County Commission Minutes 11/8/21

The Board of County Canvassers met in the Commission Room of the County Courthouse, Kingman, Kansas on November 8^th, 2021.  Those present:

Jerry Henning, Canvasser

Jack Thimesch, Canvasser

Fred Foley, Canvasser

Carol Noblit, County Election Officer presented the City/School General Election results to the Canvassers.

Ms. Noblit presented 18 provisional ballots to the Board of Canvassers for their decision.

There were 7 provisional ballots not counted, 7 fully counted and 4 partially counted.

The chairman of the Canvassers recessed the canvass at 8:38 a.m. to have the counting board count the provisionals.

The chairman reconvened the Board of Canvassers at 9:22 a.m.

The following votes were added due to provisionals being counted:

USD 331 Position #5   K. Tab Turner    1 vote

USD 331 Position #6   Jeff Samuelson   1 vote

USD 332 At Large      Megan Green       1 vote

          Bjorn Halderson   1 vote

                                    Vicki Oldham       1 vote

Kingman City Commissioner:

          Mark Arensdorf   2 votes

          Stan Hacker         1 vote

                        Adrian Harrel      6 votes

                                     Eric Robinson     2 votes

                                     Sean Wallace      3 votes

Cunningham City Mayor

          Aaron Murphy    1 vote

Cunningham City Council

                                    Bart Ricke            1 vote

                                    Craig Woodard    1 vote

                                    Tyler Thimesch    1 vote

The Kingman City Commissioner votes added presented a tie between Stan Hacker and Sean Wallace of 209 votes each.  The Canvassers broke the tie with the flip of a coin.  Heads decided was Stan Hacker and tails was to be Sean Wallace.

Canvasser Foley flipped the coin and Canvasser Henning read the flip and it was tails.  Sean Wallace would be the four year term and Stan Hacker would be the two year term.

MOTION:  Canvasser Thimesch moved to approve the abstract of votes as presented.  Canvasser Foley seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the unanimous vote of the County Commissioners.

MOTION:  Canvasser Foley moved to adjourn the Board of Canvassers at 9:28 a.m.  Canvasser Thimesch seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the unanimous vote of the County Commissioners.

MINUTES OF THE KINGMAN COUNTY

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

ON November 8^th, 2021

The Board of Kingman County Commissioners met in the Commission Room of the County Courthouse, Kingman, Kansas on November 8^th, 2021.  Those present:

Jerry Henning, Chairman

Jack Thimesch, Commissioner

Fred Foley, Commissioner

Carol Noblit, County Clerk

John Caton, County Counselor

Visitors: Bob Morris, Kingman Leader-Courier; Scott Sparks; Larry Landwehr and Leslie Schrag, Economic Development Director.

Online Visitors: Caller 01; Heather Kinsler, 911/Dispatch Director

Staff: Stan Goetz, HR/Planning/Zoning/Wastewater Director; Linda Langley, Internal Auditor; Steve Bachenberg, County Engineer and Charles Arensdorf, Public Works Director.

Chairman Henning called the Board of County Commissioners Meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

The Pledge of Allegiance was said by all in attendance.

Chairman Henning gave an invocation.

Chairman Henning asked if there were any additions to the agenda.

Chairman Henning wanted to add an executive session.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to designate November 11, 2021 as a holiday in honor of Kingman County Veterans.  Commissioner Thimesch seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the unanimous vote of the County Commissioners.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an executive session.  Commissioner Thimesch seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the majority vote of the County Commissioners.

Chairman Henning asked if there were any public comments.

Scott Sparks was in to request that the Commissioners reconsider the charges for permits in the county right of ways. 

Commissioner Foley discussed that the charge for the smaller lines are $400.00 and half of that goes to the Townships to help with the road upkeep.  

Commissioners said at this point they are keeping the charges in place.

Larry Landwehr believes that the charge is reasonable and the right thing to do.  There has to be a cost equity but a change in charges is not needed.

9:04 a.m. Leslie Schrag, Economic Development Director was in to discuss the job fair that was October 19^th and who attended.

Ms. Schrag let the Commissioners know about the new job website: www.kingmancountyjobs.com.

Ms. Schrag invited the Commissioners about a job luncheon on November 18^th, 2021 at 11:30 a.m. in the Expo Center.

Ms. Schrag discussed the manufactured housing and 3D housing that may be contracted regionally but she is still working on it.

Ms. Schrag left the meeting at 9:18 a.m.

9:19 a.m. Becky Luntsford, County Treasurer was in to give the Commissioners the status of the Tax sale and that there is four parcels still on the tax sale.

Ms. Luntsford left the meeting at 9:22 a.m.

Commissioners recessed the Board of Commissioners for the County Canvass at 9:22 a.m.

Reconvened the Board of County Commissioners at 9:28 a.m.

9:28 a.m. Linda Langley, Internal Auditor was in to review the department reports for October 2021.

Ms. Langley discussed the capital reserve and the road & bridge funds with the Commissionerss.

EXECUTIVE SESSION:  Commissioner Foley moved to go into executive session at 9:57a.m. with John Caton to discuss individual employee’s evaluation pursuant to the exception under the Kansas Open Meetings Act for discussion of non-elected personnel matters of nonelected personnel in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed, and they will return to open session in the board meeting room at 10:07 a.m.  Commissioner Thimesch seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the unanimous vote of the County Commissioners.

Commissioners returned to regular session at 10:07 a.m. with no decision made.

10:10 a.m. Stan Goetz, HR was in with the Welfare Benefit plan from Hinkle Law Firm to be approved and signed by the Commissioners.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to approve the Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.  Commissioner Henning seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the unanimous vote of the County Commissioners.

Mr. Goetz submitted the Department Head meeting minutes for the Commissioners to review.

Mr. Goetz submitted the new sheriff’s deputy information that has been hired.

Mr. Goetz submitted the information on possible changes on longevity and it will be brought up next week.

Mr. Goetz submitted the solar power document and reviewed it with the County Commissioners.

Mr. Goetz left the meeting at 10:51 a.m.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to recess the board meeting at 10:51 a.m.  Chairman Henning seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the majority vote of the County Commissioners.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to reconvene the board meeting at 10:56 a.m.  Chairman Henning seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the majority vote of the County Commissioners.

10:57 a.m. Charles Arensdorf, Public Works Director was in with the October Financial reports for review by the County Commissioners.

Mr. Arensdorf gave an update on FAS #13 Bridge project and a report on the yearly well sampling at the landfill.

Mr. Arensdorf submitted information on Flat Ridge 3 Wind Project and the first turbine was operational on 7/24/2021.

Steve Bachenberg, County Engineer gave update on the FLAP project to the County Commissioners.

Mr. Arensdorf and Mr. Bachenberg left the meeting at 11:30 a.m.

The County Clerk submitted the minutes of the November 1^st, 2021 Commission meeting for approval.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to approve the minutes of the November 1^st, 2021 Commission meeting.  Commissioner Henning seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the majority vote of the County Commissioners.

Ms. Noblit discussed a new phone system with the Commissioners and that Ideatek had come last Wednesday and showed the phones they have and presented a quote.

The Commissioners would like for Ms. Noblit to have Ideatek come in with a revised quote and to show what phones they offer.

Commissioners discussed correspondence received.

MOTION:  Commissioner Foley moved to adjourn the regular board meeting at 12:06 p.m.  Chairman Henning seconded the motion.  The motion was approved upon the unanimous vote of the County Commissioners.