Aug 17, 2026 County Commission-Regular

[00:00:01]

ABOUT HIS BUDGET.

I HAVEN'T SEEN IT, BUT SOMEBODY TOLD ME WE'LL

[   Regular Meeting   5:30 p.m. Call to Order Chair Steve Helm   Pledge of Allegiance     Invocation Luanna Cokeley, Liberal Ministerial Alliance   Citizen Comments  ]

PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

UM, I DON'T SEE ANY WARMTH TO MYSTERIAL LINES HERE.

HERE.

PLEA, DID YOU DO THE HONOR? YEAH.

DEARLY FATHER, GIVE US THE WISDOM AND THE GUIDANCE TO GET THROUGH THIS MEETING CIVILLY AND USE YOUR DISCERNMENT TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS.

MORE IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR THE REIGN THAT YOU GAVE US OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS.

IN YOUR NAME, AMEN.

THANK YOU.

DO WE HAVE ANY CITIZENS, UM, WANT TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? OKAY.

PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES.

CASSANDRA EXTENDED BY A VOTE OF THE COMMISSION.

CASSANDRA MARTINEZ WARE, SEWARD COUNTY DEPUTY TREASURER BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

I'M SPEAKING TO RESPECTFULLY ADDRESS THE RECENT DECISION TO RESCIND THE WAGE INCREASE THAT HAPPENED AUGUST 3RD, 2026 THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED FOR THE EMPLOYEES WITHIN OUR OFFICE ON JULY 20TH, 2026.

WHEN THE BOARD ORIGINALLY APPROVED THESE INCREASES, THEY WERE TO COME OUT OF THE TREASURER'S FUND, WHICH BY STATUTE THE COMMISSION HAS NO CONTROL OVER.

THE NEW WAGES WERE FORMALLY APPROVED.

COUNTY TREASURER FOLLOWED CORRECT PROCEDURE TO ENSURE THAT THEY WENT INTO EFFECT SUBMITTING EMPLOYEE STATUS CHANGES ON JULY 24TH TO HR CREATING A SOFTWARE TICKET TO ENSURE IT CAME OUT OF THE TREASURER'S FUND AND NOTIFIED PAYROLL.

MAKING SURE THESE FIGURES WERE REFLECTED IN THE TREASURER'S FUND ALONE.

IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT EACH OF YOU COMMISSIONERS WAS EMAILED WITH THE INFORMATION ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 15TH AND WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE FRIDAY, JULY 17TH, INDIVIDUALLY BY MARY ROSE.

AT THAT TIME, FOUR OUT OF THE FIVE COMMISSIONERS INDICATED THAT THE INFORMATION PRESENTED WAS VERY BLACK AND WHITE AND SELF-EXPLANATORY AND NEEDED NO FURTHER EXPLANATION.

THERE WAS AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK EXPLANATION, REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR RAISE CONCERNS BEFORE THE WAGES WERE APPROVED AND IMPLEMENTED.

GIVEN THAT EACH COMMISSIONER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION BEFOREHAND AND THE INCREASES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY APPROVED AND PUT INTO EFFECT, THE DECISION TO REVERSE THEM AFTERWARD IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AND DISAPPOINTING.

EMPLOYEES WORKING SECOND JOBS OFFICIALLY GAVE THEIR TWO WEEK NOTICE THE CONSEQUENCES OF DECIS.

THIS DECISION ALSO EXTEND FAR BEYOND NUMBERS ON THE PAYROLL SKILL.

SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES RELIED ON THOSE APPROVED INCREASES, MAKING SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL AND DETRIMENTAL DECISIONS.

SOME CHOSE TO LEAVE THEIR SECOND JOB, WHICH CANNOT BE UNDONE.

NOW AFTER BEING FORMALLY NOTIFIED OF THE INCREASE AND ACTUALLY BEGINNING TO RECEIVE THAT WAGE, THEY REASONABLY LEAVE.

THEY CAN RELY ON THE INCOME.

THESE EMPLOYEES DID NOT MAKE THIS DECISION BASED ON RUMOR.

THEY WERE SIMPLY BASED ON AN ACT THAT YOU TOOK AND PUT INTO EFFECT.

OUR GIRLS HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN TO COPE, DRY OUR EYES AND PUT ONE STEP IN FRONT OF THE OTHER AND STILL COME TO WORK BASED ON A DECISION THAT YOU DID NOT TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION TO SERVE THE RESIDENTS OF OUR COUNTY ACCURATELY, PROFESSIONALLY, AND EFFICIENTLY, THOSE LIFE ALTERING DECISIONS CANNOT NECESSARILY BE DONE UNDONE SIMPLY BECAUSE THE BOARD LATER CHOOSES TO REVERSE AN ACTION.

IT HAD ALREADY APPROVED AND IMPLEMENTED A CONCERN IN FACT THAT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT RECEIVED AN APPROVED WAGE INCREASE DURING THE EXACT SAME MEETING, BUT IT WAS NOT RESCINDED NOR IN A DECADE FOR WORKING FOR THE COUNTY.

HAVE I EVER HEARD OF SUCH AN UNETHICAL DECISION TO DO SO? BY RESENDING A WAGE DONE BY COMMISSION, I MUST RAISE QUESTIONS REGARDING CONSISTENCY AND EQUAL TREATMENT IN RETURN.

EMPLOYEES DESERVE CONSISTENCY, TRANSPARENCY, AND FAIRNESS FROM THE COUNTY LEADERSHIP.

ANOTHER CONCERN THAT TOOK PLACE IN AUGUST 3RD MEETING IS THAT SIMPLY NUMBERS PRESENTED TO YOU BY HR OF THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

WAGES ONLY WE FEEL WAS SIGNIFICANTLY A FACTOR IN THE DECISION TO RESCIND YOUR WAGES.

[00:05:01]

THE TREASURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED THAT HER OFFICE WAGES WOULD BE DISCUSSED AT THAT MEETING, NOT GIVEN THE CHANCE TO REVIEW THE NUMBERS BEING PRESENTED BY HR OR TO DEFEND HER DEPARTMENT.

WE BELIEVE IN HAVING A WORKING RELATIONSHIP AND THOSE NUMBERS COULD HAVE WORKED ON, BEEN WORKED ON TOGETHER AS A TEAM.

I WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT THE INCREASE IN THE WAGES THAT YOU'RE SAYING IS A 30% INCREASE, WHICH WE AGREE UPON ON SOME SCALE BECAUSE OUR STARTING PAY IS SO LOW THAT THAT SIMPLY PUTS SET A STARTING WAGE COMPETITIVE TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THIS COUNTY.

THE POSITION WITHIN OUR OFFICE REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL.

THE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS RECOGNIZE THE DUTIES BEING PERFORMED AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANCE OF RETAINING EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE EMPLOYEES.

WE HAVE A VERY TENURED DEPARTMENT.

AS YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE MADE HIRING VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE WE CAN'T OFFICIALLY TELL THEM WHAT OUR STARTING WAGE IS AS WE DO INTERVIEWS.

THEY APPLIED AT THOSE NOTING THAT THE STARTING WAGE HAD BEEN INCREASED IT.

WE CANNOT ACTUALLY TELL THEM NO WHAT THERE'S GOING TO BE.

DURING THE BUDGET SESSION FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, YOU HAD THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOUR G SENSE TO LIGHT TO ME AND MARY ROSE.

WE APPEARED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF YOU, ALL FIVE MEMBERS AND THE TREASURER EXPLICITLY ASKED YOU MORE THAN ONCE IF YOU HAD ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS.

AGAIN, THAT DAY A DEPARTMENT HEAD CAME TO YOU DURING THE BUDGET HEARING AND NOTIFIED YOU THAT SHE HAD HIRED A NEW PERSON AT $17 AN HOUR.

YOU DIDN'T BLINK AN EYE EVEN AFTER THE ADMINISTRATOR HAD STATED THAT SHE BELIEVED THE STARTING PAY FOR THAT POSITION WAS $15 AN HOUR.

SO THAT MADE US TO BELIEVE SHE DID NOT GET APPROVAL FOR THAT PAY INCREASE.

YOU HAD THE FLOOR, YOU HAD THE AUDIENCE, AND YOU HAD THE POWER TO MAKE YOUR POINT.

YOUR SILENCE ON FRIDAY SPOKE VOLUMES TO US AS A DEPARTMENT.

I ALSO FEEL THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT CHAIRMAN HELM REMOVED THE COUNTY TREASURER OFF THE AGENDA MAY 14TH, 2026 WHERE THE REFLECTION OF THE COUNTY R AND R WAS ON THE AGENDA.

I WONDER IF THIS IS SIMPLY BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WOULD FIND OUT THE COUNTY TREASURER WORKED 222 HOURS IN 22 DAYS TO GET YOUR R AND R FIXED AND YOU WANT FREE LABOR, YET YOU OPTED TO PAY OTHER SALARY DEPARTMENTS HEADS DURING THE FIRE IN FEBRUARY, BUT NOT YOUR COUNTY TREASURER FOR R AND R.

TURN BACK ANOTHER POINT.

IN CASE OF SINGLING OUT OUR DEPARTMENT, I RESPECTFULLY ASK THE BOARD TO CONSIDER THE DECISION TO RESCIND THE WAGE INCREASES AND HONOR THE PREVIOUS APPROVED COMPENSATION.

THIS DEPARTMENT IS WORTH DEFENDING.

RETRACTING.

RETRACTING THESE WAGES AFTER THEY WERE IMPLEMENTED IS UNETHICAL AND APPEARS TO BE A RE A DIRECT RETALIATION AGAINST OUR DEPARTMENT ALONE.

OUR STAFF IS, I'M SORRY, I LOST TRACK TOO.

OUR, OUR STAFF FOR DEFENDING IS A RETALIATION AGAINST OUR STAFF FOR DEFENDING TAXPAYER RIGHTS.

THIS IS SIMPLY A CASE IN POINT WHERE YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN YOUR WORDS.

WHAT OCCURRED IS WRONG, UNETHICAL, AND YOU AS COMMISSIONERS KNOW IT, I URGE THE BOARD TO CORRECT THIS ACTION IMMEDIATELY BY RESTORING OUR COMPENSATION AS YOU HAVE NEVER DONE THIS TO ANOTHER DEPARTMENT IN THIS COUNTY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANK YOU.

ANYONE ELSE? AND YOU KNOW THE RULES BY NOW? YES.

MY NAME IS CAROLYN HUDDLESTON AND I LIVE AT THREE 16 WEST SEVENTH STREET.

THIS TIME I'M LOOKING AT THE PROPOSED RAISES FOR THE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

I TOOK A TABLE I ALREADY HAD WHERE I HAD BEEN TRACKING PAY SINCE AUGUST OF 24 AND ENTERED THE PROPOSED PAY THERE.

THAT IS YOUR FIRST HANDOUT.

ANGELA HAD SAID SOMEONE GOT A 90% RAISE AND I THOUGHT THAT COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE TRUE, BUT IT IS.

CASSANDRA MARTINEZ.

WES RAISE WAS OVER $30,000.

THE INCREASE OVER HER PRIOR PAY WAS 89.1%.

HOWEVER, THIS LADY IS GETTING A PROMOTION.

ANNABEL KLEINSMITH, WHO'S CURRENTLY THE DEPUTY TREASURER, IS RETIRING AND CASSANDRA IS MOVING INTO HER JOB.

ONE LADY'S PAY RAISE WAS ONLY 17.3% WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE GOT SUBSTANTIALLY MORE, 30% FOR MARY HERSELF AND 37.3% FOR LINDA MARTINEZ WHO MAY BE STEPPING INTO CASSANDRA'S OLD JOB.

THE OTHER RAISES WERE 31.1%, 29.6%, 27.1%, AND 26.7% THE TOTAL FOR ONE YEAR

[00:10:01]

PART OF THESE RAISES IS $108,430.

THE NEXT HANDOUT SHOWS YOU THE COST OF THE FICA AND SO ON.

THE TOTAL OF THOSE ANCILLARY COSTS IS $19,723.

ALTOGETHER IT'S 128,000 $153.

I THOUGHT MARY HAD SAID ALL COSTS FOR FIVE MONTHS WERE INCLUDED IN THE $45,000 FIGURE SHE QUOTED, BUT THEY WEREN'T WITH THOSE OTHER EXPENSES.

THE COST FOR FIVE MONTHS IS $53,397.

HOW MUCH MONEY MARY HAS IN A YEAR IN THAT SPECIAL FUND SEEMS TO BE VERY IMPORTANT.

HOW MUCH MONEY SHE GETS IN A YEAR.

SHE MIGHT HAVE ENOUGH TO PAY THE 53,000 FOR THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS, BUT CAN WE EXPECT HER TO HAVE 130,000 TO SUPPORT THESE RAISES NEXT YEAR? IF NOT, THEN THERE IS GOING TO BE COST TO THE COUNTY ACCORDING TO INFORMATION MARY PROVIDED.

AND YOU CAN SEE THE NEXT HANDOUT.

THE LEASE SHE HAS RECEIVED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS IS JUST UNDER $147,000 AND THE MOST $151,514.

SO IT LOOKS LIKE SHE WOULD HAVE ENOUGH INCOME TO PAY 130,000 FOR THOSE RAISES.

HOWEVER, THE WAGES FOR SANDRA MARTINEZ ARE CURRENTLY COMING OUT OF THAT MONEY.

NOW I'M GONNA BE TALKING ABOUT THE NEXT TWO HANDOUTS.

AT HER CURRENT RATE OF PAY WITH NO OVERTIME, LINDA'S PAY WOULD BE $33,446, BUT HER ACTUAL PAY IN 25 WAS $34,058.

THE EXTRA MONEY MARY TAKES FOR HERSELF AT THE END OF THE YEAR, WHICH IS CAPPED BY THE STATE AT 15,000 AND WHICH HAS TYPICALLY BEEN 10,000, COMES OUT OF THIS FUND.

IF MARY IS INTENDING TO STILL TAKE 10,000 AND LINDA'S PAY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMING FROM HERE, THEN AROUND 44,000 IS ALREADY COMMITTED, COMMITTED AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE TO GO TOWARDS RAISES WOULD BE SOMEWHERE AROUND 103,000 AND 107,500.

UNLESS OF COURSE MARY GETS AN INCREASE IN THE MONEY THAT GOES INTO THIS FUND, WHICH SHE ACTUALLY SAID SHE'S EXPECTING TO HAPPEN, HOW MUCH THAT INCREASE MIGHT BE IS UNCLEAR.

NOW PLEASE GO TO THE NEXT HANDOUT.

JUST BASED ON HISTORY, MARY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST 103,000 TO USE FOR RAISES.

OF COURSE, THE ANCILLARY COSTS NEED TO GET INCLUDED TOO.

USING THAT FIGURE FIGURE OF 103,000 RAISES COULD TOTAL 87,000 $148 AND THERE WOULD BE THE NECESSARY $15,852 FOR ANCILLARY COSTS.

WHEN WE CONSIDER THE PERCENTAGES OF THESE RAISES OVER THE CURRENT COUNTY PAY SCALE, THEY SEEM PRETTY OUTRAGEOUS.

BUT THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE COUNTY PAY SCALE RATES AND WHAT THEY'RE CURRENTLY GETTING AT CIMARRON BASIN AND J CAPS ARE EVEN MORE EXTREME.

NO RAISES WERE GIVEN TO J CAPS IN 26 AND I THANK YOU COMMISSIONERS FOR THAT.

SO THEIR PAY ISN'T QUITE AS HIGH AS WHAT THEY GET AT CIMARRON BASIN.

HOWEVER, IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, AS THE LAST HANDOUT WILL REMIND YOU, THE COMMISSION APPROVED A START PAY FOR THE INTAKE PERSON AT J CAPS OF $24 AND 88 CENTS AN HOUR.

THIS IS A PERSON WHO'S DOING A STRUCTURED INTERVIEW WITH THE KIDS, WHICH REQUIRES 20 HOURS OF TRAINING AND A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA WHERE IT'S EQUIVALENT AS THE ONLY EDUCATION.

THIS IS TRULY A CLERK POSITION AND COMPARE IT TO WHAT'S REQUIRED OF THOSE LEGAL SECRETARIES IN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

RUSSELL WAS ASKING TODAY FOR PERMISSION TO MAKE THEIR START PAY 17 OR $18.

IN ANY CASE, THE WAGE OF 24 88 PER HOUR WHEN COMPARED TO THE COUNTY START PAY OF $16 PER HOUR REPRESENTS A RAISE OF 55.5%.

THAT'S AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THE CURRENT PAY AT J CAPS COMPARES TO THE COUNTY PAY SCALE.

YOU'VE DISREGARDED THE COUNTY PAY SCALE WHEN IT COMES TO CIMARRON BASIN AND J CAPS BECAUSE KDOC GRANT FUNDS CAN PAY THE STAFF WAGES.

SO IF MARY HAS ANOTHER SOURCE OF MONEY TO SUPPLEMENT COUNTY PAY, I THINK IT'S ONLY FAIR THAT SHE'D BE ALLOWED TO USE IT FOR THAT, AT LEAST UP TO THE POINT THAT HER SPECIAL FUND CAN BE COUNTED ON TO COVER THOSE RAISES.

ACTUALLY, AFTER THIS, I HOPE THE COUNTY WILL SAY NO MORE.

I HOPE YOU'LL TELL CIMARRON BASIN AND J CAPS AND THE TREASURER'S OFFICE, THEY AREN'T GOING TO SEE ANY MORE RAISES UNTIL THOSE ARE JUSTIFIED BY THE COUNTY PAY SCALE.

THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE UNFAIRNESS TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

[00:15:03]

THANK, THANK YOU.

AND DO WE HAVE ANYONE ELSE THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? OKAY, SO

[1. Approve Agenda: Additions or Deletions]

UM, OH, POTHOLE.

PATCHER POTHOLE.

PATCHER.

YEAH.

AND HE'S ALREADY ON THE AGENDA, SO IF YOU COULD JUST DO THIS AS SEVEN A PLEASE.

SO JUST SEVEN, EIGHT.

OKAY.

SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADD, UM, STEVE, JUST SO I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THE TREASURER SOME QUESTIONS, COULD WE INSERT HER AGAIN AS FOUR A JUST FOR SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING, UM, THAT I HAVE REGARDING, UH, SALARY DISCUSSION? SO THAT WOULD BE WHAT, JUST MAKE IT FOUR A 'CAUSE SHE'LL ALREADY BE UP TO THE TAX SALE UPDATE.

OKAY.

OKAY.

SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADD FOUR A AND SEVEN A TO THE AGENDA? SO MOVED.

GO THE SECOND, SECOND CASE.

SO I HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STANTON, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MATLIN TO ADD, UH, FOUR A MARY ROSE DISCUSSION AND SEVEN A POTHOLE PASTURE.

DO WE HAVE A ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES.

FIVE.

OH.

SO DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA? SO MOVED.

HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

NO, I KNOW WE HAVE A MOTION.

WAS THAT YOU? OKAY.

I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STANTON, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MIDLAND TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA.

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION PASSES FIVE OH

[2. Consent Agenda   Minutes August 3, 2026 Work Session August 3, 2026 Regular Meeting August 11, 2026 Election Canvass Payroll August 3, 2026 Reg: $426,284.99 Sage: $16,661.70 Vouchers $354,423.26 Journal Entries 6CK-108 - 6CK-116 Abates and Escapes A = 0 E = 0 Crossing Permits None Requisitions None  ]

DO YOU HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT AGENDA? I WILL HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LAUDER.

BACK A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER VASQUEZ TO, UH, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.

ALL IN FAVOR RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION PASSES.

FIVE OH ITEM

[3. New Employees]

NEW EMPLOYEES, NONE THAT ARE PRESENT.

DAVID WARS, WELCOME OFF NOW.

HE'S JUST A REGULAR GUY IN THE AUDIENCE.

ITEM

[4. Tax Sale Update - Tax Recovery]

MARY ROSE COMMISSIONERS.

WE HAD THE TAX SALE JULY 31ST, UM, AND MOST OF YOU WERE THERE.

WE SOLD ALL 22 PARCELS.

THERE WAS NONE THAT WAS NOT SOLD.

SO ALL OF THEM DID SELL.

UM, THAT FUND DID COME IN AT $385,000.

UM, WE ARE WAITING TO, THOSE FUNDS HAVE TO BE HELD FOR AT LEAST 14 DAYS.

AND THEN, UM, CLINDA OSTROM IS WORKING ON THE BACKSIDE OF ALL OF THAT.

ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? WHAT WAS YOUR ESTIMATED GROSS? I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE FIGURES.

I MEAN THAT THE, SO THE, WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THAT'S WHAT CAME IN AND THEN THEY'LL GO IN AND, UM, DO EVERYTHING WITH DISTRICT COURT AND THEN WE'LL SIT BACK AND SEE WHAT THOSE NUMBERS ARE AT.

OKAY.

UM, THEY'RE NOT GONNA, I DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING UNTIL LATTER IN THE MONTH, BUT THESE TAXES WILL GO BACK TO THE DELINQUENT TAXES THAT WERE STILL ON THE BOOKS AND THEN IT'LL BE DISTRIBUTED OUT.

SO ANY FEES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT COMES OFF OF THIS.

AND THIS WAS FOR 2019 AND PRIOR, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A COUPLE IN THERE THAT HAD SOME SIXTEENS.

RIGHT, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S NOTHING FROM 2020 TO DATE HAS BEEN IN ANY AUCTION YET.

I DON'T THINK SO, NO.

DO WE HAVE THOSE IN THE PROCESS? WE DO.

THAT IS A CONVERSATION THAT THE COMMISSION AND I WILL HAVE TO HAVE.

OKAY.

UM, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S BEEN ONE THAT'S HANGING FOR YEARS.

[00:20:01]

WE'VE NOT SEEN THOSE WRITE OFFS.

THE LIBERAL LAND PROPERTY, DO YOU KNOW WHERE WE'RE AT ON THAT? I DUNNO, I THOUGHT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT YOU AND NATHAN HAD TALKED ABOUT AND YOU GUYS HAD ALREADY FIGURED ALL THAT OUT BECAUSE NO, MONTHS AGO IT'S A TREASURE.

I MEAN, IT'S UNDER YOUR WATCH.

I, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT NO, THE COLLECTION'S UNDER MINE, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH WHAT THAT DISCUSSION WAS WITH THE COMMISSION AND NATHAN, THERE WAS A BUNCH OF STUFF GOING ON WITH THAT AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS A LEASE HOLD, THERE WAS AN ISSUE.

I KNOW THAT THE APPRAISER'S OFFICE WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT CONVERSATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.

I, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAD TO GO IN AND FIX SOME STUFF BECAUSE IT WAS ON THE BOOKS WRONG.

MY, MY ONLY CONVERSATIONS ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT OCCURRED AT COMMISSION MEETINGS AND THAT'S ON THE BOOKS FOR, WELL, I THINK THERE WAS SOME WITH EMAILS THAT WAS SENT BACK AND FORTH FROM NATHAN FOREMAN ABOUT THAT ASKING QUESTIONS.

AND I AND THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

THAT WAS A CONVERSATION THAT WAS WITH, BETWEEN NATHAN AND THE APPRAISER'S OFFICE.

AND YOU, I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT MY OFFICE NEEDED TO DO BECAUSE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE HANDLING IN THE APPRAISER'S OFFICE AND HIM.

SO APRIL, CAN YOU FOLLOW UP ON IT SO IT GETS, I CAN FOLLOW UP ON IT.

I THINK MARY, UM, STATING THAT THERE WERE EMAILS GOING BACK AND FORTH.

I BELIEVE THE LATEST UPDATE THAT EVERYBODY HAD RECEIVED FROM NATHAN IS THAT HE WAS TURNING IT OVER TO KENDALL OSTERMAN.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY'RE AT IN THAT PROCESS, BUT WE CAN FOLLOW UP TOGETHER WITH THEM AND FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.

AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A LEASE HOLD AND IT WAS PUT IN THE BOOKS WRONG.

UM, BUT I'M GONNA DEFINITELY FOLLOW UP ON IT AND SEE WHERE IT'S AT.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

FOR A, UH, I'LL START.

I'VE GOT I GUESS THREE BASIC QUESTIONS.

OKAY.

COULD YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR EXPECTED INCREASE IN FUNDING FROM THE STATE FOR THE TREASURER'S FUND? WHAT YOU BASE THE ESTIMATE ON AND WHAT YOU THINK THAT NUMBER IS LIKELY TO BE BASED ON THE CHANGE IN THE STATUTE? SO THE TREASURER'S FUND, UM, COMES IN DAILY AND UM, IT GOES WHAT WE CALL THE TREASURES, WHICH IS WE CALL THE FIVE 10 ACCOUNT THAT IS PUT IN DAILY FOR THAT.

UM, I BELIEVE TO DATE IT HAS 57,000 IN IT.

UM, I EXPECT A TOTAL FOR THE YEAR TO BE 146,000.

UM, I HAVE USED SOME OF THAT.

SO I DO THINK 64,000 IS WHAT I'M ALSO EXPECTING COMING IN ON TOP OF THAT 57.

THAT FUND IS USED, UM, PRIMARILY FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES ON THE TREASURER IN THE TREASURER'S OFFICE AND, UM, IN THE, UH, COMPENSATION IS A BIG ONE ON THAT MOVING FORWARD.

UM, I WAS EXPECTING TO USE FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER, THE MONEY FOR THAT TO GO TOWARD THE IN WAGE INCREASES.

UM, THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT THE COMMISSION CAN SIT THERE AND SAY THAT THE TREASURER'S GONNA GIVE HIM THIS MUCH TO GENERAL FUND.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT, UM, WE'VE DONE.

UM, ANY LITTLE BIT THAT IS TRANSFERRED OVER, IT DOES GET TRANSFERRED OVER TO MY BUDGET TO OFFSET ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR OPERATIONAL.

I CANNOT, THAT'S, THAT'S PRIMARILY THE THING MOVING FORWARD.

THERE WILL BE MORE MONEY COMING FORWARD FROM, FOR 2027 FOR THAT FUND.

UM, SO I DO EXPECT AN ADDITIONAL 80 80.

I I DID 83,000 FOR THE YEAR FOR 2027.

DID THAT ANSWER? YES, IT DID.

AND THAT'S NOT EVERYTHING YOU'RE EXPECTING TO COME IN, THAT'S A PART THEREOF.

CORRECT.

I EXPECT 146,000 PLUS THE 83 AND I DID FIGURE THAT, UM, LOW AT 6% LOW FOR THE YEAR.

OKAY.

UH, NEXT QUESTION MAY ACTUALLY PERTAIN TO ANGELA AS WELL.

UM, THE WAGE SCALE I'VE SEEN HASN'T BEEN UPDATED.

HAS THAT BEEN UPDATED? NO.

UM, TODAY DURING THE BUDGET FOR RECESSION, I PLACED, UM, SOMETHING ON YOUR DESK THAT HAS WHAT COST OF LIVING IS UP AND ON THE BACK 2026.

SO YEAR OVER YEAR.

THE THERE DESCRIPTIONS, THE, THE CURRENT SCALE IS FROM 2020.

OKAY.

AND IN, IN RE IN REALISTIC TERMS FOR LOWER END OF THE SPECTRUM, IT'S NOT REALITY FOR ANYBODY ANYMORE.

OKAY.

UM, SO MARY OR, OR, UH, CASSIE, COULD YOU ADDRESS, UH, COMPARISONS OF WHAT YOUR SUGGESTED

[00:25:01]

CORRECT? WE'VE HAD, UM, OTHER DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE STARTING AT, UM, 17, 18, $19 AN HOUR.

UM, STARTING AT THAT IS THE, THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING THE FIRST PERSON TO COME IN.

NEW EMPLOYEE.

OUR OFFICE WAS NOT OFFERING THAT.

UM, IN 2024, THEY INCREASED THAT TO $15.

WE OFFERED YOU COME IN IN AT $10 AND 4 CENTS.

UM, AND THEN WE HAD TO BUMP EVERYBODY UP TO $15.

SO THAT THE WAGE INCREASE THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT WAS ONE.

I HAVE HAD EMPLOYEES IN MY OFFICE APPLY FOR POSITIONS IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THE COUNTY BECAUSE THEY START TWO, $3 MORE.

THAT'S THE STARTING WAGE.

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SO WE WERE LOOKING AT BEING ONE.

I DID GO OUT AND, UM, LOOK WHAT OTHER COUNTIES WERE DOING.

I ALSO LOOKED AT WHERE WE'RE SITTING AT AS FAR AS POOR, MIDDLE AND HIGH CLASS.

UM, I DID LOOK AT, UM, RETENTION.

I DID LOOK AT, UM, EX UM, THE EXPERIENCE.

I LOOKED AT, UM, SEVERAL THINGS BEFORE I PROPOSED THAT.

UM, AND SO THE BUMP WAS TO PUT US IN LINE WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS, UM, STARTING PAY AND THEN WORK WITHIN THAT.

CORTEL, WHICH IS THE CORTEL THAT IS USED NOW, WAS PRETTY MUCH THE CORTEL THAT I WAS USING, UM, ALREADY, EXCEPT FOR THE STARTING WAGE.

WAS WAS THIS A DIFFERENT WAGE? THAT'S IS, IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING? YES.

IT'S, AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT KIND OF CAME FROM, WAS THE STARTING WAGE WAS TO PUT US IN LINE WITH THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS AT A STARTING WAGE.

AND SO IT, IN ALL REALITY, WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COMES IN AND THEY'RE GOING TO THE LANDFILL OR ROAD AND BRIDGE OR ANYWHERE ELSE, AND THEY'RE STARTING AT 18, $19 AN HOUR OR EVEN 17, WE DON'T EVEN START THAT IN OUR OFFICE.

AND WE WEREN'T EVEN IN LINE WITH ANY OF THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

THE GIRLS THAT ARE IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS HAVE BEEN THERE FOR DECADES AND ARE ONLY MAKING 16.

AND SO IT WAS TO GET THEM WITHIN THAT RANGE OF UM, I GUESS ACCEPTANCE AND FAIRNESS AND THEIR RETENTION AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT, THAT CORTEL WAS NOT, IT WAS OUTDATED.

IT WAS OUTDATED AND IT WAS NOT USED.

UM, I DON'T THINK IT WAS USED TO THE BEST INTEREST OF THE, OF THE EMPLOYEE.

ALRIGHT.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.

THANK YOU.

OKAY.

ANYTHING ELSE? THANK YOU.

ITEM

[5. Kirkham Michael Update]

ALL RIGHT, GOOD.

MOR GOOD, GOOD EVENING COMMISSIONERS.

STEVE LENAHAN, KIRKMICHAEL.

UM, SO A COUPLE UPDATES.

UM, I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH DARREL LUTZ WITH THE COUNTY ASSOCIATION COMMISSIONERS.

HE'S PUTTING TOGETHER A, UH, PAVEMENT INDEX.

UH, SO WE CAN, SO SO I THINK THE LAST TIME I, I TALKED IN FRONT OF YOU GUYS, UM, I HAD BEEN TRYING TO, TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM AND I FINALLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK WITH HIM.

HE'S GOT SECTIONS DEVELOPED.

UH, HE'S GOT, UM, OUR CORES THAT WE DID SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND HE'S GONNA HELP US TO PRIORITIZE WHAT ROADS ARE, UH, PRIORITIES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAULS.

SO, UM, IN THAT SAME KIND OF DISCUSSION, I GUESS, UM, TODAY WAS, UH, THE OPENING OF THE KANSAS COST SHARE PROGRAM.

SO THAT'S A 85 15% CONSTRUCTION, UH, PROGRAM.

KDOT, UM, FUNDS 85% LOCAL AGENCIES FUND 15% OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PROJECT.

OF COURSE, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WIN IT, UM, GET SELECTED, I SHOULD SAY GET SELECTED FOR THOSE PROJECTS.

UM, WE'LL PROBABLY, I'LL PROBABLY BE IN TOUCH WITH, WITH MARK AND, UH, DETERMINE IF, IF AND WHAT PROJECTS WE MIGHT WANNA AT LEAST APPROACH YOU ABOUT BECAUSE THAT STILL DOES, UH, PUT SOME, SOME RESPONSIBILITY ON THE COUNTY TO FUND 15%

[00:30:02]

UH, WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS, THIS ROUND OF COST SHARE IS KDOT, UM, DOUBLED THEIR NORMAL FUNDING, UH, BECAUSE OF SOME COST SAVINGS THAT THEY HAD FROM, UH, THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

SO IT WENT FROM 6 MILLION TO 12 MILLION.

AND SO IT, UH, SO TYPICALLY THE PROJECTS WERE LIMITED AT A MILLION DOLLARS, UH, AND NOW IT'S $1.5 MILLION AND FOR EACH DISTRICT IT'S A $2 MILLION ALLOCATION.

SO THEY'LL, THEY WOULD ESSENTIALLY HAVE TWO PRO OR UM, $2 MILLION WORTH OF PROJECTS IN THIS KDOT DISTRICT.

SO, UM, IF WE ARE THINKING THAT WE MIGHT WANT A PROJECT, UM, MAYBE ONE THAT, UM, DARRELL LUTZ'S TEAM KIND OF IDENTIFIES AS A PRIORITY, WE MIGHT WANNA THINK ABOUT PUTTING THAT ON OUR, UM, ON OUR RADAR.

UM, I ALSO TALKED EARLIER WITH, UH, KEN AND ALBERT IN PLANNING AND ZONING, UH, PARTICULARLY ABOUT, UM, THE CONESTOGA STORAGE SITE SOUTH OF 54 ON, ON P ROAD.

UH, IT SOUNDS LIKE, UM, THE CONDITIONAL USE MAY HAVE A, UH, PROVISION TO THAT IT BE APPROVED WITH, WITH THE PROVISION THAT, UH, A ROAD USE AGREEMENT BE DONE ON ROAD P THE CONCERN THAT I WOULD HAVE IS THAT, UH, IT MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO LIMIT THE OFF ROUTE FROM THE SOUTH.

UH, AND SO WE, WE ARE GONNA COME TOGETHER.

SO I JUST TALKED WITH THEM TODAY.

SO, UH, I THINK WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT TALKING TOGETHER AND TALKING WITH CONESTOGA ROAD, CONESTOGA IN THE, UH, COMING WEEKS ABOUT WHAT ELSE WE COULD DO TO ENCOURAGE TRUCKS TO STAY ON ROUTE OR DISCOURAGE THEM TO STAY OFF ROUTE, OR A COMBINATION OF BOTH.

UM, BECAUSE, UH, WITH, 'CAUSE WE JUST DON'T WANT THEM TO USE THE BACK ROADS.

I MEAN, IT JUST CONFLICTS WITH RESIDENTS, BUS ROUTES, SAFETY, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I MEAN, IT'S GONNA BE A, A PRETTY BIG INFLUX OF, OF VEHICLES IF AND WHEN THEY DO, UH, BUILD THOSE, UH, STORE THAT STORAGE LAY DOWN AREA.

SO, UM, I THINK THAT'S IT.

ANY QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT A COUPLE AND, AND THIS MAY INVOLVE MARK A. LITTLE BIT.

UM, WHEN ARE WE GONNA HAVE KIND OF THIS BASIC OUTLINE OF THE, FROM THE CORE SAMPLES THAT YOU'VE TAKEN? I MEAN, WHEN'S THAT GONNA BE PUT TO PRACTICAL USE? AND SAME QUESTION I GUESS FROM MARK'S PERSPECTIVE.

WHEN ARE WE GONNA HAVE ALL THE DATA FOR THE GRAVEL ROAD MAINTENANCE AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE? WHEN'S THAT ALL COMING TOGETHER? WELL, WE'RE, WE'RE STARTING TO GET, WE'RE ACTUALLY STARTING TO GET TRACTION WITH, WITH DARRELL AND HIS TEAM FOR, FOR THE PAVEMENT.

UM, AND SO I'M, I'M HOPING WE CAN HAVE IT DONE.

I'D REALLY LIKE IT REALLY DONE REALLY SOON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICKLY WE CAN GET IT, GET IT DONE.

'CAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE WHAT OUR PRIORITIES MIGHT BE.

MM-HMM .

FOR THE PURPOSES OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS COST SHARE IF WE WANTED TO, WANTED TO DO THAT.

UM, I, I DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE GONNA GET IT THAT FAST.

'CAUSE THE COST SHARE IS DUE SEPTEMBER 24TH.

IT'S NOT A OVERLY COMPLICATED, UH, APPLICATION, BUT IT IS GONNA TAKE SOME ALIGNMENT WITH, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S NEEDED VERSUS WHAT YOU'RE WILLING TO, UH, BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, I'M JUST KIND OF LOOKING AT THIS AND I KNOW I WASN'T ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY FOR THE BUDGET SESSIONS DUE TO THIS LITTLE WONDER, UM, IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE KIND OF HAVING AN ISSUE WITH, UM, KNOWING WHAT WE ACTUALLY NEED TO SPEND ON SOME OF THE ROAD AND BRIDGE BUDGET JUST BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THIS DATA.

I KNOW THAT'S NOT YOU.

SO ARE WE SIX MONTHS FROM HAVING THIS PLAN PUT TOGETHER EIGHT MONTHS, 12 MONTHS? I WOULD, I I I WOULD, I WOULD HATE TO SAY IT'S HONESTLY, I MEAN, WHAT'S REALISTIC? YEAH.

NO, I, I'D HATE TO SAY JUST ONLY BECAUSE, UH, I WOULD'VE THOUGHT WE'D HAVE IT BY NOW TO BE REAL HONEST.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST, UH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OUR ORIGINAL PLAN WAS TO HAVE IT DONE THIS SPRING AND, AND IT DIDN'T GET DONE.

UM, AND THAT'S JUST I, AT SOME POINT IT'S KINDA OUTTA MY HANDS.

IT'S REALLY IN, IN DARRELL'S HANDS UNLESS YOU , HE'S, HE'S ANALYZING THE SAMPLES WE TOOK IS THAT THE SAMPLES, THE, THE

[00:35:01]

HE'S PUTTING TOGETHER A FULL INDEX OF, OF, UH, PRIORITIES AS FAR AS THE OTHER STUFF, THE GRAVEL AND, UH, DIRT ROADS AND, AND WHAT THE PRIORITIES ARE ON THAT.

UM, I HAVEN'T BEEN INVOLVED IN THAT.

I THINK THAT'S THAT.

I MEAN, IF, IF YOU WANNA SPEAK ABOUT IT, I DON'T KNOW.

O AND P WERE TWO OF THE ROADS AND WE HAVE ADDRESSED THOSE MM-HMM .

WITH THE, UM, SORRY, I CAN'T THINK OF THE CHEMICAL.

THE PERM ZYME.

PERM ZYME AND BASE ONE THAT WE USE ON THE OTHER ONE.

BASE ONE.

YEAH.

YEAH.

THOSE WERE THE TWO MAJOR, OR THOSE WERE THE TWO PRIORITY.

I KNOW THEY'VE TALKED ABOUT ROAD R, PANHANDLE ROAD AND, UM, I WOULD HAVE TO LOOK, BUT YEAH, THOSE, THE, THE GRAVEL DIRT ROADS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN A WORK SESSION OKAY.

OF KIND OF WHERE WE WERE PRIORITIZING THAT.

GOTCHA.

ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OKAY.

ITEM SIX,

[6. Biennial Routine Bridge Inspection - Agreement with Kirkham Michael]

UH, IT'S AGREEMENT WITH KIRK AND MICHAEL, THE LOCAL BRIDGE INSPECTION CONTRACT SCOPE OF SERVICES, UH, TO COMPLETE THE BIENNIAL BRIDGE INSPECTIONS HAS REQUIRED.

SEWARD COUNTY HAS SIX BRIDGES TO INSPECT AND DATA ENTERED INTO K DOTS APPROVED SOFTWARE, $3,960 AND YOU'RE COM COMBINING IRON INSPECTIONS WITH OTHER COUNTY'S INSPECTIONS TO REDUCE THE COST.

YES, EXACTLY.

TO REDUCE THE COST.

UM, WE ARE PROPOSING THAT WE GO AHEAD AND, AND MOVE IT UP.

UM, SO TWO YEARS AGO IN NOVEMBER, UH, WE DID THE INSPECTIONS AND THEN, SO YOU HAVE 24 MONTH PERIOD.

UM, AND IN ORDER TO KIND OF GET YOU GUYS, UH, OUR BEST PRICED AT, YOU KNOW, TO, TO GET OUR PEOPLE OUT THERE, UM, WE THOUGHT WE COULD DO IT IN SEPTEMBER.

UH, OF COURSE THAT WILL ALSO THEN SET THE NEXT BIANNUAL BACK TO SEPTEMBER OF 2028.

I, IT, TO ME, IT'S A PRETTY MINIMAL RIGHT, UH, UH, ISSUE.

BUT, UH, THAT'S, THAT'S UP TO YOU GUYS.

SO THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR TO ENTER AN AGREEMENT WITH KIRK MICHAEL FOR THE BIENNIAL BRIDGE INSPECTIONS.

ANY QUESTIONS? I HAVE A MOTION I WOULD MOVE TO AUTHORIZE KIRK AND MICHAEL TO, UH, DO THESE INSPECTIONS IN SEPTEMBER.

SO, DO WE HAVE A SECOND? I WILL HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER MIDLAND, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LOUDERBACK TO APPROVE AND AUTHORIZE THE CHAIR, UH, TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT WITH THE KIRK OF MICHAEL FOR THE BIENNIAL BRIDGE INSPECTIONS.

ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES.

FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU STEVE.

ITEM

[7. Road & Bridge Dump trucks]

SO IN THE 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, RODIN BRIDGE RECEIVED A $62,000 CHECK FOR INSURANCE FOR A TRUCK THAT WAS WRECKED.

UM, THEY WANT TO PURCHASE TWO DUMP TRUCKS WITH SNOW PLOWS, UH, FROM THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

NUMBER ONE IS A 2000 INTERNATIONAL 7,400, UH, WITH 117,000 MILES FOR 21,000 AND A 2009 STERLING LT 7,500 WITH 146,000 MILES, UH, FOR A PRICE OF 29,000.

UH, BOTH TRUCKS ARE TO BE PAID FROM ROAD AND BRIDGE ACCOUNT TWO 10.

BOTH OF 'EM HAVE SNOW PLOWS.

CORRECT.

ONE OF THEM HAD A, UM, SALT.

THE, UH, ONE OF THE, IT DOES, I MEAN, ONE OF THE, THE SMALLER TRUCK HAS A BRINE TANK RIGHT IN THE BACK AND THE OTHER ONE HAS A IN THE BACK.

SO YOU'VE CHECKED THESE TRUCKS OUT? WE, UH, ANTHONY AND I DROVE DOWN THERE IN GARDEN CITY.

WE STARTED 'EM UP AND WALKED THROUGH 'EM.

EVERYTHING LOOKED GOOD.

THE ONLY THING WE COULDN'T DO WAS DRIVE.

ALRIGHT.

HE TOLD US ONE WAS DROVE FROM NEST CITY, NEST CITY, KANSAS TO THERE AND THE OTHER ONE CAME FROM LIBERAL

[00:40:02]

SO THESE TRUCKS BASICALLY SIT ALL THE TIME? YEAH.

WELL THE, THE SNOW TRUCKS? YES.

OKAY.

THEY RUN DURING THE WINTER.

SO THEN WE'RE, I KNOW ONE TRUCK GOT WRECKED.

ARE WE GOING TO, THAT TRUCK'S GONE, RIGHT? I KNOW.

BUT THEN THE, ARE WE, WE HAVE THREE, WE HAVE THREE, UH, WESTERN STARS.

A 19 2 19 98 OR 1988 AND A 1986.

AND THE TWO 80 EIGHTS, OR ALMOST 260,000 MILES.

THE 86 IS THREE 76,000 MILES.

THIS IS A, A BREAKDOWN ON THE 91 OF THE 98.

OH, I NEED GO UP THERE.

YEAH, SORRY, SORRY.

UH, ONE OF THE, UH, 88 MODELS, I BELIEVE IT'S THE ONE WITH 254,000 MILES TO GET IT BACK UP AND GOING.

WE'RE ON THE MINIMUM SIDE OF $22,000.

SO WE'RE GONNA, WE WILL, WE'RE GONNA, WE GOT TWO OF THOSE.

WE'RE GONNA MAKE MORE TRUCKS.

WE'RE GONNA GET RID OF ONE.

YEAH, WE GOT TWO OF THOSE, UH, SLATED TO GO TO THE AUCTION AND SNOW PLOWS.

THIS WILL BE, I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S A GOOD DEAL TO HAVE SNOW PLOWS ON.

YEAH, IT'S, THE SNOW PLOWS CAN COME OFF LIKE DURING THE SUMMER.

WE CAN USE IT AS A REGULAR DUMP TRUCK.

THE, THE HYDRAULICS DO WORK ON BOTH TRUCKS.

OKAY.

KDOT WOULD NOT ALLOW US TO TEST DRIVE FOR LIABILITY INSURANCE PURPOSES, SO, YEP.

WE DID DRIVE AROUND THE LOT.

THAT'S ABOUT AS FAR AS WE CAN GO.

NO COMMENT.

.

UM, SO ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? WAS IT, WAS IT LAST WINTER WHEN YOU WENT TO PLOW MARK? BOTH TRUCKS BROKE DOWN.

MARK, ARE YOU GONNA NEED A SPECIAL CHECK IF THEY APPROVE THIS? OH, NO.

NO.

OKAY.

HE SAID AS LONG AS WE HAVE THE CONTRACT RUN UP, WE'D GO GET 'EM AND THEN THEY'LL JUST BILL US.

WERE BOTH TRUCKS BROKE DOWN AT ONE TIME.

THE FIRST TIME IT SNOWED LAST YEAR.

YES.

THE, THE THREE SNOW STORMS THAT WE DID GO OUT ON, WE WERE BROKE DOWN EVERY TIME.

SO ANY MORE QUESTIONS? MOTION? I WILL.

OKAY.

I WILL MAKE THE MOTION TO PURCHASE THESE TWO TRUCKS.

SECOND.

YOU SECOND.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER LOUDERBACK, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER VASQUEZ TO PURCHASE THE 2K KDOT TRUCKS.

A 2007 INTERNATIONAL AND A 2009 STERLING FOR A COMBINED PRICE OF 50,000 TWO 10.

YES.

FROM THE, FROM ACCOUNT TWO 10, WHICH IS THE INSURANCE PROCEEDS FROM THE TRUCK.

IT WAS WRECKED TWO YEARS AGO OR THREE WHEN THAT WAS.

ANYWAY, OKAY.

OH FOUR.

SO ANY MORE QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? MOTION PASSES.

FIVE.

OH, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

MARK.

OH 4 5 6 A SEVEN A IS THE POTHOLE CAPTURE.

YES, I'VE BEEN, UH, ON THE PHONE.

THIS IS COMING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK.

UM, WE DO HAVE A LOT OF POTHOLES, A LOT OF OUR COUNTY ROADS.

THERE'S NO DENYING THAT.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING DIFFERENT IDEAS ON USING OUR MILLINGS TO PATCH THESE ROADS.

A COUPLE OF 'EM HAVE BEEN, UH, PRETTY UNSAFE THE WAY WE'VE BEEN DOING IT.

WE WENT AND PURCHASED A, A CHEAP CONCRETE MIXER TO SEE IF IT WORKED.

YOU KNOW, WE'D PUT THE MILLINGS IN THE MIXER TURNED ON, ROTATE IT AND JUST HOLD A PROPANE TORCH IN IT.

BUT ONCE THAT TANK GETS HOT, WE GOTTA LET IT SIT FOR TWO HOURS BEFORE WE CAN EVEN PICK IT UP AND, AND GO TO THE NEXT, NEXT POTHOLE.

SO I I SHUT THAT DOWN.

UH, I STARTED LOOKING AND FOUND THIS AMER PATCHER.

THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES THAT MAKE THIS KIND OF DESIGN, BUT THEY'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE IT TO WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY DRIVE INTO THE PILE, SCOOP IT UP, LOAD IT, BASICALLY A ONE MAN OPERATION.

THE OTHER MODELS ARE WHERE YOU HAVE TO SHOVEL IT INTO THE, UH, THE HOPPER AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SHOVEL IT OUT INTO THE, THE POTHOLE.

THIS HERE DOES EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

UM, IT'S A, IT HOLDS 500 POUNDS EVERY 10 MINUTES.

YOU HAVE A 500 POUND BATCH OF, OF NEW MILLINGS AND IT'S, IT CONNECTS RIGHT ONTO OUR SKID STEER.

WE WOULD HAVE TO BUY PROBABLY A HUNDRED DOLLARS WORTH OF CONNECTIONS TO MAKE THIS WORK ON OUR MACHINE TO GET ELECTRIC TO THIS MACHINE.

'CAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ELECTRICAL ON THE FRONT OF OUR

[00:45:01]

SO, BUT THIS WOULD ALSO, UH, BE PAID OUT OF OUR TWO 10 ACCOUNT.

HE, I DID TELL HIM THAT WE, UH, WORK WITH, UH, IS IT SOURCE? WELL, THEY DO NOT DO THAT.

THEY HAVE A DEAL.

IT'S CALLED TIPS, BUT HE WOULD GO AHEAD AND GIVE US THE DISCOUNT PRICE ON THIS AS WELL.

UH, EARLIER I TOLD YOU IT'S 32,000.

IT COMES IN AT 31,000 551 50.

AND JUST FOR REFERENCE, THE OTHER TRUCK SETUP THAT YOU WERE LOOKING AT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THIS, CORRECT? WHAT'S THAT? THE TRUCK SETUP YOU WERE LOOKING AT A YEAR AGO WAS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MONEY THAN THIS.

YEAH, IT WAS A, IT WAS A TRAILER MOUNTED OPTION WHERE WE HAD, WE'D HAVE TO END UP BUYING A, A THREEQUARTER TON PICKUP TO PULL IT.

IT WAS A SIX TON CAPACITY WHERE YOU HAD TO MAKE SIX TONS AT A TIME TO DO THAT.

AND I JUST DIDN'T THINK THAT WAS GONNA BE FEASIBLE WITH, WITH POTHOLES.

SO, AND YOU HAVE TO, IT STAYS PRETTY WELL STATIONARY, SIX TONS.

UNLESS WE WERE TO BUY THE, THE TRUCK TO PULL IT FROM LOCATION TO LOCATION.

AND THAT'S A 24 HOUR TURNAROUND PER LOAD.

SO THIS USED PROPANE FOR FUEL DIESEL.

IT'S GOT A SIDE MOUNTED, UH, SEVEN GALLON DIESEL TANK THAT IT USES.

IT CAN ALL BE OPERATED FROM THE CAB.

IT'S GOT A REMOTE, IT'S GOT A CAMERA THAT'S FACING THE BURNER OF THE HOPPER SO THE OPERATOR CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON AT ALL TIMES.

AND HE CAN OPERATE IT BY REMOTE OR YOU CAN SWITCH IT TO BOX AND OPERATE IT.

ANOTHER OPERATOR COULD BE ON THE SIDE OPERATING IT, BUT IT'S GOT A NINE OR 10 INCH ROLLER, A WET ROLLER ON IT.

SO ONCE YOU DUMP IT, YOU CAN SMOOTH IT WITH THE BUCKET AND THEN YOU CAN COME BACK, PUT THE, THE ROLLER DOWN AND TAMP IT.

DO YOU NEED A SPECIAL CHECK FOR THIS OR PAYMENT ON DELIVERY? I TALKED TO HIM TODAY.

IF WE GOT THIS APPROVED AND A SPECIAL CHECK, IT COULD BE SHIPPED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK.

I MEAN, BUT IF NOT, IF WE DON'T WANNA DO A SPECIAL CHECK, I IT, IT'S NO BIG DEAL.

WE'LL JUST BE DELAYED ON THE POTHOLES ANOTHER COUPLE WEEKS.

OKAY.

ANY MORE QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION.

UM, I'LL MOVE THAT WE AUTHORIZE MARK TO GO AHEAD AND PURCHASE THE SKID STEER POTHOLE PATCHER AS SHOWN FOR A TOTAL PRICE OF, AND I ASSUME THIS IS FREIGHT PENDING.

THIS IS EVERYTHING.

THIS IS FREIGHT AND THE MACHINE.

OKAY.

I THINK THAT FIRST PAGE, THE MACHINE'S 29,950 AND SHIPPING IS 2,500.

ALL RIGHT.

UH, FOR A TOTAL OF 31,000 551 50, WHICH IS COMING FROM ACCOUNT NUMBER TWO 10.

TWO 10.

AND I WOULD ALSO REQUEST THAT YOU WAIVE THE PURCHASING POLICY.

YES.

SO THAT WOULD INCLUDE WAIVING THE PURCHASING POLICY AND ALLOWING MARK TO GET A SPECIAL CHECK IF NEEDED.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? I WILL HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STANTON, A SECOND BY COMMISSIONER LOUDERBACK TO PURCHASE THE SKID STEER POTHOLE PATCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,551 AND 50 CENTS FROM ACCOUNT TWO 10.

AND TO AUTHORIZE A SPECIAL CHECK AND TO WAIVE THE PURCHASING POLICY.

DID I GET IT RIGHT, STACIA? YOU DID VERY GOOD.

ALL IN FAVOR.

MOTION PASSES FIVE OH AND HE DID SAY THAT THE CHECK NEEDED TO BE MADE OUT TO A PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGIES COURT.

JUST NEED TO TURN PURCHASE ORDER.

YEP.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

MARK, YOU'LL NEED A W NINE.

YOU'LL NEED TO REQUEST HE'S ON.

OKAY.

[8. Air Products Donation to EMS]

ITEM EIGHT IS ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION FROM AIR PRODUCTS.

UM, SEWARD COUNTY EMS HAS RECEIVED A DONATION FROM AIR PRODUCTS IN THE AMOUNT OF 3000, UH, TO BE USED FOR EMS OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT.

UH, THE DONATION HAS BEEN DEPOSITED IN THE SEWARD COUNTY EMS DONATION FUND.

THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO APPROVE THE $3,000 DONATION FROM AIR PRODUCTS, UM, TO BE USED FOR OPERATIONS AND EQUIPMENT.

THAT IS CORRECT.

AND, UH, TO THANK THANK YOU.

AIR PRODUCTS, AIR PRODUCTS FOR THE DONATION.

UH, THE ONLY THING DIFFERENT ON THIS IS I WILL DEPOSIT THAT CHECK TOMORROW.

OKAY.

I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT'S GONNA GO INTO 5 55 ACCOUNT, WHICH IS OUR, IT SAYS IT HAS BEEN, SO YEAH.

OKAY.

BUT, AND, UH, AGAIN, I KNOW

[00:50:01]

I HAVE THANK YOU NOTES IN MY OFFICE.

WE JUST DIDN'T GET VERY GOOD.

WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME IN BETWEEN MEETINGS.

I UNDERSTAND.

FOR ME TO GET 'EM IN HERE.

YEAH.

OKAY.

SO DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE $3,000 DONATION FROM AIR PRODUCTS? SO MOVED.

HAVE A SECOND.

SECOND.

HAVE A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER STANTON, THE SECOND BY COMMISSIONER MIDLAND TO APPROVE THE $3,000, UH, DONATION FROM AIR PRODUCTS.

ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

MOTION PASSES.

FIVE OH, ITEM NINE

[9. Consideration of Adding Reserve Firefighter II Job Classification & Starting Wage]

UM, THIS IS TO APPROVE.

WE, I ASSUME WE HAVE RESERVE ONE AND THIS IS THE EDGE RESERVE TWO.

YES.

WHICH IS, I'LL KIND OF LET YOU GO OVER IT AND EXPLAIN IT.

SO WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO, UH, WHAT WE'RE REQUESTING TO DO IS, UM, RESERVE FIREFIGHTER ONE WILL NOW BECOME RESERVE FIREFIGHTER TWO.

UM, THAT'S KIND OF HOW THE PROGRESSION GOES WITH THE FIREFIGHTER CLASSIFICATIONS.

UM, AND WE'LL BE CREATING A NEW, UH, RESERVE ONE.

UM, I'VE INCLUDED THE JOB DESCRIPTIONS THAT I WORKED ON WITH JACOB, THE DEPUTY CHIEF AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.