March 14, 2005
BOARD OF FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Commissioners met in a regular session with Chairman Donald R. Stottlemire and Commissioners Roy C. Dunn, Donald C. Hay, John E. Taylor and Donald E. Waymire present.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Stottlemire at 8:30.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Taylor seconded to approve the minutes for March 9, 2005. All voted “yes.”
Shari Perry said she had received a request to use the courtroom for the filming of two television commercials. Board said they had no problem with the use and to talk to Darrell Wadkins.
Blaine Finch discussed a contract with Don McMican with DGM consultants for Courthouse foundation work below grade. The cost he proposed is $12,500 with is approximately 8.8 percent of the cost of the project. Board agreed to have Mr. McMican come in and discuss.
Blaine Finch discussed the elevator maintenance agreement with General Elevator. Blaine asked the Board how many years the Board wanted the agreement for. Board agreed one year.
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Dunn seconded to go into an executive session for 15 minutes at 8:53 for attorney client privileges with Board and Blaine Finch present. Commissioner Hay said the room was full of people and this could happen at a later time. Chairman Stottlemire and Commissioners Dunn, Taylor and Waymire voted “yes.” Commissioner Hay voted “no.” Chairman Stottlemire opened the meeting 9:08 and reported no action taken, no decisions made.
Blaine Finch read a proposed resolution to repeal Resolution 05-26
“Whereas, the Board of county Commissioners, through its appointed representative was provided access to payroll records on Friday, March 11, 2005, and; Whereas, the Board is hopeful that a spirit of cooperation has begun between the office of the County Clerk and the Board of Commissioners, and; Whereas, the Board believes that further access to records can be accomplished in that same spirit of cooperation and it optimistic that further resolution will not be necessary, Now therefore be it resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Franklin County, Kansas, that: Resolution 05-26 is hereby repealed.”
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to approve Resolution No. 05-27 repealing Resolution No. 05-26. Commissioner Hay said that Resolution No. 05-26 was not necessary in the first place. All voted “yes.”
Bill Gray, Deb Barker, Tom Weigand and Jason Camis discussed a proposal for a 150th Anniversary Celebration of Franklin County. They would like to do this sometime in November. This would be a one day event with a giant birthday cake. This is also the sesquicentennial of the Kansas National Guard and they will be joining in this event. They are requesting $2,000 from the County for this celebration.
Commissioner Waymire moved and Commissioner Hay seconded to approve the effort of the 150th Anniversary Celebration group and support them. All voted “yes.”
Steve Brown discussed Kansas Rail Trail valuations. They have filed a protest of the valuation in all the counties that they have a trail in. Steve asked to pay an attorney $900 for prep work and briefs. The other counties involved are also paying $900. Blaine Finch will get an engagement letter from the attorney for his services.
Commissioner Stottlemire asked about valuation of doublewides and modular. Steve said that he had been low on the valuations of these types of homes in the past according to the sales.
Chairman Stottlemire said it is public comment time and it was not going to be an answer and question session.
Kenneth Dodd of 631 N. Oak asked what is going on with the County Clerk and what kind of witch hunt the commissioners are on. Chairman Stottlemire said he did not have a comment. They have been advised by both parties not to discuss it. Mr. Dodd asked why the commissioners were up there if they could not answer a question.
Weldon Harrod of 336 Willow asked the commissioners what there first duty to them was. He said that the Board has to ask the County Counselor if they can speak and he makes all of the decisions.
Roy Dunn made the following statement to clear this up for the county, county employees and the public: Last summer the previous County Commission took a direction to move this county into the 21 century. We hired Jim Haag to take over the Public Works Department, he is experienced in Public Works and is also a civil engineer. Next Blaine Finch was hired to be our Counselor, we took money from the County Attorney’s Office to pay his fees. Blaine Finch works for the pleasure of the Commissioners. We give him direction and he gives his opinion to the Commission. We either accept his opinion or not. Next the Commission passed a resolution to create the Human Resource Department and at that time there was another resolution to transfer the payroll to the Human Resource Department. At that time there were questions if payroll was a statue duty of the County Clerk and during his campaign he was against moving payroll to the Human Resources Department, because he thought it was part of the Clerk’s statutory duty. We didn’t know who was going to be doing the HR Department and we got Becky Ortega and it takes time to set up a new department and get her deputy and get the department lined up. So it was a good idea not to move the payroll at that time. Next we created the Department of Emergency Management and we hired Alan Radcliffe to do that, he is an expert in fire fighting, natural disasters, so we have another expert there. This fall the people of this county re-elected Ed Taylor, he is a progressive commissioner and he wants to move this county into the future. Also this county voted for an administrator, which is another sign the county wants to go toward professional management. We had all of this happening last fall and now we come to today. Shari Perry recognized we were having a problem in payroll. When he first came on duty he recognized that the commissioners get a summary of overtime for every department and he noticed there was a lot of overtime in the Clerk’s Office to prepare the payroll. As a commissioner it is his duty to investigate why it was taking overtime to do the payroll. Shari Perry recognized this and was looking into solving this problem. She was looking into purchasing some software. Shari Perry was never derelict in her duty, she was responsible into looking into this problem. It was our responsibility to see why this overtime was being paid for preparing the payroll. Recently we recognized that Becky Ortega had a lot of professionalism in expertise in the payroll processing. If we are moving into professional management, we do not know who the County Clerk is going to be in 20 years or who is going to be on the commission. So if we have professional management it will not make any difference who gets elected to offices. So we decided with a majority vote to do payroll through the Human Resource Department. Also we are going to move the payroll clerk position to the Human Resource Department. The Human Resource Department needs to be supported with personnel to perform the payroll function. Also the financing from the Clerk’s budget to the Human Resources budget needs to happen to fund the position. The payroll clerk needs to be told that, that position has been moved to Human Resources and ask her if she wants to transfer to the Human Resources Office to perform that function, she will have that choice, if she wants to move or not move we will not force her, but will need a human asset to help perform the payroll function, if she does not want to move we will look at other employees in the county and see if they want to move and if that doesn’t occur we will go outside of the county. In the meantime if the present clerk doesn’t want to move we will try and find someplace in the county for her. No one is going to be fire. We are not going to change any of the County Clerk’s statutory duties. The statue does not specifically state payroll as a duty and we had Blaine Finch investigate this and he checked with the County Attorney and the Attorney General’s Office and this is not necessarily a statutory duty of the Clerk’s office and several other counties do not do the payroll in the Clerk’s office. So my mind was made up. I think a change is needed because we are spending overtime to prepare the payroll and it is not necessary. This is not something the commission just dreamed up it started last fall. This is a reorganization of county assets and shows the taxpayers we are looking into the way tax dollars are being spent. At no time are we out to get Shari Perry and her staff, we don’t want to get them fired and we don’t want them doing anything that is not there statuary duty. And that is where we are today. We are trying to fix the problem.
Weldon Harrod said you have created a new department and want to move employees that are doing the job now to the new department. Commissioner Dunn said that Shari Perry was going in one direction to correct the overtime and the commission decided to going in another direction.
Bob McDaniel 2712 Idaho Rd. said that Mr. Finch is here for your business and this is not representing the county, and you are to do that. Bob said that the Board did not have enough sense to create a new department and do it any cheaper than what she is already doing. You move payroll into the Human Resources and you are going to spend money. Bob asked how much overtime is being spent on payroll and how much is being spent on the HR Office. How much do you spend to have a mouth piece in here? You talk about saving us money and moving us into the 21st century. We are still Franklin County and want to remain Franklin County, we don’t care what Lyon and Johnson County are doing, we don’t give a damn what they are doing. We are paying as much tax as Johnson County, but we still have FR on our tags. When you create a new office you spend money. Commissioner Dunn said he never said we were saving money.
Cheri Kirkland 2532 Douglas Rd she has lived in Franklin County all of her life and this is a bunch of crap. You did spend more of my money to create an HR Department, you are spending my money with your mouth piece that doesn’t know what he is doing because he is not doing it right. The payroll had been moved out of the Clerk’s Office once and it did not work. So we are trying it again and spending more of my tax money.
Weldon Harrod asked if we have a civil engineer why are we paying an engineering firm. Commissioner Dunn said we are not hiring an engineering firm. Bob McDaniel’s said we are paying for one. Weldon Harrod said you paid over $800,000 last year for one. Commissioner Dunn said we have not hired an engineering firm, we have a second opinion on engineering, and we just redid that contract. Weldon asked the Board if they had a contract with an engineering firm. Chairman Stottlemire and Commissioner Taylor and Dunn said we have no contract. Commissioner Taylor said that our civil engineer doesn’t have a staff. Weldon asked why we are paying for a civil engineer. Commissioner Taylor said he manages the contracts. Weldon asked why the engineering is not put up for bid. Commissioner Taylor said that engineering is put out for bid. Weldon asked Commissioner Taylor why he gets them all of the time. Commissioner Taylor said he did not get any. Bob McDaniel’s asked where the bids were.
Chairman Stottlemire said there is not going to be any personal attacks on anyone.
Bob McDaniel’s said all the Commission is doing is creating more government, building a bigger vehicle and lining themselves against any public opinion or public awareness. The only thing that is happening now is we are wasting money creating a bigger government.
Commissioner Waymire said that not everything said here is a fact, it is opinion and we respect that.
Weldon Harrod said you are elected officials and you should do what people ask you to do and you should remember that. Commissioner Waymire said there are 27,000 people in the county. Weldon Harrod said that Commissioner Waymire has not been to his house once to ask his opinion. Commissioner Waymire asked Mr. Harrod to come to his. Mr. Harrod said he tried to talk to Commissioner Waymire in the hall the other day and he just walked away. Commissioner Waymire said that is the first time he had ever had any conversation with him.
Sharri Allred 675 Iowa Rd. as a taxpayer wouldn’t you ask us how we want our money spent. If we have an engineer, why was no one asked if we would like our money spent on our own staff or pay $800,000 to an outside engineer, or spend more money on HR for payroll. Why was no one asking? Sharri said we are the taxpayers ask us how we want our money spent.
Chairman Stottlemire said that he has always said he wants the question of a county administrator put on the ballot for the public. Bob McDaniel’s said that the Commissioners all pushed for a county administrator. Chairman Stottlemire said he voted against it, so why would he push for it. Chairman Stottlemire said he voted against the five commissioners. Bob McDaniel said it is all just more waste.
Cheri Kirkland said that all commissioners are to stand up for us and not themselves.
Shari Perry said that Commissioner Dunn made the comment that I have been spending to much money on overtime for payroll, but I have never been asked what my overtime is for and it is not just for payroll. I have never been asked about it and where that is coming from I have no idea.
Cheri Kirkland said we are going to send the payroll up to HR and spend a lot more money. Chairman Stottlemire said he was hoping that the Administrator would be making these decisions, but that did not happen.
Leroy Hildebrandt 2645 Indiana Terr said he did not think the commissioners are looking at our future, it is a make believe future. There are more offices being set up so more payroll has to go out. He read in the paper you want to set up a court for zoning. Something is wrong with our system we are creating more offices and spending more money. You create one and they need one or two more employees in the office. We should hire our own people for engineering it would be a lot cheaper. We need to re-organize things and get back to what the people want. Our tax money is being mismanaged.
Fred McFarland 1302 Ohio Rd. has farmed here for 50 years plus and he is disturbed with what he has been reading. He is in support of the County Clerk, she has done a good job and he sees no reason for the Board to interfere with her work. He is not in favor of the office that has been created. In response to the comment that Mr. Dunn made regarding overtime, he would like the Board to work with and support the County Clerk instead of interfering with it. He supports a County Administrator and feels it is his job to organize and make changes if necessary. Next year we will have an Administrator, Counselor, and Human Resources Department and who knows how many other new offices.
Weldon Harrod said that Shari Perry has an elected office, elected by us and who is the Board to take away her duties.
Cheri Kirkland said that she was voted in again, because she does a good job.
Kenneth Dodd asked what the Boards duties will be when an administrator gets here. Will it just be to set policy? Will the salary be reduced? Chairman Stottlemire said he didn’t know until it happens. Bob McDaniel said we don’t care what happens in Miami County.
Commissioner Hay said he has been the lone ranger or lone wolf on this whole thing. Mr. Dunn doesn’t quite have his timing right. This all started a long time back, when a road was built and the county diverted water when it floods. It has never been corrected. Mr. Hay said he figured this is what we have a County Counselor for is to keep the county out of legal expenses. Mr. Hay said he paid his filing fee to file for County Commissioner and never campaigned and won in the primary election. Mr. Hay said he has thought very seriously about throwing in the towel, but has been told by people to hang in there. When he had his accident and then came back, Mr. Waymire told him that they had fired the County Attorney as their legal advisor. That is when the dismantling of the County Clerk’s Office started. It has been one event after another. What the Commissioner’s have done in dismantling the Clerk’s Office is wrong. Commissioner Hay said he thinks we would have been better off and would have had a better job done if we would have stayed with our County Attorney. Commissioner Hay said he thought we needed to go back about two years ago and start over. If we have to dismantle the HR Office then so be it. If we have to dismantle the County Counselor’s Office then so be it. Commissioner Hay said he would be happy to put a motion today that we discontinue the contract with Bob Green. Commissioner Waymire said that is your opinion.
Robert W. James asked for an extension of time to move his double wide, because it has been to wet for three months and he is still wanting to zone three acres of his property to cover his double wide. He has talked to a lot of people and has found no one against it and it needs to be reconsidered.
Sharon Howard said that Wayne James is her brother. There are other properties like A.K. Watts, Rick Vogeler, Clancy Trucking, Storage Facility on south 59 Highway and Jackson Welding that all have residences with there business. She can’t see any reason why he can’t live on his property. He is a very clean person.
Blaine Finch said the judge signed the order and there is no longer a complaint. Chairman Stottlemire suggested they go over to the district court.
Becky Ortega asked about placing a thank-you ad in the Herald for those people that participated in the interview process for the Administrator. Board agreed.
Becky Ortega said that the IRS has increased their mileage rate and ask about changing our mileage rate. Shari Perry said we have followed the rate of the State and she has not received any notice of a change in State rate. Becky said she would verify to see if the State has changed the rate.
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Dunn seconded to go into an executive session for 7 minutes at 10:23 for non-elected personnel with Board, Blaine Finch and Becky Ortega present. Commissioner Hay asked if this could wait until in the afternoon and Becky said no. Chairman Stottlemire and Commissioners Dunn, Taylor and Waymire voted “yes.” Commissioner Hay voted “no.”
Jim Haag discussed dust control costs.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Dunn seconded to charge $1.40 per foot with a minimum of 300 feet for dust control application this year. All voted “yes.”
Jim Haag discussed the CHIP Committee.
Commissioner Dunn moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to increase the number of CHIP Committee members. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Hay recommended adding Judy Broyles to the CHIP Committee.
Commissioner Dunn moved and Commissioner Taylor seconded to recommend that the quorum of the CHIP Committee be lowered to seven. All voted “yes.”
Jim Haag discussed FEMA reimbursement for ice storm on January 5.
Kevin Doyle with Taylor Design Group discussed 2004 CHIP Project involving four areas. Kevin said it has been recommended to add fly ash to areas one and four, which increases the cost quite a lot depending on if you use 12” or 6”. Kevin also discussed the Chip & Seal option estimates are $1,656,778.53 and the 2” asphalt overlay option estimates are $2,882,627.89 and the engineering and design cost are going to be around 1 million and that would make us spending more than 6 million dollars. Commissioner Hay asked if we are putting in ditches. Kevin said if ditches are not necessary than no ditch work is being done. Kevin said the cost of fuel and oil has about doubled since the project began. Jim Haag said we needed to bid the surface and recommended to bid both the Chip & Seal option and the 12” asphalt overlay.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Taylor seconded to solicit bids for fencing for the Tinnin property on Rock Creek Rd. All voted “yes.”
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to allow Jim Haag to attend the APWA and KCHA 2005 Spring Conference. All voted “yes.”
Chairman Stottlemire read the following proclamation:
WHEREAS, March 13 - 19, 2005, has been declared Walk Kansas Week; and
WHEREAS, most Kansans can improve their health through a modest increase in daily activity; and
WHEREAS, for more than 125 years, K-State Research and Extension has helped Kansans solve problems and improve their lives by providing research based information and educational opportunities; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of WALK KANSAS is to increase an individual’s physical fitness, help prevent obesity, lower or control blood pressure, lower risk of developing cancer, control blood sugar levels, decrease depression, improve sleeping, boost immunity, and many other personal health benefits; and
WHEREAS, WALK KANSAS will bring friends, neighbors, co-workers, and families together in working toward a common goal of improving their personal health and physical fitness; and
WHEREAS, teams of six members will track their miles and collectively walk 423 miles, or the distance across the state of Kansas, during an 8-week period; and
WHEREAS, participants can register for the WALK KANSAS program at the Franklin County K-State Research and Extension Office, through the month of March, and join over 15,000 other Kansans in a fun and healthy walk across the state.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Franklin County Commissioners do hereby proclaim March 13 - 19, 2005, as
WALK KANSAS WEEK
in Franklin County and call upon all citizens of this state to join in this observance and to challenge themselves to improve their health through daily, moderate physical activity.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Dunn seconded to approve Proclamation 05-02 declaring the week of March 13-19 as Walk Kansas Week. All voted “yes.”
Sara Caylor discussed CASA annual report. Sara said they have had an increase of 54 percent in the number of children they serve and they served 126 family members in 2004. They have 22 volunteers in the 4th district.
Sara Caylor discussed that she had heard that she might be moving the CASA Office to the Appraiser’s Office. Sara said she would like to stay close to the district court building. Board discussed with Doug Loyd about putting central air and heat into the 3rd floor on the east side. Board asked Doug to get quotes for central heating and cooling.
Craig Davis discussed repairing the fence at the County impound lot. Craig has received a bid from Lyle Lewis in the amount of $2,489.70.
Commissioner Hay moved and Commissioner Taylor seconded to approve the repairing of the fence at the County impound lot at a cost of $2,489.70 and pay for it out of Law enforcement Trust. All voted “yes.”
Chairman Stottlemire closed for lunch at 11:55.
Chairman Stottlemire opened at 1:00. All present.
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Dunn seconded to go into an executive session for 30 minutes at 1:00 for non-elected personnel with Board, Blaine Finch, Becky Ortega, Bob Bezek, Shari Perry and County Clerk’s Office staff. All voted “yes.” Chairman Stottlemire opened the meeting at 1:30 and reported no action taken, no decisions made.
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to go into an executive session for 15 minutes. Motion and second were never voted on.
Cheri Kirkland said she regretted the HR Department, Blaine Finch and the Board.
Nicole Roecker said the Board had two choices on passes Resolution No. 05-26 and they chose the threatening one.
Sharri Allred said she had not worked here long, but this has caused chaos in the Clerk’s Office with all the questions and phone calls.
Becky Ortega said it was never the intent for anyone to lose their job.
Commissioner Waymire said that maybe if Debbie Hahner has more than one responsible in the Clerk’s Office that she could work in both offices.
Commissioner Taylor asked Becky Ortega want she needs to do to get the job accomplished at this time. Becky said she needs assistance. The additional work that would be created can not be done with the two people in her office. Commissioner Taylor asked her if she had come up with what she needed. Becky said she needs additional funding, for a position, if that is for a temporary position based on Debbie Hahner’s decision, or if Shari Perry feels there is work in the Clerk’s Office to employee Debbie full-time. Becky said she would defer that question to Shari. Becky said she needs someone on board by Wednesday, because there is a training factor involved if Debbie is not going to be doing the work. Shari Perry said the Kristie Stinebaugh use to do the payroll does she not remember how to do it. Becky said they have other issues going on and she does not have time to do it. Shari Perry said she does a lot more than just payroll in her office also. Shari Perry said it was very unfortunate that we could not have sat down and discussed this before hand. Worked through the issues, instead of slamming them out on the table and saying this is the way it is going to be done. Becky Ortega said that departments have very serious concerns about payroll and that Shari made a choice not to participate in that discussion. Shari said she has it all on tape and has listened to it. Commissioner Hay said he has been elected by the people and when he has been told by the people to keep his head up and move forward and not weaken. Chairman Stottlemire said they say the same thing to him about the one no vote. Commissioner Taylor said he has not had a department head yet tell him that they want the County Clerk to do payroll. Chairman Stottlemire said that people say don’t let that one no vote run the county. Commissioner Hay said tell them to come to me and he would explain it. Commissioner Waymire asked Debbie Hahner when she might have an answer if she wants to transfer. Debbie said she would need to talk to her husband. Commissioner Taylor said that Becky needed to tell the Board what she needed today. Becky said she had given it to the Board and would get them another copy. Becky said she would need additional funding for salary and supplies. Shari Perry said she was going to make a comment and that no one probably wanted to listen to it. Shari said she didn’t understand why we can’t work through this to get March payroll done. What is the problem with that? Chairman Stottlemire said he didn’t know. Shari said at this point the Board has made the decision that payroll is going to be transferred and that the payroll for the month of March is going to be done in the HR Department. Why can’t Becky and I work together to get that accomplished. I am not saying that I am going to turn over all of the records I have and I am not going to do that until the court says to do that. Why can’t we work together instead of Becky doing payroll for the month of March? Why can’t we carry on like we have and work with Becky and get through the month of March by then it should be decided. Chairman Stottlemire asked if any of the Commissioners had a problem with that. Commissioner Hay said that Shari is showing professionalism where others are not, this is the avenue that should have been taken all along. Commissioner Hay said that other things have come up with the attorney generals opinion and we are trying to do another slam dunk and it is not going to work. Commissioner Waymire said that the decision has already been made and voted on and we have never had this cooperation before. Shari Perry said she didn’t even know that the discussion was going on. Commissioner Hay said it was never asked of Shari. Commissioner Waymire said all they needed at this point was to know what Becky needed so they could get the job done. Commissioner Dunn asked Becky if she would have any problem working with Shari to get the March payroll done. Becky said the only issue is change is always painful and if this drags on, she would miss the window of opportunity as far as the split in the month with payroll running through the 20th. If the clerk did payroll for the month of March and did the quarterly reports that would be fine, but Becky would then need all of the payroll records in April. Shari Perry said she did not have a problem with that, she would much rather work with Becky on this and turn over all of the payroll records at one time, instead of Becky creating more records that I already have. Becky said she needed to know if this was going to be tied up in court. Shari said that would have to be addressed with Mr. Finch. Commissioner Taylor said if Shari would give them a letter stating that she would do March payroll and then turn it over to Becky in April, he would go along with that, but if it is going to drag out, he would not go along with it. Shari asked Blaine if he had spoken with her attorney. Blaine said he spoke with Mr. Bennett last Friday and he said you can sue us next week, because we are not consenting to transfer until the court says so. Blaine said he did not want to take it to court, it doesn’t help anybody. If Shari is worried about the liability, he will work out any kind of agreement to put her mind to ease. Blaine said that the board told him that payroll is to be preformed by the HR Department and if we need to provide some kind of agreement to protect Shari he would be glad to provide it and work with her until she is satisfied. If that is the only issue then we can fix that and avoid going to court. Court does not serve anybodies interest. Commissioner Dunn asked Shari if her only concern was her statuary requirement. Shari said yes. Commissioner Dunn asked if the attorney general and everybody agrees that that the payroll function is not the Clerk’s responsibility would you be willing to turn over payroll. Shari said there was already an attorney generals opinion and it is still not clear. Blaine said he has given the board his opinion on that attorney generals opinion and he has a problem with it. Blaine said the legislator has not said that payroll is a statuary duty. Blaine said he thinks the statuary duty is that the Clerk gets a report and approves that there is budgetary authority, it is a pre-audit function and that should never infringed and it is the same way with the Treasurer with cash. Proper reports need to be given to the Clerk and Treasurer so they can perform their statuary duties. Commissioner Taylor said that is all we have been trying to get done. Blaine said if there is a concern that Shari will be held liable for that if there is an error in payroll. Blaine said he would be happy to issue a letter protecting her from liability just like the letter for the month of March that was passed on to her attorney. If this would resolve this issue and give her the assurance she needs. Blaine said that the statues are a mess for Clerk’s, Treasurer’s, Register of Deed’s and Sheriff’s. Chairman Stottlemire said he was confused on where we are at. Commissioner Hay said that the point has been made that there is a lack of communication. Chairman Stottlemire said he could see that. Becky Ortega said she would be very clear so there is no question. If you want Human Resources to continue to process payroll after the month of March, then she feels very strongly that it needs to happen now, because she can not be guaranteed that she will have the necessary payroll records in hand to be able to verify the amounts that need to be paid. If there is no question that, that information will be turned over then Becky has no problem with letting it continue the way it is until after March. If that is the case then she needs human resource and money for supplies. Blaine said you could provide temporary help for data entry and that would give Shari, Debbie, Becky, Mark and himself an opportunity to talk and see if they can reach a long term agreement and by that point all the decisions with Debbie could be made about where she needs to be, where Shari needs her to be and where you want her to be. Shari said there are so many issues here right now. Shari said payroll is on the table right now, but I know and everybody in this room knows that is not the only issue. Commissioner Taylor said that is the only issue. Shari said we have not discussed Debbie, we have not discussed my budget, I heard someone say today you are going to reduce my budget, we have not discussed what you are going to do with my salary, we have not discussed what your intentions are when the administrator gets here and I know that all of this is in some of your minds. Payroll is not the only issue on the table, but we are not communicating. Commissioner Taylor said that is the only issue we are discussing. Shari said what about her budget and Commissioner Taylor said that is part of payroll. Shari said she is more than willing to work with Becky and resolve this issue. Shari said she didn’t want to do this, but has been forced to do it. Commissioner Hay said he is still of the opinion that if the Clerk does the payroll for March and we can get the attorney generals opinion, with Becky working with the Clerk and then we can go from there. Becky said that if it goes into litigation she can not guarantee that she could do payroll going forward. Becky said there is a short term solution, but we need a long term guarantee. Shari asked the Board to make no further decisions until after Blaine talks to her attorney.
Chairman Stottlemire told Commissioner Hay to stop the personal attacks. It could be a liability issue.
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Waymire seconded to give the Human Resources Department what every they need to get it done. Chairman Stottlemire and Commissioners Dunn, Taylor and Waymire voted “yes.” Commissioner Hay voted “no.”
Chairman Stottlemire and Commissioners Dunn and Hay apologized to the Clerk and the Clerk’s staff.
With no further discussion the meeting was adjourned at 2:17.
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Clerk Chairman