Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

We need to post that to neighbors and neighbors like to call the meeting to order and do a flag salute and Tyson to have a few words. I aliance 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.

Reminders before we get going, please say your name and title when you first begin speaking. Public comment will be allowed to the extent that it's on topic. Persons participated via Zoom are currently muted. If you have a comment, then please let Mark know via the chat function. Mark will then inform chair chairman Trinkle can take up the comment in a manner that doesn't disrupt the agenda. If an executive session is needed, then we'll mute and turn off the video. And when we're done, we'll turn everything back on. Well, Heather is not here today. And I guess we're waiting for Doug to come back, which we could go ahead. You guys,

we can if you want. We can wait. It's whatever. So might want to state your names please for the Zoom people. We would be delighted you. So I'm Jod Denton from the Pratt County Extension Office and this is Jennif Simmons from the Pratt County Extension Office and we just came to say hey how you doing?

Uh we also came to present you with our uh making a difference report. This is an annual report that the uh state of Kansas our university produces from extension. Um so I've got one of those for each of you. We also included with it here just some talking points kind of a summary of everything that Jenna and I do um really throughout the year. And um it's just a nice glimpse of um all of our programming um across all four of our programming areas, agriculture, community vitality, family consumer sciences, and our 4 and youth program. So that's just kind of a good glimpse of everything we do. I know a lot of you aren't able to make it to our annual meeting that we that we hold in um usually it's in November. So uh that kind of gives you a glimpse of what we do throughout the year. We we aren't just the county fair. We are a lot of other things and we're not just agriculture, a lot of other things as well. So, um that's um a lot of what we do. Um questions for us.

I don't have any. Okay. I think you guys are doing a good job. Okay. Known as a food lady. Yes, indeed. screaming the bags.

That that will be coming up here shortly. Yes, indeed. The kids are already asking me why I'm coming back. Yes. Um I did share these talking points with my board here recently and with some other people in the community. Um we were notified by our regional director last week, week before um that there is um a bill going through Topeka right now wanting to limit our funding, statewide extension funding in 2027. Um, and that's really all I know. I don't know a lot about the details of it other than it's sitting in the Ways and Means Committee right now. Um, yeah, we're uh people are facing the same thing. Yeah. So,

um, there was a representative Turk um and who represents parts of Douglas and Shaunie County, I believe, who was on the higher education committee and he kind of got the ball rolling on that. So, uh, we have heard nothing from our leadership at the university as far as what they're doing to kind of help, um, battle that. Uh, so we're hoping to hear more. Um, hopefully it won't go too far, but um, you know, if it does, we'll we'll deal with it. So, that's kind of where we're at. Yeah. We're battling the same thing. Yes. Yeah. We're trying to limit our authority.

Yes. Yeah. Exactly. Yeah. They wanted extension to come up with a new model and new leadership and all kinds of new things. So, uh this uh representative described extension as only aronomy, only agriculture related. So, I I hope I hope someone was able to educate him a little bit more as to all of the programming areas that extension provides, which is kind of why I came up with some of these talking points because I had some um people in the community reach out to me and said, "Could you give us some talking points?" And then I also listed for them the contact information of our representatives and senators so they could reach out and let them know um what all we do here in P County because we do a lot. We're we're really busy all the time. So

they still So they've moved away with combining extensions office with other counties like this one focusing on that, this one focusing on that.

No. No. Um actually districtricting is still is still at being talked about a lot. Um, in order for two counties to be able to form a district, we have to have permission from our county commissioners to do that. Um, Pratt County and Barber County have talked about that over the years quite a bit. Um, in the past, uh, when we've attempted to do that at that time, the county commissioners were not in favor of that because we had that would create another taxing entity within the county. We would then, um, you know, create our own mill levy and um, we would no longer come to you and ask for a county appropriation. we would be our own taxing entity and then that that um that district that extension district would be be a be a taxing entity. I think

I know they were talking about that but I I was talking like Stafford County focuses in on you know K through 12 learning and Pratt focuses on animal health and Kyle County. Yeah, you know they were looking at that here. We do do some of that already. We do do some shared programming and um some like for instance this summer we're going to do some food preservation workshops across like Barber and and Kingman County doesn't have a family consumer science agent right now. So we will go over there and do some of that food preservation training and workshops over there because

they just don't have that capability. And I've done some um serve safe um training which is um food food food it's food safety training for employees. I've done that in Kingman County as well because they just don't have the capability to do it. So we do do some shared resources like that already. Yeah. Yeah. We help each other out as much as we can. Yeah. Well, it was quite a while ago when they were talking when I was on Yeah. Yeah. The talk of that is um becoming more and more renewed. In fact, there's an a agriculture agent that's being shared between was it Cedric and Cali

Cedric and Cali counties right now. Yeah. So, they're talking about doing more and more of that with um counties that don't want a district. they're talking about sharing more and more responsibilities, whether it's an a agent or even um a district or a county director type position that would just take care of the administrative duties between those counties as well. So, yeah, they're thinking outside of the box a little bit more, which is good. Yeah. Did I forget anything? Okay. You want to Oh, no. I mean, unless you have questions for me. No, I think she covered it. So, we're always here. Just here for moral support. Yeah,

you guys know where we are. You have our number. If you ever need anything, give us a call. I've called you before. Yeah. Yep. Hopefully, I got you the answer you were looking for. All right. Well, thanks for your time. Thank you guys so much.

Doug, you can come on up if you want to. Well, I have a little proposal discussion county lake. I don't know if you guys have read it.

Thank you, sir. So, we've been discussing trying to get rid of some of the meters out there, and it doesn't sound like we're really going to get rid of them because of the wiring around them causes issues, too. But they're basically not going to charge us. They're going to take them off the roll, and we'll just go to one meter at the lake. And cuz with uh 10 11 meters, you know, we're getting a $30 minimum all winter long for Mhm. And uh on each one. Yes. Yeah.

And I'd say our Sasha's probably seen them, but I'm going to say our average monthly bill out there is around $1,100 to $1,000 winter bill. So, I would I guess I'm proposing we're proposing would like to see we would have to spend $6,68322 for the city's basically the part materials

to go to one meter. But, um, you know, just some rough figures as we come up with looks like in two years it pays for itself. So unless the county is going to decide to get rid of the lake in two years after that we will start saving money. That's just in monthly fees minimums. Yep. But you know we don't even charge by what the meters say. No when they camp. It's just a Right. So yeah in two years you can take that $30 off where you got more money coming in. Yeah. I'm just saying in two years it pays for Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. I know it's an upfront cost, but I just don't see any reason in having 10 11 meters out there. And I think it was done that because they did so many different stages out there that they just add a meter, build on a stage, add a meter, build on a stage. And so I guess that's my proposal in a if you got any questions in a nutshell is go this route. Pay once, cry once. And there's room over by the fish clean area where he's talking about they've already looked at that. They've looked at it. Yeah. I'm still curious about when they drill. Yeah. What they're going to hit far as all the concrete. Oh, yeah.

But they'll find some place to put it. Yeah. Sure. He knows what he's doing. Yeah. Take that. Not like he doesn't have any experience out there. That'll all come out of the lake. But yeah, it's it's a hit once, but like I said, two years we're free of all the Yeah. service charges and I think it's a good deal myself. Makes sense. I go ahead and motion that.

Yeah, I'll make a motion to give Doug the authority to put in one central meter out the lake for a total of $6,58322 come out of the lake budget. I'll second it. Been moved and seconded to give Doug the permission to put one meter loop in through the city out at the lake for 658322. All in favor say I. I. Post same sign. Motion carried.

Okay. I don't know if you guys want to do this now or there's a employee hire road department was small. You just been raking them in. What are you doing different? I should say more of a transfer from That's what because he was deputy with That's what Thank you. Yeah, I'll make a motion for Joshua Small for $17 an hour from the road department. I'll second it. It's been moved and seconded for Joshua Small to go to the road department for $17 an air. All in favor say I. I. Post. Same sign. Motion carried.

Well, now Rick, before you get too giddy, you know, I lost another one in February. End of February. So, retirement. Yep. You know how to bring me down. Don't you Every time you call, I just Well, I just, you know, just so you don't think I'm gaining any. Yeah. Just holding up, which is good.

Still down about six or seven. Yeah, seven. Anyway, okay. If you keep coming every week with another one, you'll catch up. I suspect I'm going to lose another one in just a few months. Retirement. I shouldn't say lose, but Gotcha. So, you got everything you need there. I'll get it all put together, get it all transferred and send it down your way.

Okay. Um, just a little heads up. I'm going to be uh getting some all I'm drawing up the specs right now and hopefully in a couple weeks we will open some stuff up for a couple mowing tractors and a couple mowers. I'll get the specs to all three implement dealers in the county. Is that why your knuckles are all scratched and red? You really beat him down on price, didn't you? Well, you told me to. No, that's just uh blood thinners or aspirin just sure makes me cut up easy anymore.

Understand? But uh so yeah, a little heads up so you aren't shocked when that How many I'm just going to do two. That's all I can swing I think with everything else going on and the increases everybody's had. Two two cost as much as four. The hell happened to the grain markets today? You know, I know that I mean they man they are taking it into shorts. I haven't looked. Okay. I'm sure fuel and fertilizer is too. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I'm sure. Exactly. Just add that. Yes.

Speaking of fuel though, if it keeps going crazy, this is going to get I don't know. And we've never looked at trying to contract as far as a county. And I don't know what that looks like, but I don't know if that So, you're probably too late right now. Probably too late. I will. Sure. It is too late. Yeah. My guess is they probably won't even come. Yeah. You know, I'm hoping in a couple more weeks or so this kind of blows over. But Well, you got a lot of people hoping with you. Yeah. I'm spraying that weed and feed on my stuff thinking, "What the am I doing?" Yeah. $100 more a ton. Mhm.

Well, there might be a day you can't get it. I've heard that today. True. So, anything for me, gentlemen? I don't. I don't. Better go down south and get all your sand back. Pull it back up here. Yes. We briefly had that conversation, but just a warning, when the first rain happens, I'm sure there's going to be a lot of people calling because there is no sand left. Yes, I can understand. I sitting there, big old cloud of sand dust go blow down the road. Well, you drive them and they're just white and clean. Yeah, it it was crazy yesterday.

Look in all the grass and it's an extra two inches deep and Yeah. Yeah. It's not It's not going to be good the first ring. No, I understand that. Okay. Well, I will get out of your hair. All righty. Brian, you want to come on up? Sure. Now that you just said, it's yours. It's a gift for me to you. Read it. Memorize test pictures. on it next week. No problem.

Uh, so I do need probably a 10-minute executive session to talk about a contract with a company client. Turning client contract. Okay. Contract for um, credit card processing. I'll make a motion to go executive session for attorney client to discuss contract with credit card processing. I'll second that. been moving and seconded to go into executive session for 10 minutes for attorney client privilege to discuss a credit card contract. All in favor say I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. You're in executive session.

Okay. Make a motion we come out of executive session with no action taken. Second it. It's been moved and second and we come out of executive session with no action taken. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. We're back in open session. Oh, can see that. Uh, I'm gonna make a motion to give Brian authority to sign a contract with Wayar subscriber. This is for EMS billing and payment type thing. Second that motion.

It's been moved and second and give Brian Adabberry the permission to sign the contract with Wayar Subscriber for EMS billing. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Same sign. Motion carried. Perfect. I appreciate that.

I don't have much else to talk about. Um, we're getting ready to do all of our service renewals and ambulance renewals comes up April 1st, which means shortly we'll have inspections due on the ambulances. Um, that just happens every year. Nothing new with that. EM EMR class should be a go. It's um they got sent to board of EMS for approval on that. It's fiveweek Monday and Wednesday class. So, it's going to be hot and heavy and should be a good one. But other than that, I can't think of anything on my end unless you guys have any questions. I don't have any. I don't have any. Thanks, brother.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. I will go read this wonderful HIPPA knowledge manual memorized. I will just about next week. Okay. You don't know pop quiz. You don't know when it's coming. Well, I'll be all right. I just I know most of it. If you're going to talk about a patient, whisper quietly, right? Yeah,

we're done with the agenda so far. Any updates? I've had Sesa write up about the courthouse project about we know we're we put it off kind of the hospital and stuff but I'm wondering if we need to start with looking for an engineering firm again to just when we do figure out what we can do it's already on the books we can just go ahead this is actually something that I wanted to talk about too. Oh, okay.

U executive session. So, if you guys want to I have multiple things that need to be discussed in executive session for attorney client. If you want to do it now, that's fine. If you want to wait, that's fine, too. It doesn't I've just brought that up on Yeah, I know we're not gonna do with the project for a while, but yeah, there's there's some other things out there that relate to that that I want to touch on before we do anything. Okay, I'm half I mean I'd request a motion for executive session if you guys want to entertain it.

How long do you want? um 25 minutes attorney client to discuss opioid related settlements, the courthouse project and also multiple bills that are in the legislature right now. I'll make that motion. I'll second. It's been moved and second to go into executive session for attorney client privileges for 25 minutes to discuss various items. Will you make sure in the minutes it says what the the three that I've mentioned, please? Thank you.

All in favor say I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. We'll be in executive session for 25 minutes.

need something to do. Make a motion we come out of executive session with no action taken. I'll second it. Been moved and seconded. We come out of executive session with no action taken. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. same sign. So I don't forget, I'll request a motion to give me authority to sign the opioid settlement documents related to the six remnant defendants. I'll make that motion. I'll second it. It's been moved and seconded to give Tyson the authority to sign for the opio settlements for six companies.

Six different companies. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. And then I'd request a 10-minute executive session for attorney client privilege to continue discussing the courthouse project and also discuss the PRMC leases. I'll second that. I'll make the motion. I'll second. It's been moved and seconded to go back into executive session for 10 minutes for attorney client privilege to discuss the courthouse and PRMC lease. All in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign.

Motion carried. We'll be back in executive session for 10 minutes.

dancing on some. I make a motion we come out of executive session with no action taken. I'll second the motion. Been moved and seconded that we come out of executive session with no action taken. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. We're back in open session. need to talk about the van contract now. Any discussions?

So, I talked to Sasha last week. I mean, to the extent that you guys want to pick put it out, I don't have a problem creating a notice, but I need details on what that needs to be in that. I need to know how many times a week, what time of year. Um, pretty much everything what you want done. There's side things other than the lawn like stick pickup or debris removal, all that stuff. Watering. Yeah. Watering. How often water all of that? Yeah. What's the last one? I can't track. I can get you guys a copy of that tree. Good place to start. Yeah.

And then have a discussion on what you want to add from there because that's that wasn't sufficient for Well, it didn't have like blowing the leaves out. Didn't have picking up ste. Well, and I also think that you maybe we had gone from um like a full year to so many weeks and a year I think you guys had talked about. So that would need to be changed by Yeah, we need to know all that detail and then I prepare a notice and we put it in the paper or and and or get it out to Yeah,

I have no problem with the guy right now who's doing it and everything. I just don't know that we need to be paying for a full year. And as far as I know, and I don't have that contract in front of me, but I'm almost certain his contract is terminated. We we had that discussion last week. Oh, okay. It was in March. It ends in March sometime. Okay. So, we're coming up on time. Got you. Now's the time to do it. Yep. Understand. Hope that sounds good. You want me to stick that on the agenda for you guys can review and Yeah. Okay.

We need to talk about that, Mark. the CP thing. That's their website contract for every year they send a new deal. And kind of like the insurance, they raise their price every year. This time it was 8% and $850 onetime fee for more security measures and more accessibility stuff on the website. So I just thought I would let you know that it's more than it was last year, but we get it every year. What's 25 heat maps? Some more acronyms would you like to put in? I asked the same thing. I said, "What are these heat maps?"

We could see where the fires are starting that way. Yeah, I was thinking they had like built-in GIS or something. I was going to be all over that. They review the site and stuff. That's kind of what that is. Yeah, we can have up to 2,500 pages. Yeah. Wouldn't that be user friendly? You'd be amazed how many pages we have now. It's It's a bunch. Okay. So, what's this come out of? My budget. Your budget. It budget. Yep. And you want us to renew it? Yeah. Yes, please.

I I'll make a motion. We renew. How long is this for? One year. Yes. a one-year contract with Civic Plus for our website and web design for $6,95520. I'll second it. Been moved and seconded. We signed the agreement with Civic Plus for a website accessibility and standard the standard package we do every year with them for $695520. All in favor say I. I. I.

Oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. But also includes the upgrade path that we do every couple years where we sit down with all the department head and look at each page that they have and change it or not change it. Do you sign this or does he? I don't. Yeah, just sign. Okay. Forwarded you guys a long contract. Well, I thought maybe we just give you permission to sell it and you can either I'll scan it or whoever she scans it or whatever, I'll for it to

Okay. I think I am. I did the printed name and title and stuff today. You just forward me a copy of that. I'll send it to who it needs to go to. Yep. I'll go ahead and fill it out and get it sent to you. Yes. Motion for the minutes or I know I'll make a motion we approve the minutes from March 9th, 2026. I'll second it.

Been moved and seconded. We approve the minutes from March 9th, 2026. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. We approve the minutes. I've been reading a lot of counties have been having budget retreats, work on their budgets. Sound like a horrible idea. Retreat. Well, I was thinking maybe, you know, Australia or Hawaii this year. Open meeting in Australia. It can be zoomed. Yeah. I probably need to make sure that works.

Sure. Good day, mate. Are you serious? Are they really doing Are they really doing retreat? They call them retreats, but they get together and they do what we do. Listen to their department is they call it a retreat. They don't call it a budget workshop. Yeah. No, they call it a retreat. Budget retreat. That's We'll make a motion we pay the vouchers. I'll second it.

Moved and second we pay the vouchers. All in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Pay the voucher.

January 1st. Weird. Weird. It's If I beat you, Dad, I'll pass. You can pass me soon. Didn't Tyson leave last week. You were doing this and you used the stand.

Mhm. I went up and I didn't see you would have got a call. We talked about it.

How would he know? I would have got a couple actions. Got one question and it's on terrorists. It seems like about every time they go to Hutch, they go to Club Car on the Visa deal. Okay.

I would think it'd be cheaper to get their car vehicle worst here than up there. I'm wondering if it's detailing if it actually gets detailed on this. It was on the one of the visas. Oh, it was on a visel. Yeah. I don't remember that. I miss it. There were so many of them. I may ask. I don't remember it either. I've too. Okay.

I don't know why going on be. Well, maybe they didn't see other stuff up there. I don't know. I just know that's a high price.

Was it honor for this time for this on COA? You can do something. There you go. I know it wasn't that much, but I just

Yeah, I will see that. Sometimes you get stuck together, so it's kind of hard to if I can't find it and look. Yes. reoccurring.

How much was it? $25. just reoccurring. So, that's what it said. Reoccurring payment on 216. Well, I don't It must be some kind of other car. Okay. I don't know. I just that just I've seen it on there before. It's been on and I've seen them washing out here.

Well, I don't know exactly what that is. You're going to split most of these between you and me. I guess you gave him a big badge last time. Well, that and he's got doing payroll pay. Well, I love the highway controls here because they can't get the sales to come after the machine. So they drive to food. Have you done much research into that water bill? Has to do with haze and they bought a ranch in another county and they're going to pump water out of there. I got this bill to shut it down. They bought

that ranch 30 years ago. Yeah. But they uh this bill, it makes it even tough for us to do anything to do anything. Yeah. They don't want to help us in Eastern Kansas. Then they want to take all the money from us. normal.

The bill we thought was dead for moving elections to even years only got renewed. Yep. It got revived. So, they're they're talking about it again. Heather said something to me this morning. She said she'd talk more about next week on the Southwest Transportation.

Yeah. Oh yeah, we were supposed to have a presentation. She said she was working on like that one lady that just won't let the RNR die up there. You throw it a fit and they throw it back in the bill and then they take it out and then it's thrown back in. Think Karen Kyson sponsored that bill. Yeah,

I'm getting closer. Oh, you really screamed yourself. Yeah, I know. I did.

Feel like my signature is about like a doctor's. Oh, mine is. I don't even care anymore. Can't even read my own handwriting. I read better if I write with my left, but it's not as sad. Be here all night. We got anything? Anybody got anything else? I know. Glad everybody survived the wind yesterday.

Our house is kind of for whatever reason I feel like we're in a vortex. All the trash ends up in our little like it just swirls. Like we're the collector of all the trash. We had a Red Bull sign from a gas station. So don't know where that one came from. We had mail from South Jackson in our Yeah, I got limbs down. Limbs all over. I picked up all my limbs. My limbs. They didn't get in my limbs. Nope. Didn't see any with your name on them.

That would have been an Oklahoma. Yeah. I'm gonna feel real stupid here, but it seems like I've asked her about that. She's told me what that club car wash thing is. Be the first time I forgot that. I'll make a motion to adjourn.

I'll second that. We move and second we adjourn. All in favor say I. I. I was