Bourbon County Commission Meeting Agenda 02.02.26

Monday, February 2, 2026 | 5:30 PM

Meeting Agenda

• 1. Call Meeting to Order

• 2. Roll Call

• 3. Pledge of Allegiance

• 4. Prayer

• 5. Introductions

• 6. Oath of Office – District 3 Joe Allen

• 7. Executive Session – K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(1) Regarding Motley

• 8. Approval of Minutes – January 15, 2026

• 9. Approval of Minutes – January 26, 2026

• 10. Approval of Accounts Payable – January 30, 2026 ($114,143.02)

• 11. Approval of Tax Corrections

• 12. Liaison Program Review – Commissioner Beerbower leads a board discussion on revising or ending the liaison program.

• 13. Citizen Comments

• 14. Department Updates

  • a. Payroll Update – Milburn-Kee

  • b. County Clerk – Discussion on inventory, commission minutes, procedures, and 2025 end-of-year financials and resolutions.

• 15. Old Business

  • a. Handbook Follow-ups

  • b. Strategic Planning – Motley

  • c. Commission Calendar – Motley

  • d. EOC Access – Beerbower

  • e. Sewer Update – Milburn-Kee

• 16. New Business

  • a. Equitable Sharing Agreement Certification – Sheriff Martin

  • b. Bitcoin Valuation – Matt Quick

  • c. SEKRPC Membership Dues – Discussion of $4,554 payment usually charged to General Government.

• 17. Agenda Topics for Future Meetings

• 18. Commission Comments

• 19. Adjournment

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Information Packet Detailed Summary

Official Appointment of District 3 Commissioner (Pages 3–5)

The packet contains official correspondence from the Kansas Secretary of State congratulating Joseph Allen on his appointment as Bourbon County Commissioner for District 3. This section includes the formal Certificate of Appointment signed by Governor Laura Kelly and the required Oath of Office form.

Minutes: Special Meeting on Employee Handbook (Pages 6–13)

The Commission held a marathon special session on January 15, 2026, to conduct a methodical, page-by-page review of the 65-page employee handbook. Key decisions and discussions included:

• Elected Officials and Policy (Page 6): New language was added to clarify that while the handbook applies to all employees, independent elected officials maintain statutory discretion over certain operational matters in their offices.

• Leave and Accrual Changes (Pages 7–8): Extensive new policies were adopted regarding how leave is handled when employees transfer between exempt and non-exempt status, or between full-time and part-time status. Notably, a 10-year employment requirement was established to be eligible for a 25% sick leave payout.

• Probationary Period (Page 9): After a split vote, the Commission eventually reached a unanimous decision to adopt a 90-day probationary period for new employees.

• Weapons Policy (Page 9): The Commission voted to remove the weapons policy and all firearm notes from the handbook.

• Operational Adjustments (Page 10–11): New rules were set for cell phone use (prohibited while operating heavy equipment), sleeping exceptions for EMS during rest periods, and overtime structures for law enforcement (overtime starting at 86 hours in a biweekly period).

• Longevity Pay (Page 11): The board voted to phase out monthly longevity pay by converting it into hourly salary rates.

Minutes: January 26 Regular Meeting (Pages 14–15)

The regular meeting on January 26 included a public hearing for the vacation of a road (Resolution 08-26), which was approved. However, the meeting became contentious during the Citizen Comments portion regarding rules for addressing individual commissioners. Following a heated exchange between the Register of Deeds and the Commission, the meeting was adjourned early due to escalating tension.

Financial Summary: Accounts Payable (Pages 140–151)

The packet includes a detailed breakdown of open invoices by department as of January 30, 2026.

• General Fund (Page 141): Includes utilities for various county buildings and legal services.

• Appraisers and Benefits (Page 142): Includes membership dues and KPERS audit adjustments.

• Clerk and Landfill (Pages 143–144): Significant expenses include $5,556 for server equipment and over $6,000 for waste services at the landfill.

• Sheriff and Correctional (Pages 144–146): Routine maintenance, vehicle tires, and inmate care costs are detailed.

• Road and Bridge (Pages 146–151): This section contains a high volume of small-to-mid-sized invoices for equipment parts, hydraulic hoses, fuel caps, and electrical service for the shop.