Commissioner Proceedings 11/14/23

January 2, 2024

The Wallace County Board of Commissioners met in regular session with, Larry Townsend, Chairman, Michael Cowles, Commissioner, Becky Larson, Commissioner, and Brionna Colvin, County Clerk present.  
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Townsend at 8:30 a.m. 
Warrants # 30314 - 30357 in the amount of $ 153,432.91 were approved for payment. Payroll 
warrants in the amount of $ 59,065.84 for the working period of October 15, 2023 through October 28, 2023 were approved for payment. 
Chairman Townsend has talked to Kale Cox about the ad in the paper to repair the senior center siding due to no bids being turned in. Kale had not seen the bids in the paper to fix the senior center. Chairman Townsend thinks that Kale seems very interested. Chairman Townsend will ask him if he is interested in doing the storage building. 
Kathy McDaniel has discussed with Commissioner Cowles about putting more lights on the outside of the building at the Senior Center. The senior center airs the out-of-town ball games on open spaces for people to watch.
Duane Barber, Building and Grounds Supervisor entered the meeting.
Clerk Colvin presented Alice Cutrights resignation letter from cleaning the Courthouse. The commissioners would like to advertise for a janitor to clean the courthouse. Anyone that submits a bid can view the previous schedule and expectation sheet in the clerk’s office. Bids will be accepted until December 21st. If need be, bids will be extended.
Duane contacted Martinek Metal Works about the door at the cab building. Martinek still has it on his list to do. Commissioner Larson said that the north door on the cab building has a bad hinge. The commissioners would like to tour the cab building and make sure that everything is working okay. 
Anthony Garcia, Road and Bridge Supervisor entered the meeting.
Deer Draw road has been fixed. Anthony says his department is almost completed with the mowing. 3 blades are currently working on a culvert on Nighthawk Road. They are building the road up and then hoping for moisture this weekend so that the culvert can be placed next week. At the beginning of 2024 the road department will be going to Ness City to start hauling AS-1. Commissioner Larson told Anthony of a complaint she received this weekend on Zigzag due to a hole. Anthony will go take a look and get that fixed.
Doug Springsteel, Landfill supervisor entered the meeting.
Doug has 2 or 3 loads of iron that will be crushed this week or next. Doug is liking the new trench. Doug also thinks that the new hours have been a good change. No complaints of the new hours. Doug has not gotten his certification. If the training is close to Wallace County and one day, he will attend. The training this past October was in Mulvane for 3 days. The equipment is working well. 
Bills were presented and approved for payment.
Alice Cutright entered the meeting.
The commissioners expressed their gratitude and thankfulness for all the hard work and great work she has done over the last 16 years.
Chairman Townsend removed himself from the meeting. 
Clerk Colvin presented Christmas party bids from Townsend Tavern. 
Marshall Unruh, Wallace County Sheriff entered the meeting. 
Commissioner Cowles makes a motion to accept Townsend Taverns bid for the Wallace County employee Christmas party. Commissioner Larson seconded.  AYE 2 NAY 0.
The motion carried unanimously.
Lynn Kirkham entered the meeting. 
Lynn would like to put a light in front of the Senior Center to help light up the sidewalk and curb. Lynn would like it to be hooked up to a switch. He would also like to put an outlet so that they can put Christmas lights up. Clerk Colvin will get a hold of Stateline and have them get a hold of Lynn Kirkham or Larry McDaniels to get the light and outlet scheduled.
Marshall gave a quick update on the road construction by Wallace. Marshall has talked to KCAMP about some example policies for the handbook that he would like to see changed. 
Theresa Dasenbrock and Madison Strecker, Auditors from Lewis, Hooper, and Dick entered the meeting. 
Discussion of year end and beginning of 2024 was had. Discussion about the future Economic Development Director was had.
Tonya Medina, Health Nurse and Health Administrator entered the meeting. 
The health department has a Cepheid machine, and it can test for COVID, RSV and the flu. Tonya would like to get a yearly service agreement for $4,082.90 to keep the machine under warranty. The company will waive the reinstatement fee for $5,000 due to the agreement expiring last year. This topic was tabled.
Tonya has signed up for college classes to begin in the Spring semester. Tonya will use a continuing education grant that she has been approved for that is specified to the county health offices. Tonya also applied for and received a scholarship for $700.00. The bill for her 1 spring semester is $2,213.32 and is due January 7, 2024. The total for 3 years of schooling is $17,478.72. The grant money will be here in December. 
Medina farms’ water well dried up a couple weeks ago. The Medinas have gotten permission from the waterboard in Weskan to hook up next to their cemetery. Tonya will bring a written request and Clerk Colvin will look to see what the county has to do on our part. 
Chairman Townsend makes a motion to allow Brian and Tonya Medina to the have access to county’s easement east of Weskan for a water line. Commissioner Larson seconded. AYE  3 NAY 0.
The motion carried unanimously.
Recess at 12:13 pm.
Lissa Sexson, Community Development Director, entered the meeting.
Reconvene at 1:03 pm.
All housing incentives are still open and available. The storefront and signage grant is closed. The hiring incentive has been released to the public, with one application already submitted. The first round of applications will be reviewed in December. 
Commissioner Larson moved to approve the October 31, 2023 minutes as amended. Commissioner Cowles seconded.  AYE 3  NAY 0.
Eileen Porubsky, Hope Springs entered the meeting via phone call.
The Wanderguard is not functioning properly. The front doors are working properly, but 2 back doors are not functioning at all. An estimate was presented from Alliance Monitoring Technologies. Clerk Colvin will call Alliance to get the tax removed. 23 out of the 24 beds are full. Everything is going well and the waiver program is moving forward.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 3:42 pm.

ATTEST:

Brionna Colvin, County Clerk

Larry Townsend, Chairman

Becky Larson, Commissioner                                                                                  

Michael Cowles, Commissioner