Commissioner Proceedings 12/12/23

January 4, 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.  
Maggie Figurilli, Register of Deeds entered the meeting.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Townsend at 8:30 a.m. 
Warrants # 30435 - 30486 in the amount of $ 65,372.66 were approved for payment. Payroll warrants in the amount of $ 58,062.53 for the working period of November 12, 2023 through November 25, 2023 were approved for payment. 
Maggie wanted to update the commissioners on the camera that she purchased middle of this year. The camera roughly cost $1,300.00 and Maggie has already made roughly $900.00. The word about Maggie being able to take pictures for concealed carry licenses and passports has gotten around the county and also other counties. The service has been greatly utilized.
Maggie and Commissioner Larson gave a brief overview on the Kansas Association of Counties meeting they and Tonya Medina attended last week. Maggie and Commissioner Larson thought that the meeting was very beneficial, and they gained a lot of knowledge. 
JoAnna Basgall, Deputy Appraiser entered the meeting.
JoAnna handed the commissioners a letter of resignation. The commissioners thanked JoAnna for all that she has done and wish her well.
Commissioner Cowles said that somebody had approached him showing interest in redoing the pool.  
Duane Barber, Building and Grounds entered the meeting.
Anthony Garcia, Road and Bridge Supervisor entered the meeting.
The culvert on Nighthawk has been completed. Most of the issues that were addressed at the last meeting have been fixed. FEMA is coming to Wallace County to discuss the storms over the summer. An issue was brought up to one of the commissioners about Road 9 and Crosswinds having no signage at the intersection. Anthony was able to get pricing on AS-1; $34.00 a ton if the county employees go get it and $69.00 a ton if the company delivers it. 
Doug Springsteel, Landfill Supervisor entered the meeting.
The iron pile has been picked up. Doug is going to plant some grass seed where he was burying trash. Doug has not received any backlash on the hours changing. 
Tonya Medina, Health Department Nurse and Administrator entered the meeting. 
The commissioners don’t really want to sign up for the machine maintenance agreement. Tonya will keep using the machine until it breaks and then she will see how much it costs to repair.
Maggie Figurilli re-entered the meeting. 
The commissioners would like Tonya to continue to watch her overtime. Tonya wanted to remind the commissioners that she is doing 2 and a half people’s jobs when it used to be 2 full time people. The commissioners ask Tonya to prioritize the meetings she needs to attend. Kriss Wahlmeier will cover the Health Department on most Fridays from 8:00 am to noon.
Chairman Townsend gave an update of Kansas Natural Resource Coalition. KNRC’s next project is the 30X30. So far KNRC has 29 or 30 counties that are going to participate. Each county that participates will pay $5,000.00 The lawsuit has been filed in federal court in Texas against U.S. Wildlife after they listed the lesser-prairie chicken as endangered.
Chairman Townsend and Clerk Colvin had talked to James Gambrell, KCAMP representative on the phone last week. James had said if the county retains the salvage vehicle, 2 companies will need to bid and then the county can buy it back for $1.00 more. The county will be able to only have liability insurance on the vehicle. The commissioners want to make sure that James knows that the county wants to retain the vehicle and repair it at Holm Automotive because it is already there.
Clerk Colvin asked for any updates on the repairing of the Senior Center Shed and the County Storage building. The commissioners did not have any new updates. James Gambrell told Clerk Colvin that each claim has a 2-year limit to have everything completed. 
Marshall Unruh, Sheriff entered the meeting. 
FEMA will be back on December 20th to meet with Marshall and Anthony. Ronnie Cloyd has given his resignation to Marshall and Ronnies last day is December 31, 2023.
Commissioner Cowles moved to approve the November 28, 2023, minutes. Commissioner Larson seconded. AYE 3 NAY 0. The motion carried unanimously.
Brodie Poe and Raya Wagoner entered the meeting. 
Clerk Colvin will get ahold of Pest Away to start spraying the recreation center. 
Ronnie Cloyd entered the meeting.
The commissioners appreciate Ronnie’s service to the Sheriff’s Office and Rec Director. 
Brodie submitted her resignation to the Rec Board earlier this fall. The rec board will have a new president and director at the start of the year. As of this morning, there are 40 members. They had 2 renewals over the weekend and 1 new member. Hollie is working on putting on an adult basketball tournament. Raya and Hollie are working on youth basketball fundamentals camp. The keypad is causing some issues, but the rec board is trying to get it resolved. 
Wendy Dunagan, Appraiser entered the meeting. 
Commissioner Larson moved to go into Executive Session for NON- ELECTED personnel and invited in are the 3 commissioners, Wendy Dunagan, and Clerk Colvin at 11:52 am for 10 minutes. Return at 12:02 pm. Commissioner Cowles seconded.                                         
Returned to regular session at 12:02 pm.  No action was taken.
Recess at 12:15 pm.
Lissa Sexson, Wallace County Community Development entered the meeting.
Reconvene at 1:05 pm.
Wallace County did not receive the SEED Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce. Lissa is waiting for 5 people to complete their housing incentives and then all the open projects have been completed. The incentive is still available. 3 of the Storefront and Signage incentives need to be completed. 
Eileen Porubsky, Hope Springs Administrator, entered the meeting. 
The commissioners asked Lissa if Eileen could give an update and then they will finish with Lissa. Lissa was accepting of that.
The whirlpool spa has been installed and the residents and staff love it. 12 residents get a bath each morning in the new spa. 2 of the halls are full of residents. Currently Hope Springs has 24 residents. The Wanderguard is still not fixed. Somebody should be out to fix the Wanderguard on December 18. Eileen gave the commissioners their “want” list for 2024. They would like the commissioners to replace the worn equipment as follows; 2 new beds, 6 lift chairs, and 30 dining room chairs.
Lissa is still working with D&H Homes to price modulars to move into Wallace County for childcare. Lissa will continue to work hard on trying to get something in the works for childcare. Wallace County has been approved for MakeMyMove. MakeMyMove is a marketplace that connects remote workers and other work-from-home talent with communities that are attracting new residents.
Clerk Colvin presented a maintenance agreement from Kimble Mapping, Inc. on behalf of the Appraiser’s office. Kimble Mapping, Inc does all of the mapping for Wallace County. The commissioners agree that this is a service we need. The commissioners signed the maintenance agreement.
Clerk Colvin had been contacted by INA alert, a security company, checking to see of the county needed anything. The sales representative said that a while back, the county discussed panic buttons in the offices of the Courthouse. He wanted to see if any more discussion was had. This topic was tabled and will be discussed at the next meeting.
Wendy Dunagan re-entered the meeting.
PVD changed their compliance and that means that all counties were supposed to be using Price Digest. Wallace County was not using Price Digest and that is what caused a jump in values and taxes. 
Clerk Colvin presented abatement orders 2023-00001 through 2023-00011, 2023-00013, and 2023-00014 totaling $14,552.54 and add orders 2023-00012 totaling $49.16. 
Chairman Townsend makes a motion to approve abatement orders 2023-00001 through 2023-00011, 2023-00013, and 2023-00014 totaling $14,552.54 and add orders 2023-00012 totaling $49.16. Commissioner Cowles seconded. 
Clerk Colvin had been approached by a few department heads about being closed to the public in the afternoon of December 29, 2023. This would allow the departments to close out the year and get everything completed before coming back January 2, 2024. The commissioners thought that was a good idea and will allow the courthouse offices to be closed to the public in the afternoon of December 29th to close out the year.
Chairman Townsend makes a motion to approve January 1, 2024, as a holiday celebrating New Years. All county business will resume on the 2nd of January. Commissioner Larson seconded. AYE 3 NAY 0. The motion carried unanimously.
Raises will be discussed at the next meeting. The Employee Handbook will be looked at January 9th.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 3:48 pm. 

ATTEST:

Brionna Colvin, County Clerk

Larry Townsend, Chairman

Becky Larson, Commissioner                                                                        

Michael Cowles, Commissioner