The Board of Marshall County Commissioners met in regular session with Keith Bramhall, Chairman, Jon Ungerer, member, Fritz Blaske, member and County Clerk Sandra K. Wilson present. Chris Pannbacker with the Marysville Advocate was also present for the meeting.
Commissioner Bramhall called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. The meeting was opened with the flag salute.
Jon Ungerer moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to approve the minutes of the 6/10/24 meeting and the agenda for today’s meeting as amended. Unanimous.
Beth Salmans, Ellen Barber, Ruth Wetter and Carol Hull met with the Board regarding the “land grab” that is proposing to come through Marshall County. This is a 5 mile corridor through the County that appears to run along the same lines as the Grain Belt transmission line. Commissioner Ungerer has been researching this and feels that the plan is to have easements granted and thus grandfathering in any future projects in this area. The process is in Phase 2 and the public comment window closes June 24th. Mrs. Salmans has asked the Board to consider a Moratorium to prevent any further energy construction through Marshall County. County Counselor Anthony Bruna will consider this and advise the Board accordingly.
Public Works Administrator Mike Craig met with the Board.
Fritz Blaske moved, seconded by Jon Ungerer to approve the following purchase orders. Unanimous.
Hoyt Truck Center, Topeka, KS
For Check alignment and repairs
$6,908.33-Road & Bridge Fund-P.O. #109583
BAT Tire Co, Frankfort, KS
For 8 Hercules truck tires
$3,201.60-Road & Bridge Fund-P.O. #109582
Hilltop Truck Center, Marysville, KS
For 4 Cooper tires, mount and balance
$1,132.80-Road & Bridge Fund-P.O. #109580
Nemaha-Marshall Electric Coop, Axtell, KS
For labor to move utility poles for bridge replacement
$1,812.68-Road & Bridge Fund-P.O. #109578Bridge and road work continues.
Bruce Dierking with Marshall County Development Corporation updated the Board on the continued services and outreach being done by Marshall County Development Corp. The 2025 budget request remains the same in the amount of $4,200.
Jon Ungerer moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to approve the following purchase orders. Unanimous.
4 Imprint
Sun essential fair handouts
$2,566.44-Maternal Child Health Fund-P.O. #7176
GlaxoSmithKline
For private vaccines
$7,380.39-Health Fund-P.O. #7178Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to go into executive session per KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss matters of non-elected personnel – employee evaluations with the Board, County Counselor Anthony Bruna, County Clerk Sandy Wilson and appraisal clerks Laura Butler and Brooke Feldhausen to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 9:50 a.m. Unanimous.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to extend executive session for 10 minutes per KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss matters of non-elected personnel – employee evaluations with the Board and County Counselor Anthony Bruna, with the right to call in County Clerk Sandy Wilson and appraisal clerks Laura Butler and Brooke Feldhausen to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 10:00 a.m. Unanimous.
No action taken as a result of this executive session.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Jon Ungerer to go into executive session per KSA 75-4319(b)(2) to discuss matters of attorney-client privileged discussions – potential litigation with the Board and County Counselor Anthony Bruna present to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 10:10 a.m. Unanimous.
No action taken as a result of this executive session.
The Board discussed the 5 mile corridor with County Counselor Anthony Bruna. He will research and advise accordingly.
Agency on Aging Director Ashley Slupianek met with the Board. 2025 budget requests were submitted. The Agency on Aging budget request is in the amount of $512,862.12 which is an increase of $46,512 mostly in salaries, food costs and adjusting for the grant cuts from Federal and State Funding for KDOT. Title IIIC request in the amount of $490,200 which is an increase of $22,800. KDOT request $326,200.00 which is a slight decrease in the amount of $7,300.
Liberty Price-Obley, Clerk of the District Court met with the Board to present the 2025 budget request in the amount of $198,375.00 which is an increase of $11,129.
Leslie Holthaus, Bob Voet, Allen Harries and Greg Meyer with the Marshall County Soil Conservation District met with the Board for a 2025 budget request of $45,000 which is an increase of $1,500.00.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to go into executive session per KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss non-elected personnel – employee evaluations with the Board and County Clerk Sandy Wilson to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 10:45 a.m. Unanimous.
No action taken as a result of this executive session.
Emergency Management Manager Bill Schwindamann Jr. met with the Board to present his 2025 budget request in the amount of $147,013 which is an increase of $11,183.
Darren Booth met with the Board to give an insurance proposal with the implementation of a Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan through Freedom Claims Management.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to go into executive session per KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss matters of non-elected personnel – employee evaluation with the Board and County Appraiser Francine Crome with the option to call in County Counselor Anthony Bruna and/or County Clerk Sandy Wilson to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 12:05 p.m. Unanimous.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to extend the executive session for 10 minutes per KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss matters of non-elected personnel – employee evaluation with the Board and County Appraiser Francine Crome with the option to call in County Counselor Anthony Bruna and/or County Clerk Sandy Wilson to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 12:15 p.m. Unanimous. County Clerk Sandy Wilson entered the meeting for the last 2 minutes of the executive session.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to go into executive session per KSA 75-4319(b)(1) to discuss matters of non-elected personnel – employee evaluation with the Board and County Counselor Anthony Bruna to return to open session in the Board meeting room at 12:30 p.m. Unanimous.
Fritz Blaske moved, seconded by Keith Bramhall to suspend County Appraiser Francine Crome for one week pending further investigation. Unanimous.
Commissioner Ungerer stepped out of the office.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to approve the Neighborhood Revitalization application for Calahan & Andrea Brown for the construction of a new home at 815 N Walnut St, Frankfort, KS. Motion passed 2-0.
Commissioner Ungerer returned to the meeting.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Jon Ungerer to extend the Neighborhood Revitalization application for Joel & Kelsey Ronnebaum through the end of the year. Unanimous.
Jon Ungerer moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to approve vouchers as presented and issue manual warrants. Unanimous.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Jon Ungerer to approve payroll as presented. Unanimous.
Keith Bramhall moved, seconded by Fritz Blaske to adjourn the meeting at 1:04 p.m. Unanimous. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, June 24, 2024 beginning at 8:30 a.m.
