August 25, 2021 Tuesday 9:00 am
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.
Clifton made a motion to approve the minutes from last Tuesday’s meeting and the budget work session meeting, Jim seconded and all approved.
Jim made a motion to approve the following culvert permits: one at 1851 Solder and one at 2122 Jayhawk, Clifton seconded and all approved. Eric presented the following completed culvert applications: one for 130th and Arrowhead and one for 2286 Poplar.
Regarding the asphalt machine: Eric said they are waiting to get the distributor back as well as a rubber boot.
Jim asked Eric to look at Jayhawk Road to the tracks on 230th.
Eric said that 235th is going to have to have chip and seal work done. Lynne said his priority is 125th and 120th.
Jim said he had asked Van Keppel what caused the road damage on 230th; they said this was a result of the work of the Blow Knox paver.
Eric said they will be crushing at the Beth Quarry next week and will be working 4-10 hour days and 1-8 hour day.
Eric said last week they installed 11 culverts; one of which was at 265th & Victory and said that bridge there is now open. He said they used the mini excavator as well as the backhoe to do this. Eric questioned if they wanted to go out for bid for the mini-excavator, Lynne said the mini could speed up the culvert installations. Jim said he didn’t support the mini excavator and said the one they had been using isn’t what he would call a mini, he said it is a big excavator. Jim said he would support a used mini. Clifton questioned what it would hurt to go out for bid, Jim said it is a lot of work to go out for bid if they aren’t sure if they are going to buy a machine. After a lot of discussion, they tabled this conversation until next week. Lynne said he would like to come watch the mini work.
Eric said they dug on Eagle Road in Garland; he said there is some sub base failure there.
They replaced the tube at 267th & Eagle.
The Commissioners previously approved Eric bidding on a truck on Purple Wave, but Eric reported that the mileage was actually 684,000. Jim made a motion to skip this equipment because of the mileage, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Windmill update: Eric said the 1st windmill went up yesterday in Bourbon County – located at 20th & Birch.
Bourbon County Health Insurance Contract; this is a 3 year contract, Jim said by signing this and with Susan’s help this would give them some time and he hoped next spring they could study a self funded plan. The Commissioners didn’t like that this was a 3 year commitment. Jim made a motion to sign the SEHP contract effective 1/1/2022 to remain in the State pool and move forward with signing the contract, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Jim made a motion to amend the agenda for a 10-minute executive session, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to have a 10-minute executive session to discuss KSA 75-4319(b) (1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss job performance, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 9:40, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Susan and possibly Justin Meeks by phone). At 9:40, Clifton made a motion to resume the meeting with no action, Lynne seconded and all approved.
Lynne made a motion to appoint Clifton Beth to the SEKAAA board, Jim seconded and all approved.
David Everett (by telephone) with the butterfly weed club of SEK said they plan to restore the habitat for the Monarch butterflies. He said possibly next spring they would be planting milkweed around the County for the habitat. Susan said the City of Fort Scott has a parks committee and said they would like to do something like this at the 2nd street park. David said that anyone interested in helping with this project can call him at (620)644-8217.
Lynne made a motion to amend the agenda to allow elected officials comment, Jim seconded and all approved.
Lora asked when the departments would know whether their budget requests were accepted, and asked when we would get the 2020 audit. Susan said she is waiting on a call regarding the audit, Susan said she budgeted what she had requested.
Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to allow a 20-minute executive session for security, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 20-minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b)(12) to discuss matters relating to security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize such security measures the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:22, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Brian Allen, Susan Bancroft and Shane Walker). At 10:22, Clifton made a motion to resume their normal session, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda for another 10 minute executive session regarding personnel matters, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 10 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss job function and job performance, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:33, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Susan Bancroft and Ashley Shelton). At 10:33 Clifton made a motion to resume the normal session with no action, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to amend the agenda to allow Susan to speak ahead of the County Counselor while they were waiting on him to call, Jim seconded and all approved.
Susan said the RNR hearing will be September 7th at 9:00 am, with a proposed tax rate of 62.500 mills.
Jim made a motion to permanently move the County Commission meetings to Tuesdays, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Jim made a motion to move the Commission comment ahead of the County Counselor, Clifton seconded and all approved.
Jim said the Rural Water District #2 (who has meters in Bourbon, Allen and Neosho County) is losing water each month and want to go to different meters. For the Bourbon County office, this project will cost $18,251.05; Jim said they asked if the ARPA funds could be used for this project; Susan said the ARPA funds could be used for this project. Susan will request the financial statements from the Water District. This will be discussed again next week
Clifton made a motion to have the next Commission meeting on August 31 instead of September 1st, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 15 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel to protect their privacy to discuss job description, job performance and HR issues, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 10:59, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners, Susan and Justin (by phone). At 10:59 Clifton made a motion to resume with no action, Jim seconded and all approved.
Clifton made a motion to go into a 6 minute executive session for KSA 75-4319(b) (2) for consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship with possible litigation, the Commissioners will meet in another location and reconvene in the Commission room at 11:06, Jim seconded and all approved, (the session included the Commissioners and Justin (by phone). Clifton made a motion to return to the normal session with action, Jim seconded and all approved. Clifton made a motion to allow Chairman Oharah, Susan and County Counselor Justin Meeks to investigate a possible employee malfeasance matter and if they see fit to move forward with an outside firm to do that investigation, and to investigate an HR issue, Jim seconded and all approved.
At 11:07, Jim made a motion to adjourn, Clifton seconded and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
(ss) Lynne Oharah, Chairman
(ss) Jim Harris, Commissioner
(ss) Clifton Beth, Commissioner
ATTEST:
Kendell Mason, Bourbon County Clerk
August 31, 2021, Approved Date