Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the meeting in order.

We're going to fight, salute, and have a few words.

I pledge allegiance to the flag, and the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Two reminders before we get going. Please send your name and the title of the person 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, then please let Mark know via the chat function. Mark will then inform Chairman Trinkle can take up the comment in a manner that does not disrupt the agenda. If an executive session is needed, then you can turn off the video and when we're done, we'll turn everything back on.

Heather, are you there? I am. Can you hear me? Sure can.

Okay, I just have a couple things today. The first is just a reminder that any displaced employees from the hospital on Thursdays can go meet with Workforce One to access any dislocated worker services that are needed. Any businesses that are hiring or potentially want to hire any of the dislocated workers could be eligible for on-the-job training program and they can reach out to me or we reach out to Kansas Works. directly to get more information and enrolled in that the key thing is before anyone actually starts working you can make an offer but not a hire that they need to be enrolled in the program to take advantage of some of the cost-saving benefits of transitioning that employee onto their workforce the second thing i have is just a reminder also BJ had sent out to the commissioners and myself the reminder that the SBA, the Small Business Administration disaster declaration funding that Pratt County residents would be available from the tornado. The deadline for that is coming up as well as the USDA rural development deadline for any assistance from the tornado almost a year ago. So those two deadlines are coming if people have been dragging their feet, not getting their paperwork in. uh the time to do that is now or else you will not be eligible for those benefits i met with the chamber last week in preparation for the paedc meeting which is wednesday they will be going over one an incentive application um related to retention and expansion of a local business at that meeting and then the last thing i have is needing it with the sawyer mayor The deadline for the total expenditure of the Sawyer natural gas funds is in October. There is an audit requirement from the federal government, and so we need to make sure that that all gets. Purchasing policies and everything are followed to ensure if at all possible that audit that is Being incurred specifically because of those federal funds flowing the city of Sawyer can be paid for by those federal funds Had been talking with the clerk not did never really get an answer from the mayor So I'm just gonna call him directly so that we have enough time to make sure that they hopefully don't get stuck with that expense one of those things that you have to incur when you have federal funds but if the federal funds can pay for it all the better so with that i will stand for questions i don't have any questions i don't either heather i don't have any thank you thank you

This is the official results with that provisional that you guys tallied this morning. The right ends are on the back page, and there's a place for you guys to sign the abstract of votes cast on the last page.

We need a motion.

I suppose.

I'll make a motion. We sign the official results from the election.

I'll second. We move and second. We signed it.

official results from the election all in favor say aye aye opposed same sign motion carried and we'll be um putting all of this to the state today and sending out certifications to all of our members Because winners for precinct, men and women, and then publications, then we're moving on to the general privilege.

You're all right.

You're fine.

Here. I would like to request a 30-minute executive session regarding non-employment. I mean, non-elective personnel.

for for employment for employment yes with myself and gala godfrey yes i'll make a motion we go into executive session for non-elected personnel to discuss employment for 30 minutes with these two lovely ladies i'll second the motion we've moved in second we go into executive session for 30 minutes for non-elected personnel to discuss appraiser employment employment all in favor say aye aye aye

Opposed, same sign. Motion carried.

make a motion to come out of the second session with no action taken second we move in second we come out of executive session no action taken all in favor say aye aye opposed same sign we're back at open session darcy you want to come up yeah hello greetings greetings haven't been in for a while this time it's been in the summer um

I just wanted to kind of give a general overview update. We did just renew with the Pratt County Community College with the Barton County program to have their students come back and to be a site visit for their nursing school students. So we will, we have all that. We just kind of went through that training with them again. We are currently preparing for a family planning site visit. So KDHE will come down and go to all seven counties that are in our coalition and actually only the six counties because Comanche does not do the family planning program right now, but they will come into a site visit on August 25th. It'll be from like 9 to 12 and they will go through all of the policies and procedures and form compliance, just everything that is required of us to do for family planning. And it has been many years since we had our last one. So, and they've, they've had a lot of, they've had a lot of turnover at the state, so they wanted to know if they could do it remote and we're like, it's the site visit. So no, probably not. And then we are doing the PCC back to school event on August 27th. They just kind of welcome back all students. We go out there and just really promote our services and local resources and things like that. And so we also went out and talked to all the RAs. We do that every year, just to make sure all the RAs know all the services that we have available for our students out there. If they need rides or anything, we are offering the free public.

Retribution.

Yep. Yep, that's what we have little vouchers that some students need to come to and from, we can do that. And then we also have in WIC, our NSP, we've always done it in January. And this year they kind of changed the requirements of that. So we are moving that all the way up to September 23rd. So that is the day that we close all day. We have it in service. All the counties come here, like everyone from all the health departments in our seven counties, they will come here and do that. And so that is out of the public safety building. And then I wanted to go over, the grant award amounts that i have this year um this is like the total page and then i just add at the bottom so this is for state formula will be sixteen thousand five hundred forty one that will be thirteen thousand two hundred and ten and then iap which is immunization will be four thousand eight hundred eighty one and then on this post-it These are all aid to locals. Those are two, but since we're not the parent agency, I can't have a paper for that because that goes to Kiowa. So altogether, that total on that page is the total. Yep. So altogether, the total is like 125, 502, 34 in aid to local grants for this 27 state fiscal year.

Is that what you expected or around what you expected?

It's around what I expected, yeah. Because usually there's a formula for everything based off population stuff. And then sometimes there can be like extra funding that you might get like the third or fourth quarter. That's just like a little pocket here or there. And so if there is that, I usually will come and bring it to you guys. Or we'll just move it over to salaries because we spend way more than that on all those programs anyways. That's just what we're getting from the state. And I wanted to give an update on the cyclospheresis. We do have a couple cases here in Pratt County, but when that came here, it wasn't even our request or anything. Colorado was doing all the investigations of it because that's where they found out that it kind of originated from. So as of right now, we have not had to do any of the investigations on the cases. Colorado is now done with that pocket of them. And so, but KDHE is still doing any investigation on any cases of the cyclospheresis here in Pratt. So. that's just kind of like a little that they have out there for if you guys like to read it is on the kansas han like the network things and and that we did back to school i feel like we had a good turnout for the kiddos that were due and so then we'll work with the school just for like their um exclusion date to make sure that everyone gets caught up on the required ones before school starts and then i didn't know if i could ever bring back um Oh, like raise investments that I've mentioned a couple of times before, or if that just needs to be done at a later time, or if I need to go to executive to present that again.

No.

I remember one time we talked about it the second time. I didn't have the paper with me. I had it the first time. I didn't bring it the second time.

It's in with my file from the sheriff's office too.

Okay. Well, I'm just here in time.

We want to do more evidence. We have some better. I brought my health insurance down. Yep, that would help.

OK, that's all I had. I just wanted to give a general update so. OK. Anything for me.

Thank you. Thank you.

Did you see the bridge email?

I did and I forgot to print it. So I guess that'll be next week. Unless I can get it printed and get back. We got our regular or two-year bridge inventory.

And then there's an add-on this year. I seen when they had already sent it to you, so I knew. Yeah, it's the same stuff they always send. I asked because that didn't look like that. But yeah, we can bring it in whenever. Are you guys ready?

Yeah.

not really but we are well we're not really well i didn't want to surprise you but there's some numbers on a greater probably the second from the last page i'll just put it on the last page

$6,000? That's not bad.

So just to reiterate, the one we're getting rid of has got well over $20,000 plus on it.

Is that about what we usually pay? It is about.

I really think it might be about $6,000 higher maybe.

That's not bad. Wow. It's bad, but it could have been a lot worse.

Yeah. For everybody out there, we've got 14 graders.

Yes.

And we replace one every year. They're usually well over 20,000 hours, completely wore out. To rebuild one would be astronomical.

Yes.

And this one's with trade-in is $379,712.56. Well, yeah, I look at that.

If the 20,000 hours, if you drive, say, 50 mile an hour with a vehicle, that's over a million miles on a vehicle.

Oh, yeah. I mean, we get a lot of hours. Yes. Anybody that's curious, I would tell them to go anywhere around in other counties and ask them when they get rid of a grader. I'll bet it's closer to 10,000 to 12,000.

This one's a 2012. In other words, about 14 years old.

I questioned you when I first got on and when you explained to me the number of hours they had. I get it.

I get it too. Cause you know, farmers, you know, we're lucky to put on three, four or 500 hours. Well, we're talking 12 to 1500 hours every year.

Yeah. Cause they run every day for five days a week at least.

And this includes an extended seven year already.

Yep.

Looks like.

That's been pretty standard. Usually gets us maybe through a set of injectors and. Mm-hmm. blower fan motors are pretty common at about five and there's also a regen thing that happens about five to six so we get our warranty back right in there of course you know with emissions they're always yeah something i'll make a motion that we took the bid from foley on a 140

just call it a 140m 140m 140 joy 4br what kind of number is that the 140 cat grader from foley for 379 thousand seven hundred and twelve dollars and fifty six cents second to motion they've moved in second and we

Buy a grader from Foley Equipment for $379,712.56. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carried. We decide it?

Mm-hmm. Guaranteed to be here tomorrow?

Hopefully by the end of the year.

No.

Hopefully.

That's usually how those things work.

They said greater has been going pretty steady. Me. I'll email it back to them. There was only one sitting there, so we're good. So. Hey, gentlemen. We're probably going to start sealing in about two weeks.

It's going to be hot.

Hope it's. I hope it's a little bit cooler, but we were so far behind last year, we want to get rolling. I hope the dry land corn will get out of our way. And maybe, I don't know, there's going to be a little lull in between the dry and the wet that we can get over this.

What did you say?

Cutting something out. Irrigate?

Dry land.

Yeah. I think it's going to go pretty quick.

I don't think they're irrigated. Not more. Yeah.

Well, that's all.

I said something to these guys this morning about traffic on the Hopewell Road and stuff that we need to keep an eye on.

Yep. And we will, but like I said, I don't know until something happens or until.

Yep.

And really, I think the only thing with the amount of traffic that is happening you know we just put down a cold mix overlay with a with a grader you're probably gonna if you want something that's gonna maybe hold up to that kind of traffic we're looking at a hot mix overlay contracted out and we kind of know two and a half mile was a half a million and that's a pretty good stretch Now, obviously, we can, you know, I'd do it in parts like from Byers to Hopewell and then do Byers to 281 separately. But you're still, I mean, 281 to Byers, you're looking at seven miles. Seven miles, yes. And then I think eight on to Hopewell.

You're about right. Eight or nine to get a mile going north.

So...

Yeah. Go up and finish the dairy and put your hands down.

Oh, I just hope it holds up.

Yes. Really ball and just grain or grain.

Most of it's grain. Yeah. So unless anybody's got any ideas, but I think we'll just see how it sticks together. But yeah, it's definitely something we got to keep our eye on. had somebody talk to me about when I'll talk to another guy about the buyer's road from 54 north and she did not realize that there's a plan already to get that widened out a little bit so that's coming in should be 2027 also so that was part of my figures too on the bridge and that because I have to pay a part of that but either way I think that widening was like a 1.1 million dollar deal and our share of it was a hundred and some thousand so it was well worth doing it's just but that gets us 6.6 miles from 54 north which gets the worst of it yeah that steep ditch yep yep it does So that can't seem to come fast enough because people are.

Yeah. Yeah, I get it.

I do too.

We've had your accidents out there where they've dropped off. Yep. Yeah. So we'll get her fixed. It's just a matter.

Yep. It's in the, it's in the stages. Yeah. Yeah.

With all the same ones that go on it.

And it's fine. So it's physically wide enough. It just looks because it's so steep. It's a visual thing and it just, and a lot of truck traffic makes it even worse. You feel like you're scrunched for room, but so yeah, it'll be a great thing, but yeah, it can't come fast enough. But, um, anything else?

I think so.

No. You bring that in next week.

Yeah.

Yeah, they're busy. I mean, they're, they're all, it's not like they're going to get to it today.

Right. Yeah.

No, I just happened to forget it at all.

Well, come on back and answer 6 million emails. So I spaced it off, but it's for the bridge.

Next week. Yeah.

I don't remember later. It'll just be for, like you said, the annual bridge inspection. But it's... Price is going up. There's a one-off.

There's an add-on this year, and I don't remember what it was for, but it's by state statutes.

And there's two reasons. Yeah, I don't remember the one, but the second reason is the state's requiring more checklists.

So... Yeah, but we ought to be one bridge less since we're going to replace it. Shouldn't have to

That's not how that works. It can be brand new and they inspect it if it's on the two-year schedule.

And hope it better pass.

Yeah. No, you don't get away with it.

That's not how that works, Rick. I reckon Michael must have some advocacy going on up there in the beacon.

Job security. Job security. Okay. All right, gentlemen. I'll get out of your hair then. OK, thanks.

Thank you, Doug. Anything on this? INA?

Yeah, I got new quotes for the two additional buttons.

Yep.

they are permanent yep okay so two more buttons oh i'd see where i got wireless never mind that was on the repeater yeah they didn't even know we were looking at yeah gotcha so an extra 705.80 there's two already up there four well two on one side two on the other side on fourth floor yeah yeah there's four total and i'm gonna add it and two more on the other side i don't care it's not as expensive as i thought it was

They probably do them all at the same time. Yeah.

They did email me today asking to do another walkthrough just to be sure that it would all flow and that they knew. So I think I'll just have them schedule it with them. That way they can. Okay.

What do you think, Tom? I think we should do it. Okay.

I'll make a motion to add two more buttons to our INA alert system.

for $705.80 come out of capital approval second the motion been moved and seconded we had two more buttons for 705.80 from INA alert all in favor say aye aye opposed same sign motion carried

Got anything else?

Yeah, I think that was it. Just making sure here.

Make a motion to approve the minutes from August 10th, 2026. Second. Second, we approve the minutes from August 10th, 2026. All in favor say aye. Aye. No, same sign. Motion carried. Do you have anything, Tyson?

I'll just let you guys know I did file the tax foreclosure on Wednesday. I'm already getting a response of people that are going to make an effort to pay, which is good. It'll be pretty slowly in process. What I've been telling people is certainly won't get to sell. The earliest we'll get to sell is December, and it'll probably be later than that.

Got you.

Anything on that rebate?

Uh, not since we communicated last, I think it'll be two weeks this week, maybe tomorrow.

So that's when I talk to him.

Make a motion. We pay the vouchers. Second. Second. We pay the vouchers all in favor. Say aye. Aye. Opposed. Same signs. We'll pay the vouchers.

Barry. I want to be, did we talk about this? I've talked to so many people about it. Uh, briefly. Yeah. Yeah, so I had made contact with the Attorney General's office. They had reached me. They told me if their words were at least two weeks. So, and that would, it'll be three weeks this week. So my plan was to maybe give him another call. Let's see where we're at. Okay.

And I kind of talked to D.J. about construction. You can be a good color on what. Yeah, he's taking pictures. Yeah.

More than he did. We'll get it.

We tried to move that along as fast as we could. Think they're not fixed yet?

It is not. It's in the shop. I don't have an update on that.

Is there a new truck in service yet?

No, we're waiting on... I think they're going to come talk to you about tires next week. I'm getting bids on tires, because the tires are 14 or 15 years old. They're still good rubber, but they're pretty old. And then I think they're going to put it into service next week, from what I understand.

What's the time frame on those, Tom?

Everything ran good yesterday. We didn't have any breakdowns on the fire. Thank you. Okay.

I'll let the government say it. I think it inserts his look to that tanker and everything.

Yeah, I believe so. Yeah, just the radiator and the brackets. That I don't know. I haven't communicated with Gary on what all it got. I know it shoves the bumper into the radiator, but.

Got you.

Yeah, I think they're out looking for water this time of year.

yeah i can see them in the middle of the day yeah i'm just glad they decided to square it up instead of trying to dodge it yeah yeah don't need that very well with a bit could have been totally Or get somebody hurt, yeah. Safety is priority one. You know what you guys have or you have more on the agenda? Alright. Not this time, I don't think so. Next week probably.

If I hear more, I'll put a call on it. Very well. Thank you.

We'll add these to Mary's stack. We're going to add this to Mary's stack.

There's a check here.

There's one separate.

Oh, this is it. This is something that she's had. Yes, that's Mary's.

Did you get the email with the updated minutes?

I did. OK, thank you.

I forgot there was going to be more to that when I sent it.

That was the winner of each song. You're welcome. those non-compliance those need signed yet let's just say those were some of those those are the ones you know those should already be signed oh okay those were from the payable oh okay they're back to me okay i just knew you laid them up yes yep so i didn't forget it I'll be there in a little bit. Take your time. Can't read it anyhow, so.

anything else it's uh it's just yeah