Neosho County Commission - Regular Meeting

All right. I will call to order the board of county commissioners, Neos County, Kansas. This is Tuesday, February 24th, 2026. It's one o'clock. This is a regular meeting. We will start the meeting with the pledge of allegiance and the invocation led by Wayne Shaw from First Christian Church. You'll stand. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Our father, we pause to thank you for the country in which we live and the many blessings we enjoy. Many we take for granted, but father, we do thank you that we live in a country where we can uh choose our leaders. And we thank you for these who have stepped up to lead. We ask your blessings upon our commissioners and the decisions they make. We pray for you that you would give them wisdom and guidance. Father, we thank you for um those who protect us. We ask your blessings upon those in the military that you might bring them home quickly and safely. Uh we want to pray even for our law enforcement that protect us. Lord, we ask your blessings upon them as well. And Lord, we pray that you would help each one of us to be grateful for the what you've given to us and realize that without you that we could do nothing and with every good and perfect gift is from you. For it's in Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Thank you. Thanks. Are there any additions, corrections, or deletions on the agenda? I have nothing. Okay. So, an executive added to the county appraiser.

I don't have anything. Are there any comments from the commissions or reports? I'll just leave a report and give our interim county attorney kudos. Um, I got more out of her bulletin to us in two weeks than I've seen in the last 16 years of being up here. So, yep.

I will second that. So, she is working very diligently. So, uh, Cheryl Busel will be here shortly. Uh, so she is acting as our county attorney presently. Um, so she's got some information for us that she's going to share. So, we do appreciate the work she's doing for sure. Do you have any public comment? Seeing none, uh, the consent agenda. I'll make a mo motion to approve the consent agenda which consists of accounts payable of 2,27911 payroll clearing from 223 of $142,32129 commission meeting minutes. Thank you county clerk. It's from 10:21 to 25, 11:112 of 2025, and 11:118 to 25. And we have non-elected department head leaves. And we have eight of those.

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

All right. So, now we're on to our scheduled attendees. Do we have Rodney with Foley? I have uh so I got two service agreements that I wanted to present to commission. Um and as I basically these are for the new two new motor graders that uh just recently purchased here at the end of the year and uh this these agreements are priced on 2025 parts and labor pricing. So and it would lock them in for uh up to 10,000 hours. So

Wow. Yeah. It's and I can tell you right now we already had in January a uh parts and labor increase vote. So this is before that. So we didn't lock it in uh before this uh newest price increase gets turned in and it'll it'll stay effective at that price for 10,000 hours for 40 services. So pretty good good deals there. Yeah, I app I appreciate that, Rodney.

Hey And these are just like what we've done in the past uh as far as on the services. So looks good to me. motion. Thank you.

I'll be making a motion to approve Holy Cat maintenance agreement for read these serial numbers out here. FM251229- Z002 and FM251 229-00003 as submitted by Foley Rodney Warren. I'll second the motion. Okay. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I. Motion carries. Sure. Do you want I think we all have to sign this, don't we? No, I think just just you one just chairman is all

Oh, okay. And it's just where I have the X's at on each contract page on the back, too.

Anything else, Boris? That's it. And I'm not sure if you'll see me again this year or not. I'm tentatively slated that at the end of the year I'm I'm going to retire. Really? I heard that through the grape vine. Yeah, I've already got one one of my replacements uh in place. So, how many people are they going to replace me with two people? So, the uh the business has grown. So, it's to the point where it's all I can do to keep up. So, I think going to give it to two two new guys and let them run with it. So, we'll see what happens. Great. Yeah.

I won't be around till the end of the year. So, if we do have any more of these pop up, I'll I'll come see you. Okay. Okay. Thanks, Rodney. Hey, thank you.

I will take these up to the clerk's office to get copies for. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Rodney. Thanks, Nick. See you later. All right, now we're on to department heads. Who wants to go first? Good, Taylor. Okay, got quite a bit. So, I have whole packets. Oops, cuz I'll need that top thing. Okay. I just have one.

Thank you. Okay. It was requested for some numbers over the past three years. I tried to give you six to the best of my knowledge. Took a while, but we got it done. Um, and then that front page is the page that shows you what we are applying for starting in July 1st.

Come on. So these are the ones that you're applying for for for this coming grant year. This coming year. So can you explain some of these just have abbreviations? Oh um so you

so we are currently applying for the family planning immunizations maternal child health um FEP the UN it's universal home visiting so maternal child health and universal home visiting were at 1.1 grant they just split it into two and then emergency preparness and state formula Co grants kind of

skewed the numbers. Yeah. Yeah. Those are gone. They're gone. Have you seen any reduction in grants out there as far as possible grants? I know there's been some shrinkage in the health care side of it as far as um as far as these that I've applied for. Not really. Um Wick is always kind of up in the air since they're more federally done. Um but really we're sitting about the same That's last year. Mhm. Yep.

Wick does handle about half of all all your grants you. You what? The WIC program pays for about half of all the grants that WIC pays for the WIC. I mean, yeah, like the proportion of grants that you're getting. WIC does about half of all of them. So, wick is very important for our area.

So, does this still include wages as far as what we get back from the state? I see you have here a budget recap. Um, so that was a big thing that Teresa used to always say is, you know, that the grants were paying for the wages.

So they do, um, I did not get that information, but they do still pay for the wages and benefits. It does get deposited with the checks that come from the wick stuff, but I couldn't tell you exactly how much that is right off hand. Okay. Well, I know we hired an extra nurse, too, for one of these grants. She's just an overall staff nurse, so she's working in in all of them.

All of it. Yeah. Do you have another one for me to sign that one? Cuz I I um didn't staple that top paper of yours. I can give you mine. We can make a copy. I I'd like to have a breakdown here, but we'll get a copy. You have just a

Yeah, everybody's got the same packet. I'll make a motion to accept the application for a grant state is it state Kansas department of health and environment uh grant period of July 1, 2026 through June 30th of 2027 fiscal year. I'll second the motion. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I motion carried.

All right,

I have a couple more things. Um, just some different events. Um, I'm not sure if you guys have seen it on Facebook, but we are now hosting a mommy and me. Uh, first Thursday of every month. It's for pregnant moms, breastfeeding moms, new moms, multiple time moms, just anybody who wants to come and have a good time, a couple snacks, get some educational stuff in the mix. So, we just try to we're trying to build that community a little bit. Um, the Easter egg drive-thru. Stacy holds this every year from Maternal Child Health. That is March 26th from 4:00 to 6:30. Uh, photo booth will be there with the Easter Bunny. Yay. And then, um, Stacy also throws this as well. Every June, it's the baby shower for the county. Um, so it's June 11th from 4:00 to 6:00 at the impact center. But other than that, that's all I got.

Very nice. Do you have any more questions for me at all? Yeah, the Taylor, I was thinking about how about lifeax. Would that be something that we could What do you think of them? Lifeax? Yes. You're going to have to explain that one to me. The suction devices like to get something. Oh, I believe one of those seen on TV. Yeah, we have one of those actually at our office, but I I've thought them to kind of be kind of cool. I I was thinking maybe some of them were, you know, especially up here at the courthouse, you got multiple people coming in and out. Yeah. You know, and maybe is that something in different offices, you know?

Yeah. Is that something you'd like to see us try and purchase? Yeah. How Yes. How expensive are they? I'd have to look. Yeah, I'd have to look. It's something we can definitely look into. Okay. Would you want one? How many do you think you would want throughout here?

Maybe at least for each office. 12. Yeah, probably 10 to 12. Okay. Yeah, I can look into that. I mean, if it saved one life, we'd be pay for, right? Yeah. Or so. We don't have anything like that because we have medical. No. No. This thing actually goes on your face and and it sucks the thing out. Pull any choking device out. Do you need training with it? Got instructions. How pushable pull. Yeah, pretty simple. Yeah, we can look at plunger for your face. It was pretty good. Pretty much. Yeah, good analogy. Yeah, but I don't know if we get them through our company with the uh our a

We've been getting those off of um Amazon and McKessen. It just depends on where we can get it. Okay. Yeah. All right. But I just I've been thinking about that a long time. I had my actually my granddaughter got a grape caught in her mouth and Yeah, we had to do that, you know. Anyway. Yep. We can look into it for sure. Yes. Yep. Thanks, Den. Yeah. Anything else? Okay. Thank you, too. Yep. Forgot. Sorry. Next on the agenda is Cheryl Bessel. Um, she had court here this morning, but she left and she had court this afternoon and she knew she's gonna try to get back over here. Rodney ste something else. Yeah, I'm sorry. So, we'll put down sheets.

I didn't sign them up. We missed that. I thought that Mike would sign everything. It says road a bridge. You're You're the guarantee. Okay. Mike doesn't want to guarantee it. Pretty much each page has something or initial. I did half the pages. Is that not good enough? Not for those guys. It's like going to buy a car.

Did that one have to do everything again? Just the X's. Then you get to do then I get to do it again. Yes. Okay. Sorry about that. I've mentioned to you before when I started doing this back in the early 90s, it was a one page deal. Then lawyers got old. Yeah, stretch it out. We'll do that.

Yeah, I wouldn't mention anything. All right. All right. Thank you. That get it? That did it. Thank you for your time. Appreciate it. I'll go get you coffee.

All right, Tanya. So, we have a new NRP request. Uh, this is from uh James and Rosemary Venamman located at 1405 UD Doll Road. Uh, approximate uh construction cost of 532,000. That's pretty another one.

Yeah. I actually seen his mother at a ball game and something come up about him building a house and I told her about the NRV. She said, "What? What's that?" So, I told her anyway, "Yeah, I'll make a motion to approve uh the NRP for James Vinnamman and Rosemary Venamman at 14045 UD Doll Road for the approximate amount of $532,000." I'll second. All those in favor? I motion carried. So, and I'm going to need a fivem minute executive uh for possible litigation uh with the commission Brett and myself.

Oh, yeah, sure. I move to recess into executive session to discuss matters deemed privilege in the attorney client relationship regarding the appraisers's office for five minutes to include commission, county appraiser, and council. Come back at um 1, let's say 1:30. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I motion carries.

Okay, we're back in session and no action was taken. the appropriate way to go back.

Is that it? Oh, where I do? Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Passing through here quickly. Cindy, there's always a stumbling block. Way to boost my confidence there, Nick. Um, good afternoon.

Um, just a couple of things today. Um, first thing is airmed is going well. I've gotten stuff back from just about all the departments. Um, I know I'm getting the 24/7 ones back in this week. So, I mean, we're right on schedule for that. Um, I have applications for the three of you. If you're interested, um, just let me know. I would need these back by Friday. by Friday. Okay.

Um the rates haven't gone up in a couple years. Uh so you never know what they're going to do the next couple years, but it's still pretty reasonable. um they keep adding more hubs, um more partner companies, and so if you know you're in an accident and require LifeFlight for you or your family member and you have AirMed, it's going to cost you a whole heck of a lot less than your actual insurance cost because insurance doesn't always cover things like that very well. Uh the next thing is um overtime reports. I know you had mentioned the last meeting that I don't provide those um but here's a copy of January 1st through February the end of February basically and they're the same reports that I get information from and provide during budget season.

Nice. Thank you. Thank you.

Um, and then just as a comparison, I kept track of the call out pay that went was turned into earned comp. I didn't get it labeled. This was a last minute print, so it doesn't have date and time on it or a label, but um approximately $3,21946 is the equivalent of earned comp that people have in their earned comps. So, um that would be added to that number. So, the only thing like I mentioned with that is, and this goes for every department, um, earned comp, if it's not used in the year it's earned, it rolls over to the the next year. And if you don't think about that for your budget, you could potentially be overbudget. So, hypothetically, if all of these guys save their hours, which includes, you know, 104 hours until January 1st of 2027, that's, you know, $3,200 that isn't accounted for. So, um, I just wanted to point that out.

Like I said, I literally filmed this like five minutes still, so I don't have it labeled. So, what label should I put on here time? Um, call out pay to earn comparison. Okay. Okay. There's that talked about air. So those hours though that you were talking about that was just for road and bridge or a thousand. Okay. That's a total comp time.

Yes. And it the overtime report is by department. So any department that's had overtime this year is listed and by the code that it's in. So, are there any counties because I've been thinking about this in the last two weeks because these numbers are a lot as far as if we look at comp, uh, family leave, sick, vacation, all of those, the total ends up 22,000 hours. Is that correct? Um, not exactly. Where where are you getting that number from?

This uh leave balance. Oh, I don't have a copy of that with me. Okay. Um, yeah, that would include family leave doesn't count. That's um there's no thousand. That's not quantifiable for pay. It's just um by law protection for those that submit it for medical leave. Okay. So yes, that only includes vacation, sick, and earned comp. If any counties, because now you were talking about, okay, they earned comp like in December and then they decided to take that comp time. Now we have to pay it out at their higher rate cuz

earned comp is earned in the bank as one and a half times. So if they have one hour of overtime, it is in their bank as 1.5 hours of earned comp to use. So, it gets paid at regular rate, but it's earned at time and a half like overtime, right? Well, if they took it just as overtime, they would have been paid the 25 rate. Correct. But now that we're going to pay it out in 26, it's at the higher rate. Mhm. So, do any counties acrue that? I mean, if we acrewed that, what do you mean? It would be at the old rate. Oh, you mean at the end of the year? Well, yeah. There are counties that say you have to use it before the end of the year.

I mean, it makes sense. Some of these hours could have been on the books for 20 years. So, they got overtime or comp time at what rate? Much lower and now we're going to pay them out at this higher rate. Absolutely. Yeah. There are counties that have that. I just haven't really thought about it that way before, but it was like, oh, yeah, this is just pushing things off into the future without, you know, acrewing that. So, it might I guess paying it out at the end of the year would also make sense. Well, thousand hours.

Don't quote me, but I think it might say in the policy manual that you're supposed to use earned comp before you use anything else. Sick leave aside. So, you shouldn't be using your vacation hours if you have um cop time to use and that's not always happening. Maybe we need to review that. It's going to be a part of the policy manual review. Say now that I'm looking at this is just Yeah. Putting that off to the future where really it should be in the year that we actually acrew it. Acrew it.

Yep. I do appreciate the overtime. Thank you. Just welcome. Good to see where it's at and keep an eye on it because now with the raises also, it's going to be crucial for our budget to stay within that. The um I will point out though like with the sheriff and the jail and 911, it's a little um I don't know what the word I want to use is deceiving maybe because they have to pay time and a half or double time and a half for working on a holiday.

So yes, it's it it's in that overtime category, but you know, because it's a holiday, it it's kind of skews things. So really you want to look at the 2E code um or COP or whatever those 2E is your straight overtime and then SDE would be your shift differential straight overtime. So Oh just on those departments. Mhm. Okay. Yeah. Those three departments are the only ones that should have shift differential. Sure. Okay.

And then speaking of the policy manual, um we have scheduled the first meeting for next week on Wednesday the 4th at 9 o' at 9:30. Sorry. I just agreed to be there. I put 9:30, didn't I? Yeah. I wrote down 9. It is March 4th at 9:30.

Okay. Um the initial discussion was and what I put out is um one bring your policy manual if you have a copy. If you don't let me know I will print you a new one and then two um based on your experiences like what do you see that's not in the policy manual that we may have to add because um I would need time to research and make sure that we're following all the proper rules and regulations. Um, as an example, we need to fix our ADA the uh policy, which Melanie is going to have to help with because she is our ADA um certified person. She's gone to all the schools and training, but currently it only talks about access to the building and wanting to make a complaint and it says you have to go to the maintenance director for that. So, it's, you know, we need to fix that. So, we need to correct that policy. Uh, safety committee is another one that's not in there. Um, we need to look at that. So, um I've asked the department heads to help brainstorm and um give me lists. So, and then I guess we'll plan the next meeting from there. So,

sounds good. Just need to get it started.

Yep. We've got to plan for it. Um one last thing, just as a reminder, um we have the or I have the SKH meeting here on March 12th at noon here in the basement. the health department is actually going to be putting the class on for us and the topic is um helping employees. Oh shoot, now I can't say it right. How do we help the employees who are struggling to get by? And so we're going to, you know, one show them what the health department can provide. Make sure we point out that you don't have to live in Yosha County to get that assistance. Um you know, ways to save if you don't have money, you know, to buy diapers or whatever. A lot of times you can go to the health department and they might have some on hand for you. Um, all the stuff, immunizations, uh, all the acronyms Taylor pointed out. They're going to talk about three of them. So, I'm pretty excited to, um, get some representation for our county and appreciate the ladies actually putting it on for us. So,

do you guys have any questions for me?

Don't think so. Yeah. On this uh med flight here with Cindy, I know that's that's even got higher. It used to be far as I had a lady and she said she had to pay 70 grand for without having airmed. Yes. Yep. And it used to be I remember my son to air flight him it was like 20 but that's been probably 8 10 years ago. Yeah. Dramatically went up.

Yeah. Well the cost of insurance you know that insurance is only going to cover what they really want to cover. There's loopholes for all of that. So, I mean, we've had an employee who literally had signed up and then literally needed to have their son um airflighted and the cost savings on that made everything a lot better because, you know, you're worrying about your child and then you don't have to worry so much about the large bill that might come in. So, yeah. All right, that's all I have. Thanks, Cindy. Thank you.

Oh, shoot. I am I I correct myself. Sorry about that. Um the last thing I have is I need um guidance because there's really nothing in our policy for this. Um I have an employee who was a return to work. They're in a safety sensitive position, meaning if you're gone more than I think it's 30 days, uh you have to rescreen. Um, it took 4 days to get the results back because there was an issue with the cup. This employee currently is using their vacation time waiting for something the county requires. Is this something the county is willing to cover because it's technically not that employees fault that it took four days to get the results back or do we require them to use their

their vacation and sick or sick time? I would require perhaps to resscreen. Well, they Yeah, they passed it. Okay. It's just we didn't get the answer and so they couldn't come back to work on a Monday and couldn't come back basically till Friday because we got the results later on Thursday. So, you know, they can't be short of paycheck and so yeah, it wasn't employees fault. So, because again, this is another thing we need to address in the policy manual. Um, I need some guidance.

Take a new test. So explain the whole procedure. What transpired? What made it take longer though?

So um especially with the um DOT ones sometimes if the cup doesn't work and I there's a it's a cup, you know, you you do your thing, there's a cup, they put a lid on it and the screener is supposed to be able to the machine or whatever give you an answer right there. Sometimes the lid doesn't always function and that's something with the manufacturer and I know that they've um I think they've mostly got this fixed that there's always going to be the oneoff and so you have to send that in to the actual company like you have to mail off the sample. Um those people aren't always like, "Oh, I'm going to do it right now." Um you end up finding out a couple days.

So usually it's just done in county. Mhm. Yes. So, why didn't they just take another test? I don't know that you can do that because that would be like, you know, time lapse. Uh-huh. Sorry to throw it at you, but it's for this payroll sign that needed to bring it up.

Well, it's the company's fault, but I mean to cover the Yeah. I mean, they had 30 days to or at least do they wait last minute then to get the drug? This um particular individual was on FMLA leave and so until they were cleared from their doctor, they couldn't return to work. And so the day that they were cleared, we scheduled the test.

We'll think about this real I have some I'll be opening up a window. What does the policy state? We don't have anything that covers this. That's why I'm asking. But they can't come to work and do their job if it's a DOT until it's passed. So that I mean that's that's state statute. Yeah.

That would be money. Yeah. Until it's passed. It's not pass right. want to ponder it for a little bit.

Certification on it. I mean, yeah. I mean, we can't have them working. Mhm. So, it's just those things that happen and they're probably out of leave, personal leave, right? they're running short and there's plenty of um follow-ups that need to happen and stuff like that. So, there is some concern on this employees part of paying out their sick leave if they pay their sick leave. Yeah, I'm sorry. I wouldn't be opposed to paying out their whatever sick leave they acrewed and they had time to pay it, paying them worked hours waiting on approval. I know.

Okay. It's not a You didn't earn that right at that point. You didn't go get back to work and earn that. If they want to use up the rest of your sick leave, I would just go that direction. Yeah. Yeah. They've earned the sick leave. Mhm. This is will cover that time, right? Okay. Should we make a motion on that? That way it's so the employee does have sick time. Yes. Yes. But they're running short. So I was gonna say if it's out employees out sick leave, we have somebody donate some if they wanted.

Yeah, we then that's the next step, too. If they completely run out, I know the department's usually pretty good about helping those out. So make a motion to allow these sick leave to cover the four days waiting on the screen, come back or the amount of time it takes. I'll second the motion. Any more discussion? I just think a policy is if you don't have a drug screening completed, you can't you're not going to get paid. So, okay. All those in favor? I I I Motion carried. Thank you. I promise that is the last thing now. If you remember something else, that's okay. We'll give you something.

I actually had it all written down. I just I skipped it. So, all right, Mike. Cheryl's last night I think what was at 1:30. So, okay, good afternoon everyone. Afternoon. Don't have too much on my list, but just a reminder that the bid letting for 70th road overlay and the bridge overlays will be coming up. What did I say? March 10th, I believe. Next meeting. March 10th.

Yeah. Are these the four bridges that we're getting overlaid?

Yes. And then the Gailsburg Road, which is 70th Road from Gailsburg to 169 Highway. I sent you an email the other day regarding the price increase for tire disposal at the landfill. Uh the company that we do business with is Champlain Tire and they're raising their price by $15 a ton, which is going to put us, you know, probably really losing money. Uh I would propose that we raise the price to accept tires as far as a bulk price to $300 a ton. and the individual tires, just raise them a dollar a piece. Um, if you're in agreeance with that, I have a motion here for somebody. So, I see that we just paid them, didn't we? Uh I believe so.

So how often do they pick up tires? It's an average weekly basis. Um it depends on how many when we know we've got a full load, we call them and say, "Hey, we're because they don't want to come pick up a partial load." Sure. I was just curious how often and and usually we will ask them to come. We we do free week twice a year and when we do free week we take them in for half price and we usually take in quite a few during that period. So

we haven't had a increase for quite a few years and I also think we need to take a look at increases our our overall rate for the landfill itself. I'm going to gather up some numbers from neighboring counties and I'll get that to you. We'll take a look at that. I don't see it. I thought we just paid him, but I'll make a motion to increase the tire disposal fee at the Neos County landfill to $300 per ton bulk and increase individual tires a dollar each from the current price effective March 1st of 2026. Second.

Any more discussion? All those in favor? Motion carried.

Oh, thank you for that.

Yeah, here it was. Yeah, we just paid them for nine tons. So, next we have a U. It's the agreement um for to enter agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the local bridge improvement program for the North Island Bridge. I'm not going to read off all the numbers, but um this is this is for that project and we we just need to make that official. So I will need a signature on this sent to you and Brett took a look at it. These are all you've seen them many times. Everybody good with that?

Yep. Okay. I'll make a motion for Neos County to enter into an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation, KOT, and the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program, KLBIP, for agreement number 1210-25, project number 67 C-5387-1 for the replacement of what is known as the North Island Bridge. Second. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I I motion carried.

Okay, thank you for that. I will need all three signatures. More safety glasses. I'll come get your seal later, I guess.

Thank you. Um, KOD is going to have an auction on the 24th of March and they do have some more plow trucks in there that they're going to have for sale and we were able to pick that last one up I thought at a very good price. I think we give 18,000 and I would like to go look at the trucks that they have available and see if there's anything in there makes that might suit our needs because we can get a lot of good out of those trucks. I just don't like putting salt spreaders in those new trucks. I just won't do them. But I'd like to take a look at them and then come back and and if there's something we think that would suit our needs, I' I'll ask the commission for approval at the next meeting. If not,

so we do have u $43,000 in the recruitment reserve from the purple wave auction that you still haven't spent. And then also we have $67,000 in the pilot fund that you have not spent. Okay. So those are the two funds that we could use for equipment. Okay. How many plow trucks do we have now, Mike? I mean that's reliable. Well, three fairly reliable and one that's not so good. And then we've got an old one that the hoist doesn't we we'll get rid of one or two of them if we can make this happen. Yeah.

So you probably need at least one if not two. It would be nice. Yeah. And then they match up with some of the others that we have. They're the same model and right about the same year. Mhm. And uh and the guy up there has always been good to us as far as telling us about you know the issues that they may have. Right. So, we've never been burned on that. So, they don't act like a car dealer. No. So, but I let me take a look at them and then I'll come back. Okay. Sure.

We'll revisit that. Um, I talked to Brett and and Tanya before the meeting regarding the the rightway acquisition for the bridge on 30th Road between Gray and Harper. I think we've got that being close to being finalized. Um, something that we did the last time was we went ahead and got the uh got a purchase amount uh approved by the commission before we sent out the the acceptance letters u speed up the

right and I think last time we took the amount that Tanya had had set forth and then added 10%. And that seemed to work well for everybody. So that would mean that on the good property It would be uh Can you do the math real quick? Uh we'd be looking at on property about $740 roughly and on the good property over 2,000. I don't think the exact number How much did you say? 10%.

Right. That's what we did the last time. seem to work pretty well and see if this happens. Go through a protracted valuation process. I just messed that up. 66.55 on a good

I'm sorry, how much? $2,86.55. What am I doing?

And then the 74475.

I know. I'm messing it up. Uh, sorry. Can't get my calculator to work. 245 09. Yep. 286.

And makes a motion to approve those purchase amounts. I'll include those in the acceptance letters. We'll go ahead and draft the deeds. Can we take care of all of those one interaction? I'll make a motion. Set value estimate values for bridge number 45-6.2 to Yosha County 67C-5355-01 to the Good family or trust deed appropriately in the amount of $2,8655 and the Smith family or trust to be deed appropriately of $7459

and 9. I'll second it. Any more discussion? And then we're rewinding those checks pretty quick. We won't need those yet. We'll get the acceptance. Okay. Then uh typically what I do is we'll send them the we'll get them to execute the deeds. Then we issue a check on execution. Okay. That shouldn't be the problem. I think Mike's had a good dialogue with them. So I don't think there'll be How long do you think this will take? done by the next commission meeting ideally. Okay. Because it the window is closing pretty quickly. Oh, that's April 9th, right? Yeah. Yeah. We done well ahead of that. Be done at this point. March 10th.

Yeah. We'll give us a month. Okay. Okay. So, can we add that we'll take that out of the road sales tax account when those checks are issued since we already have the amounts? Yeah. All in favor? I.

Motion carried three to zero. Uh the only other thing I have is just comment on the uh 59 highway railroad overpass project which is just south of the county line north of Parsons. Uh they're scheduled to shut that down tomorrow morning at 8:00. It's what I was told. So delay a couple of days.

Yes. Yeah. It was originally scheduled for the 23rd, which would have been Monday. I don't know what the delay was about, but uh they changed that to tomorrow. So I think we're ready. We've done quite a bit of work on what we feel that is the unofficial detour. um a lot of gravel on them and did some trimming and signage and everything we've done on all the other roads in the past. I did speak with uh Jared Derelli with KOT regarding the possible treatment of some of the roads with mag chloride and he he wanted to wait and kind of see what the traffic was going to do and then make a decision after that. So hopefully they will allow us. I did ask him if if they could at least consider treating the intersections and then in front of people's houses that live on those routes. And he said he would uh you know consider that and see what the traffic is going to do. So that's where we're at on that project. That's all I have on my list. Uh Mike, I got a couple three things. Uh you know that uh Brown Cemetery Road going back towards the east there.

Oh, down Yeah, I know where you're talking. Yeah, it's just south of 30th. That's on Tgo.

Yes, I believe so. Yes. Anyway, I I got a hold of William Cook because I wasn't for sure how far that used to be a county road. It went clear through. Of course, William gave me the whole history of it, but it used to go clear through and there used to be a bridge down there going east. But anyway, Roy Carter took that out, but he said that's our county road to where it curves to go to that residence there. So, uh I had had him ask me about it. So, we need to maintain that from from the cemetery because there's like three houses back in there. But it William said it's open till it curves back to their Circle Drive. So, we sure need to maintain that.

Do you remember what road that is?

I think it's TGO. Well, I know. Yeah. Tgo. I believe it's 30th. 30th is going south. What's that? It's a weird number. Yeah, it's on your the directory. I know that. I looked at it. Okay, I can look it up.

Yeah. And also Mike, uh, I think you gave this to us about that drainage down there on 40th. The scale. Oh, that's not the scale. Opposed. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Have We haven't got that done yet, have we? Well, I thought I thought I know Mick Nick and I I think we approved that. When was that on the Well, this was on that situation on 40th road.

The covert was underneath the for a long long time. I brought the commission the topo map which clearly shows that draining in the direction that pipe is and then the it was kind of a little bit of a disaster when I went down there to meet with the lady. She said, "Yeah, that's fine. Go ahead and do it." And then she changed her mind. So, I thought she had agreed to leave it as is. Yeah. Didn't want us messing around with it again after that last time. Well, I thought we agreed to do that. But she didn't want it.

She didn't want it after. She wanted it left as was. Well, she called me up and said she didn't. I think it was. Yes. Yes. She changed her mind again. Yeah. This was back in 25, you know, 25. Yeah. Sometime last summer. Yeah. She was I don't know. Just leaving it done on her property. Has she called you since that last meeting? Yes.

I would want to I would want to get an agreement in writing. It does need opened up. need to drain across and it won't hurt a thing to happen and work that way. I would want something an agreement in writing before we engage. Yeah. I don't want to go through this like we did the last one says 37th. What is it? 37 37th road. You're right. It was a weird number. Okay, I'll call her up.

I mean, last time she was here, she adamantly said she didn't want us on her property and so if she changed her mind, she needs to come back to the commission. Well, I think she didn't want us on her property again without permission cuz that's what we did last time we was on our property. No, Paul, I went out there and met with her. What? I went out there and met with her and I had Kobe with me. Yeah. And it was all good. Okay. And I don't know why she changed her mind, but she did. And then she came in here and attacked and you you saw what happened. Okay. I'll let her know, Mike, and she wants to come in. We'll be happy to go out there, but I want I want to cross every tea and dot every eye on that deal because I'm not going through that again with her.

And just one last thing, Mike, we got six graders now, don't we? Six blades running uh till the end of the week. Then we'll have five have five. So, well, uh, I think we need to give some certain maintainers more miles to blade because Martin O'Brien called me up. He lives on Xavier and he said his roads getting bladed every other week. If that's so that that whoever's maintaining that road's not got enough miles because when we had eight districts, it take almost three weeks to do your district. So, well, you need to spread that out. I mean, that's only fair to the other guys.

Take a look at it, but I mean, we we don't Don't you commissioners agree about that? Well, I'd had a little discussion in mind if we needed to go back to the go back to a six district map for the time being till we can get But I know that was just a conversation. Yeah. Just until we get enough operators back in. But but as of Friday, we're going to be down to five operators. Yeah. So, Until we get all those seats filled, it's going to be tough for Yeah. So, what we'll have we have three We're going to have three down south and two up north pretty much. Yeah. Yeah. Until we get another one and then we go back. Hopefully, we'll get three more at some point. Well, yeah, I agree.

That would be ideal. But right now, we just we've been through this before and we survive somehow some way, but uh we just got to do the best we can with what we've got. Really? Well, former director made a six, you know, and that was that's too much. Even it is. A lot of the counties uh that are a little better off than we are, uh they might only have 50 or 60 miles to take care of for each one of their machines. And we're, you know, even even with eight districts, that puts us at about 100 miles a piece.

Yeah. And then if you got just got two up north, they they're running two districts. They are. Yeah, I I I understand where you're coming from, Paul, but there there's one district in our county that is has a lot more paved options uh for people to use than than many of the others. And and there's not nearly as much population in in some parts of the northern part of the county. And you know, obviously the Shen area is very densely populated. And you know you get over around the stark area there's not near the traffic my area there's nobody up there. That's cuz you run

but yeah it's partially positive but it's a little different grading upper in our Yeah. Too much a lot of rock.

Yeah. So that's all I got. Mike, but we've again David Star is retiring on Friday and I want to thank David for his service. He's he's been a very good employee and he's very talented. He can do almost anything when it comes to operating and and we're going to miss him. So anyway, that's all I've got. Thank you. I do have something if we could get 10 minutes thing.

Yeah, we're waiting on on what? I take a possible land acquisition issue and also I do have a purchase policy that's been updated that. Okay. Second. Thank you. Y move the door into executive session to discuss acquisition real property regarding the county including commission and council for 10 or 5 minutes with a fivem minute break in. So we should be able

Yeah, we should be Yeah. Come back at 225. I'll second the motion. All those in favor? I Okay, we'll come back at 225. We didn't break four out.

Somebody's knocking. We're back in session and no action was taken. Okay. Did you have anything? Did you get the check for the county auction? Has that been deposited? I believe so. Yes. So, where was that deposited to? This reserve equipment reserve the whole thing. So, how much was that for? Do you know? I can get it.

Okay. That replenishes that account for a little bit of money. I think it was like 63 something. I'm assuming that that auctioneer took their charge out of that. Was it 250 or $300? 300. Well, I think it was 300 with the

Yeah. Secretary cash. Yeah. Okay, the county attorney is on her way here. So, um, then also, did was there a board application? I may have missed it. Would you put that in the package? In the next one, the 10th.

Oh, well, we usually give them out when we get them. Yeah. So, um I guess I had a question because I think we've just received one. Correct. No, we have two. We have two. Was the one that had previously applied, did he reapply? Do you know? I have no idea. I think we've only got seen the one.

Huh. Okay. Yeah, if we could get those as soon as we get them, that kind of helps. But we will have time from the 10th to the 24th because we will appoint that on the 24th.

$6,32 is check.

Okay. Thanks, Then also we have the purchase policy on here again. Um Brett and I kind of made some changes. Um so I don't know if you guys have had time to look this over. It's pretty simple. I think the biggest discussion was on the limits of when we would have formal bids. Um, which there's such a difference in different departments as to how much their budget is and what kind of equipment they would be or bids that they would be going out for. We had talked about one time having different limits for different departments. Um, but we never decided on anything. Do

you ever know why they quit using this one from 16 or is it because a citizen came in and complained about it and so a commissioner did away with it. That's not that. That's the credit card one. Well, this has and procured just a business card and stuff. I didn't know why it was ever we had another one in place that was just for purchases that was pretty simple um and then that's built out right it had more originally had more tiers changes in prices and things condensed it down to three

but it is there a purchase policy in this one because this one's still in effect cards for the cards Right. Yeah, we had a separate one. As far as I know, there was a separate one for just the purchasing outside of credit cards. There was It was pretty one page. It was like one page or something. So,

we haven't That's like when I first came on. So, back in 19, we did away with it and um we never did replace anything. So, we have some from some other counties if we wanted something a little bit more I don't know precise or complicated. Um, I do want I mean on the doc documentation I issues says somebody coming and asking us in meeting having some type of breakdown. I mean like as I said a rubric and legacy cost how much it costs for years to maintain how long or the maintenance contract involved on each bid item. Well, I think just due diligence that that's what they've done. Whether it's informal or formal, I think is, you know, like the informal, it could be phone calls or whatever, but that they actually, you know, did that. So, it'

be nice to have the information kind of cuz something might cost you $2,000 here, but then it hit you up a $200 or $300 maintenance fee for the next 20 years you was putting down for a contract for extended contract is ridiculous. I mean, most things I I always lived on rule of 3 years, then we need to rebid that. So I kind of think along with this purchase policy, we need to have an informal bid summary like have a form if we want to so that everyone presents the same thing and then have a formal bid uh form also so that we're working off of that. I think that should go in hand with this so that everyone knows what we expect and what information we want. So, I think that's something that we could work on and the clerk can probably pull something off of some other counties uh before I think that we pass this that we get that. So, we did put some exceptions on there, which I think pretty well covers the things that we don't expect bids on. I think they have that even on the car purchase stuff, but I'm just trying to understand why it disappeared. Well, so we've been talking. So, we have an employee handbook, which is great. We're going to work on that and get that up to date. But there really should be also just a county policy that um that we have separate things like this

credit card and like the purchase policy. Um we're talking about having a lot of counties now are having an AI policy of what can be used at the county as far as AI. Um, so I can probably get a list. I have the cities from a few years ago, but I know there was a separate policy book that they have. And I mean I there may be policies in the past but since they haven't been compiled

compiled you know just like this credit card policy I just happened to come across it you know that we might have things in place we just need to use a lot of times those are put in effect with a resolution but she's been looking at that and not I've talked to Chis because I could swore we put a resolution on that policy voted on it but Got to give us a year at least. Yes, a couple of years. Well, I know it was right after this was developed. This was it should have been right after we got the policy put in. So, or vote somewhere. I could ask around too about the purchasing policy

the or the old one one from April of 2016. I remember a couple years back you guys did vote um $2500 being the limit. Yeah, it was well it in the old that's on the old just purchasing not the credit card. Oh yeah. Yeah.

So we'll keep working on that. Are you guys comfortable with these limits like everything over $5,000 need a formal bid? except for these exceptions on the second page. I mean, some departments, you know, they're never going to meet that. other ones. You know, there's I just think there should be some guardrails because I've set on some other boards here recent that their guardrails weren't there and that's caused other major issues.

Yep. And this gives um the clerk's office when accounts payable vouchers come in, they have guard well rails and they you know when they can say hey this doesn't look right or doesn't meet your policy. You don't need anything else to do anyways. Monitor everything.

So, also Cindy, did you give us all the job descriptions or were you still working on some of those? I'm still working on. Yes, they will be done.

Okay. So, in your packet, there is a packet from the Yosho County Attorney's Office. If you wanted to look at what she wanted to go over, um I'm sure that she will explain things when she gets here. So, did you look at this, Brett, as far as what she wanted? Yes.

As far as closing out some of these accounts? And then she I'll let you guys read it.

She's been doing that thing along. Give her that. She Yes. has really been working hard. So, if you have a chance, you should go visit the office before she cleans it up and you'll understand what she's dealing with. So, okay, just pass along. This is one of the applications. Two,

this is two applications. Sorry. For the hospital. So, thank you. that way we can inquire on those as we get them. Okay. So, if anyone is listening, we are taking applications for the um hospital board

the hospital board of trustees. Uh we'll be making a decision. One of the board members is going off and so I think on our March 24th meeting we will make a decision on that. So one thing that she wanted us to take up is number two. Um, so there is two accounts, checking accounts that now have only only non-emp employees on them. So, we need to get a resolution that puts um the county attorney and one of her employees on those accounts. Was a resolution or just the minutes sent to the bank?

Oh, the minutes making those changes. Okay. I'll make the motion to uh I think we probably just want to say two accounts as presented. No, I just thought the name of people of Well, to take off it'd be to replace too long.

Yeah, but take off. Tiana Mroy and Kathy Ross and put Cheryl Bessel and Kelly Daniels down to replace signatures. I'll second that. Any more discussion? All those in favor? I I

motion carries three to zero. So, um, on the last page also, she'd like to go out for a couple of positions and so she has put up a draft, I would say, of an ad that she would like to put out. Um I guess my question is she has a starting salary on that, but I'm not for sure if she needs our approval on that. Technically, we don't have

it would be a process possibly of amending your budget for county attorney. Yeah. If it comes to that because we don't have an we don't have budgeted for an assistant county attorney. to amend the budget if this comes and pass. Would we use the wage study procedure? Well, she's put an amount in here and that was my question because it'll be depend on I don't know if we want to put an amount in there or put an approximate um range appar.

So, she's she she's looking at putting this in where someone would be like in July graduating and getting their exam. So maybe you had a help with this. I didn't help with that part, but she did talk to me a little bit. And I didn't really bring up the wage study, but I specifically said that, you know, it's something the commission has to decide. Um my recommendation would be to um not put a number at all and just put salary commisserate with experience and then that so I think that's something we need to consider when she gets here as what we want to do because she's put a certain amount in here and I don't think she really has the authority to do that. No.

So and I think she just wants our help. So right we need to do something. So, and then did she put the other idea in front of you as well? The other position, but it uh yeah, she also has a starting salary there, which again probably needs to go through the wage study. Yeah. Um because you know, just because someone's part-time mean doesn't mean you can pay them less. Just you you have to pay them the exact same wage as somebody else doing the same job full time. Yep. So, all right. So, I will back away. So we were discussing what you gave us. Everyone has a copy now of this. Um has already

I gave you kudos earlier in the meeting. I hope you understand that. I apprec I appreciate the effort you've done so far. So well you know and I'm a big believer in

you know when there's trouble just go in the middle of the village and ring the bell and yell the church's on fire. Everybody bring buckets. So, I have had volunteer assistance and I'm gonna have to continue to do that. But I'm I as you can see, I did request maybe a college student 15 to 20 hours a week. And if I can find somebody who's interested maybe in being a lawyer someday, I mean, I can't wait for them to go all the way through law school and take my place, but you know, somebody who's like that. But also um I so just an update as to the first page. Okay. Yeah, let's start at number one.

Yeah, let's start let's start with the money part. Uh that total and now it's

now the total of everything, cash, checks, and money orders is now uh slightly over $41,000. and and I had, like I said, I had some volunteers. I had some help to sort all of that stuff. Some of that is including checks that will not be negotiable. So, I do have uh a plan for any of those checks that came from a law firm. We have a letter that we're going to send and ask them to replace them. They either will or they won't. But I'm sure some of those law firms are like where did check number from a year last February where did that go? So it will also be an assistance to them to reconcile their records for the for those. Uh and I may still get you know some of those replaced and we will get them in the bank post haste. Um, and in addition, uh, we've paid a little bit more cash to the clerk of the court. The clerk of the court requires that when you bring cash, it has to be exact change. So, there was a few envelopes that I still have to get like my garage sale money and break the 20 and fix it. So, you know, so it will work for them, which we want to do. And I have promised that I would make the court clerk the court needs to be made whole and if that includes also victim restitution money in there. I haven't seen a lot of that what I think is that but um I will have to go through the same process with the new account that you asked Tiana to start. I now

it was started without

Yeah, it was 14 months of statements and Linda at the Enterprise Bank, one of my village members that has come running with buckets. Uh she copied all the instruments that were deposited. She the money ordered the everything so that I can sort out because she also co-mingled court costs and charity contributions and attorney fee at at the at the start several months. She just kept going how Lionus had been doing that and then later she kept on the charity contributions they she put those in there. So, that'll all have to be sorted out and distributed to where it's supposed to go, hours. So, I probably am I'll see if I'm I might be able to find a volunteer to help me with that, too. So, you never know. There's volunteers out there that will help. Um, and a a college student who's working a few hours a week could do, you know, could sort out who does that money belong to so that we can write checks to those people and get that money where it belongs. Some of it does belong to the county attorney, but that which doesn't needs to go out. So, yeah. And then I did go to see about the two accounts remaining in Community National Bank, which is item number two. And I took my order appointing me as the county attorney to the bank. And they were unsatisfied with just that order. They needed uh they requested minutes of a meeting somehow. So, I didn't know if Brett would have advice about whether can we just when the minutes are

prepared, I could just take the minutes over to the bank. Do we have to have a resolution? I mean, get me on the signature hard. All they're asking for is the minutes. We'll take the minutes over, but if we need a resolution, I'll prepare resolution. So, we already made the motions. So, okay, good. Yeah. the the people on the signature cards, it requires two signatures for th both of those accounts. Yeah.

And uh one is Kathy Ross who is no longer with the office and and the other one is Tiana. So we need to get those off. And I'm intending to put Kelly Daniels who bless her heart kind of does the office managing plus she's like everything else an amazing amount of work that she does but I'm going to do that and um so the if I'm going to try the minutes first to take that over. Do you I just think that do we want a treasure as a signature? Oh, usually we put the treasure on there. No, I just said, oh,

bank access. Well, you always usually had chairman. You'd have to be your view only. The problem with that is chairman always changes. Yearly. Well, like, so are you on all the ones that we did last year and now they need to be redone? They should have been in contact, I think. Yeah, they called me. I had to go give them driver's license and go through all their That was for the ones that you sign your checks on. Yeah. So, but the other ones that you just have viewing viewing. Yeah.

Well, one thing I would say about that is Mr. In conversation with Mr. Bill, he he I guess it was a request. Uh he requested her not to take any money out of either one of those accounts while he was working on the one that has $318,000. but she wrote some large checks to law enforcement and I think she maybe she discussed that with you. But there's only $2,000 uh 935 in that one. So my plan is to just change those signature cards and put those o put that over into the my new one that I know what's in there and who belongs to. So that is probably what I will do with that one. The other one I don't think I I mean I'm not going to do anything till he gets done with what he's doing. My concern is that um he's he's auditing that for the purpose of dece seeing if there has been any delication from that account by anyone. and he's not sorting out from the statements whose money is in there and what was it for. So, I'll have to go through all this process that I'm doing with these other accounts and this cash and money and all this. I'll have to go through that whole process. So, I intend to be working with him and see what he because he may he may have a spreadsheet. I I I had someone create this spreadsheet for all this money that was in the Manila envelopes. So, I now can actually look down spreadsheet and see, in fact, two times this morning in traffic court, the attorney said, "Well, my client says he took his $25 and his thing in there."

The $25, I think, is in the Yeah. So, so I'm going to have to go through that with the the 318,000, but I'm going to be talking to Brandon some more about that. But the other one I'd like to disclose the 2,900 and some disclose it and put it over. Yes, that's all I all I know to do with that. Do I would it I mean, what would be helpful to you? I mean, when I start sorting these out, um, I was intending to just give you a report, but I can let you know. I mean, you can see the spreadsheet of this money that's in a Tiana account, like who whose money we believe that is. We're intending to write separate checks for each each diversion participant. Yeah. My staff is like I said, yeah, I know it's going to take about a thousand checks. We might have to buy more, but that's okay because I want a record of every

single thing so that we know this is what money went in there. This is where we believed it belonged. This was either a charitable contribution or this went to the clerk of the court with every person's name on there. So I can furnish you copies of that or you you know whatever whatever you need uh to see for what's happening. I appreciate the transparency of what you're doing and it has not been there for a very very long time. Yes. Yes. That's Yes.

And she left us. Um, so then the other account that has a large amount, um, is he auditing that one? Yeah, that's the one Brandon Bell is working on. And I will talk to him. Yeah, I don't think there's any reason to get a view only on there at this point. No, let's just let's just have he's working that and I I don't want to mess with that until he's all done. And I want to see if he's done anything that will be helpful to me because I assume those statements go back a a long time. Okay.

Like a decade or something. Anyway, I'll do the best. I will do the best I can to That's all you can do. straighten that out. So, if you need anything else from us, just let us know.

Okay. And then number three, um so um I I am, you know, at work and gathering information and putting in things when I can about having someone join the office, even if it's in the third and fourth quarter. The timeline if you don't know is that uh they the law students get out in May or June whenever their finals are and then about the middle of July they have to sit for the Kansas bar if that's the state they're sitting for then they don't get their results usually right Brett until September and so then they then they at that point they would be licensed attorneys however I'd like to offer them you know what I can offer them some kind of perk with sense to get them to come down here right after school, even while they're studying. Some people like to have a part-time job even while they're studying for the ball.

And in the middle of all of that, yeah, there's an election in August. Yeah. And in the middle of all of that, there's election.

So, uh I you know, someone else could put their name up there. My name has to be on the ballot. I don't know if you know that. Uh anyway, um so yeah, we'll we'll we'll have to see what happens with that. But uh I did speak to the professor and I cannot call his name to my brain right now, but the professor who is at Washburn and who is doing a lot of work on this rural justice initiative. And so on Saturday, I was able to get a few minutes of his time in the middle of the regional mock trial competition for which I was a volunteer judge for three rounds. That was that was a refreshing break that's going on. watching really sharp, young, wonderful uh law students uh conduct the trial of those people who caused those guys and my cousin Vinnie to have to go on trial and get acquitted. And we always wondered, well, what happened to those other guys in the in the te in the Tempest, the Pontiac Tempest, remember? And so this this this problem for the law students was about the trial of those guys for felony murder. So it was just wonderful. But in the meantime, during the pizza break on Saturday, I got this guy from Washurn, the professor, who told me that um the the Kansas legislature um the the House has passed the bill that would provide some benefits like student loan relief, loans, and things like that to lawyers who will take up practice in the rural counties. and the Senate's version is a little bit different with the just the numbers of what they would want to provide in the

House. I think that can be reconciled. But the most hopeful thing he told me was that there is a line item in the budget for money to do this should this pass. So there may be things that the state will be able to offer and I would like to be able to do that with some of this diversion money that legitimately belongs to the county attorney's office to offer them some thing that would be set up so that the first year they would get and then they would have to stay another whole year to get the next and another like that. Um and um sometimes the universe delivers you funny things right when you need them. A young man called who apparently is from around here because in his youth misspent apparently he uh was caught by the sheriff with his friends tent camping somewhere in the ocean county and he and his friends got tickets for minor in possession of alcohol but Mr. Thus ever did anything with that and he called because he needed a letter uh saying that nothing ever happened with that. There was no adjudication and he was needing that because he was needing to take the Kansas bar exam in July. So I said to him, I called him back myself. I said, "Mr. Hal, I'll be happy to honor to send a letter, but you do need to promise me that when you pass the bar, you'll need to work in my office for one year." Silence. And then and then there was this little voice like, "Ah, I already I already took a job with a law firm in Witchah and they're expecting me to." I said, "I'm just joking. I'm just joking. Calm down. Calm down." But then he said, "Well, there's two of my friends that are third-year law students. I think they might be interested. I'm going to talk to them. I'm going to I'm going to see what they and also I'm going to talk to the dean and uh he's from UMKC." Uh,

two days later, I get this email from the career person at UMKC wanting to invite me to the their career expo. So, he was as good as word, which is good sign for a young attorney about to be a licensed practice law. However, I think I'm going to have to go to some of these career days at the law school. I don't think we're going to be able to just post and we may have to offer more than I'm suggesting, which I mean, I don't know. We'll just have to I don't know. We'll just have to see. But maybe if with the additional offer of some help with their student loans or I don't know what else I can come with. I feel like I feel like one of those people that when you get invited to the resort for for three days for free, but you just have to sit through that threehour presentation about a time share. I'm like the time share

seller. I just need to I don't know. I need color pictures and how wonderful it is. Shinoot or or Eerie or any you don't have to live in Chinoot and have a farm. Let's Oh, come on. So anyway, I have to do that. But before I can even do that, I've got I want to go through my proposed position postings with our expert to see how do I I need to polish those up and and what needs to do that. But then and I know there is no budget. So we would have to amend the budget, find the money somewhere for these things. But um it's it's just it's just even worse than I even thought that it was going to be down there. Um let's see. And that that brings us to the end of number five, which is the part-time college student. So questions, comments? You want me to

I was just saying that if you're you're talking your time frame you're talking about you're only probably talking about six months. That's right. Because of the budget year this year I mean that year. Yes. It probably would be end up being that they would get their salary full salary but not until they pass the bar. So probably like I said like the third and fourth quarter. I I was trying to help you. I was recruiting hard on Saturday night with a young attorney that's practicing in Kansas City. He just graduated this last went through the bar and stuff. Well, I was doing my hard pressure sale most of the night. So,

I tell you, they think that the city is I don't know. I'm hoping I don't know what we have to offer, but um his wife's going to be a young doctor, too. So, that's why we've been really trying to pressure her. Yes. That would be very very good. Yeah, I know. I told Mr. Mr. Hal who's going to take the bar exam. I said if you get a candidate even to have have an interview with me, I will send you a lovely gift certificate for you and your wife to go wherever you want to go in Witchaw. Please just can you something get me a candidate at least a warm body that's about to have a law degree or already has one. Somebody who already has one would be yeah

excellent. So anyway, any questions? Any Well, I think at this time as far as putting a salary on it would be kind of difficult. Um I don't know, you know, if you can attract anyone without a figure, but without knowing because we have started using a work study. So like you put all their qualifications in the little computer and you know there's a whole formula. Um I mean because as of right now we don't have any budget for an assistant right and I know but it's needed and

I think that is a good point and I know I knew when I started drafting this stuff that I would need to get a budget impact like you have to know okay it isn't just a salary I know that there's the expenses of their benefits and sure

so on and so forth that all have to be calculated in to a budget impact even for the second and third or the third and fourth quarter. What would that be? And then yeah, so I just needed to get some guidance and some thinking like okay what else do I would you want me to do to prepare maybe to find that money somewhere? I know that we're already in the budget year. We're already in it. Well, I think we can, but luckily we your deposit is in the general, so there is some leeway there.

Yeah. Um, so we'll see what what happens. So,

well, I'm gonna meet with Cindy about my position postings because they're I mostly plagiarized postings from the Kansas County District Attorneys Association postings, which by the way, remember I brought those last time that are for the most part higher. And um the Montgomery County Attorney's had her posting for an assistant for $100,000 a year for quite some time with no inquiries. But I that's why I I think we I think I have to go there. I think Gail's gonna go with me and we're gonna hang from those little ovens and bake chocolate chip cookies and blow the air blow and get people to come over to our table cuz once I talk to them, you know, maybe I can get somebody

the life in the small communities are that's hard to beat sometimes.

That's that's right. But I think they just don't some people just don't un don't have a vision of what that is. I mean I was in Kansas City, Kansas for 25 years and came down to help take care of my mom, but she passed away and people were like, "Are you going to go back to the the city to Kansas City?" And I said no to the no. Why would I do that? It's No, there's no shots fired out on 14th Street in Shenuke. I mean, that could be someday, but you know what I'm saying? It's it's completely and it got to the point and when I first went there, I was in a quiet little neighborhood

and eventually it came west west until there was shots. I could hear shots every night and I So when asked, "Am I going back?" No. and the traffic on I35 and the haha and that no and if people just understood that it's yes you're two hours from everywhere two hours you can be in the Tulsa Symphony seats for cheaper than Kansas City people don't know that but that's true and the ballet and what do you want what do you want

well you got Amazon on your phone so you just have to have packages delivered to your house or Walmart delivery Walmart brings the groceries to you have to go Yeah. Yeah, they deliver anyway. They some neighbors get theirs. Interesting. What else? What else do I What else I need other than the budget impact? Will you help me with that or you'll help me with that? She'll help with the study and then I'll help with the budget of how we're gonna Okay. Okay. All right. Because I think we need to those that those are facts that we need before we can really move forward. But trying to we just don't want you hitting your expiration date before.

Well, do you know that I worry about that cuz I as you said in the last meeting. So,

well, and you know there I was there on Sunday night. I didn't I didn't go home till 10 o'clock at night. So, I was thinking wonder how much longer this I can do this. I wonder oh maybe I guess we'll just keep going until uh we can't anymore. So, and there's there's um it it's just and it's also very frustrating to be in the court and two of the things nobody, you know, not only has nobody done what they were supposed to do, but I didn't know that she hadn't done what she was supposed to do. like charges. The guy got arrested five months ago and never any charges filed. So the judge is like, "Are you gonna Okay, can I just take a can you give me a minute to look and see what this is?" And and and then all the things that, you know, she she started to refuse to talk to the sheriff's people, the police people. And so the I'm also creating all these structures so that we now communicate for the best of the community. Big breakthrough. The other day I got a report from the Eerie Police Department who had completely give No, I mean I almost made want to cry because I said I have sorted through a lot of reports and I have seen nothing from the area police department. Was there just like no crime till I came to town? That's embarrassing. He's like, "No, we just gave up."

Wow. We just gave up. So, let's I guess we shouldn't be telling people that because But now they're done giving up. So, I'll be reviewing probably some things that happened a while ago and we very much appreciate you being here and just It's, you know, the community, you know, the community's assessment of the system has been very cynical and resigned and

uh there's been a loss of credibility and repairing something like that isn't done overnight. But let's just keep I'll just keep working on it. I may be issuing some uh some press releases for instance about this money that was discovered. I think this the community needs to know that that that happened and that has been repaired and we are working on it because that's the only way people don't care what you say. They only care what you do. So

I intend to do some informing uh about what is happening at the court with the cases in in the ones that I can inform. So thank you. Thanks for I don't know if you Oh, did I take somebody else's place? Okay. No. All right. Well, so last one today. Well, yeah. I had to I had to tell a defense council to I said that's very funny but I am trying to move with elacrity and velocity and get down to see the commissioners. So Jeb I need you to stop talking but I made it. So thank you for listening and

keep us informed. We'll keep going and I'll keep giving you some updates occasionally and I'll be over to see you and you. Okay. Thank you, Cheryl. Second private executive session on pending legal matters should take more than five minutes. I move to recess into executive session to discuss matters deemed privilege in the attorney client relationship uh for I'm sorry you said five five minutes to include the commission and council. We'll come back at um 3:16

317 maybe 317 motion. All those in favor? Hi.

You are like blueprint. I have five boxes. That's all I got. We're back in session and no action was taken. I think now we're to the end. So, our next meeting is March the 10th at 1:00. Actually, do have one more possibly. Okay. The April uh 24 meeting. We've looked into possibly changing that to the 20th on Monday.

Could we do a Monday? Um, she'll be out of town on the 21st and yeah, and the KCCA conference in Hutcherson starts on Wednesday, so that would give me an extra day to get over there. So, is it okay if we move the April 21st meeting to April 20th? I might have conflicted that. So, come back to work. It's been the punishment. Well, we'll have to have a meeting without chassity.

We'll make it a quick meeting. That work. Okay. We're going to leave it on the 21st for now. Sorry, Chassity. They keep adding to my work schedule. Sorry for deputy. We'll go easy on her. Okay. So, I don't think they've announced it yet, but the KCC8 conference is that week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday on and in Hutch. So, you stay with your family. No, that's a long drive from Witchaw to Hutch.

Not this time. I think I'll spend a couple of nights in Hutch at least. But do approved you going or Well, they haven't sent anything out yet. So, okay. They should by the end of this month. They've got a new secretary at KAC. So, she's having to figure everything out, but I did get dates from her at least. Just wanted to make sure we didn't have a meeting because last year they did it Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, but they went back to Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. A lot less conflict, I think. So, so we will have bids going out for the 70th road and the four bridges overlay. So, hopefully we get some bids on that. So, and we

and then 24th we start at 10:00. The 24th we're starting at 9:00. 9. Okay. Because we had more outside entities than we realized for timing. That's right. So, and then our regular meeting will be at 1. And yeah, we'll pick a board member for the college or I'm sorry for the hospital hospital board the 24th. So start the budget. That'll be nice. Seems like that comes around quick. Well, it's a little early, but I think it's great. Well, yeah. So,

I uh on a personal note, I'd like to give my sympathies for the Greg Geradir family. Greg passed away a few days ago and the Gross Deer family is a real pillar of St. Paul, Kansas. They really liked and loved. But anyway, I just want to say that and if there's nothing else, I'll move to adjourn. I'll second it. All those in favor? I I motion carried. Thanks everyone.