The Mitchell County Commissioners met in formal session on Monday, July 15, 2024. Chairman Tom Claussen and members Mike Cooper and Jim Marshall were in attendance.
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
The minutes of the Monday, July 8, 2024 meeting were approved as written on motion by Jim Marshall.
The motion was seconded by Mike Cooper and carried 3-0.
Dave Remus, Logan Zabel, Intern for the County Attorney, and Mark Noah, County Attorney, were present at the start of the meeting.
Brian Streit, Maintenance Supervisor, provided the commissioners with a bid for termite control at the Recycling Center at the Mitchell County Fairgrounds. The bid was $3,150 plus $310 annually for the whole building or $1,372 plus $150 annually for just the bathrooms. The bid is from Hinkle Termite & Pest Control. Jim Marshall moved to accept the bid for the whole building of $3,150 plus $310 annually. The motion was seconded by Mike Cooper and carried 3-0.
On motion by Jim Marshall a Neighborhood Revitalization was approved for Charles M File for a new ag building for a total cost of $56,600. The motion was seconded by Mike Cooper and carried 3-0.
The Board of County Commissioners received a letter from City Attorney Katie Schroeder regarding payment to the City of Beloit for the transformer at the new county shop. After discussion the commissioners confirmed the county’s portion of the bill had been satisfied and Heineken Electric was responsible for the remainder of the bill.
Janelle Kircher, Hospital Administrator, was present to discuss the hospital budget. The commission informed her she needs to make an appointment earlier in the year before budget time with her requests. She thanked the commissioners for the added mil the hospital is receiving in the 2025 budget. She also gave a graph to the commission representing how Mitchell County compares to surrounding counties with financial support to the hospital.
EMS Director Missy McGinnis was present along with employees, Kelley Hawk, Amber Peters, Stacey Allen, Logan Higbee, Ryan Scarrow, Andrew Allen, Thomas Hawks, Bobby Knudsen, and Melissa Mahin.
Hawk read a letter of appreciation for director Missy McGinnis on the turnaround of the department since she has taken over. All employees present were in support of the letter and a wage increase for McGinnis. The commissioners were happy to hear that the department is doing well.
McGinnis then presented a quote for a new ambulance for $277,000 plus $60,000 for the powerlift assembly. Once ordered this will be projected to arrive in 2028. The department currently has a 2026 ambulance on order.Jim Marshall moved to approve the purchase of the 2027 ambulance for the total cost of
$337,000. The motion was seconded by Mike Cooper and carried 3-0.
On motion by Jim Marshall a Neighborhood Revitalization was approved for Robert May for agriculture buildings for the cost of $2,350,000. The motion was seconded by Mike Cooper and carried 3-0.
Erick & Buffy Kadel were in to discuss a fence dispute. After a short discussion, the problem was resolved.
Tony Perez, Sheriff, Donna Schmitt, David Dohe, EM, Marty Hernandez, Public Works, Karm Cherek, Melinda Latham, Appraiser, Clint Offutt, GIS, Terrence Silvia, Dispatch, Mark Noah, County Attorney, and Halley Roberson, City Manager were present for the continued budget discussion. The commissioners want to keep the mil levy below the Revenue Neutral Rate. After some adjustments with the Sheriff’s Department contractual and commodity amounts, the proposed budget was agreed upon. Jim Marshall moved to approve the proposed budget for Mitchell County, Tipton Fire Dept #2, and Solomon Rapids Fire #3. The hearing will be held August 12, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. during the Mitchell County Commissioner’s meeting. Included in the motion was the proposed budget for MCO Fire #1 which is exceeding the revenue neutral rate. The RNR hearing will be September 9th at 9:15 a.m. during the Mitchell County Commissioner’s meeting. The budget hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. The motion was seconded by Mike Cooper and carried 3-0. The county employee’s insurance will remain the same for the 2025 budget year.
Halley Roberson noted that the city was working on their budget and will stay just within the revenue neutral rate. She also addressed the transmission lines that were reported on at the last meeting. Roberson stated that height zoning could be a way to restrict projects like this from coming through Mitchell County. The city is dealing with a cell tower that is being constructed just outside the city limits. The commissioners stated that the Zoning Commission should address these issues. Roberson said that we need to protect our airport, the community needs to be in charge, not the FFA.
Tom Claussen moved to recess the meeting for a 10-minute break. The motion was seconded by Jim Marshall and carried 3-0.
The meeting was called back to order 10:40 a.m. Tom Claussen moved to recess the meeting of the county commissioners into executive session to discuss security measures regarding courthouse security per K.S.A. 75-4319(b)(12) as the discussion of such matters at an open meeting will jeopardize its security for a period of one hour. The motion was seconded by Jim Marshall and carried 3-0. The session started at 10:40 a.m. and the open meeting will resume at 11:40 a.m. The executive session was extended for 10 minutes on motion by Tom Claussen which was seconded by Mike Cooper. Motion carried 3-0. The open meeting will resume at 11:50 a.m. No decisions were made in executive session. Those individuals present in the executive session were: David Dohe, EM, Jeff Roberg, IT, Heather Weston, Clerk, Kevin Whipple, Tami Eck, Register of Deeds, Halley Roberson, City Manager, Jason Vetter, Noxious Weed, Clint Offutt, GIS, Pam Thiessen, District Court, Karm Cherek, Tony Perez, Sheriff, Donna Schmitt, Jessy Bliss, Terrence Silvia, Dispatch, Mark Noah, Attorney, Tiffany Krier, Jenny Lundine, Scott Hardin, LockIt, Melinda Latham, Appraiser, and the three commissioners. Dohe announced that the next committee meeting will be August 5th at 10:00 a.m. in the commissioner’s room.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:50 a.m. on motion by Mike Cooper and seconded by Jim Marshall. Motion carried 3-0.
