Commissioner Proceedings 3/28/23

April 25, 2023

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 8:00 a.m. 
Warrants # 29278-29365 in the amount of $ 98,567.27 were approved for payment. Payroll warrants in the amount of $ 57,627.73 for the working period of March 19, 2023 through April 1, 2023 were approved for payment. 
Trish Voth, Attorney at Law with Foulston Sieken, LLP and Charles Moser, County Attorney entered the meeting by zoom. Commissioner Cowles moved to go into Executive Session for Attorney-Client Privilege Exception and invite in Charles Moser, Trish Voth, the 3 commissioners, and Brionna Colvin at 8:00 am for 30 minutes. Return at 8:30 am. Commissioner Larson seconded. 
AYE  3   NAY  0
Returned to regular session at 8:30 am.
Kathy McDaniel and Maggie Figurilli, Register of Deeds entered the meeting.
Chairman Townsend made a motion to adopt resolution 2023-04 for a temporary moratorium on certain wind energy electrical generation infrastructure with the intent to give the Board of Commissioners more time to study and make wise decisions. Commissioner Larson seconded.
AYE  3   NAY  0
Maggie has been doing passports since 2019. Jenny Kuhlman, Register of Deeds Deputy is trained as well. Currently Maggie is not able to take passport pictures because she does not have a camera. If Maggie gets a camera she can take passport pictures, help citizens fill out the application and send the application off all in her office. She would also be able to take conceal carry pictures. Christine Smith, County Treasurer, is willing to turn her blue backdrop, that she uses for Driver’s License pictures around and make it a white backdrop for the pictures Maggie will need to take. $1,327.10 for everything she would need. 
Commissioner Cowles made a motion to accept the bid for DNP Passport ID Photo Solution System so the county can provide the service to the community. Commissioner Larson seconded. 
AYE  3   NAY  0
Commissioner Larson moved to approve the March 14, 2023 minutes. Commissioner Cowles seconded.
AYE  3   NAY  0
Commissioner Cowles moved to approve the March 23, 2023 minutes. Commissioner Larson seconded.
AYE  3   NAY  0
Duane Barber, Building and Grounds, entered the meeting to give the latest updates on the pool.
Duane has talked to companies that have done work on pool to see if they have information easily accessible. Duane has taken pictures and measurements of the pool so that he can contact companies to see their availability to repair the seams. If none of the companies Duane contacts have any openings, Chairman Townsend and Duane will fix the seal the seams themselves. Duane got ahold of the City of Sharon Springs and found out the pool holds 143,000 gallons of water.
Anthony Garcia, Road Supervisor entered the meeting to report on his department.
The compactor for the landfill is done. The road department has hauled 40 loads of sand from Ed Selzer. Chairman Townsend informed Anthony that commissioners will be getting in contact with him to discuss wind farms and how roads will be accessed. The wind farm project is a couple years away, but Anthony needs to start planning now. Chairman Townsend also brought up the bridge project need Weskan on Highway 40. The project begin date is still in 2024 but it might come sooner than that. Old Highway 40 will be used for the bypass. 
Wendy Dunagan, County Appraiser entered the meeting.
Nothing was acted upon for a potential pay increase or health insurance. Commissioner Larson read what Theresa Dasenbrock, from Lewis, Hooper, and Dick emailed Clerk Colvin about giving health insurance to a non-full-time employee. Theresa stated in her email that it would cause problems with what is written in the employee handbook. No insurance will be provided. Wendy has not had to have very many hearings yet with valuations going up.
Marshall Unruh, Sheriff entered the meeting to report on his department.
The tornado siren in Sharon Springs still needs to be activated manually by the Sheriff’s Department. The tornado siren in Weskan does not work at the moment but they are working on getting it fixed. The Sheriff’s Office, EMT’s, and Fire Department have an active shooter training at the Wallace County Schools coming up. They are planning to have more training within Wallace County.
Chairman Townsend moved to increase Marshall Unruh’s emergency management salary due to increased planning. Commissioner Larson seconded. 
AYE  3   NAY  0
Maggie Figurilli entered the meeting.
Marshall suggested that the handbook gives up to 12 hours for holiday pay for sheriff employees because that is the hours of their shift. 
Bob Bolen, Wendy Dunagan, and Christine Smith entered the meeting to attend the department head meeting.
Chairman Townsend said that the county vehicle is not costing the County any money so we will keep it until it miles out. 
Lace David entered the meeting. 
A lengthy discussion was had about the county vehicle. Many ideas were thrown out and the commissioners are taking time to think about it. 
Many department heads liked the idea of having a per diem for half day and full day. The commissioners discussed rates on what per diem could be, but nothing is set yet. If the commissioners change to per diem, they will want to reimburse it rather than pay in advance.
Christine brought up a concern she had; the max starting pay scale. This is not being followed and the commissioners need to get it back under control. Christine suggested possibly having a wage study done. 
Christine said the sick bank committee would like to make a modification to the sick bank form. She will bring a proposal for edits at a later date. 
Clerk Colvin is continuing to work on safety meetings. She is working with KCAMP to set up accounts for department heads.
Paulette Unruh, EMS Director entered the meeting. 
Paulette reported that the doors and windows are complete at the ambulance building. All of the damage from the tornado in April of 2022 should be finished now.
Recess for lunch at 12:06pm. 
Return to meeting at 1:02 pm. 
Lace David, Wanda Funk, and Connie Harrison entered the meeting.
Clerk Colvin presented bills that were turned in to the Clerk’s Office by Wallace County Community Care Center.
The commissioners meeting was moved upstairs to the courtroom. 
Nancy Schmidt, Melinda Daily, Sarah Blakely and 15 members of the community were present. 
The members of the WCCCC board presented inventory to the commissioners. They do not yet have items from the sheds inventoried yet. Nancy provided the commissioners with a profit and loss 2022/2023 comparison for the first 3 months. Members of the community were able to ask questions and give their opinion on the WCCCC. 
16 community members joined the commissioners back down in the commissioner room.
The commissioners would like to put the county shop up for bids for repair from the tornado damage. 
Clerk Colvin presented a bid on behalf of Christine Smith for Stericycle, Inc to come to the courthouse to shred documents. The commissioners would like Clerk Colvin to call other businesses and see if multiple businesses could set up a time on one day, so the company only has to make one trip to Sharon Springs. Clerk Colvin will report on this on April 11, 2023.
Clerk Colvin presented an email from Brodie Poe, Recreation Board Member. Brodie wanted to inform the commissioners that Nikki Chubb, Recreation Director resigned, and they are going to be looking for someone to fill her position. Brodie also wanted to know if she could put the bouncy house on the courthouse lawn during the car show. The commissioners told Clerk Colvin to let Brodie know that it is okay to have the bouncy house on the courthouse lawn. 
Brad and Eileen Porubsky entered the meeting via zoom. 
Brad and Eileen presented a final business plan for Hope Springs. Eileen discussed the handout she had sent to the Clerk’s Office earlier that day. Eileen explained the overview, background, objective, opportunity, solution, and their plan. Members of the community were able to ask questions to Brad and Eileen, and they were able to give their best answer. Eileen discussed the waiver program and how payments will be accepted at Hope Springs. Eileen also explained what the difference between a home plus and skilled nursing is. Eileen has talked to the doctors in Wallace County and Tribune, and they are willing to work with Hope Springs if the residents give consent. The amount of staffing was brought up a couple times, so Eileen was able to explain their plan on staffing. Eileen stated that they will have an abundance of depends, wipes, toiletries, shampoo, etc. for the residents as a courtesy.
The 90-day notice is up to the commissioners. If a 90-day notice is given to WCCCC the Board of County Commissioners will need to file, the intent to change the license from a skilled facility to a residential care facility.  It would be WCCCC responsibility to find new a facility for residents that do not want to stay with Hope Springs. 
10-minute break.
Bob Bolen entered the meeting. 
Bob presented a bid for an ActionMapper for the road department spray truck. The bid that was presented on February 28, 2023 was not going to do what they needed it to do. With this system, you can have up to 3 chemicals at once. This system will give the date, temperature, wind, and chemical levels. This system will have everything recorded automatically and none of it will have to be manually added.
Chairman Townsend moved to accept the AgTerra Technologies, Inc ActionMapper S3 bid for $4,090.00 that will go on the Road Departments spray truck. Commissioner Larson seconded. 
AYE  3   NAY  0
The bills from WCCCC were brought up again. The commissioners approved the bills to be paid on March 31, 2023. Bills that will be paid are Stateline Electric for $ 60.00, Midwest Commercial Laundry Equipment for $ 76.92, Lewis, Hooper & Dick $ 8,984.00, and B & K Pumping for $ 650.00.
Commissioner Cowles made a motion not to privatize the operation of the Wallace County Care Center and the current board and staff continues to operate the facility.
Died from a lack of second. 
Commissioner Larson moves to offer to Hope Springs, LLC management of our care facility. Chairman Townsend seconded.
AYE  2   NAY  1
Commissioner Cowles will call Wallace County Community Care Center to inform them on the decision. Commissioner Larson will call Brad and Eileen Porubsky with Hope Springs, LLC to inform them of the decision. Chairman Townsend will call Charles Moser, County Attorney to inform him of the decision and have Charles start working on a 90-day notice.
Bob Bolen re-entered the meeting.
Commissioner Cowles moved to go into executive session at 4:50 pm for Personnel exception-Personnel matter of individual NON-ELECTED personnel for 15 minutes and return at 5:05 pm. Invited in are the 3 commissioners, Bob Bolen, and Brionna Colvin. Chairman Townsend seconded. 
AYE  3   NAY  0
Returned too regular session at 5:05 pm. 
No decision was made.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 5:10 pm.
ATTEST:
Brionna Colvin, County Clerk  
LarryTownsend, Chairman
Becky Larson, Commissioner
Michael Cowles, Commissioner