July 29, 2024 Monday, 5:30 p.m.
The Board of Bourbon County Commissioners met in open session with all three Commissioners and the County Clerk present.
Glen L. Wolfe, Rachel Walker, Clint Walker, Don Tucker, Jean Tucker, Mike Wunderly, Jason Silvers, Kyle Parks, and Deb Martin were present for some or all of the meeting.
Jim opened the meeting with the flag salute.
Clifton made a motion to approve the consent agenda which includes approval of minutes from 7-22-204, approval of payroll totaling $291,738.49, and approval of accounts payable totaling $850,070.41. Brandon seconded the motion and all approved.
Mary Pemberton said she spoke with the zoning officials in Linn County and they comply with the agriculture exemption. Mary stated she discussed limited zoning and outlined special use permits last week and that it isn’t about taking away property rights but will give the Commissioners a backbone to get better contracts. Mary said she is not opposed to solar and wind projects but feels the residents need protected and they should pay taxes.
Michael Hoyt said they are about halfway in their attempts to obtain the needed signatures for a petition to change the number of Commission seats from 3 to 5. Jim stated it would cost more in benefits to increase the number of seats by about $16,000 in benefits.
Michael discussed the census reports for Bourbon County and questioned why there were so many registered voters. Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, explained that there are many students who attended the community college that registered as voters. Jennifer explained how a person must not vote in two federal elections, which is eight years, before the process can be started to remove them from the voter registration list. If a former resident has registered to vote in another jurisdiction, we will receive a notice to cancel the Bourbon County registration. Jennifer went on to explain that while she could not speak for how it was done in the past, her office monitors the newspaper and local websites to obtain obituaries to remove those who have passed away from the registration list. A report from KDHE is also sent weekly, however; that only lists individuals who have passed away in Kansas and being so close to Missouri a lot of residents pass away in other states. Jennifer stated they have a report of the oldest registered voters in the county and are working through the list to try to determine if any have passed away. A copy of the death certificate or an obituary listing the date of birth of the individual are the documents that can be used to cancel a deceased individual’s registration.
Glen Wolfe said his truck broke down on Highway 54 near 35th Street when he was bringing livestock to the Friday sale. Mr. Wolfe said he was able to get his truck pulled off the highway several hundred feet from the intersection and into the ditch. Mr. Wolfe was able to find someone with a trailer to help him haul his truck home and when he went back on Saturday afternoon his truck was gone. Mr. Wolfe said he spoke to the Sheriff’s Department and his truck was towed on Saturday morning even though the sticker that was on it when he picked it up from the tow company said he had 72 hours. Mr. Wolfe said he is asking for a refund of the $460 tow fee he had to pay to get his truck back. Mr. Wolfe said he spoke with the Sheriff who said he should have given the department a courtesy call that his truck was broken down, and when pressed the Sheriff said it was not a state law to request a courtesy call and that he would not give him a refund on his tow fee. Clifton asked if his truck was in a dangerous place and said he has seen vehicles sitting broken down for longer than 72 hours. Mr. Wolfe said it was sitting 300-400 yards down from the corner. Jim asked Sheriff Martin to speak. Bill said that Mr. Wolfe came in last week to speak about the situation and that his deputy received a tip of the truck sitting for several days so it was towed. Mr. Wolfe said the earliest it could have broken down was 10:00 Friday morning and he has two witnesses to that. Jim asked Justin’s opinion and he replied it was no concern of the Commissioner and that Mr. Wolfe can seek legal counsel to try to get a refund.
Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk, presented a KONE agreement for elevator work. Clifton said it includes installing a pit ladder and asked if we have one currently. Brandon asked how much a ladder was and if someone spoke to David regarding this. Brandon made a motion to accept the agreement, pay KONE, and have the Chairman sign the agreement. Clifton seconded and all approved.
Jennifer said today was the first day of early voting and they had a good turnout. Early voting will be from 8:30-4:30 through Friday, 8:00-12:00 pm on Saturday, and 8:30-12:00 p.m. on Monday. Polling places will be open on Tuesday from 7:00-7:00. Jennifer reminded anybody who needed an advance ballot by mail that tomorrow, July 30th, is the last day to turn in your application.
Brandon said he received a phone call from the president of a cemetery board about a situation where someone claims to have plots and neither party has proof. Brandon suggested anybody who purchases cemetery plots to register those with the Register of Deeds office. Brandon also said that you can register your DD214 with the Register of Deeds Office. Clint Walker said that you could lose data such as social security number but Brandon assured him that the Register of Deeds office redacts any identifiable information such as that.
Clifton said that the Commissioners can’t take the green energy abatement passed by former Governor Brownback away. Clifton said he doesn’t know any of his friends who want zoning. Jim said there are a lot of questions moving forward about zoning and that people should speak at the ballot. Jim said you must have a comprehensive plan and would have to hire a person and have a vehicle for zoning. Clifton said it would cost 2-3 mills for zoning. Jim said once zoning is in other Commissioners could add more to it.
Clifton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:09. Jim seconded the motion and all approved.
THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
OF BOURBON COUNTY, KANSAS
___________________, Chairman
___________________,Commissioner
ATTEST: ___________________,Commissioner
Jennifer Hawkins, Bourbon County Clerk
8-12-24 Approved Date