December 15, 2003
BOARD OF FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Commissioners met in a regular session with Chairman John E. Taylor and Commissioners Fred E. Ferguson, Donald C. Hay, Donald R. Stottlemire and Donald E. Waymire present.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Taylor at 8:30.
Larry Walrod discussed amendments to the subdivision regulations. One items is revise the minimum acreage as set forth in Section 2-3.02.Z from 20 acres to 10 acres or to make provisions in the Subdivision Regulations allowing the use of cisterns as domestic water supply for newly created lots or tracts. Planning Commission voted 3 yes – 5 no to reduce from 20 to 10 acre lot size requirements for water and sewer. The revisions would be contrary to the policy of the County Comprehensive Plan. The County Commissioners agreed to have the Planning Commission take the necessary steps to amend the Comprehensive plan.
James Braun asked the Commissioners how they felt about the change in acres. Commissioner Hay said he would be in favor of 5 acres. Commissioner Stottlemire said he would be in favor of 10 acres. Commissioner Waymire said he needed more information and Chairman Taylor and Commissioner Ferguson said they would be in favor of 5 or 10 acres.
Larry Walrod said he received notice from Joe Suther that he is resigning effective January 2, 2004 as the Building Official.
Ray DeJulio discussed agreements with KCPL and MoKan Dial for the moving of utilities on the Blackstone Bridge Project.
Commissioner Stottlemire moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to enter into agreements with KCPL and MoKan Dial for the moving of utilities on the Blackstone Bridge Project. All voted “yes.”
Ray DeJulio discussed the acquisition of property for the Blackstone Bridge Project.
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Hay seconded to sign a form documenting that the County followed KDOT procedures for the acquisition of property on the Blackstone Bridge Project. All voted “yes.”
Ray DeJulio discussed the County removing a house on private property located on Rock Creek Rd. that is owned by Peoples Bank.
Blaine Finch said the County could condemn the house and then remove it and place an assessment of cost on the tax roll.
Commissioner Stottlemire said the county needs to recoup its costs. Commissioners Hay and Ferguson agreed that we need to recoup our costs.
Juanita Peckham said tying a building permit to water would be too late at that time. We don’t need to have less than 20 acres available without water.
Lloyd McClure said he could not believe the people that start building homes and then find out they don’t have water or it is 2 miles away and they have not budgeted for that cost. Lloyd asked the Commissioners what kind of growth they want.
Juanita Peckham said that Douglas County you can have a cistern, but you must hook on to rural water when it becomes available.
Gwen Brecheisen said that people from Johnson County don’t understand that water may not be available and that they may have to haul water, which most people don’t want to haul water.
Kevin Spencer said he is a care taker of the land. Someone has to stop and look at what we are doing. He is not against growth, but he has never heard anyone say I wish there was a subdivision across the road from me. Restrictions are a part of life and water is a part of life you have to have it. He asked what do we want the County to look like. After changes we will never put it back the way it was.
Juanita Peckham said both Douglas and Johnson Counties require you to hook up to rural water when available.
Bill Wood, Mayor of Richmond asked if any more of the old counter was available so they could make a bench for their City Hall. Bill said he found out from being on the Planning Commission that water is important and personal situations have to be left at home. Cisterns water systems are a burden and developers are able to purchase large agricultural properties to subdivide and develop.
Jim Braun said he has had personal experiences with cisterns and the cost of hauling water is expensive.
Juanita Peckham said that she knows of some people that didn’t hook onto rural water and know can’t sell their house because no one can get financing with no rural water available.
Chairman Taylor reported that Franklin County was the first entity to submit for the State Revolving Funds and that we should know sometime in February if we will receive the funding.
Chairman Taylor read a thank you letter received from Lowell and Carol Tawney for the work on the Texas Rd Bridge and the repair work on the drainage ditch on Cloud.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to approve a contract with the City of Pomona for law enforcement services from January 20, 2004 through January 19, 2005 in the amount of $41,640. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Stottlemire moved and Commissioner Hay seconded to approve payroll change 03-387 for Danielle Price with the Ambulance Department. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to approve the minutes for December 10, 2003. All voted “yes.”
Board discussed the following draft personnel rules and regulation changes: Page 22 add that vacation leave will be taken in ½ day or day increments, page 24 add that sick leave will be taken in not less than 1 hour increments, page 26 remove that an employee who has given notice of resignation or retirement shall not be allowed to use sick leave without a doctor’s written statement, page 43 change meal reimbursement to $9.00 for breakfast and $12 for lunch, page 44 local meals will not be reimbursed without prior approval from the Board of County Commissioners, page 48 Board asked Blaine Finch is to draft a change to two week notice in good standing, so if an employee calls in sick during that two week period, it can be changed to not in good standing and page 79 Board asked Blaine Finch to make so changes in minor accidents and drug testing.
Keith Clark discussed additional advisory board members to meet minority and gender rule. Keith recommended appointing Ethel Wallace, Lamyka DeGreftenreed and Sharon Haas.
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Stottlemire seconded to appoint Ethel Wallace, Lamyka DeGraftenreed and Sharon Haas to the Community Corrections Advisory Board. All voted “yes.”
Keith Clark discussed a cell phone contract with Alltel for 4 cell phones. The monthly cost would be $105 and the equipment cost to start is $220. Board asked Keith to check with Jason Parks to see if we could get any free equipment.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to allow Keith Clark to proceed with a cell phone contract with Alltel for 4 phones. All voted “yes.”
Chairman Taylor closed for lunch at 11:45.
Chairman Taylor opened the meeting at 1:00. All present.
Board discussed personnel policies.
Blaine Finch discussed a contract for county counselor for 2004 he has estimated that he will be needed about 680 hours. Blaine left the chambers, so the Board could discuss a contract with him for 2004.
Board discussed that they have budgeted $40,000 for 2004 for a county counselor and that Blaine was requesting between $50,000 and $55,000 and it would need to be the higher amount if the Commission would like to see the Counselor undertake more administrative duties. Board discussed that they would like Blaine or Bob Green at all Commissioner Meetings and Planning Commission Meeting. Commissioner Stottlemire said that the voters have voted against a County Administrator and he felt we should just be hiring a County Counselor for legal issues. Board agreed to offer Robert W. Green Chartered $50,000 for the position of County Counselor for 2004.
Blaine came back in chambers and Chairman Taylor told him they would sign an agreement like the one we have know for County Counselor for $50,000 for 2004 and that they would need him or Bob Green at all Commission Meetings and all Planning Commission Meetings.
Blaine Finch discussed creating a separate Human Resource Department. He is estimating that it would cost about $100,000 per year plus benefits and it would have 2 ½ employees. Blaine said he had talked to both Susan Gray from Miami County and Marilyn Leamer form Saline County. They both said that they answer to the County Administrator and Marilyn said that some counties without Administrators have the Human Resource Department answer to the County Counselor. Blaine said he felt that the person needs to have a bachelor’s degree. Blaine said that the Clerk’s Office has done a fantastic job with personnel, but the county is a large corporation with a lot of employees to manage. Shari Perry said that she didn’t feel that at this time you would accomplish anything since Human Resources could not make decision without the Commissioners approval, since the Commissioners still make all final decision, and that would only change if we have a County Administrator. Shari said that since she is elected by the taxpayers of Franklin County that they are at the top of her heart and she could not see spending another $100,000 when you would not accomplish anything but creating another department. Shari said if the Commissioner’s want to give her more decision making authority on personnel issues, then things would not have to wait until a Monday or Wednesday morning. Shari said that there was a Personnel Office separate from the Clerk’s Office before and they had the same problem with getting backing from the County Commissioner’s on decisions that they had made. Shari said, most department heads she and her staff do not have problems with, there are only two departments that give them problems.
Board said they would discuss personnel policies and creating a Human Resource Department again at a later date.
With no further discussion the meeting was adjourned at 2:40.
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Clerk Chairman