2005, SEVENTy EIGHTH MEETING

CRAWFORD COUNTY COURTHOUSE, COMMISSIONERS’ BOARD ROOM

Girard, KS. Friday October 21, 2005, following the canvass of votes

The Crawford County Board of Commissioners met pursuant to Kansas Statutes Annotated Chapter 19, Article 2, Section 18 in due and regular session with open doors.

Commissioner Anthony Pichler served as the presiding officer.

Commissioners Bob Kmiec and Tom Moody were present.

County Clerk R. J. Wilson and County Counselor Jim Emerson were present and seated with the Board.

Chairman Pichler led the Pledge of Allegiance.

UNDER THE HEADING BUSINESS FROM A PREVIOUS MEETING

CONSENT AGENDA

On motion (05-345) of Commissioner Kmiec and the second of Commissioner Moody that the consent agenda be approved including:

1.        Approval of the October 18, 2005 minutes of the Board of Commissioners’ meeting, and

2.        Approval of the previous week’s vouchers and duplicate statement sheets.

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec, Moody and Pichler

Nays:           

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting:

The motion prevailed and the consent agenda was approved.

SIGNING OF MOTIONS

The County Clerk presented the following motions for Commissioners’ signatures.

UNDER THE HEADING NEW BUSINESS

            SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS

             MESSAGES FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS

Item One: Mr. Wilson, County Clerk, reported the successful completion of the canvass of votes by the Board of Canvassers for the Special Election held in Girard City on October 18, 2005. The County Clerk reported that a detailed billing will be presented to the City Council of Girard in a timely manner with a request for payment for the services provided. Mr. Wilson reported the final vote totals for the election to be:

Yes: 177

No: 486

On the question: Within the city of Girard, Kansas, shall sale at retail of cereal malt beverage in the original package be prohibited on Sunday and shall the sale at retail of alcoholic liquor in the original package be prohibited on Sunday and Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day?

On motion (05-346) of Commissioner Pichler and the second of Commissioner Moody to approve the canvass results as presented by the County Election Officer for the special election held in Girard City on October 18, 2005 with 177 voting yes and 486 voting no and affirming that all advance ballots and provisional ballots have been accounted for in the election:

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec, Moody and Pichler

Nays:           

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting:

The motion prevailed.

MESSAGES FROM APPOINTED OFFICIALS

Item One: Mr. Mike Montgomery, County Appraiser and Mr. Tom Ragonese, County Project Director concerning a report to the Board of Commissioners on the implementation of a Global Information System in Crawford County. The gentlemen reported that an initial meeting was held for people in the county including 911, emergency preparedness and the Sheriff. Several companies have visited with the county in several different meetings. Mr. Ragonese reported that a lot of investigation has gone into the vendors that have been suggested to them. He said that after visiting with different vendors he asked for prices from the companies to meet the guidelines of the Homeland Security grant. Only one bidder came back in the time frame allowed for submission. He said another group presented a bid but the bid was far higher and it was not received in a timely manner. Mr. Ragonese said they have found no negatives on this vendor. Mr. Montgomery said that the company in question has done work in Kansas counties already.

Mr. Kmiec was answered by Mr. Ragonese that the first office that would be up and running would be the 911 department at the Sheriff’s office. He said part of that is due to the homeland security grant for law enforcement purposes. Mr. Montgomery answered that the project with the Sheriff’s department would be helpful to the appraiser’s office as well by preparing parcel maps. He also said the two most important layers are the ariel photography and the parcel layer.

Mr. Ragonese said the product produced for E-911 would go the departments 911 provider and then the information would be provided back to the dispatch. The Sheriff’s department has been working with the 911 vendor to get the project off the ground.

Mr. Pichler was answered that this grant does not go though the Fischer group and therefore percentage is not retained by the group. Mr. Ragonese said that Mr. Bedene has informed him that this will not go through the group and therefore all monies will be applied to the project.

Mr. Pichler was answered that this photography would be color. He mentioned that $194,000 of the grant is from homeland security. He mentioned that the remainder of the money would come from other grant sources.

Mr. Kmiec was answered that all products become sole ownership of the county.

Mr. Ragonese said that the system will be designed as a web based system to begin with. This program is in place to get counties up and running until someone has experience with GIS and trained in the program. That individual would need 80-100 hours of intense training to start using the system.

Mr. Pichler was answered that the $475 monthly fee is outside of the contract as presented. Mr. Pichler asked about the plotter and he was answered that the plotter is a map drawing printer. Mr. Ragonese said that it would be important to have a plotter in the appraiser’s office and possible one at the sheriff’s department.

Mr. Ragonese said a lot of the items necessary to get started would not be needed immediately until the GIS has been moved in house. Mr. Ragonese said they have been advised that at least one person needs to be a full time dedicated staff person and perhaps an assistant to fulfill the GIS duties.

Mr. Ragonese said that if the system is web based the GIS person at the company would be sent the changes and then the changes would be updated on the web within two weeks. Mr. Montgomery said that the changes in question are those made to the parcel map.

Mr. Pichler was answered that the system could be installed and ready after the grants are decided upon at the end of this year. If the vendor can begin immediately they could have something ready for the county by this time next year.

Mr. Montgomery said that the company would like to fly the county and photograph in January when the foliage is off the trees. Mr. Kmiec was answered that the color adds details to rooftops and yards. Mr. Pichler was answered that the color maps are easier to read. If the maps are taken in color it can be switched to black and white easily. The difference Mr. Montgomery said black and white is $42,000 compared to $69,750 for color. Mr. Ragonese said that the difference may not make a big difference to the appraiser but it may make a difference to the sheriff or the zoning administrator. Mr. Pichler said he is not criticizing but he wants to do the right thing in spending these dollars. Mr. Montgomery answered Mr. Pichler that color would be a little nice to identify properties.

Mr. Moody asked if the prices are negotiable. Mr. Ragonese said that this company knew there were other bidders. He said the county could try again. The other quote was considerably higher for the photography.

Mr. Pichler asked if other elected officials had been contacted. Mr. Ragonese reported that he had not talked to each office. Mr. Ragonese said he did not have a problem talking to the other elected officials and department heads. Mr. Ragonese said the company can train anyone who has knowledge of a computer in two hours or less. He gave an example of Jackson County designating flooded areas and having the information necessary in a matter of minutes.

Mr. Ragonese spoke about security, meaning each group of users would have a password and only be able to look at what they were assigned to look into. Mr. Pichler asked about firewalls and he was answered that members of the public will need a password to see what they need to see. Mr. Ragonese said that the 911 information would be kept completely separate from the system so the public does not have access to the vital information.

Mr. Kmiec asked that the department heads be consulted and Mr. Ragonese said he would talk to the department heads.

Mr. Pichler was answered that the 911 grant would be made available in terms of a final decision around the first of November. Mr. Pichler said it was time to get moving on this project. Mr. Ragonese said this might be the county’s last big chance to have this project funded.

Mr. Ragonese said that it would be important to help people understand that the map changes need to be located at a central location. Mr. Montgomery said the appraisers office would like the ability to maintain their own maps. Mr. Pichler said that some counties have GIS and no one working on it in the county. Mr. Ragonese said that if you have the system it is important to keep it updated. Mr. Montgomery said there will be a necessity to have additional future funding. Mr. Pichler said that it would be such an improvement that the added cost could be justified. Mr. Kmiec said a lot of the additional future cost could be paid by end users in the future.

Mr. Pichler said it would be important to be ready if Homeland Security turns loose of the money.

MESSAGES FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES

MESSAGES FROM THE PUBLIC

Item One: Cindy Murphy, a mile west of Bone creek and North of Girard, asked that a resolution be adopted to ban exotic animals in the area near Bone Creek Reservoir. She said that there is a plan for an exotic cat farm suggested for the area near Bone Creek. She said last year there were 50-60 deaths from escape of these animals. She said that there are also potential diseases that could be passed to humans. She also said that there could be problems for the livestock located in the area from disease. She said that the noise can be heard for more than 5 miles. She said that there is also an odor from large cats. She said the state is considering tighter restrictions.

Mr. Pichler was answered that Ms. Murphy is not aware of the additional restrictions being handed down by the state. Mr. Kmiec was answered that the Bone Creek Board of Directors has decided that they are not interested in having the park on Board property.

Mr. Emerson said that if the area in question were zoned then it would be subject to conditional use. Mr. Pichler said county wide zoning would be the best way to prevent things like this from occurring.

Mr. Kmiec was answered that a lot of the licenses are granted by the USDA. Ms. Murphy said that this individual has allowed pictures to be taken with his animals. Mr. Pichler said the counselor should do some checking to see what Wildlife and Parks, KDHE and the statute say about exotic animal reserves.

Mrs. Murphy asked what the community needed to do. She was told to allow the counselor to do some research. He said that short of zoning it may be possible to seek a legislative change. Mr. Pichler suggested checking back in a week or two. Mr. Emerson has Mrs. Murphy’s phone number.

Mr. Alfred Ingle said that for his part he does not think we need anything like that in this area at all. He suggested approaching people who are higher up and getting a law passed to fix something like this.

Item Two: Mr. Verdon Davied asked about his corner up there with that hill and those trucks on 680th and 170th. Mr. Kmiec said that he would check with Craw-Kan to see what their schedule is on moving the lines.

Item Three: Mr. Delbert Smith said this is the fourth time he has been up to the Board four times and nobody has done anything to help him. Mr. Smith said that there is an area that was blacktopped that there is no house. Mr. Moody questioned Mr. Smith about how many people are living on his road. Mr. Smith said that the road was graded the day before yesterday and Mr. Moody said that his crew is trying to take care of that area. Mr. Moody said that the Magnesium is not in yet. Mr. Moody said that he has told Mr. Smith three times that his road will not be blacktopped. Mr. Pichler said there is a dust control program offered by the county. Mr. Moody was not answered by Mr. Smith as to whether or not he has signed up for the program. Mr. Pichler said that he has 1500-1800 cars on the piece of road he blacktopped. He said that his asphalt is an inch and a half of asphalt compacted.

Mr. Pichler said that he can not speak for Mr. Moody but he does not believe the road is a designated haul road. Mr. Moody said that Mr. Davied will come out to the area to look and see if there is anything that can be done for Mr. Smith. Mr. Moody said that asphalt can not be justified on that stretch of road. Mr. Moody said that when the Magnesium comes in Mr. Smith will be one of the first people to get it.

Mr. Kmiec reported that Magnesium has been a problem all summer from the distributor. He said that it has something to do with the railroads.

Mr. Smith said he has a place at Englevale at the show building. He said that the culvert is back to where a person can’t get in there with a trailer at all. Mr. Moody said that of Mr. Smith would get him an address he will have Mr. Waterman take a look at it.

PROCLAMATIONS AND ORDERS OF THE BOARD

NEW BUSINESS

Item One: Mr. Rick Pfeiffer and Mrs. Janice Goedeke concerning obtaining signatures for bio-terrorism grant funding. Mrs. Goedeke said this signature is for the preparedness and response local grant in the amount of $47,733.

On motion (05-347) of Commissioner Kmiec and the second of Commissioner Moody to authorize the chairman to sign the bio-terrorism grant funding requests for the preparedness and response local grant in the amount of $47,733.

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec, Moody and Pichler.

Nays:

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting:

The motion prevailed.

Item Two: Mrs. Goedeke reported on receiving the vaccine for children best practice award for keeping policies, procedures, records properly kept and vaccinating children properly. The Commissioners congratulated Mrs. Goedeke.

UNDER THE HEADING OLD BUSINESS

OLD BUSINESS

Item One: Mr. Wilson county clerk concerning an update of fiscal activities in coming weeks. Mr. Wilson reported that Incode, the vendor for the county’s new double entry accounting system, has made initial contact with the county. He reported that he will spend the next month working on a survey for Incode to show them how the current financials of the county are structured. He reported that he is looking forward to working with the office of the Treasurer and getting the project underway and completed in a timely manner.

Item Two: Mr. Emerson mentioned that he has met with Ron Albertini and Bob Krumsick and their opinion is that there are probably four or five acres that are un-buried ground. Mr. Kmiec and Mr. Moody said it is unlikely that it is worth the county’s time to proceed with a sale on that small a parcel of land. The Counselor mentioned that the good acreage is not in a useable shape because it is a strip here or there. Mr. Pichler suggested putting up the property one more time as a full parcel of the entire landfill. Mr. Pichler suggested starting at $200 per acre with a minimum bid of $300-$400 per acre. Mr. Kmiec suggested a $350 minimum bid. The counselor reported that the stipulations are placed by KDHE and the Counselor answered Mr. Pichler that the county’s going to responsible anyway for the buried material.

UNDER THE HEADING FUTURE BUSINESS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

            FUTURE BUSINESS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Item One: October 25, 2005 – Work session at 8:00 AM to review and sign warrants, payroll and vouchers for the month of October.

Item Two: October 28, 2005 – Advertised date for sale of the FACT Inc. building.

Item Three: November 4, 2005 – Opening of building bids for the new fire district number four building.

UNDER THE HEADING MOTION TO ADJOURN

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Item One: Adjournment

On the motion of Commissioner Pichler and the second of Commissioner Moody to adjourn the October 21, 2005 meeting at 10:24 AM.

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec, Moody and Pichler

Nays:

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting:

The motion prevailed.

Witness my hand in the taking of these minutes and my submission of the same for the approval of the Board of Crawford County Commissioners:

____________________________

R. J. Wilson

= Seal =                                  County Clerk

Taken RJW 10/21/2005 10:23:15 AM, amended 10/24/2005 6:13:46 PM