Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

like to call the meeting to order. We'll do the flag salute. Tyson have a few words.

Aliance to the flag of the United States of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Few reminders before we get going. Please state your name and title when you first begin speaking. Public comment will be allowed to the extent that it's on topic. Persons participating via Zoom are currently muted. If you have a comment, please let Mark know via the chat function. Mark will then inform Chairman Trul can take up the comment in a manner that doesn't disrupt the agenda. And if an executive session is needed, then we'll mute and turn off the video. When we're done, we'll turn everything back on. sessions or Heather, you there?

We can hear you.

Okay. Um I only the only update I have um today is related to the tax plan that was passed and how it will impact neighborhood revitalization if it's signed. Um the governor just vetoed another bill, but it was not this bill. So just checking. Um so the legislature adjourned siny die Saturday morning very early um and Friday night passed a revenue cap property tax bill. That bill is similar but different than the previous bills they had passed. I want to make sure everybody understands what it does. And then the good news is the changes that were made um alleviate I think any of the concern about how the neighborhood res revitalization program might have interacted with one of the previous versions of the bill. So, what the bill does is um it provides for a protest petition of 10% of the registered voters in the last Secretary of State's race could sign a protest petition if um any lo local taxing um jurisdiction voted to exceed either uh the consumer price index for the previous year or 3%. A previous version of the bill used the three-year average of the of CPI, but this this bill is last year's CPI, which just so you know, it's 2.8%. Um 2.8% or three or three uh it's the lower of 2.8% or 3% is the cap. If in the future years this the inflation is higher if the board voted to exceed that amount of money needing to be collected. So it for this case, let's just say last year you collected $100,000. Next year you're going to collect $102,800, but you really need 110,000. So you would be exceeding the 2.8% cap. the when the reg revenue neutral rate notices are sent because this bill

retains the revenue neutral rate process. Um there will be a place on there to sign that um a registered voter could basically sign the revenue neutral rate letter and protest for the individual taxing jurisdiction. The the very good part of this bill that passed is that previous versions did not allow for any growth um or annexation, but it also did not allow for growth when economic development incentives ended. So whether that be a tax increment financing district, a tiff district, uh all zillion alphabet soup of of tax increment financing methodologies, but also neighborhood revitalization. So um this bill does accelerate or would accelerate if it becomes law the budget timeline because you would essentially any taxing jurisdiction would have to notify Sasha and poor Sasha has a lot to do with this bill uh and a lot of responsibility um would have to notify the county clerk and the county clerk would have to um do uh essentially start the start the process of notification earlier than you than previously had to happen and then in September would have to notify obviously conduct the protest petition process make sure all those signatures are valid and then within seven days I think it's of September 15th notify obviously the taxing jurisdiction if the protest petition was successful or not one of the questions I've gotten today is if the protest petition is successful does it go back to revenue neutral or does it go back to the cap. My reading of the bill is that it goes back to the revenue neutral rate. So, the good news is there is a bill. Um the

good news is that it was amended to um take into consideration economic development incentives like the neighborhood revitalization plan. So, we don't have to worry about that anymore. Um the other thing to note is it is not signed into law yet. I'm sure the governor won't get the bill until later this week. And so we'll just be paying attention to see if the the governor signs this into law or not. The constitutional amendment that had been being discussed did not receive the two-thirds constitutional majority needed to um advance to allow that question to be put on the ballot. So with that, I'm happy to stand for questions. Yeah. Heather, this is Rick. I got a question. Okay. And I've read it two different ways on this bill.

Yes. The protest position only gets sent out if you exceed the 3% or lower or if you exceed the R&R. If so, it's either the the lower of either the CPI or the 3%. So in this case, if CPI last year was 2.8%. It would be 2.8%. But it only the revenue neutral rate notice is going out regardless. The protest petition part of the revenue neutral rate notice would only be valid if you exceeded in this example 2.8%.

Yes. So it doesn't have if you exceed the revenue neutral rate. It's whether you exceed the 3% or whatever is lower.

So that we're using one notification for two purposes. The revenue neutral rate letter could say that the entity exceeds the revenue neutral rate. It will then indicate if you are exceeding 2.8% or not and then my understanding is they'll have some check boxes so people could be confused and check a box and say I want to protest something. But even if you exceed revenue neutral, as long as it's not 2.8% higher, essentially that protest petition would not work. But let's say there are two taxing jurisdictions in the county, one exceeds and one doesn't. The one that did exceed the 2.8%. That would be a valid protest petition. They sign the letter and give it back to Sasha. She sees the checkbox, she counts that as valid. But the bottom line is revenue neutral will be notified on everybody. And then the protest, the letter is used as a protest petition for those that exceed the 2.8% in this example.

Confusing. Good. I feel bad for Sasha. I do. Thank you. Any thoughts on whether Governor veto it? That's the million-dollar question. I have no opinion. Well, I have an opinion, but I'm not going to share it. Understand? Have any questions? Thank you, Heather. Thank you, Dad. You guys, whoever wants to come up. Yeah, they're sending me. Did you always bring back a

Yeah. Oh, yeah. I've got the horses. My name is Thaad Henry and I am the outgoing treasurer of the Pratt County Historical Society. Here today for two reasons. One to tell you that your 45,000 that you've given us for the last six years this year amounted to 60% of our gross receipts. So you can figure out without you we wouldn't be close to who we are. We are also asking this year and I submit a letter saying that our request for funds this year would be 52,000 up 7%. Again, we've been at 45 for six years. Um, this last year we lost $9,000 in operating budget. The year before we lost six. It's really amazing. Uh there's one word that creates all that and it's called insurance and roofs. You know, you probably know about that.

Yeah, we know a thing or two about that.

Yeah. Well, that that's why I'm sitting here. That's why I'm giving you a letter instead of just saying, "Hey, if you could keep doing what you've been doing, that's great." It is interesting that people walked in our front door last year and gave us $22,000 in gifts. And that's up from the previous year, but it's not a ton. I mean, maybe it was 18 last year. So, we do have buyin. We do have county support. Um, also that figures into our formula, and I I've told you this before, but it's worth repeating that, uh, Beth and Kurt Scaggs left an endowed fund at the U, uh, Brad area. Help me, I can't think of the name of it. Central

South Central the Pratt through me. South Central Foundation. Thank you. We get about $8,000 a year. We put that in a special fund and that's our building fund. And um won't give you all our secrets, but we found a guy that'll work for free and does a really good job. So 8,000. And I'm not telling you who it is. No. He does a terrible job. You wouldn't want him. You wouldn't want him. I wouldn't want him.

No. But that does make our $8,000 go a long ways. We remodeled the bathroom this year, did some other things, etc., etc. One of the highlights of this coming year is that we're having an exhibit in the month of September called the and I practiced on this um semi quenial celebration.

Which I know you all know that means 250 years of democracy. Uh it's a display that the Kansas Humanities comes out with this year. Uh we're fortunate to get the display. We'll be one of the few in South Central Kansas, west of Witchah. I think there's only one in what I think of as South Central Kansas. And it'll be photos uh a 30 foot long uh viewing area. That should be interesting. The only other thing I have to say today is I do request that all of you guys stop by and go through our museum. Our museum is uh kind of the tail that wags the dog. Our main purpose is to have records of Pratt County and the history. And uh viewing us on a Saturday, Sunday is great. We're open from 1 to 3, but Charmaine's not there. And Charmaine's the one that could show you really what we have in history. She's the one that feels the requests, looks up the information, and we have we have a ton of information. So, please stop by. Do you have any questions for us? This group would like some questions. I know I know they would.

Questions, suggestions. I don't really have questions. More of a a statement. And I think you all heard in your the state's tax plan to us. Uh it seems our state legislators seem to know what's better for our community than your elected officials.

This is going to put a humongous strain if this passes on pract. Insurance rates went up both in health and property. In fact, we had to pull the courthouse out of the B. Uh we don't make money. The only way we can do that is through tax and they've taken that away from completely. Uh we could be stuck at R&R the same amount of money for here eternity. We give a lot of money in appropriations and a lot of it's good money spent.

Yes. It's the good causes. I want you all to understand that and I'm not speaking for these two. I'm not happy about it. I don't think they ought to be stepping in in our home rule. We do have 19 mandates from the state that we have to fund and they're not allowing us to get the money to do it. Uh if they would just quit giving out tax exemptions and have everybody pay, we wouldn't be in this mess. I don't know where it's going. We understand. I I don't understand.

But I I want to give you all a heads up. I'm glad you did. And we do understand that I'm not happy and I'm trying to control my temper, but uh for them to come down here and tell us how we ought to run things when it's an insult. You guys don't like what we're doing, you vote us out. Yeah, that's let the locals That's the way it works. Sure. But this stuff with 10% can hold back the entire county is not very democratic to me. Not to me either. Like I said, I'm not I'm just throwing that out there. I don't know where this is going.

And there's always next year they can come back and do something, too. So, I just want you guys to be We started our budget. The department came and talked to our accountant when I'm going to have a meeting with him next month, start ours. So, it'll be time. Yeah. We just don't know right now. Well, we believe me, we know that. And we know that you don't figure out how much money you need until the treasurer and she sends you that. Kind of works the other way, doesn't it? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, thank you for your time and kind of visit with us. I know you will. I know that. I need to get in there. Yeah, you do. I do, too. Okay. Thank you.

Well, Charmaine Charmaine during the week can show you our real function of records and what we have. But Sunday afternoon, you be careful on your trip. It'll take a couple hours to get through. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you. I got a granddaughter coming to see you, so that sounds like something. Yeah. Thank you, guys. Thank you.

John's not here. Clayton's not here yet. I hate that for him, but he's gonna be tough this year. Yeah. Uh I just want to give them all a heads up. Catch it by surprise. Yeah. I'll make a motion we approve the April 6th, 2026 minutes. Got a few minutes. I'll second it. Sorry.

Got a motion to accept the minutes from April 6th. All in favor say I. I. Post same sign. Motion carry. You come on. Nobody else is hearing yet. That's why I saw I didn't see anybody. So I jump in. Um I guess we can talk. I don't know what you're talking about. What are we talking about?

I mean you can if you want to go into executive session, make the request. Well, it's just we went ahead and went with somebody. Um, I think we need to go on. The other one turn Gracie Martin. Yeah. I'll make a request that we hire Gracie Martin for the appraisers's office. $16. I'll second the motion. Been

moved and second and we hire Gracie Martin for the appraisers's office at $16 an hour. All in favor say I. I. Post same sign. Motion carried. And this feels right. Yes. They just don't get dug fil budget for fields. Yeah. Yeah. The state won't allow us to do collect any more money. So

Oh, do I need a copy for you or for me? I can I can send you a copy. And then um I will be at it tomorrow at an abstract training, but I'll have a full-time act set out. Okay. Does that work? Yep, that will work. Okay. All right. Thank you guys. Thank you. I'm going to see you after the meeting about this. That's on extension. Oh, okay. Don, you want to come on? Thanks, guys. Thank you.

Thank you. Good afternoon. That's the contract for K dot spring for this year and look it over and sign it.

Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. The state tells us what to do. That's right. That's true. Make a motion we go into county agreement to treat noxious weeds. Kansas Department of Transportation. Second the motion.

Okay. $45 an hour for operators, $75 an hour for ATV, $95 for Chevy F350. Been moved and seconded to sign agreement with KOT to spray the noxious weeds this year. All in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. There's not a place. I think there's a place for the chairman. Sure. Thank you, sir.

I just spray weed when the wind will allow us to do both. That's hard to dig. Ain't getting very many days right now. I'm saying Wednesday this week maybe. I think that's the only day. Early Thursday morning.

That's all I got. You guys got anything for me? I think so. Very much. Thank you. I just asked Susan what our voter turnout would be um or what it was on the last secretary of state's office and it looks like we had countywide 3,143 voters which would be 10% of that would be about 315. Um but that after my I was thinking about that it would almost have to be by jurisdiction. Yes. Yeah, but it' be the whole county for Well, for us, the whole county, but like it would be voter count for each of those tax and jurisdictions that we'll have to figure. Yeah, I was telling

for countywide it would be 315. telling Tyson that, you know, when I was on the township board down there in the southwest, you know, five people, two people, we have very low, I mean, it's it's um high voter turnout, but we don't have a lot of registered voters in some of those areas. Even though we have a a high voter turnout, um is fortunate in in that way to have a high voter turnout, but it's not going to take a whole lot of people for some of these taxing entities. Um for sure. Yeah. And I can see it happening. Come on up, Clayton. Ready? Yeah.

Good. Not a bad thing. Yeah. Uh, I just wanted to come back in and give you a little bit of an update. Um, Terry went over Thursday after delay upon delay. Anyways, he already had an interesting flight pattern.

Yeah. Yeah. No, it it worked out though. Um he got over there and it worked out right. Um he went he went through everything, looked at it, drove it. Um basically found a list of things that just small things that needed attention to. And so, you know, we told him that upon confirmation that they fix all that stuff that um we would purchase it. Um, and it's small stuff like the defrost actuator wasn't switching to the vent. Um, a small coolant leak. There was a couple leaks between the pump and the etc. Uh, small power steering leak. And then he did say that he's going to throw in a gas generator. Um, he's going to pay for the tickets and pay for the Uber and pay for delivery to Pratt as long as we purchase the truck. So,

well, if if we don't, then he's going to bill us for the plane ticket. Yeah. Um there's going to be a little bit of small modifications that that the compartments need just for but our use or usability, but small stuff like that. Um other than that, I mean, I I don't know if you want to talk about the tools today too while I'm here with that. Might as well. Yeah, I have copies of it, too, if you didn't keep them.

If they were in the back of the book, they probably got That's fine. I have I have copies. You want another copy? Actually, could I if you have one? Thanks. It'll be easier to pull the numbers. You got one? There's probably one. Yours is handier.

Yeah. I did call Josh and talk to him Friday. The dates March 31st on it. He said they're still good. The price is still good. Hasn't changed at all. And then he also said that uh just last week they came out with a new RAM that is the same storage size, but it's a 52 in instead of a 40. Um, he has very little information on it. They're going to release it at the national conference here. I don't remember if he said it was next week or the first week. Might be the first week of May. Um, so he said if we're interested in that, he said he'll probably bring both of them and let us pick which one, but I don't.

That's what he said. He said he'd honor that price with it. He said they'll have a deal being brand new for a while. Okay.

They've got all this stuff in stock. Uh there was a couple things that he had to order, but we're probably I think the way that guy over there talked, he said he'd have the delivery within 30 days, depending on how long it takes to fix this checklist of stuff. And these are the same brand as they are and everything. And then on the on the bottom line item there, he's upgrading the current tools from that 28 volt to the 18 volt that third generation. Yeah.

And then there's the price and then he discounted that price. Not sure why he did that, but he did. So we have it, right? Do I know? Yeah, I I'll make a motion to purchase. I'm not going to go through all the cutters and brands for this new new to us rescue truck from rescue specialists for $43,100 to come out of special. Second that motion

been moved and seconded to buy new rescue tools from rescue specialist for $43,100. All in favor say I. I oppose saying sign. Motion carried. We may deliver that truck. You should know. I'm trying to figure out how we can get a check signed. So, he's going to give me a notice, okay, once they have stuff. And then they're going to schedule the delivery. Okay. And then he said they'll accept payment upon delivery of the truck. That's what I'm saying. We only meet once, sign the check. We'll make it to where that happens. He said he'll make it to where that happens.

Okay. Okay. Okay. And that way we'll approve the truck then. I think you It's already been approved. Yeah. So, we really just need So, really just somebody signed the check. That's right. Okay. Yeah, I'm just and I'll have him send the I'll have him send the paperwork as soon as we have confirmation that the the stuff is fixed and completed and then I'll I'll sign it and turn it in and she can issue it. Yeah. You want us to go ahead and send off a check for this or do you Let me ask Let me ask Josh. Yep. And I'll let you know. That's great. Okay, that's all I got. You guys have some. Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity. Thank you for your report. Yeah, I mean

we can talk some Thank you for that report everyone. Oh yeah. Yeah. I figured it whether you liked it or not it might be beneficial. At least Terry didn't get arrested right got delayed. He's not here and pulled over but at least he didn't get arrested. Yeah. Poor guy. Thank you. Thanks.

Who's got the You got anything else? I do. Okay. You want to do it now or? Yeah. Well, that's fine. I'd request a executive session for attorney client privilege to discuss neighborhood revitalization and current proposed legislation for 20 minutes. I'll make that motion.

I'll second it. Been moved and seconded to go into executive session for 20 minutes to discuss attorney client privileges for neighborhood revitalization and state bill. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. We'll be in executive session for 20 minutes.

I'll make a motion we come out of executive session, no action taken. Second been moved and second and we come out of executive session with no action taken. All in favor say I. I. I. Oppose. Same sign. We're back in open session. That's all I have. I have vehicle comment. I'll make a motion to approve authorization for emergency vehicle permit for Doug Ray. Second.

Been moved and second we approve emergency vehicle permit for Doug Ray. All in favor say I. I.

I. Same sign been approved. Then I'll make a motion to approve uh Johnny Cardoza from part-time detention off deputy to full-time detention deputy at 1750 a second the motion

been moved and seconded to move Johnny Cardardosa from part-time detention officer to full-time for 1715 hour. All in favor say I. I post same sign. Motion carried. We go ahead and do the healthc care stuff now. Yeah. We going to move

on the healthc care to stay where we're at this year. That's sort of what we agreed on last week. And then um Verona did send another email I think forward that on to you as well. Or I saw he do we have anything to sign for that? Um well on this freedom claims one, remember he gave us those three options on how to fund their plan. Um like keep it the same funding the middle of the road or you remember that you said to keep it the same.

Well, so yeah, that would be I think the top option on that. Let's look and see. I know we recommended doing something to do one more change for you guys. I should I Yeah, I put those in your packets too. I made extra copies. Yeah, that top one on both existing reserves is 2025. um the middle of the overall 5% increase and then to comparable overall 9.1% increase.

Yes, it should be in the green. Yes, it was the green one. No, it's like in your current one to look at like in your green folder green instead of in the back. Oh, I don't have anything left. Oh, did I get pulled? You're welcome to look at mine. I wonder if it got last week.

Look at the top ones or current ones. Yeah, I think so. Yeah, it says like under where it says fund proposed and right underneath it says same reserves as 2025. Um, which it would be an 11.7% increase overall. So like to keep it what we were last year and to fund it the same way as that top one. Yeah. And then but we're not getting much savings out of the other one, right? 26 or 45, right? would be decreasing our savings to to do that. Uh and then you have your

25 plans. Yeah. Your 15 basically the same thing and then you have your blue shield stuff too that will be found. What's this then? This is a matching this Oh, this is

one of them's 15, one of them's 25. And then they're just three pieces of paper. Yeah. Yeah. So, one's 15, one's 25. Oh, there's this piece, too. Oh, and this is a combination of both on the back. Okay, that's what that 15. Yeah, got sorry I keep the top plan 59% of savings but we increase our reserves a little bit. It would fund it at the same level as we

69%. Yeah, I still think the 11% because man, we're really sucking out on the 5% and the nine. There's that extra one in there. That's the combined of the 1500 plan and the 2500. I'll make a motion we keep our freedoms claim the same, I guess.

I'll second the motion. been moved and seconded we keep her freedom choice insurance the same as last year. All in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. Probably need another for blue cross. That last page is blue cross and I think the signatures are down at the bottom and that covers the health and interval. Yeah. Do we need the separate option? Then I'll make another motion. I'll make a motion that we renew with Blue Cross even though it's a 14% increase.

I'll second a motion. I've moved and seconded to renew with Blue Cross for the their 14% increase. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carried. What's the effective date? Um, well, should I just leave that? I'll ask. I think it would be just today. Our our plan starts June 1.

That would probably be the effective date, wouldn't it? is well I don't know if I signed it that's here 15 Yep that one

sorry about that you're fine thank Anything else?

Um, on the insurance note, um, he is going to do open enrollment for two days and I think what we're going to do is have it out at the public safety building um, for two days with um, like timed um, sessions that people can sign up for and come. And I know that we had talked before about our supplemental insuranceances and how we have an abundance of them and how they go to each department um and and want to speak with everyone. I think um what I'm going to do if it's okay with you guys is have them come in on those dates, have them set up a table. If our employees would like to speak with them, they can. Um if they don't, they do not have to. And then we just have two days full of open enrollment for all of our insuranceances so people know, you know, what month.

Yep. And kind of streamline this process. I called about six other counties to see how they do it. Um and it was either that um having just one big open enrollment or um they would set them up like in the commissioner's room and people could come to them if they wanted, not going to each department in each building like we currently have set up. Yeah. Yeah, that sounds better. I think so, too.

Uh, I have gotten some emails from some constituents wanting to know about the hospital. Uh, I first off, I want to say that when you email all three of us in an email, that pretty much kills the conversation. That is a violation of open meetings acts. we cannot respond. Uh if you email one of us, we can talk all day long, but once you put two or three of us commissioners on that email, we can't talk to you. Uh as far as the hospitals going on, I don't have a lot of update on that. Uh our outside council is visiting with PRMC's outside counsel and and the third party. uh they're working out the details. I don't have a whole lot of information on that right now, but I will guarantee you when that comes to fruition that there will be a a uh one of the words I'm looking for media

public announcement.

Public announcement. Thank you. There will be a public announcement on that. I just don't have the fine details of what's going on right now. It's not moving as fast as we would like, but it it is moving forward. Uh I get your concerns about the hospital, the same concerns that we have. Uh we don't want to lose people. We don't want the hospital to go under. We're getting to some kind of resolution. And I just don't have any details on that right now. So if anybody knows Janette, was it Gardner?

I she sent an email. Yeah, I think that too. That too. I don't. Yeah. Yeah. Janette, she emailed all three of us. If you know her, you can tell her to watch the video or something. But uh as of right now, I don't have much information. So when we do there will be a public announcement and it'll be a joint public announcement. All I got on that

anything today we're not going to have one today. We're not going to have an executive. Nice weather. I got to walk. You can stay here as long as you want. You don't have to go back longer. Trying to get in before I get done.

That's all I have. You got anything session? I don't think so. I think we're good to

vouchers. Second move and second and pay the vouchers. All in favor say I. I. Same sign. We'll pay the vouchers. I just grabbed that orange. Doesn't matter. Hey, Yeah. blowing it

supposed to blow all night and in the morning when I get up. We didn't get her strainer back together. Oh yeah. I went and sprayed a little bit last Tuesday morning. Four five miles from the house. made half mile pass through the field, turned around and ran through the thing. Oh, I feel your pain. I've done that. This is the second time for this. has got one, two, two and a half miles and ran through the fan and just I thought I saw his car landing on the

This one stayed inside this time. I knew what it was from the time before. So yeah, I was wasn't too happy. No, but at least it did just tear the fan up this time. It didn't tear on the Yeah. And the shroud. It got my shroud. The fan of course this time most of it then I had to live at home because the fan was out of balance. Do you find that? No Dyson and you genocide.

They even have to try to keep them out. You know, there's this much room in there. Get in there and lay down.

I can't believe they rode that. Well, they're right till it gets hot. True. Then they want out. Yeah, as soon as I heard it hit, I knew exactly what it was. Luckily, this one is pretty well intact. Mine was like a skin rug. It was all

Well, that's where our first one was. He was a big boy. And the fan must have broke off pretty even cuz I finished the field. Oh, did you? Yeah. It wasn't making any excessive noise or And it stayed cool. I think it had one blade left

and that was even tried to rev it up. Okay, don't worry. time.

First thing department.

Oh, okay. Sorry. Well, maybe this was the road. That's road. Okay. I think I still need this. And I was going the wrong way with it.

Yes. I'm That's This is the road department. This the last one. See from this take this no before you click or whatever it is and they count down the days I blow up at the end of those days spontaneously. I have one of those shoes. I haven't seen one.

That's what I was told.

Yeah. So, I'll know to delete it immediately. Yep. I'm taking my either Anybody have anything else? Make a motion to adjourn. Second, removed and seconded. We adjured on.