Commissioner Proceedings 1/28/25

March 6, 2025

The Wallace County Board of Commissioners met in regular session with, Becky Larson, Chairperson, Will Walker, Commissioner, Brian Gailey, Commissioner, and Micaila Lock, County Clerk present.   
Warrants # 32270- 32332 in the amount of $ 284,702.44 were approved for payment. Payroll warrants in the amount of $129,915.85 for the working period of January 5, 2025, through January 18, 2025 were approved for payment. 
Bob Bolen, Noxious Weed / Prairie Dog Supervisor entered the meeting 
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Larson for business at 8:30 a.m. 
Bob presented a KDOT contract to spray the State ditches for 100% chemical cost and labor. $ 80.00 per hour for equipment and $ 60.00 for operator.
Commissioner Walker made a motion to raise the rates to $80.00 and $60.00 for the hourly rate on equipment and labor. Commissioner Gailey seconded the motion
AYE 3 NAY 0
Commissioner Gailey made a motion to approve January 14th, 2025, minutes as amended. Commissioner Walker seconded. AYE 3 NAY 0
Paulette Unruh, Ambulance Director, entered the meeting.
Paulette discussed the ambulance runs for 2024 along with discussing getting new tires for the ambulances that way they do not have a blow out on a run again. She also discussed that they are fixing to have inspections for all the ambulance. 
Commissioner Walker discussed the Buick needing more work done and Herls in Goodland and it goes on Monday February 3rd.
Anthony Garcia, Road and Bridge Supervisor entered the meeting.
Mark Polifka, Representative from Foley Equipment Company, entered the meeting.
Mark discussed the rebuilding on a grader that is pre DEF. They give the final dollar figure and if the rebuild costs more than the final Foley will hold true to the estiment. Powertrain needs a rebuild of one of the county road graders. Any time that they do a rebuild they put in new joysticks to make sure that they are Insync with the transmission and powertrain.
Anthony discussed with the commissioner on what they are looking at with rebuild. Also discussed getting some pay back from the landfill on the loader to the road department.  
Doug Springsteel, Landfill supervisor, entered the meeting 
Doug gave updates on the recycling bins. He also discussed the new tires on his pickup and the tires that have been picked up. He called the iron guy to come pick it up. Gave update on all the equipment at the landfill.
Marshall Unruh, Sherriff entered the meeting.
Marshall gave updates the department discussed with the commissioners one the pipeline that is coming through Wallace County. He brought up the road signs for road 26 and 6 to stop heavy trucks  
Austin Hawkins and Caitlin Hammond representing Wallace County Foundation entered the meeting.
 Austin discussed how the foundation bought the lot right next to senior center and they talked to Lissa about grants for putting up a building that could house a few different businesses. They talked about getting a grant for a senior center to put gutters on the south side of the Building. 
Maggie Figurilli, Register of Deeds, entered the meeting
Maggie discussed tax exemption cards and having two copies in the clerk’s office for non-elected department heads that can use them if they need them.
Charles Moser, County Attorney, entered the meeting. 
Charles Moser discussed Kansas open meeting act. He gave updates on some cases that are still on going. 
He sent the new revised sand contract. Discussed Kansas open recorded acts on what commissioners can and cannot look at, but they can make a motion for one commissioner to go through certain files. Commissioners can be in the same location at the same time if they do not talk about county business. He discussed the executive session and how they need to be ran. If there is an open meeting act that is broken, he had to make a presentation to make sure that the open meeting act is not broken again. 
Brad and Eileen Porubsky, Hope springs entered the meeting.
Eileen discussed the chairs for the hope springs and gave an update on the new stove and oven. More discussion on the chairs, Brad and Eileen could buy one of each chair to test the chairs out to ensure that they are exactly what they want and if the residents and staff like them.
Christine Smith, County Treasurer, entered the meeting.
Christine discussed the county having 3 certificates of deposits at the bank. Totaling 5 million dollars. Christine’s recommendation is to leave the CDs at the same duration. The commissioners want to leave everything as is and renew the CD’s.
Lance Finley Undersheriff entered the meeting. 
Lance discussed a policy on the 125 Cafeteria and flexible spending plan. He brough up prediem for meals 

RESOLUTION 2025-01
WHEREAS Wallace County, Kansas has determined that the financial statements and financial reports for the year ended December 31, 2024, to be prepared in conformity with the requirements of K.S.A. 75-1120a (a) are not relevant to the requirements of the cash basis and budget laws of this State and are of no significant value to the Board of County Commissioners or the members of the general public of Wallace County, Kansas and;
WHEREAS there are no revenue bond ordinances or other ordinances or resolutions of the municipality which require financial statements and financial reports to be prepared in conformity with K.S.A. 75-1120a(a) for the year ended December 31, 2024. 
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of County Commissioners of Wallace County, Kansas in regular meeting duly assembled this 28th day of January 2025 that the Board of County Commissioners requests the Director of Accounts and Reports to waive the requirements of K.S.A. 75-1120a (a) as they apply to Wallace County, Kansas for the year ended December 31, 2025. 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners shall cause the financial statements and financial reports of Wallace County, Kansas to be prepared on the basis of cash receipts and disbursements as adjusted to show compliance with the cash basis and budget laws of this State. 
ATTEST:  
Micaila Lock, 
County Clerk   Rebecca Larson, 
Chairperson
          William Walker, 
Commissioner
                  Brian Gailey, Commissioner

Commissioner Walker made a motion to approve resolution 2025-01. Chair Larson Seconded AYE 3 NAY 0

Resolution No. 2025-02
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF WALLACE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN RURAL OPPORTUNITY ZONE STUDENT LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM CALENDAR YEAR 2025
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 
OF WALLACE COUNTY, KANSAS,
Section 1.  Pursuant to K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-50,223, the Board of County Commissioners expressed its intent to participate in the Rural Opportunity Zone (ROZ) student loan repayment program.
Section 2.  Wallace County has been designated a Rural Opportunity Zone pursuant to K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-50,222. As of July 1, 2022, the County population was 1512 as certified by the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Section 3.  Wallace County Commissioners hereby obligate Wallace County to participate in the ROZ student loan repayment program as provided by K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-50,223 for a period of five years, which shall be irrevocable.
Section 4. Wallace County agrees to pay in equal shares with the State of Kansas the outstanding student loan balance of any resident individual for five years if the resident individual meets the terms of qualification provided by the State of Kansas in K.S.A. 2021 Supp. 74-50,223, and the appropriate rules and regulations. The number of qualified resident individuals receiving such payments will be subject to the availability of funds.
Section 5. Wallace County intends to enter into partnerships with Cities, Employers, and Foundations for the direct sponsorship of Rural Opportunity Zone Applicants.  Sponsored Applicants must meet all qualifications of the ROZ program.  All sponsorships will be subject to ROZ student loan repayment rules and regulations.
Section 6.  The maximum student loan balance for each qualified resident individual to be repaid jointly by Wallace County and the State of Kansas shall be $15,000 over a term of five years.
Section 7.  Wallace County shall allocate $15,000.00 a year for the purpose of matching payments from the State of Kansas to qualified resident individuals.    Wallace County shall revise its ROZ budget on an annual basis submitting a new Resolution to the State of Kansas by January 30th each year. Wallace County shall submit their obligation in full to the Department of Commerce within 30 days of being invoiced each year. 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall be published once in the official county newspaper and shall be in effect from and after its date of publication.
Adopted this 28th day of January 2025 by the Board of Wallace County Commissioners, Wallace County, Kansas.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
OF WALLACE COUNTY, KANSAS

ATTEST:
Micaila Lock, 
County Clerk

Rebecca Larson, 
Chairman
Will Walker, 
Commissioner
Brian Gailey, 
Commissioner

Chair Larson made a motion to approve resolution 2025-02. Commissioner Walker seconded.  AYE 3  NAY 0 

There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 12:30 pm 

ATTEST:
Micaila Lock, County Clerk

Rebecca Larson, Chairman
Will Walker, Commissioner
Brian Gailey, Commissioner