June 9, 2004
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.
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to go into an executive session for 10 minutes at 8:30 for non-elected personnel with Board, Blaine Finch, Craig Davis and Shari Perry present. All voted “yes.” Chairman Taylor opened the meeting at 8:40 and reported no action taken, no decisions made.
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to go into an executive session for 10 minutes at 8:40 for non-elected personnel with Board, Blaine Finch, Craig Davis and Shari Perry present. All voted “yes.” Chairman Taylor opened the meeting at 8:50 and reported no action taken, no decisions made.
Darrell Wadkins discussed the purchase of three generators. He said if we only buy two generators that the shipping cost would change and the vendor will need to resubmit a total.
Commissioner Stottlemire moved and Commissioner Hay seconded to approve payroll change 04-258 for Rachel Hopkins with the Ambulance Department. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to approve the minutes for June 7, 2004. All voted “yes.”
Shari Perry said that she had received calls and e-mails about the Governor’s declaration to close State Offices on Friday and asked the Board to make a decision about closing County Offices. Shari said that she had been receiving e-mails from other counties and some were closing and some were staying open. Board asked Shari to call Coffey, Anderson and Douglas Counties. Shari Perry reported that at this time Coffey, Anderson and Douglas Counties will all be open on Friday.
Commissioner Hay moved to close all County Offices on Friday, June 11. Died for a lack of second.
Ray DeJulio discussed an agreement with BG Consultants for the replacement of the Blackstone Bridge.
Ray DeJulio discussed a map of US 59 Highway.
Board discussed having a luncheon and inviting a representative from all the school districts and cities. Board asked Shari Perry to send out a letter to find out how much interest there would be.
Commissioner Stottlemire moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to re-new the membership in the Wellsville Chamber of Commerce. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Stottlemire seconded to approve tax order 2003-177. All voted “yes.”
Bob Thompson discussed the 2005 Lake Region Solid Waste Authority Budget. Franklin County share will be $4,766.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to sign and approve the 2005 Lake Region Solid Waste Authority Budget. All voted “yes.”
Bob Thompson discussed Solid Waste Report for May 2004.
Bob Thompson asked if the Chamber of Commerce could use the gator from the Transfer Station at Skunk Run this weekend. Board agreed.
Bob Thompson asked about mowing or letting someone hay the Transfer Station. Board agreed to just have it mowed and not put into hay.
Commissioner Stottlemire moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to go into an executive session for 15 minutes at 11:05 for non-elected personnel with Board, Blaine Finch and Shari Perry present. All voted “yes.” Chairman Taylor opened the meeting at 11:15 and reported no action taken, no decisions made.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to sign a personnel complaint 04-01. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Ferguson seconded to go into an executive session for 15 minutes at 11:15 for non-elected personnel with Board, Blaine and Shari Perry present. All voted “yes.” Chairman Taylor opened the meeting at 11:30 and reported no action taken, no decisions made.
Ted McCurdy discussed the Ambulance Department May monthly report.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Stottlemire seconded to accept the write-offs for the Ambulance Department for the month of May in the amount of $19,928.99. All voted “yes.”
Darrell Wadkins discussed that to purchase a generator for the Ambulance Department and one for the Jail/911 would be $51,570 from Martin Tractor and $50,382 from Cummins. Darrell said that if they were ordered from Cummins they would be here in 45 days and if ordered from Martin they would be delivered in 14 weeks. Blaine Finch discussed including the purchase of the generators in the Homeland Security Project along with the needs that the Hospital has for backup power.
Chairman Taylor moved the meeting at 11:55 to the basement of the Jail for the monthly department head luncheon. Attending the luncheon was Don Stottlemire, Ed Taylor, Don Waymire, Fred Ferguson, Debbie Hough, Sue McCay, Shari Perry, Ted McCurdy, Craig Davis, John Dowell, Ethel Wallace, Darrell Wadkins, Bob Thompson, Ray DeJulio, Jason Parks, Donna Shead, Dale Watts, Don Hay, Keith Clark and Blaine Finch.
Board back in chambers at 1:14.
Board discussed creating a Human Resource Department and hiring a Human Resource Director. Chairman Taylor said that Blaine Finch had given them information about other counties. Commissioner Ferguson said he thought we needed to do it. Chairman Taylor said he didn’t think it would hurt to advertise for it. Commissioner Hay said he thought it needs to be put on the back burner until after the election and after the petition for a County Administrator has been voted on. He said if an administrator is hired, we should allow him to hire a Human Resource Director if one is needed. Commissioner Hay said we are getting criticism, because we are trying to hire to many people. Commissioner Waymire said if hiring an administrator does pass on the ballot it would be good to already have the Human Resource Department in existence. Commissioner Stottlemire said he half way agreed with Commissioner Hay. Commissioner Stottlemire asked how many signatures were needed on the petition. Shari Perry said about 900. Chairman Taylor said he thinks it would be a plus to go ahead and start advertising; it has taken a long time for the Emergency Manager and Public Works Administrator.
Commissioner Waymire moved to advertise for the position of Human Resource Director.
Shari Perry said that a taxpayer was in on Monday about creating the Human Resource Department and the Board had no comments. Shari asked Chairman Taylor why he thought the department needs to be created. Chairman Taylor said it was no reflection on anything that had been done, it is from going to Kansas Association of County Meeting and other meetings that it is the way it is going. He said he has had complaints that there is not any privacy the way it is, that an employee has to talk with others in the office listening. Shari Perry said that they use the vault or the back office. Chairman Taylor said everything they are told from meetings and other people this is the way things are going toward a separate department. Shari asked Commissioner Waymire why he thought the department needs to be created. Commissioner Waymire said the lady that came in had an opinion and we let her express her opinion. Commissioner Waymire said his reason was the same, it is the professional thing to do. Commissioner Ferguson said all the counties around us have one. Chairman Taylor said it is just like an administrator, a lot of counties said they didn’t like it, but once they get one, they say they don’t know why they didn’t have one a long time ago. Commissioner Stottlemire said there are a lot of other things that are needed and he doesn’t feel we can hold the budget. He said we will have to double the budget for Emergency Preparedness and we have not told any department that we are going to cut there budgets. Chairman Taylor said we have not hired anyone for Human Resource Director yet, but he doesn’t think it would hurt to start looking.
After the discussion Commissioner Ferguson seconded the motion to advertise for the position of Human Resource Director.
Commissioner Hay said he doesn’t feel that we need to put in an HR Director at this time. Shari Perry said that she didn’t think that the money was there to hiring an HR Director. Commissioner Waymire said we haven’t hired anyone yet. Shari Perry asked Commissioner Waymire if he knows how much it costs to advertise. Commissioner Waymire had no response. Commissioner Hay asked why you would advertise and interview if you are not ready to do it. Commissioner Stottlemire said that we do not have a budget for an administrator either. Blaine Finch said if it goes to a vote and passes, the Board would have six months to hire someone. Blaine Finch said there are three ways to hire a County Administrator. The Board passing a resolution establishing the office, the Board passing a resolution submitting the question to the voters, or a petition submitted requesting the question be submitted to the voters. Board discussed the last time they did a resolution establishing the office of County Administrator, the six months to hire one ran out, so they did another resolution to put the question to a vote of the people and it was defeated. Commissioner Hay said if the petition is not successful he would recommend approving a resolution to put the question of hiring a County Administrator back on the ballot.
After the discussion Chairman Taylor called for the vote. Chairman Taylor and Commissioners Ferguson and Waymire voted “yes.” Commissioners Hay and Stottlemire voted “no.”
Chairman Taylor asked Blaine Finch to take care of the advertising and Blaine said he would get with Shari Perry.
Shari Perry asked if there was an approved job description for the Human Resource Director and Chairman Taylor said they would work on that next week.
With no further discussion the meeting was adjourned at 1:30.
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Clerk Chairman