Commission - Regular Meeting

We'll start with the pledge of allegiance. 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. Good morning everyone and welcome to the Shaune County Board of County Commissioners. It's April 23rd, 2026. On my far left is Lisa Schmidt, our county clerk. Good morning.

Rich Eard, our county counselor on the far right. And to my immediate right is Kevin Cook, who is a c county commissioner for district 2. I'm Bill Ripon and I represent district 1. So Lisa, what's first? First item on the agenda is item three, consent agenda. I would move that we approve the consent agenda. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Motion carries to zero. Next item.

Next item is item four, new business. A county clerk one. Consider all voucher payments. We have vouchers that total 3,330,95160. The significant highlights out of that voucher report is $139,915 to Fairway IQ Incorporated for golf software subscription. That's paid paid by the golf course funds. $84,830 to Samco for repairs to the HVAC at the health department and that's paid by the equipment fund. $911,689.31 to KBS constructors for progress payment made on the mental health facility at the adult detention center and that's paid with project funds. We also had allocations of $112,500 or well sorry $11,250. We had holding accounts with the state of Kansas of $214,59823 and health insurance premiums for our employees of $616,63763. I don't have any questions regarding the vouchers would move for their approval.

Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries two. Next two, consider correction orders. I'll move that we approve the correction orders. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries. 200. Next item,

B. Bond Council one public hearing and consider approval of resolution number R2026042 expressing the intent of the board to issue Shauny County, Kansas taxable industrial revenue bonds and approving and authorizing the execution and delivery of a bond trust indenture a base lease and lease agreement with Resource Housing Group Incorporated.

Good morning Bob Perry. Um, this would involve the issuance of industrial revenue bonds to finance the construction and equipping of a built 42 plus or minus uh unit multifamily affordable housing facilities. They're to be located just northwest of the 37th engage intersection um which from reading quickly the home rule resolution which is on the agenda for first reading today would not comply. uh when I think that's necessary to be in the record. Uh this project and the application were filed a couple weeks ago and I filed or had the Lisa's office published notice of hearing and the April 13th metro news and we've mailed copy or Lisa's office has mailed copies of the notice to the city of Topeka and USD501.

Yes. So, is it your do we need to delay taking action on this? Until you do the second reading and it's published, the home rule resolution is not effective. And if you wish to delay it, that's up to you. And we'd have to seek a waiver for this should you want to grant it. That's wholly up to how you all want to proceed. Can Can we have a public hearing without Yeah, because he has a a chance. We're talking about Commissioner Mays. Commissioner Mace would have a chance to have his comments after the public hearing. So that's fine. Okay. I just want to make sure that we didn't vote today without Commissioner Mace being here. Okay.

And I wanted the record to be clear of where this is located and what you may be doing is not going to be in compliance. It was started before this was here, but whether you want it to be compliant with the waiver is up to you. That procedure will require me to come back to with a resolution when a waiver, which I'd be glad to do. Why don't we do that just to be compliant? Okay. Is it okay with you, Rich? Yeah. Okay. All right. We'll do that. So, why don't you uh let's move it on and I'll do a new resolution with the express waiver of the home rule resolution. When do you want to have

But we have to close it. We have to complete the public hearing and close it. So, we can proceed with bonds should that occur. So, I'm confused. We need to Do you want to have the public hearing today or do you want to wait until next week? Maybe we should just defer it till next week. I think that's wise. Okay. Okay. With a new notice and mailing, we'll be fine. I I'll take care of it. Okay. Okay. Okay. Thank you guys. Motion to defer for one week. Second. Motion and made by Commissioner Cook. Second by Commissioner Ripon. All

don't want to interrupt, but one week's not enough. Start over the resolution. requirement has to be published in mail no less than seven days before you all consider it on Mondays seven day excuse me publish on Mondays seven days is the next Monday you act on Thursdays so I don't have time for the publication I just come back after I get it all done and reset and I'll talk with the developer all the same page okay thanks Oh I forgot. Pardon my French. I apologize.

The remarks of a man who's almost retired for the developer Patrick to comply with his applications for the lowincome housing tax credits and which are both federal and state which will provide a significant amount of equity to the financing of this project. We should have the resolution of intent passed and approved today. Otherwise, he's going to miss his deadline. It's May 15 for my memory. with the Department of Housing and Commerce. This was started a while back. So, this was started way before the resolution, home rule resolution came onto the agenda. So, you want to do the public hearing today, but the commissioner still won't vote. This is a first reading. No, no, no. they will vote

because he needs he needs a commitment from the county to issue the bonds to comply with some requirements on the lowincome housing tax credits which basically provide us the leverage in order to make this project feasible. If I can commissioner I would move that we take a recess for five minutes for the bond council county counselor and developer to talk for just a moment. So if we could take a fivem minute recess. Is that a motion? That's a motion. I'll second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Motion carries two to zero. That brings us back at 9:12. Okay, 912.

Are we back? We got one minute. No. 30 seconds. 40 seconds. Anybody want to hear a 30 second joke? 35 34 All right, we're back.

Good morning, commissioners. Rich Eert, County Counselor. So, I have a a uh explanation and then a boon to ask. Uh I think we should do the public hearing today, open it, have the public hearing, close it. Then I think we need to defer this to Monday, which means that we will need to wave our uh administrative resolution that we passed at the start of the year and allow this matter to be voted on on Monday. And then we're hopeful that Commissioner Mays will be here on Monday. If not, let's ride. Okay. All right.

But you will have to wave. You'll have to have a motion to open public hearing, motion to close it, motion to move this matter to Monday, and wave our administrative resolution and have a vote on Monday, and then we'll have to put it on the agenda. Okay. Clear as mud. Clear. All right. Are we ready to go to a hearing then? Right now? Yes, please. Okay. I'll move that we uh we uh start our public hearing. Open the public hearing. Open the public hearing. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries two. All right.

All right. I'll be revise the resolution to reflect the waiverss. And if it passes, it passes. If not, we'll know Monday. Okay. Is there anybody speaking for the Anyone uh wishing to uh speak in favor of this uh of this uh of this bond issue opposed? Seeing none, uh I would move that we close the hearing at this time. Second. Motion's made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries. two zero. Thank you, gentlemen.

Commissioner Ripon, I would move that we defer taking a final action on this until Monday the 27th. I'll second. And that we're waving our Can we do that at the same time? Yeah, you can do that. You're going to wave your organizational home rule resolution. Waving your organizational home rule resolution. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries to zero. Thank you. Next item.

Next item. Item C. Solid waste one. Consider approval of request to award bid to bury material handling for the purchase of one class one electric motor rider counterbalanced lift truck in the amount of $46,700 utilizing the solid waste operational fund which is 100% user fee funded and not taxpayer supported. Good morning, commissioners. Billside of Shauny County Solid Waste. That is a big fancy name for an electric forklift. Uh plain and simple. Uh so we went out for bid uh for electric forklift to be used inside the facility of the HHW when they're loading out drums uh of the material that they take. Uh we had a very specific set of requirements. Uh we received four bids back. Uh and of those four bids, uh the low bid was the wrong size machine, so it got discounted automatically. Uh the other three bids had some various uh lead times. So we are asking to award this to Barry material handling. Uh it is the most responsive bid and is $46,700 and of course 100% user fee funded with no tax dollars used.

Subject to your questions, gentlemen. Questions? Nope. I'll move for approval. I'll second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries two. Thank you. Thank you, Bill. Next item. D, Department of Corrections. One, consider approval of contract C2026156 with Waldinger Corporation to provide one year of maintenance for HVAC controls within the adult detention center at a cost of $6,252 to be paid from the fiscal year 2026 detention budget.

Good morning, commissioners. Tim Phelps, Department of Corrections. This is our annual process of uh keeping our HVAC control system in the original jail up and running smoothly. And so um I would be happy to answer any questions you have. Questions? I would move for approval. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries two. Thank you. Thank you. Next item,

two, request approval of the fiscical year 27 behavioral health services funding grant application contract C2026 under HB2021 to the Department of Corrections for the Juvenile Detention Center in the amount of $356,6820. Good morning, Commissioners. Angela Mccardi um uh Department of Corrections requesting an approval of the juvenile detention cent's grant application for the behavioral health services funding through the Kansas Department of Corrections. This will be our third year to receive this funding which was mandated through House Bill 2021 requiring that detention centers um set up systems for assessments, case plans, and then provide behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. These funds will cover the cost of our care coordinator position uh and two contracts with ASTRA and uh the CKF addiction treatment inc to provide the behavioral health and substance use disorder assessments and treatment. I'll stand for any questions you have.

Is there any match with No match? Okay. Questions? No. But I move for approval. I'll second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries two zero. Next item. Thank you. Three. Consider approval of contract C206157 with Astra Mental Health and Recovery in the Juvenile Detention Center to provide behavioral health and substance use consultations, assessments, and treatment services to the juvenile population. Funded through state grant funds.

Angela McCarti, Department of Corrections. um requesting approval of the contract with Astra mental health and recovery to provide behavioral health to provide a behavioral health provider uh to the juvenile detention center. Currently, Astra provides they facilitate consultations, assessments, and treatment services to the youth in detention. This will be our third year um under this contract. Well, this is a new contract, but third year with this contract. And again, the cost of this contract will be funded through the KDOC state grant funds. No cost to the county. So, I'll stand for any questions. You have questions? I'll move for approval. Second.

Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries. 20. Next.

Four. Consider approval of contract C2026158 with CKF Addiction Treatment Center Incorporated in the Juvenile Detention Center to provide a peer mentor on site to provide substance use disorder programming funded through state grant funds. Angela McCarti, Department of Corrections, requesting approval of the contract for CF with CF CKF addiction treatment to provide the peer mentor, facilitate consultations, assessments, individual and group treatment services to the youth in the juvenile detention center. This is a new program that we're trying to do with CKF and the juvenile detention center. Um, it is contingent on if the state grant funds are approved through that uh application. I just talked about earlier. Um so but the contracts for this this contract and the contract for Astra have to be submitted with the grant application. Um if KDOC approves the funds for this program, the cost of it is 75,280 and there will be no cost to the county for this. Again, if we don't receive the grant funds, then we won't we can't do this program.

When will when will we know if we've received the grant? Uh, the grant applications are due May 31st, so we should know shortly after that. All right. Um, I would move for approval. Second. Motions made by Commissioner Rupon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries. 200. Thank you. Thank you. Next item.

E, Public Works one. Consider awarding Vance Brothers LLC's bid for up to 250,000 gallons of RS-1HM road oil for purchase in 2026 at a unit cost of $2.74 per gallon and a potential maximum expenditure of 685,000. Funding will depend on where the material is being used.

Good morning, commissioners. Curtney House, director of public works. This is just our annual request for chip seal uh road road oil. Uh we're going to pay quite a bit more this year due to the uncertainty in the world uh oil markets. Uh we did delay uh closing this um RF RFP for approximately 30 days hoping that the world situation would stabilize but it hasn't and it doesn't look like it's going to anytime soon. We need to get started on these chip seals. So, uh, I'm requesting that you approve this price of 200 $2.74 per gallon. I look forward to your questions.

Questions? I would move for approval. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries. 20. Next. Two. Consider approval of K. Shauny County agreement 1 195-26 for construction engineering services on KOT project 89C-5319-01 a non-geeometric improvement project on northwest 42nd Street at Northwest Rosville and Northwest Carlson roads

curtain house director of public works this is just a standard agreement with KDA that um we've already had an agreement that the project funds will be split that 9010 um up to a maximum that the state will pay. Um this just is an extension or a corlary of that that just says that for CE services uh the same thing will happen and then there's some additional requirements in there. Um it's just standard K dot uh contract. Um and with that I look forward to your questions. Move for approval.

Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries. 20. Thank you. Thank. Next item. F. Parks and Recreation. One, consider approval of contract C206161 with Aspiretoplay LLC via the Greenbush Purchasing Cooperative for play equipment at Boswell Park at a cost of $278,654 from county CIP funds.

Good morning, commissioners. Dim Lent, director, parks and recreation department. So, yes, this, as the clerk mentioned, we're replacing the playground equipment at Boswell Park. um not to give you a history lesson, but we were scheduled to do this probably 5 years ago and then uh the ownership question came into play. So, we're just now finally getting to it and we're we're happy to be up here doing it. Uh this is not just for new playground equipment. This is for the equipment uh the installation, the removal of the old equipment and also the safety surfacing that will surround the equipment. Uh once this portion is well, we will actually have to go in and do the concrete curbing and we're going to extend a sidewalk uh to the playground area to make sure that all of this is accessible, the equipment is accessible. And uh with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions that you might have.

Questions? I would uh move for approval. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries. 20. Next item.

Two, consider approval of contract C2026162 with Polygon using the Sourcewell Purchasing Cooperative for the purchase of an open air shelter at Playland at a cost of $67,843 from Gage Park sales tax funds. Tim Lurren, director, parks and recreation department. This is part of our uh ongoing renovation of Playland. This will be a relatively large Goodsiz shelter that will provide shade and other place uh for people to sit while they're enjoying Playland. Uh we we will also make this rentable. So there will be times people will rent it for birthday parties and other things. We think it'll be very popular. Um, we will go in and put the concrete pad down and uh do installation. So, we'll probably be back up for a portion of that. Um, this is just for the shelter itself. So, be happy to answer any questions.

Questions? I'll move for approval. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries. 200. Next item. Three. Consider approval to reclassify an accountant one position to an accountant two starting at range 17 step one with the administrative division. Compensation starts at $284 per hour or $81,923.56 annually including benefits.

Good morning commissioners. Jess Raw Parks and Recreation. Um we would like to move forward with reclassifying the accountant one to an accountant two position. Uh we had a retirement in this division recently and uh after analyzing operations we we think taking on some of the duties from that retirement would be best suited for this position. So I did talk with human resources and audit finance and I have their support. So with that I'd be happy to answer any questions questions. I would move for approval. Second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ripon, seconded by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries two. Next item,

G. County Counselor one, first reading. Consider approval of home rule resolution number HR20260002 amending home rule resolution numbers 81-4 and 84-16 establishing policies and procedures for the in issuance of industrial revenue bonds pursuant to KSA121740 ETSQ commissioners the resolution in in front of you makes two changes to our existing resolutions um So therefore, there are two ideas behind it. The first idea is one proposed by Commissioner Maize, who's obviously not here today. So I'm a bit hesitant. I can tell you what it does, but I I'm not going to speak to Commissioner Maize's reasoning. What it does is is that if you come in for an IRB for a multifamily housing project, the li this resolution, the home resolution limits you if you want to access our IRB system to placing that multifamily housing unit in an area that the city of Topeka has designated to be part of their neighborhood revitalization area. And there's a map that's attached and over time we'll have to update it as the city of Topeka's map changes. But that's the functional part of that. If you have any questions, I'll be glad to help you. But this is a Commissioner May's idea. This is a first reading, so it doesn't you don't have to vote on it today. So we can certainly u have Commissioner Mays talk further about this issue uh next week. The second idea um is I'll I'll take credit for it. It's raising fees. Someone has to do it. Our fees for IRBs has not changed uh since I believe 1984. So, it would seem like something that we should update particularly with increased activity uh in the economic

development front that we're looking at in many many things to come that we know that's in the pipeline. And IRB while we do have outside counsel on this, it still touches a number of departments. I'm almost to the point now where I'm talking or emailing weekly with Robert Perry. I know the county clerk has a lot of things to do. It even touches our appraisers's office because as you know when an IRB is completed uh the legal title to the property passes to Shauny County. So our appraiser records have to reflect it, county clerk has to reflect it and then we all together sort of we we track we track them. Then there are renewals and we track those as well. So the if you remember right we changed our fees for the EDXs and this now matches that and I might also add that this also matches the city of Topeka's fees. Right? So there's kind of now uniformity across the board here. And I will say that you can't just set these fees at a at a high amount and walk away. They do have to be justified. And as a matter of fact, there's a lawsuit right now over um it's either Douglas County or City of Lawrence over the fees that they set in their solar regulations. So, it does get litigated. So, we do have to be careful. So, yes, I would like to have a $50,000 fee, but we do have to justify where we got from. And I think it's the $4,000 is probably still low quite frankly, but we can justify it easily to anyone. So, that's where we're at today. And like I said, this is a first reading. Okay. Is this I realize it's first reading, but will will it require all three of us to vote on this?

No. Okay.

Well, we're second reading then next Thursday. Yeah. Yeah. Is that a motion? Well, it doesn't need a motion. Yeah, we don't need one for this. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next item. Next item is H, Commission One, Doug May's resignation letter from the position of clerk of the Mission Township Board. All right. Um, I guess I will acknowledge his resignation. I'll second the acknowledgement of the resignation. Motion's been made by Commissioner Ribon, second by Commissioner Cook. All in favor say I. Those opposed. Motion carries two. Commissioner Ribon.

Yes. as typically is our pattern or practice. Um we would accept applications for that position. Uh typically we have it on a 30-day basis that people can submit their applications. That means that they would need to have their applications into the clerk's office no later than May the 21st. Okay. For consideration. All right. With action being taken on the 28th. So is that your motion? That would be my motion. I'll second. Motion's been made by Commissioner Cook, second by Commissioner Ripon. All in favor say I. Opposed. Motion carries. 20. Next item. Next item is item five, public comment.

I don't have anyone signed up, but if there's someone who'd like to speak the public, seeing none, uh, next item.

Item six is administrative communications. Morning, commissioners. Asha Gilin with Parks and Recreation. Uh, I would like to acknowledge that tomorrow parks and recreation will be celebrating Arbor Day. We will have Commissioner Ripon as well as Director Tim Lorent out at Gage Park near Doran Rock Garden and Conservatory Drive planting some trees. Uh, to help acknowledge this, trees play a huge role in our ecosystem and our urban forest was something we're very proud about. Uh while we're only planting a couple trees tomorrow, we will be planting 30 additional trees throughout the spring and we recently had Tom Hammer uh insert about 30 saplings in our nursery which will be growing and be ready to plant in a few years. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

Very good. The rain might soften up the ground for you, Commissioner. It would be good. I I've been told that they will do a lot of work. This won't be heavy manual labor and they will have clean shovels.

Very good. Good morning, commissioners. Susan Duffy, Shauny County Treasurer. I just want to remind our citizens that property taxes, the second half is due on Monday, May 11th. Normally, it's May 10th. That falls on Sunday. So, you get an extra day there. Um we're about 123 million um waiting for that to come in. Uh about 4 million of that from the first half, the balance from the second half. This lines up with last year as well. But just to remind folks, they can come to the dropbox between the city hall and courthouse, drop it off there, actually walk into our office, drop it off, go online, just go to the Shauny County Treasures website and it's right there on the front page. It's very simple and easy. Um, you can go by our office at 5938 West 17th, our uh, motor vehicle office, and drop off your check. We will mail you a receipt. So, um, please get your payment in and make sure that if you are mailing it, it is postmarked on May 11th. Thank you.

Thank you. Kurt E House, director of public works. Just a reminder that Monday, Calhoun Bluff Road will be closed due to the removal of a bridge and its replacement with a small covert. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else? Commissioner Cook, I don't know that I have anything to announce. Do you? I don't think I have anything else to add. So, what's next? Next on the agenda is item seven, executive session. We do not have a need for executive session, so we're adjourned.