Journal of the Commissioners

2005, eightY FIRST MEETING

CRAWFORD COUNTY COURTHOUSE, COMMISSIONERS’ BOARD ROOM

Girard, KS. Tuesday November 1, 2005 at 10:00 AM

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 was 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 (05-353) of Commissioner Pichler and the second of Commissioner Kmiec that the consent agenda be approved including:

Approval of the October 28, 2005 minutes of the Board of Commissioners’ meeting:

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec, Pichler

Nays:           

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting: Commissioner Moody

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

MESSAGES FROM APPOINTED OFFICIALS

MESSAGES FROM OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES

MESSAGES FROM THE PUBLIC

Item One: Mrs. Christine Bitner appeared before the Board to voice concerns over the road on which she lives. Mrs. Bitner was very emotional.

Item Two: Mr. John Knapp appeared before the Board to voice concerns over the road on which he lives. A lot of the discussion centered on the road shoulders which are higher than the road in certain areas and forces water to stay on the road eventually damaging the road surface. Mr. Knapp said he would like to see the road ditches fixed as opposed to allowing the road to get so bad that it has to be torn up.

PROCLAMATIONS AND ORDERS OF THE BOARD

NEW BUSINESS

Item One: Mr. Emerson, County Counselor, concerning an invitation to bid on a fire truck and related equipment according to the specifications set forth by the fire district number one Baker Township Board of Trustees. Mr. Emerson answered Commissioner Pichler that this is the same truck that has been in process for quite a while.

November 1, 2005        

INVITATION TO BID

The Crawford County Fire District # 1, Baker Township Board of Trustees is inviting you to bid on the fire truck and related equipment according to the enclosed specifications.

Baker Township is seeking bids on a truck that qualifies as a Class A Pumper, and is compliant with NFPA guidelines.

The unit offered shall meet at least the minimum specifications; however, it may exceed the minimum specifications.  Companies that have more than one model that meets the specifications are encouraged to submit multiple bids.

Exceptions to the bids shall be noted on a separate piece of paper titled, “EXCEPTIONS TO BID SPECIFICATIONS”.   Failing to meet the minimum specifications will disqualify the bid.

Bid packets may be obtained by writing at the Crawford County Courthouse PO Box 68, Girard, Kansas 66743 or by phone at 620-724-6390.

Bid packets will include a cover letter, a bid quote request, and specifications on the apparatus sought.

Quotes may be submitted by mail to the Crawford County Clerk, PO Box 249, Girard, Kansas 66743.  If mailed, they must arrive in a timely manner so that they may be received by the bid deadline of 4:00 PM Monday November 28, 2005.  Any quote received after the deadline will not be considered regardless of the reason for the delayed receipt.

The QUOTE FORM for Fire Trucks shall be completed and submitted in a sealed envelope, clearly marked on the front; QUOTE FOR FIRE TRUCK. Bids must be valid for a period of at least 90 days.

All quotes received in a timely manner will be publicly opened at a regular meeting of the Crawford County Commission on Tuesday, November 29, 2005.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to reject any items or quotes, which do not comply with the minimum specifications.  The Board further reserves the right to accept the quote which best represents the equipment sought for purchase, even though that quote may not be the lowest, for justifiable reasons. The Board reserves the right to reject any and/or all quotes. In case of a low quote tie, the Board may select the quote of their choice.

Any person, firm, or corporation who submits a sealed quote agrees to comply with the conditions set forth above, and waives their right to any further recourse or actions in the event the quote they submit is not selected.

For the Board,

Richard Wilson, President

On motion (05-354) of Commissioner Pichler and the second of Commissioner Kmiec to publish the bid as presented by the Baker Township Board of trustees for the purchase of a fire truck and related equipment:

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec and Pichler

Nays:           

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting: Commissioner Moody

The motion prevailed.

Upon the question of the County Clerk it was answered that Baker Township will reimburse the county for the publication of the bid.

Item Two: Mr. Emerson presented a quote from Employee Screening Services for drug testing for county employees. Mr. Emerson mentioned that a meeting was held between the Maintenance Department, the Road and Bridge Department, EMS and County Sheriff. Mr. Emerson said the Sheriff and the EMS Service plans to stay with Mt. Carmel hospital for their screening services. A discussion was held about cost and it was determined that cost would be about the same for both services. There was also a discussion about mileage to and from Mt. Carmel and the advantage of having a van that can go to a specific site. Mr. Emerson mentioned that it will be necessary to have a central contact to replace Bob Davied after his retirement. Commissioner Kmiec mentioned that he has talked to other counties which were happy with Employee Screening Services. Mr. Emerson answered that there would probably two or three tests each quarter. He also said the Board needs to make a decision for Road and Bridge and maintenance. The Commissioners decided to defer the decision until a later date.

Item Three: Mr. Pichler mentioned that it would be helpful if each Commissioner would assign two road and bridge employees per crew to determine Latitude and Longitude of intersections, stop signs, bridges, rail crossings and any other permanent structure during the winter time. Mr. Kmiec suggested postponing a decision until Commissioner Moody returns.   Mr. Pichler suggested a meeting with the 911 director to talk with the employees about the way to handle marking the items.

UNDER THE HEADING OLD BUSINESS

OLD BUSINESS

Item One: Mr. Pichler mentioned that it would be helpful to have a policy concerning placing a hard surface on county roads. He said it was foolish to put a hard surface on a road and then have to go back and do it again the next year. Mr. Kmiec said it would be necessary to have someone like Dennis Meier to help formulate that policy. Mr. Kmiec said it will be necessary to have base surfacing guidelines and costs for a policy to be feasible. Mr. Kmiec suggested an advisory board of three or four people from each district to get together and help make advisory opinions on the policy. Mr. Kmiec mentioned that $.11 of every dollar goes to road and bridge.

UNDER THE HEADING FUTURE BUSINESS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

            FUTURE BUSINESS

Item One: November 18, 2005 – 9:00 AM, Work session with the Capitol Consulting group to establish the Board of Commissioners’ policies for the upcoming legislative session.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Item One: November 4, 2005 – Opening of building bids for the new Fire District Number Four building.

Item Two: November 11, 2005 – The Crawford County Courthouse will be closed in observance of Veteran’s Day. The Board of Commissioners will not meet on that day.

UNDER THE HEADING MOTION TO ADJOURN

MOTION TO ADJOURN

Item One: Adjournment

On the motion of Commissioner Kmiec and the second of Commissioner Pichler to adjourn the November 1, 2005 meeting at 10:57 AM.

Yeas: Commissioners Kmiec and Pichler

Nays:

Present but not voting:

Absent or not voting: Commissioner Moody

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 from tape recording 11/4/2005 8:19:57 AM