Commissioner Proceedings 3/25/25

April 9, 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 # 32515-32626 in the amount of $113,180.13 were approved for payment. Payroll warrants in the amount of $143,105.82 for the working period of March 2, 2025, through March 15, 2025, were approved for payment. 
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Larson for business at 8:30 a.m. 
Commissioner Walker moved to approve March 13, 2025 and March 21, 2025; minutes as amended. Chair Larson seconded. 
 AYE 3  NAY 0 

Paulette Unruh, Ambulance director entered the meeting. 
Paulette brought in the bids for a new sprinkler system, one from Lampe Sprinklers for $10,490.00 and the other one from Kevin Wagoner for $2120.79. 
Commissioner Walker made the motion to accept the bid from Kevin Wagoner for $2120.79. Chair Larson seconded the motion.
 AYE 3  NAY 0

Debbie Welsh, Deputy County clerk 
Debbie wanted to discuss the complaints that the commissioners have received from other county employees with the cleaning. She wanted to improve how she could handle the courthouse cleaning and how to handle it with other offices and coordinate with the department head of cleaning. The commissioners discussed the purchase agreement and re-evaluation. 
Anthony Garcia, Road and Bridge Supervisor entered the meeting.

Doug Springsteel, Landfill supervisor, entered the meeting.

Anthony gave updates on the road department. He said that he was asked by a farmer/rancher if the road department could widen a silage pit and the road department would be able to have the dirt.

Doug gave updates on the landfill and said that the landfill would be getting the brush from the pipeline. Maggie Figurilli Register of deeds entered the meeting. Maggie explained where the old pipeline is.  Doug discussed that his county phone has not been working and that he may need to get a new one. 

Marshall Unruh, Sheriff entered the meeting

Marshall discussed what he talked to about with the auditors and where he would put the left over the from each year and about putting some money ($84,000) for equipment reserve and starting cash flow for the starting of 2026 budget year. He discussed the burn ban and how he can enforce it and what the burn ban could do and if it is worth doing one.
Duane Barber, Building and Grounds supervisor, entered the meeting. 

Duane discussed getting another storage container, one with doors at each end for $4,250.00 and one container with one door end for $3,750.00. There was a discussion on cleaning and how the building and grounds supervisor will be the one that oversees the cleaning person. 

Commissioner Walker made a motion to approve the purchase of a two-door storage container $4,250.00. Chair Larson seconded the motion. 

AYE 3 NAY 0

Shannon Rothchild, Representing Nex-Tech, entered the meeting.

Shannon discussed what Nex-Tech does for the county and what they provided in terms of service. Along with getting a proposal for new computers and when they would like to start in November for the new agreement that renews next April. 

Clerk Lock presented abatements 2024-45 through 2024-56 totaling $13,561.20

Kim Frodin, County Appraiser, entered the meeting 

Kim discussed what she found during her time driving around doing value inspections throughout the county to make sure that everyone’s values are correct. She explained the recent abatements and also discussed a report that’s called  the 20% report which shows what property values went up by 20% and $25,000. 

Recess for lunch 12:15pm 
Reconvene 1:00pm 

Lissa Sexson, Wallace County Community Development entered the meeting.

Kim Frodin, County Appraiser re-entered the meeting 

Lissa discussed the Neighborhood Revitalization Plan (NRP) and how Kim and Lissa drafted up the NRP for the county of Wallace and how people can benefit from the NRP and what the rates will look like for the NRP and doing a five year instead of ten years. NRP is a rebate on taxes for those that are building a new building/house and a remodel on a current building/house. Kim discussed what the NRP would be and where people would have to sign up for that. Also, all taxing entities will have to approve the NRP before the program can be used in the community. 

Lissa discussed the storefront incentive, waste tire grant the county was awarded which would help improve the north park. KDOT Safe Routes to School Planning and Program Toole design and KDOT will be back in Wallace County Monday March 31st at Sharon Springs Public Library from 1:45-3pm and Weskan School Cafeteria from 4:30 -6 Pm. 
Commissioner Gailey moved to go into executive session at 2:08pm for Personnel exception-Personnel matter of individual NON-ELECTED personnel for 15 minutes and return at 2:23 pm. Invited in are the 3 commissioners, Clerk Micaila Lock and Non-elected personnel.  Commissioner Walker seconded. 

AYE   3  NAY 0

No decision was made. 

Commissioner Gailey moved to go into executive session at 2:23pm for Personnel exception-Personnel matter of individual NON-ELECTED personnel for 15 minutes and return at 2:38 pm. Invited are the 3 commissioners, Clerk Micaila Lock and Non-elected personnel.  Commissioner Walker seconded. 

AYE   3    NAY 0

No decision was made.
Jay Sharp, Fire Chief for district 2 entered the meeting via phone 
Commissioner Walker made a motion to approve resolution 2025-03 level two fire ban. Chair Larson seconded. AYE 3  NAY 0 

RESOLUTION NO. 2025-03
A RESOLUTION DECLARING A DROUGHT 
EMERGENCY AND LEVEL TWO FIRE BAN IN WALLACE COUNTY, KANSAS
 WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners have made a finding that drought conditions exist in Wallace County, 
 WHEREAS, activation of response and recovery aspects of the county’s disaster emergency plan are necessary to address the conditions resulting from the drought which presently exists in Wallace County,
 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Wallace County Commissioners, pursuant to authority granted in K.S.A 48-932 that a local drought emergency exists in Wallace County, Kansas. 
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Level Two:  Whenever the Wallace County Board of Commissioners FINDS that a drought conditions exist, it shall be empowered to declare by Resolution, that burning of household and commercial waste shall be prohibited except from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM and only if the burn receptacle is situated on a non-combustible surface and no combustible structures are within seven feet (7’) thereof, and only under direct adult supervision, and it shall take steps to inform the public.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this declaration shall remain in effect until April 8, 2025 unless otherwise revoked or extended by the Board of Wallace County Commissioners,
 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Wallace County Clerk shall cause this declaration to be published in the Western Times Newspaper and Wallace County, KS Government Facebook page following adoption hereof. 
ADOPTED AND APPROVED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF WALLACE COUNTY, KANSAS THIS 25TH DAY OF MARCH 2025.
ATTEST:
Micaila Lock, Clerk 
Rebecca Larson, Chairman
Will Walker, Commissioner
Brian Gailey, Commissioner

Commissioner Gailey made a motion to approve abatements 2024-45 from 2024-56 totaling $13,561.20. Commissioner Walker seconded.

AYE 3  NAY 0 

They discussed personal policies and when they would like to go over the policies. 

There being no further business and the meeting was adjourned at 3:04 pm 

ATTEST:
Micaila Lock, County Clerk
Becky Larson, Chairperson
Will Walker, Commissioner                                                                      
Brian Gailey, Commissioner