling the overtime. what I can do. Um, and I I'll have to set it in the system individually for each of the road and bridge employees, but for those employees that want earned comp, their call out pay is going to be paid out at the regular rate, whatever their base rate is, and then I can adjust regular hours into that earned comp number. So, we still see callout pay and we can report it when necessary. Um, and then they'll still get their earned comp. Does that make sense? Um

it takes care of all the issues but um so Mike is that true like we need to keep track of call out time like in an emergency or during like some is this like something we would report to FEMA. We uh if we have a flood event that qualifies for uh FEMA reimbursement, we we track that ourselves down there. Jessica sends me spreadsheets, Tina and Jessica do, and I have to fill them out for the employees.

Okay. But I really don't know how this I mean in the past whether it be just straight overtime or we had called out for a storm, snowstorm, flood event, whatever. If the guy wanted comp time, it went into comp time. And I don't know why that changed. As HR, it's my job to like advise you of how things are paid out and how they should be versus how they've been done in the past. and I'm trying to correct a deficiency in how things are reported. I I I see some benefit them if they could choose whether they get

comp or overtime pay just for the fact that like most people they prefer the paid time off or more than they do have accumulated a check that you're going to pay the extra taxes on. Yeah. The the issue is not giving a earned comp. It's just how we're going to report call out pay. Do you guys care if we have it tracked? We never get to see overtime. So, it's um doesn't make any difference to us, does it? Well, when we do reporting and stuff, yeah, it shows up. Where do we get overtime? Isn't it in the labor distributions? There is no overtime.

It's just one total. Okay. Yeah, we don't we don't So to us it doesn't matter because we don't see those. I mean, I didn't know there was a difference cuz I just know that the interviews that I've sat in on, we always say the first six months you don't have sick leave, but you can earn comp time, right? We didn't say unless you're on call. No, the So now the issue isn't the earned comp, it's just whether or not I need you guys to tell me whether or not it matters that we track call out pay. If we don't, like I said, you don't see it. So, and they're capped. I mean, you got you figure you got two weeks of comp time you can accumulate.

Well, the current policy says, and I printed that off, it currently says you can have 80 hours in your bank, but then if you earn more overtime, you get paid out the extra on the next payroll. So, you can continue to earn um overtime. like as an example, right? But you're you're but you're not going to accumulate any more than 80 hours of comp time.

Everything else is because I mean like for example, we had an employee last year for the year of 2025 um had a total of 150.41 earned comp hours of which I paid out 66.16. So they rolled into this year with roughly 80ish. And where the the issue is is those 80 hours they they had at the end of 2025 was $1,800, but now you take it with the raises, it goes up to $2,000. So continuing to carry over into the other years is also something we need to consider because it it's not budgeted.

Well, and with the new tax laws, they probably don't they want to take the overtime pay because then they they don't get hit with the taxes on it, right? And I want to incentivize somebody want to work. I mean, he really didn't show up and do his job and work. Right. Right. So, the issue, I just want to make it clear. It's not about giving earned comp. That's not the problem. It's based off the conversations we had about making sure everything was correctly um tracked because I know it's been a big concern of yours.

Well, and the information that you just gave us for the payroll, I mean, I don't know if you're tracking this differently. The first payroll 116 only had $200 in road and bridge solid waste. I doubt if I didn't change anything if we can operate a solid waste for two weeks that had $200 of of um wages, but then the next paycheck there was $900 in solid waste for two weeks. So the first um so it's I I just don't think it

I I would invite you to um after the meeting if you'd like I can show you the reports. I only pay out what's in there so it has to be put in the system like to me correctly. Okay. What I don't know if we just need to have a sit down but this takes money this takes money out of road and bridge that should be taken out of solid waste which is the general correct. Okay. And so as we're looking at these different budgets, this makes a difference. And that's why I'm having this conversation, accurate reporting.

So did So did the guys in Rodenbridge that asked for comp time get comp time during this snow removal? They got their earned comp or they got call out pay, which is not comp time. Okay. I think that's the confusion that maybe when we are giving interviews that we make sure that there is a difference. Well, that's something we have to decide like that's what I'm asking you guys for. Like I can't make that decision on my own. Did based with your guidance?

Well, I I can't I don't have the final say. So we have policy here which says if the guys want comp time they get comp time. So

yeah, I I can't ever remember when this got changed because always in the past it didn't matter what we were doing if they worked more than 40 hours in a week, whether it be regular overtime for mowing or storm or whatever. If they wanted it in comp time, it went into comp time. And that's your And that's you're the one that authorizes that. Yeah, correct. So then the commission approved that

the policy. Correct. But as far as every paycheck or whatever, you're the one that's saying, you know, this person wants this much, they provide a list if they request a change. Usually the guys that want comp time, they want comp time year round. If they hit that 80 hour mark, it's going to automatically pay them out anyway or that's what

supposed to. It's not an automatic payout. It's actually a manual calculation, but I do it every payroll. So, um yes, I agree that we have the policy here, but it also says that um department heads are supposed to exercise extreme extreme discretion when utilizing overtime. Um, and then it also says that um I should have highlighted it something about the county has can limit as well like it's not necessarily you know

if we never see overtime how can we limit it since you've been I think since you've never gotten no you've never requested a report. I have but it needs to come from the commission so that every time that we get a report for payroll it should include what we used to do when I came first Paul do you remember we approved all overtime before it got paid out so on Tuesday when we came in we got reports we approved payroll before you sent it on so that we but the way it is now I mean it's already approved so

so I'm operating under what I was trained as I had a different boss prior to falling under the county commission. So, I can't control what happened when in 2019. I don't know if the other commissioners I will tell you about overtime or not. I mean, it has to be approved by all three of us to actually be able to do to be able to see those figures. So, it doesn't actually say in here that you guys have to approve over time. Nope. So we're just we're just taking our department heads that they are using extreme discretion on overtime basically is all that we're

so the issue right now this topic it's just how you want me to track call out pay. If you don't mind that it's gets changed into a different code then that's how I'll operate going forward. But if you want to see it in a report, you know, if you come to my office and request it or request one for a meeting um for all overtime stuff, I just I just need to know. I mean, we're not seeing it now. It's I I just I they need to weigh the benefits. I'd take take if it was me, I'd be taking the overtime pay and not pay the taxes on it. Yeah, cuz it's a $12,500 deduction for singles and a I had that printed out here.

Um, $25,000 for married couples. Choose whichever they want. Right. Yeah, that I know. And I'm just They might want to re-evaluate the comp versus overtime pay right now. Yeah, there's four years of a tax benefit. So, but if you guys don't want to see it, then I will go ahead and and operate that way. I just needed the heads up. Yeah, I would that be up to the employee to make the decision if they want to call for overtime. Yeah. Well, I know it is. I know, but

but so she's not asking that. She's asking, do we want on call or call out on call? Do we want that in the report? Because that she handles that differently. basically. And I can make adjustments if you want to see it. But if they're on call and they get called out, they get their time. Yeah, they'll still get paid for it. It's just whether or not you want to see that or if I have to do it a different way. I don't really care to see on call. Okay. If that's

some of this, not to muddy the waters even worse, but there are times where we're doing the same type of work, but they're not being called out. Like we if it started snowing right now, our guys probably right they're not going to get to go home. We're just going to keep working and plowing and creating roads, etc. That's not a call out. That's just overtime. So, uh, we kind of muddy the waters with You'd still get earned comp for that if that's what they wanted. It doesn't change any of that. They do get their earned comp for Do we call that overtime or do you call it? It would that would be earned. Well, it' be overtime because they the way the system is. I I don't I don't think we track on call at all.

It snowed during the night. We did the other day and the guys had come out. I don't call that on call. Then that's considered a call out which I guess maybe it is but but they had overnight notice that.

So here in the policy it says on call status and pay the employer may require the employee to be on standby. Standby means a period of time outside the employees regularly scheduled work hours during which the employees required at the employer's discretion to remain available to the county within specified reason response time. An employee on standby shall remain available at the employer's discretion for recall to perform necessary work. Standby assignment shall be limited to work situations where the probability for emergency recall of an employee exists. Employees on standby who are called to work shall be comp compensated for actual hours worked at the appropriate rate of pay. They will generally not be paid compensation for standby time. An employee on standby as defined above who is not available when called and who does not present reasonable justification for failure to report when called shall be subject to discipline.

That's on page 53 and 54. I still goes to the fact that they most of the guys knew the storm was coming several days ahead of time and they had an idea that this I don't I don't classify that as sometimes when we know there's a storm coming if we know there's a storm coming tonight what we've been doing in the past is just get everything ready load our trucks park them in the shed and say okay everybody I want you here at 4:00 tomorrow morning so they know they're coming. It's not technically a call out, but if they start at 4:00 in the morning and work till 6:00 at night,

but then you do have people on call all the time. Correct. After hours, there's always someone that's on call. And usually that's for a tree that's fallen in the road or a stop sign down, whatever. But someone knows that they may be called, right? That's different than to me to than snow removal. it.

So when I get the um time sheets, the time is already coded by the department and it's signed off by the department heads. So if Bob had call out pay, then it's put on there. If Bob had, you know, 40 regular hours and two overtime hours, that's in the system. Like I don't pick what they're doing. It's given to me and then I have to process it. I would just like to see when the guys want comp time, whether it be considered call out or overtime or anything in between, if they want it in comp time, put it in comp time. It doesn't cost the county a nickel more.

I mean, that's how we've always done it. And that's what we tell the you know, when we interview them, that's what we interview with. Well, that's that's what we doing. I worked at Roto Root, so we've been that way. So, again, I'm just asking if you want to see it or not. That's all I need. Like, I'm just asking for what your decision is. Like, this wasn't so to start a whole thing as is. Keep it as is. Yeah. Okay. So, going forward, the consensus is just put don't worry about callout pay being reported and then we'll just put it into earn comp. Yeah. Okay. That's that's all I was needing. per per employee request, right? They have Rod and Bridge is really good about providing a top sheet. Yeah,

they put a top sheet on who wants what and it's highlighted specifically so it's easy to follow. They're really good about that. And I really don't think this is going to affect us much. Like if we have a a disaster that qualifies for FEMA funding cuz when that happens, we usually have everybody fixing road. So we might have every single person down there repairing road after a flood event and that whole week or two or possibly even more than that may be time that we turn in for reimbursement. It's usually a lot of hours that we turn into to get reimbured. Jo, you focus all your staff on that. That's right. Well,

we have to sometimes we're just we're not really trying to fix every road perfect. We're fixing the road so people can get down until we can fix them. Right. Well, the guys did a great job on this last snow removal. I had people in the county calling me and I'm like, I live in the city and you got your snow removed before I did. So, you guys did a great job. Y I had several text messages from president compliment got I know our road was really good so thank you okay that's all I had

so I had one other thing we talked about getting some things done this year and so one of them is finally updating the whole employee handbook yes so I know I've visited with you and I think really is the commission decision uh we've done this in the past with some of the ones that we have updated already uh that they had I don't know bi-weekly meetings or we met as we could

when you could. So, I wasn't chairman last time, but um I was just wondering what you guys feel like if you think it's beneficial for a chairman to set in on those so we know I guess what the discussion is and we are a department um in the county. Um but the complaint in the past was that no one wants to talk when a commissioner's there. So that's why we weren't allowed last time or whoever was chairman didn't want to be a part of it.

It wasn't anything personal. It's just more the people dayto-day. Um, we need to hash out between what works for 247, what works for Road and Bridge on their special hours, you know, like we need to talk as a group as department heads freely so we can nug out the the big details and then we always presented you guys with the information so you could review it, make recommendations, and we made changes. It's not that we don't want a commissioner there. We just want the opportunity to speak freely. I was on the ones in 09, so I I sat through almost all those meetings with Yeah. Melissa Dugan and Jim Keith and Yeah. And I'm not speaking for everyone. I'm just there are

a few that would prefer it that way. I mean, I just feel like if our if our department heads can't talk freely, then there's a problem. I'm not I probably won't have much input. I just want to listen and understand where everyone's coming from. We all should be grown-ups and be able to have a discussion. Don't you agree? I mean agree. I agree. I mean there shouldn't be any fair fear of reciprocity of anybody that they could talk about me or us. I don't you know I think there's how worthless I am. That's why I mean well they we all No, I'm just kidding. I don't really care. But yeah, I just want it to get done. I just think by the end of the year

Yeah. Uh hopefully before then we'll have it well done. Yeah. I think if you took sections, I mean, yeah, I mean, I tried to even see which ones have been updated. So, we started in 22. I had a hard time even knowing what updates I had.

We did the main ones like leave, vacation, sick. Um, the ones that we've been having the most heartburn with with the employees. We've done a couple other along the way like emergency closings, like how you can pay get paid, you know, when the courthouse closes. um travel um for business that one was done but yeah I think we need to start at the beginning um there are things in the policy manual that probably need to be struck they don't apply anymore and there are things that need to be added like we need to create a safety committee um that needs to be in there because we've had um some requests for that in the past we had one at one time

yeah well in in in addition by having a safety committee and a policy for it we actually get um a discount through Kwork on our workers comp. So, it's kind of a no-brainer. We have to update the ADA one, which I'll be asking talking to Melanie about because she's our ADA representative. Um, she's the one that's done all the training, so she'll have to probably be do the nug of that one. But yes, hopefully like the last week in February or the first week in March, we can have our first meeting. Usually I send out an email, ask everybody what date and time works the best so we can have everybody there. Um, and it's not always the same day and time each week, you know. So,

well, or some one of us could zoom in or something or be Yeah, anybody's I mean, y'all are welcome. It's just, you know, if we interested Yeah. I mean, all three of us can't do that. No, no, I'm just saying I'm just saying I think that we should be included. Yeah, not saying that we're going to make every meeting or that, you know, but I I just think we need to be um involved involved. I mean, we have the final say so, so I don't understand why that can't happen. So, anyway, just let us know when that comes about. I'm anxious to get that done. Yeah, we'll get it going.

Even as a commissioner, I was trying to look at what updates I had and I was confused as to what is actually the current. So, I've got a book, but then there's also extra ones now, but then you go back anyway. It just needs to be done. Yes. So, yep, we'll get on that. So, anything else? Okay. Thank you for your time. Thanks, Andy. Michael. Mike, you're up already.

Good afternoon, everyone. I uh while it's fresh in my mind, I think that if we um have meetings regarding uh you know policy changes in the in the handbook that I hope one of the commissioners is on in on that because there are some things I would like to see changed and I would like to explain to you, you know, why I would like to see them change for the benefit of everybody and you guys are going to have the final say anyway. So having that background of why there's this change, but I mean hearing from different different viewpoints.

Yeah. It's like this is what I think need changed and this is why I think it should need be changed. So I would I would encourage that. Um I don't have a lot on my list today. Um, I just wanted to remind everyone that the uh and I sent out an email regarding this that on March the 10th we will have the leting for the uh 70th road overlay between Gailsburg and 169 highway and the U four uh bridge overlays. Uh, and those are those pre-cast

beam bridges that we have. they need uh they need to to need some help. Um we will be putting an ad in a paper uh for that here pretty soon. Um regarding those two projects, they have to be advertised. Uh it's just the way the law is. Um

is it closure for the bridge overpass still the 23rd? Yeah, that as far as I know that hasn't changed. We have been working on that. I think we're about ready. Uh we've got most of the sign stops drove in the ground for for when the we won't put the speed limit signs up until the day of the closure, but we're pretty well ready to go. Um I don't think this is going to be as difficult as the 59 highway closure. It's, you know, we expect a lot of traffic on Pratt Road north of uh Parsons and a lot of traffic on Queens Road and some additional traffic on me and 20th Road.

Let's just pray it's not as long as Moran closure overpass. Yeah, it's supposed to be a year, so we'll see. That was two, I think, but it end up about three. Yeah. Now they're saying it might be spring, late spring, could be fall. So, I did see that the Erie School Board was discussing different routes for their school bus. They have one that goes through that area. So, I hope that they will get in contact with you, too, and make sure that they're picking the right route that

they don't have a lot to choose from really, but uh we're just trying to get the roads as good as we can ahead of the project. So, but that is coming pretty fast. So, I've I've sent Brett an email here recently and I'm my understanding he's a little under the weather, but we got to start working on the rightway acquisitions for the little bridge southwest of Gailsburg. That's cuz that letting will be this summer, which won't be hard to do. There's only two land owners there, not a lot of land. And I'm sure they're both going to be excited about uh um you know, getting a new bridge in place there. And if if if he wants, I'd be happy to go with him to meet with him. I've done that with Seth in the past. So, um that's really about the last thing we have to take care of on that bridge. Um I did get a call from a gentleman. and I'm not going to mention his name here. A while back, I say a while back, it's been a couple two or three weeks ago regarding the possibility of putting another proposal in front of the commission to sell river gravel to the county. So, uh I don't know where he's at on that. He just he asked about it and I said, "Well, you know, put something together and come talk to us." So that could be coming. So I think I had it on my notes to discuss the the comp time for the employee, but I think we're we've got that resolved, right?

Yes. So I won't no need to talk about that anymore. So really that's all I have on my list.

Okay. I have a here's a page for you, Mike. We paid with these vouchers. We paid the last payout to Bridges, Inc. on the North River Bridge. Uh we did not transfer that last million dollars. Uh we weren't needing it, but as you can see, um I'm kind of waiting until we get those last two transfers from K DOT to make sure we got those. I'm not for sure. The one in December wasn't I didn't see it yet. Uh but it looks like we are going to have to transfer at least $200,000 to even that out. That'll give us another $800 to stay in the pilot fund. Um we'll see here when we get those all balanced out, we get everything from K DOT. This is the figures that I have, but you can see at the end of the year where we were at. Um, so I just wanted everyone to have that information. I don't believe with these two new bridge projects, we'll be using this account. We'll be using the sales tax account. So, I don't think we really need to put any extra money into this special bridge account

unless we need it. I don't think there any reason to transfer the whole million. Does that make sense? Okay. Um, so we'll see uh maybe in our next meeting if we get those two transfers from K DOT on their last payments. So we'll see where we're at. You can see that last payment from K DOT is pretty small. So we were over a little bit. Not very much for me. That large of a project to be over that small of amount is pretty good. Yeah, we just put some extra rocks down and um a couple of other things, but I think we've done pretty good on that project. So,

how would the uh the edge are they going to be able to get served on that sometime before next summer? Next, I don't know. They said they were going to do it on a couple weeks ago. Been terrible. Then we had the storm snowstorm and so I'll have to get with the inspector and see what their next plan is on that. But the the striping looks good. Oh. Oh yeah. With the snow it would have been impossible to know if you were on the road or not. I mean it really saved us. So have we been able to get a count yet?

No. there is an issue with the the the counter and u and I spoke with Heath the other day about that and he was going to just take it up there and visit with him because he we I know it's something we're doing wrong but he can't get it to to rock to work and I said just take it up there and meet with us. Yeah, we'll be glad to help you. Huh? It's too fancy for you guys. Yeah, it's uh the old one we had was kind of caveman style and this one this is a much more modern unit. And thank you again, Nick, for

Well, they did they wasn't me. It was custom donated nicely to us. I feel we're just doing some simple things. We're missing a step probably and but we have tried and and failed but it's we we'll get it cuz I want to get some counts there and and down south also. Anyway, so around Shenoot I've noticed that maybe we need a little bit of um just things that might look a little bit better. Are they been doing some mowing

around? Okay. Well, so Grady Road, Great Dump Road is looking a little trashy. I think they mowed and now all the trash is exposed. There was a tire there. Someone picked it up, though. It wasn't there today, but it was there yesterday. Um, if the guys could kind of look at that and then on between the curves on the North Elk Road, one of their signs for the uneven shoulders was down when I came through Sunday afternoon. And then it's been this way for a long time, but the actual speed limit sign that when you're coming off 39 headed back into town is it's almost to the ground now. It was kind of halfway to the ground when we put it in there, I think. And now it's pretty well almost to the ground, but just looks bad when we don't have our signs up properly. Well, and I haven't given any of the lists this year for 2026, but every year in the past, I have on the list of of our needs and building needs, equipment needs, etc. There is an item on there to hire a full-time sign person. I think we're probably the only county in the area that does not have a full sign.

Well, it's kind of starting to show. Yeah, it does. While I'm at that also down by Earlton, I know I've talked to you this when they finally finished that covert east of town, those signs have never been straight and they're still not straight. Anyway, um yeah, so it's something we need to talk about, but when you're comparing when you're coming from the city of Shannon going out into the county, it's very obvious just because the city keeps things up and they have the manpower to do it. Not saying that all the other little small towns around don't, but it's just more noticeable. I think when you come from Shenoot that I think we need to also make our

part of the trashes cuz people don't want to go to the dump. I've had to call them about a TV and I guess they couldn't afford to go all the way into the dump so they just dumped it on road. Oh yeah. You know, so we get that quite often, but I was happy to see the tire was gone. So, um, we pick up a lot of tires in a year's time. scattered around the country and and appliances and refrigerators and freezers and you name it. Recliners, uh, it's really aggravating, but mattresses. Mattresses. Yeah, that's another big one. But, all right. It's nothing new. It's been going home.

I know. It's just hard to keep on top of it. And it looked like they had mowed out there, which I do appreciate. I can tell that there's been some mowing done, but now all the winter trash is showing. So, and it's just that's a very traveled well traveled road as we know. But I do wish we could someday consider hiring a full-time sign person and and with that would you would need a truck that's set up for placing signs the time you're sign

and removal etc. because I drive these roads too and I see them and I don't like uh the way they lean sometimes and and the vandalism. Even this past weekend we had what eight signs down and uh and it was vandalism. Some of them were cut off, literally cut off with probably a a saw

and some of them were just ran over. And so we we try to get those fixed and put back up. But uh and we did uh but you know, we spent had to pull two guys off jobs that they're not, you know, hauling gravel and brush cutting, etc. to to go put up signs cuz the guy we normally have there was sick to put the signs up in my area. You better have a rocksaw bit. Yeah. There was no lie. You had to dig every hole, Tpost, everything. Yeah.

But and we did get the speed limit sign changed on Country Club Road. There was one that was I thought it was wrong. We got that corrected. So, we do have a 35. It's 35. There was a 30 mixed in with it. I don't know how that happened, but Okay. But that's now 35. That's all I have. You have anything, Mike? When's that new blade guy starting? Next Tuesday, maybe. Yeah, Tuesday the 17th. Believe it's the 17th. Are you going to put him on? Where you going to put put him at? Up north. Well, show me. Yeah, we'll we'll have to discuss that later.

Let's see. You have Well, we got a guy retiring for Mars, right? Very soon. So, you have six left. Well, you still got the maps of the six districts we used to have. We have a map for every scenario. You can imagine. Yeah. Well, maybe you can go back to those six for a while. Kind of give everybody a share of the load.

Well, yeah, we'll we'll have to get him trained and get him comfortable in it. And then because the the David Star, he's retiring in the end of this month. I hate to lose David. He's been a very good employee, a very good greater operator, but he's ready to call it quits. And I don't I don't blame him. I don't want anybody to work down there till he drop. But uh that's what a little over two weeks away. Yes. So February is a short month. So, we're we're going to have an extra guy for about two weeks and it'll take him that long to train him. Not really an extra guy, just

I know a replacement. Yeah. So, hey Mike, can I ask you a quick question? Sure. You guys proposed to lower the speed limit on Queens. We have discussed that here and what we decided to is is ultimately the commission's decision, but just kind of wait and see how it looks. How much traffic

um and if we if we do need to lower it, I think the commission would be on board to do so. Um we've done that in the past. Usually we drop it from 55 to 45 and then we would want to consider do we do that all the way through or just cuz my my gut feeling is the people that are let's say for example they're want to go to area they're probably going to go up Queens Road to 40th road take it to 59 then go north. So you probably wouldn't want to lower it all the way to 47. Uh but we just kind of want to uh feel it out and and then again get a traffic count and see what people are doing and and then make a decision. But we we can do that pretty quickly if we need to.

I know whenever they had the bridge out here closed, we thought Queens would catch a lot of that traffic where it really didn't. I think a lot of people coming from the east with 47 59 and then into portion. So they come down Queens like we anticipated. Well, even even on the same project when the river bridge out here was being replaced, we were expecting people to go east out here, follow the pavement all the way to St. Paul and and they weren't doing that. Some of them were, but there were a lot of them just cutting through on the gravel road. So, we it was a nightmare to try to maintain that gravel road with all that traffic on it, but we we did it. And there again, we lowered the speed limit on the gravel roads, and we've already done that on the roads that we anticipate to have uh heavy traffic on. We'd lower that to 30 mph. And so far, it's worked as far as preventing a either a really bad wreck or, heaven forbid, a fatality. There's been a handful of fender benders, you might call them, but nothing serious. and we've went through I don't know how many projects doing them all like this since I've been here. So it so what we've done has has been working but we will take a look at that and you know I know you live on that road so you you know we may want your input at some point you know

is that wait and see you can ever predict traffic's going to flow but and uh that's really all we can do just wait and see how what the effect is on it. So okay, thank you very much. Next. So uh first up is the outside entity dates for them to come in and present. We are sending out the letter this next week to get everything coming in. Our deadline for them to have their information into us is March 17th for next year's budget. Yeah.

Correct. We already looking at 2027 clerk's office. So, we were looking at the 24th. I know that we had another uh major deal going on March 24th. I can't recall what it was, Gail. But anyway, they're looking at possibly pulling in a special meeting for just this I was talking to so March 24th, I believe, is one of our meetings. We can do a morning set up 9:00 a.m. 24th.

So, we have a commission meeting that day. Yes. I'd rather do like 10:00. That's right. Because then if we have an hour, hour and a half meeting, then we can have a lunch break and then go back and try meeting 9:00. We're living to 15 minutes, aren't we? Um, I believe we went down to 10 if I remember right. So, let's see. That'll help you. I think 10 o'clock would be fine for outside entities. Okay. On the 24th. Uhhuh. But I think what you have on here for outside entities payments is for this year, correct?

Yes, I have that as well more or less here. So, uh, we would like to look into two payments for each year. First payment in February. I know you had a little problem with uh mission over there check went to the wrong went to Roy. Yes, that has been resolved. So, okay. Is there any way we can do direct deposit on that? AC's have not been set up in the clerk's office yet, but that is something I would like to eventually look into for next year. Well, that way go the same place, you know, committee members change, you know.

So, when I first came on, we paid outside entities quarterly and then the clerk said that was too much work and she wanted to pay yearly. So, at the end of January, I think we paid out the full amount. Um, so she's talking about doing two payments for the year. Um, because as we know sometimes throughout the year maybe things change with an entity. We probably even have questions as to if some of the entities are going to exist in the second half of the year. So I suggest yeah that we do maybe one here. Did we at the next meeting we could

uh I'm trying to recall our next be 24th. So if we put it in uh this next round they'd be paid out on the 25th of February or we can wait until beginning of March and then our next setup could be July. So that way they can finish their year out. I think that would probably work whenever you want to get the them out. try for next round this coming I think you know it's people kind of rely on it so we do so and we get calls of when they're going to actually get these payments and we kind of toss our hands going well

yeah that's something we need to decide during the budget session I think also they come and then we don't ever actually send a letter out saying this is what the commission accepted this is what you can plan on having the next year and This is when those payments will be. So that would be great. Yes, those will be going out once everything is set with our outside entities once you have signed off on the amounts. We will be sending letters out with their amounts with the dates of when they specified and you'll have our requests and what they need to provide when they send in there. Okay.

Yeah, we already got that signed off I believe at the beginning of the year with you guys. So, we've got everything ready to go in the emails and I can bring up the second payment probably beginning of June and we can set a date for that and we'll just roll with that for next year as well. That work? Yep. Okay. Schedule. Okay.

And then I've got one more. Um, this one does not relate to the discussion later on. This was previous county uh attorney's um final payment on her credit card. We also need to get that turned off. We'll need a motion to close out the account on hers. And then this here is tips that were accumulated I think two cycles ago that we have not received payment on. There is an email sent to her. Um, I did not provide copies in your packets, but I do have it upstairs if need be that it was requested she pay this fee and we have not seen it since. So, we are unsure how we want to go about getting this paid off right now. Uh, we should get it paid, close the count, and then we'll proceed on any other action.

Are we just taking it out of county attorney's budget? I think so. Be sure to notoriize or take that to the previous or current. Put another request to have it paid back. I'll make a motion that we pay off the county attorney's credit card of the balance of $49.75 and then close the account and the credit card. I'll second coming out of sorry commodities or

well out of her budget out of county attorney county attorney. Yeah. And I'll ask okay which one for sure you like. Okay, you seconded. All those in favor? I motion carries three to zero. Thank you. And that I believe is all on my list.

Okay. Unfinished business. Um, I think we just got a copy of, and I apologize. Let's see. As far as Brett and I can tell, this is the latest edition of the purchase policy that we had. So, we're going to go off this. Um, there was a few changes that even we had with that. Um, so, um, I just want to make sure that we get something in place. I think it will help the clerk as she pays vouchers and our department heads to know what our policy is. Um, so if you guys want to look that over, if you think there's any changes, I think some of the changes were like expenses you know, uh what our limits are on those, when we need to get quotes, when we need to have written bids, and we got really close at um getting this implemented, but we never did. So, it's another thing I want to get done this year. This one shouldn't take so long. I know with on the purchases not subject to purchasing requirements, we added tire purchases since the last one. Um Mike had brought that up. But anyway, if you guys go and review that, we'll just keep that on the agenda until we get that done. So, um if any of the department heads want to see this also, the clerk has it in their office as to what the limits are. If there's any questions, maybe that's something that we could actually discuss in the first meeting that we have with um the employee handbook. Just have a little bit of this of okay, where's everyone at

on these limits? Basically, so maybe we need to send this out to all the department heads and say, hey, this is where we're at last time we discussed this, which is like a year and a half ago. um and get that done. So, I would appreciate that. I know there was a lot of discussion. So, I thought it was very complicated and it's only three pages. I think our last one was one page, but we looked at some that were like I don't know. Oh, there was one eight or nine pages. Oh, I think one was really big. I can't remember. It was like Well,

whole handbook almost of And then when I do you guys remember you were on were you on 16? Was that that policy that I gave you today? The credit card policy. Do you remember that? Oh, yeah.

Well, I got that. You know how long that thing is? It is pages. But I think so the clerk just got a handle on this and I think um how many pages is it? doesn't have page numbers, but there's like 30 pages. We need to look at this policy again and start actually using this. It's a business procurement card and credit card again. There are some forms in here and we need to start using these forms. It's a great Yeah. manual that you guys got together. So, it was a that was an ordeal. That's why I'm not so big fan of credit cards.

We know. So now now we can understand what you put into into place there. Um so I just found that I don't even remember where I got it. Um but I think she's going to be looking at that too. So when we actually implement a credit card, we actually fill out a form, you know, and then we have a list of what credit cards are out and what everyone's limit is. And that way I think probably the bank might like having a form also. I probably had it. You should have asked me. I probably had the email. I do not have it in a email. It was handed to me probably from Randy.

But so that's that. We already have the executive session. So now we also I finally asked for and got a list of the current um already got one um board members of the of the hospital. So um there's always the end of March. This time we just have one which is Phil Jared and my understanding is that he will not be submitting his name for that position. So um I guess we need to decide if we're going out for applications and how we're going to handle that.

How we did last time when we actually solicited we put it out on the website and Right. advertise and the hospital will advertise also. So, yes, they put it on their website and we'll put it on our website if you want to do that again. Sure. Um, so here's the application. I think it's in your handbook. Your packet. We needed to approve this. Um and date is it late March, wouldn't it? It's the end of March. So they put down application must be received by March 6th.

So we have meetings in March on the 10th or the 24th. So maybe we should maybe add a couple of weeks to that. um give people a little bit more time if we need it by the 24th. I'd say by the 24th. Oh, well, we need it before the 24th. That's our meeting. So, if we wanted it the 10th or the end of that week, how about the end of that week, like the 13th? Is that to submit applications applications by the 13th? And then that next week would give us a week to review the applications.

That gives Yeah. Sorry. And then we'll hopefully have a decision for the 24th meeting.

And we did have an application from last time is my understanding that he's still interested. I don't know if we should have him submit a new application or we're just going to accept the application from the last year. I think let's I'm probably need to update it. They made sure they're still in interested. I just wanted to make sure that there was an understanding. Yeah, I don't see any problems with the 13th and then 14.

I think that will give give everyone a little bit more time. So, inventory is the next one, which in your packet, you've got a nice little booklet there. We appreciate the clerk putting that together.

Yeah. So, I'm sure our new insurance agent approve uh appreciated that also as we deal with them. So, so talking about new insurance too, one thing that I had I was wondering about bonds since I there was questions on the commission bonding on the last one. Can we bond with this new agent now? Yes. Yes. And we will need to get your applications filled out.

Okay. So I can email those over to you within this week. That would be great. Have any questions? Of course, you're welcome to reach out to me. So, okay, good. Um then, uh county attorney credit card then. Yes, interim county attorney credit card. Um I'll need to get with Cheryl when she would like to come in and request hers, but this one is just for You already motioned to close hers, right? Yes. So, yes, I covered that one, I guess. Okay.

Um, I had one thing that I wanted I didn't want to request without the other two commissioners approval. Uh, usually the 1 of March, the health department has their grants due is what they call them. Um, so they report to the state. We've now had a new director for a couple of years and I thought it would be really good information for her to bring forward if she would give her us her numbers for the last two years and then maybe the numbers that we had from our last director and see uh how many I guess I'd like to see if we have an increase in how many citizens that we are sure

serving there at the department and uh to see exactly where we're at. So, I would like to request that for what she's got. I'd like to have it. Um, I think it's due the 1 of March, but if we had a couple of weeks, so I think at our next meeting if we could have her reports for this year or this last year. Um, and then the a review on the last been two years. Yeah, I'd like to see where she started putting that on KOM. see if she got any more people because it was couple of bills in there from K.

There's a lot of advertising. So, I I just think we need to review that and we used to get that from the previous director. So, I am don't know where that should I just ask her for that or the clerk or Oh, I don't care. Am I requesting or you can you request that would be great from the commission. So if we could have I believe this is her second year department review. we could have the last three years including I guess like wick patients um a breakdown of

all the different uh grants that we have and then I know we do uh oh drug testing also the numbers for drug testing we get a grant for that I don't think so that one's not a grant though is No, that's a just a revenue stream.

That's just a revenue stream. So, I'd like to have how many drug tests we're doing compared to what we did two years ago. I know things change in that realm, but it's good to to hear the numbers. Okay. That's all I brought. That's all I brought. You wanted this by next meeting. Well, I'd like to have it so that we can review it before the deadline. I believe that it's due March 1st. And so that would be by next meeting. Okay.

But that'd be our second meeting in February. She should have those. She won't have them if they're approved or not. just know what we're solic they have pulled back on all the federal grants. So that's something be somewhat aware of too. So that's true too what our level is at. So I don't have anything else. Does anyone else have anything? Our next meeting will be in two weeks at one o'clock again on the 24th of February.

Comment. Oh yeah. Do we have public comment? Oh, we have one. You'll say your name. Afternoon, county commissioners. Uh Jacob Cochran with Congressman Schmidt's office. I've got my contacts and uh just wanted to come in. Been a little bit since I've been come up and introduce myself. Um, I just uh if you guys need help with any federal agencies or have constituents that need help with the federal agencies, I'll give you my contacts and uh we'll go from there. Thank you. Jacob was at the soil conservation meeting. We had pretty good talk. Absolutely. My brother said he my brother said he done talk to you. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Thank you.

Thank you. Thanks for coming over, Jacob. Yeah, you should have reported on that. How was it? I missed it. Well, it it wasn't the crowd was kind of small this year seemed like, but anyway, it was still nice. I had to go to town. So, we'll tell Derek Kai and he's doing a great job. So, a lot of things going on in DC. Yeah. And at Topeka. Mhm. Mhm. I think Nick knew that. There's some concerns there from I've been hearing. Yeah.

Yeah, definitely. Well, I'll make a motion to journ. I'll second it. All those in favor? I motion carries.