Jan 19, 2022

Action from the Barton County Commission meeting (1/19)

Posted Jan 19, 2022 6:00 PM

Action from the January 19, 2022, Barton County Commission meeting:

APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: 13th Month – 2nd Run: -An Accounts Payable Register for the 13th Month, 2021, was approved.

APPROVAL OF APPROPRIATIONS: -An Accounts Payable Register was approved for the period of January 4, 2022, and ending January 19, 2022.

NEW BUSINESS - COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE: Request for Approval – Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes: -Bev Schmeidler, County Clerk, presented a listing of Added / Abated / Escaped / Refunded Taxes. The listing was approved.

RESOLUTION 2022-04: A Resolution of Barton County, Kansas, Approving the Execution and Delivery of an Agreement to Release and Assign the County’s Opioid Claims to the Kansas Attorney General and Certifying Costs Attributable to Substance Abuse and Addiction Mitigation in Excess of $500: -On October 26, 2021, the Commission opted in to the National Opioid Settlement. The proposed settlement includes McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen (Distributors) and Janssen Pharmaceuticals and its parent company, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). At the request of the Kansas Attorney General, the Commission adopted a Resolution releasing and assigning claims to that office.

RESOLUTION 2022-05: 2022 Tax Sale: -Adopted Resolution 2022-05 authorizes certain tracts of real estate be sold for back taxes. This money is then distributed to the various taxing entities in the County. The Resolution also authorizes abstract work be performed in preparation for the tax sale.

2022 TAX SALE: First American Title Company: -Jim Jordan, County Treasurer, contacted First American Title Company reference abstracting services for the 2022 Tax Sale. First American Title Company will provide abstracting services at $80.00 per parcel.

RESOLUTION 2022-06: State of Kansas, Municipal Investment Pool and Rescinding Resolution 2020-14, Same, adopted, August 24, 2020: -Revisions to a 2020 Resolution allowing County funds to be pooled and invested was adopted. Revisions include the names of persons “authorized to transfer funds for investment in the Municipal Investment Pool (MIP) and are each authorized to withdraw funds, to issue letters of instruction, and to take all other actions deemed necessary or appropriate for the investment of funds”.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Wireless Door and Alarm System: -The Information Technology Department released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for an upgrade for five (5) doors with access control for Juvenile Services. The Nex-Tech Security bid of $9,004.80 was approved.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Camera Surveillance Upgrade project: - The Information Technology Department released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for this project that includes the upgrade of a camera server, various interior cameras and video decoders. The Nex-Tech Security bid of $13,705.87 was approved.

APPRAISER’S OFFICE: Vehicle Replacement: -After following County procurement policies and receiving no response to the bid, the Appraiser’s Office was given a list of specifications and authorized to find a like vehicle within a multi-County area. This was classified as non-competitive procurement. With current vehicle shortages and staffing demands, the purchase was necessary for the continuity of operations. A 2019 Chevrolet Traverse with 22,363 miles was purchased from Hays Chevrolet for $47,119.00 on January 13, 2022. The Commission ratified the purchase.

CENTRAL KANSAS COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS: Fiscal Year 2021 Year-End Outcomes: -The Kansas Community Corrections Act provides grants to Kansas Counties to develop and maintain a range of programs for adult offenders assigned to Community Corrections agencies. A Comprehensive Plan (grant application) was submitted that set the goals for FY2021. The Year-End Outcomes then sets out the results at the close of the year and require the review and approval of the Barton County Commissioners, as the Administrative County for the District to which the plan pertains. Amy Boxberger, CKCC Director, noted that goals were met with only 15% of discharged cases being remanded to prison.

Added item – Three Commissioners are attending the KAC 2022 Local Government Day. As a result, the Commission will not meet on January 26, 2022.

It was announced that County officials may attend the KAC 2022 Local Government Day event beginning at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 26, 2022. The event will be held at the Hotel Topeka at City Centre, 1717 SW Topeka Boulevard, Topeka, Kansas.

Commissioner Barb Esfeld noted that she is on the Golden Belt Humane Society. The GBHS is a non-profit. While both the County and the City of Great Bend provide funding, a great deal of their operational funds come from donations and fund raisers. Commissioner Esfeld then talked about potential changes to sales tax.

Commissioner James R. Daily added that he is on the Barton County Historical Society Board and they to struggle with funding.

Commissioner Kirby Krier commended the following agencies for assistance following the January 13, 2002, accident four miles south of Claflin – the Claflin Fire and Ambulance Services, the Barton County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol, Barton County Road and Bridge and Phil Hathcock of our Solid Waste Department. Also, Road and Bridge is tremendous in mowing the ditches along our roadways. I believe that the tragedy could have been compounded by the loss of hay and buildings should a prairie fire have started.

The next regular meeting of the Commission will be at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 2, 2022.