November 1, 2022, Tuesday, 9:00 a.m.
The Bourbon County Commission met in open session with all commissioners and the County
Clerk present.
Matt Quick, Clint Walker, Anne Dare, Patricia Ropp, and Rob Harrington were present for some or all of the meeting.
Clifton made a motion to approve minutes from the previous meeting. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to approve minutes from the special meeting. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Eric Bailey presented new culvert paperwork. Commissioners signed. Eric also presented monthly fuel report. Eric stated they are asphalting on 195th and will be there all week. Eric
stated the 6422 asphalt oil price came down to 690 per ton from 755. We had to buy 300 tons of sand to be able to finish. Eric stated Hall Bros came last week and started with the Onyx. We
started on 235th on Soldier coming south. Hope to be done by the end of the week. Eric stated they purchased the 96 International 4900 Utility Service Truck for a price of $21,500. Eric
stated they got 215th and Range taken care of last week where we put down the dust control we got that tore up, regraveled and recompacted. Culvert crew is out ditching in the southeast part
of the county. Eric stated that when they put out cones and barricades it is for public safety. I know it’s an inconvenience but when you go around you are putting yourself and the workers in
danger.
Clifton made a motion to approve accounts payable. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion for Chairman Harris to sign the natural gas lock-in from Blue Mark Energy. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Justin Meeks requested an executive session liability issues. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-43 l 9(b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or
agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship related to contracts including three commissioners, Justin Meeks, Susan Bancroft, and Rob Harrington for 7 minutes
returning at 9: 19 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to resume normal session with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Justin gave an update on the tax sale including discussion on the land bank. Justin stated $10,000 from the money the County pays for the tax sale will be used for a part-time position
with the land bank and this person would help with the tax sale. Jim reiterated that this would be no new money and this person would be considered staff for the land bank and the $10,000 from
Justin Meeks is taking his private practice he pays for sales tax, would take that person and put them in land bank position with a shared city between city and county. Clifton stated the last
city commission meeting he watched it appeared not sure how land bank is even funded. You can’t have shared service with something not here. Justin stated the money is going to that position. It is still county tax sale help. Clifton stated he would be ok with it for one year then would like to revisit. If they are buying up whole blocks I’m not in favor of that. Tax dollars to something that should be self-funded but never is. Justin stated this person would use a county
office to work on tax sale. Justin stated he appreciates Lora’s office and Patty’s office for their help with the tax sales.
Susan stated that longevity will move forward. She suggested doing this on November 18th•
One to four years would get $100 each and five years and up would be same as before. Susan presented information on Area Agency on Aging. She had a letter from Deb Needleman, and she can come talk to the commissioners if they would like. Susan stated there are five or six areas on appropriations that she has pulled statutes. There are three appropriations that are optional but still want Justin to review and make certain.
Susan stated that she sent to each of the
commissioners a presentation from Mary Pemberton on the transient guest tax. I talked with the Kansas Dept of Revenue and I sent that to yoμ as well and what we would need to do to proceed
with that. If the county wants to have a transient guest tax, they can join the city or have your own outside the city limits. Jim stated he thinks we need to pass it or quit talking about it.
Nelson stated he is against it. Jim asked him why. Nelson stated that it’s additional taxes that the establishments will have to raise their rates to cover it or eat the cost. Jim stated he travels a
lot. I pay it everywhere I go. Susan stated the maximum amount you can do in the county is 2% or you can do a charter ordinance and go above that. Clifton stated he is not in favor of 2% taxes
if we could do one for the whole county that might be something to consider. The city’s is 6% and generates around $150,000 per year. Those dollars can only be used to promote overnight
stays. You are marketing your community with those dollars. The city is already marketing things out in the county. Jim stated there is not enough revenue in the county to worry about it
right now. Jim also stated that he wants this to be as fair to everyone as possible. It was decided to pass for now and possibly revisit in the future.
Susan stated that they are still releasing
information on the Opioid Settlement Fund and she will stay educated on it and if something comes up that might fit I’ll present it to the commissioners. Susan requested an executive
session for job performance and duties. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75- 4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their
privacy including three commissioners, Susan Bancroft, Justin Meeks, Terri Hulsey, and Jon Lowry for five minutes returning here at 9:51 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton
made a motion to return to normal session at 9:52 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton asked that we look at where we are banking. Clifton asked for permission for Susan to look at
what our options are. Jim stated that we should probably look at that every year. Susan stated it would be better to look at it every three years. It is a strain on the Treasurer and Clerk’s office to
move funds. Susan said she will work with Treasurer and Clerk’s office.
Shane Walker- CIO: Shane stated that he and Eric got a couple of antennas from Purple Wave from the state which saved us about $20,000. It will get us the one we needed at Tomahawk and
the other at the landfill and then we’ll have another 60 foot one for whatever. I think we may put it at the asphalt plant and get them back into our system. Shane asked for an executive session
for security. Clifton made a motion for executive session 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 including three commissioners, Susan Bancroft, Justin Meeks and Shane Walker for five minutes returning here at 10:02 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to return to normal session with action. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Clifton made a motion to adopt the Bourbon County Kansas Electronic Information Acceptable Use Policy. It is our electronics, computers, IT all of the above. It will become part of the
handbook and will be effective today, if approved. Nelson seconded. All approved.
Public Comment: No Comment
Commission Comment: Clifton made a motion to add an executive session. Nelson seconded.
All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(l) to discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their privacy for 15 minutes
returning at 10:25 a.m. including three commissioners, Rob Harrington and Justin Meeks. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to return to normal session
with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect
their privacy for ten minutes including three commissioners, Rob Harrington and Justin Meeks returning here at 10:37 a.m. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to
normal session at 10:37 a.m. with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Clifton made a motion for executive session KSA 75-4319(b)(1) job description and performance to discuss
personnel matters of individual non elected personnel to protect their privacy including three commissioners and Justin Meeks for seven minutes returning at 10:45 a.m. Nelson seconded.
All approved. Clifton made a motion to return to normal session with no action. Nelson seconded. All approved. Commissioners discussed having another night meeting and agreed
upon December 20th at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse.
At 10:49 a.m., Clifton made a motion to adjourn. Nelson seconded. All approved.
ATTEST:
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Ashley Shelton, Bourbon County Clerk