BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS

OFFICIAL MINUTES

 January 10, 2005

The Board of County Commissioners, three members and the County Clerk present, met in regular session at 9:00 AM.

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CALL TO ORDER:  Commissioner Hey.

INVOCATION:  Commissioner Mattix.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  Commissioner Taylor.

AGENDA APPROVAL:

ACTION:   A motion was made by Commissioner Hey to approve the agenda as amended.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Taylor.

             ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Hey - Yes

                                               Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                               Commissioner Taylor - Yes

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APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Mattix approve the minutes of January 3, 2005 as presented by the County Clerk.  The motion was seconded by  Commissioner Taylor.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Hey - Yes

                                               Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                               Commissioner Taylor - Yes

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APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF INVOICES:

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Taylor to approve invoices in the amount of $167,934.89 as presented by the County Clerk’s office.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mattix.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Hey - Yes

                                               Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                               Commissioner Taylor - Yes

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OTHER COUNTY BUSINESS TO CLOSE OUT:

1.      Class LTD Certification of 2005 Budget –

2.      AFLAC Plan Agreement –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Taylor to authorize the signing of the AFLAC Plan Agreement to replace Fidelity Plan Agreement for Montgomery County.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Mattix.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Hey - Yes

                                               Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                               Commissioner Taylor - Yes

(See RES. 04-190)

3.      Presentation of Appreciation Plaques to Commissioner Hey and Commissioner Taylor.

Commissioner Mattix presented plaques of appreciation for years of service as county commissioners to Commissioner Hey and Commissioner Taylor.  Commissioner Mattix also expressed a thank you for the privilege of serving with them.  The comments have been made of part of these minutes.

“To Commissioners Hey and Taylor, thank you for the privilege of commissioning with you.  You have been good teachers, leaders, and thinkers as we have grappled, groaned, growled and grinned our way through the business of county government.  All of us are better persons because of the experiences we have shared.  I feel that history will speak well of your legacies as County Commissioners.  You know that you have done the best job that you knew to do.  Your unique blends of talent and attitude have served Montgomery County well.  I see nothing but brightness in your futures as you continue to craft the next chapters of your lives.”

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Recessed at 9:14 AM to the basement of the Judicial Building for swearing in ceremonies for elected officials.

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SWEARING IN CEREMONY:

The elected officials were sworn in at 10:00 AM in the basement of the Judicial Building.  The County Clerk gave the oath of office to Montgomery County Deputies following the elected officials being sworn into office.  A reception followed.

Following the reception, the County Commissioners Lee Mattix, Gene Tucker and Billie Lewark-Wood returned to the Commission Meeting Room in the courthouse.

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REORGANIZATION OF BOARD – 10:00 AM:

1.      Election of Chairman of the Board –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Lewark-Wood to elect Commissioner Lee Mattix as Chairman of the Board for 2005.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker.

                  ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                             Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                             Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

                                RES. NO. 05-03

2.      Holidays –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Lewark-Wood to approve the following 2005 Holidays for Montgomery County Employees:

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE – 2005

Martin Luther King Day – Monday – January 17, 2005

President’s Day – Monday – February 21, 2005

Good Friday – Friday – March 25, 2005 – (Employees wishing to attend services

will be excused, but County offices will remain open.)

Memorial Day – Monday – May 30, 2005

Independence Day – Monday – July 4, 2005

Labor Day – Monday – September 5, 2005

Veterans Day – Friday – November 11, 2005

Thanksgiving Day – Thursday – November 24, 2005

Day after Thanksgiving Day – Friday – November 25, 2005

Christmas Eve Day – Friday – December 23, 2005

Christmas Day – Monday – December 26, 2005

New Year’s Day – Monday – January 2, 2006

*The County offices will close at noon on December 30, 2005 for auditing cash purposes.

REORGANIZATION  - HOLIDAYS (Continued):

               The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker.

  ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

                 RES. NO. 05-04

3.      Appointments –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Lewark-Wood for all appointed department heads to continue for a 90 day period before reappointment in order to give the Board a chance to visit with each individual department head to discuss what is expected of their office and what their office expects of the Board.  The exception to these offices is the County Auditor.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker.

   ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

                 RES. NO. 05-05

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Mattix to reappoint, upon the recommendation of the Administrative Judge, Laverne Strecker as County Auditor for the year 2005.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lewark-Wood.

   ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

                 RES. NO. 05-06

4.      Designation of County Newspaper –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Tucker to designate the Montgomery County Chronicle as the official County Newspaper for 2005 and all other newspapers in the county when needed.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lewark-Wood.

   ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                   Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

                 RES. NO. 05-07

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EXECUTIVE SESSION – ATTORNEY/CLIENT PRIVILEGE – COUNTY APPRAISER’S REQUEST:

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Mattix to recess to Executive Session at 11:25 AM to return at 11:40 AM for Attorney/Client Privilege with Paul Kritz, County Counselor present, County Appraiser Jim Shontz, Kathy Craig and Board of County Commissioners present.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

Returned to session at 11:36 AM with no action taken and no decisions made.

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PUBLIC WORKS:

Barbara Curtis, Public Works Coordinator, presented the weekly written report.  The following items were discussed:  Rock Report for 2004; Major Bridge Replacement Status (County Bridge No. 19 and County Bridge No. 1206); and Building Maintenance (request to solicit quotes for pest control for the year 2005).  As a result of this report, the following action was taken:

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Tucker to approve the request for permission to solicit quotes for pest control for the year 2005 to include the Judicial Center and Courthouse.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lewark-Wood.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

Commissioner Mattix requested cost analysis for spreading gravel to be provided by Public Works.

Commissioner Tucker discussed the curve east of Dearing with the possibility of plastic reflectors and asked if the conditions could be improved.  Public Works will study a possible solution to improve conditions.

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OTHER COUNTY BUSINESS:

1.      Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission representative –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Tucker to appoint Commissioner Mattix to serve as the Montgomery County representative to Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission for 2005.  Motion was seconded byCommissioner Lewark-Wood.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                          Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                          Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

RES. NO. 05-08

2.      Status Changes – Sheriff’s Department –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Lewark-Wood to approve Employee Status Changes as presented by Sheriff’s Department due to reorganization of the department.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                          Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                          Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

RES. NO. 05-09

3.      Comments by Commissioner Mattix –

ACTION:  A motion was made by Commissioner Tucker to include comments by Commissioner Mattix in the official county minutes for January 10, 2005.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lewark-Wood.

ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                          Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                          Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

                              “To Commissioners Lewark-Wood and Tucker, welcome to the arena.  With the advent of your swearing in you have been officially inducted into the County Commissioner political arena where criticism, scorn, suspicion, and derision are the order of the day.  More than one person will feel it their God-given duty to make public statements about your lack of intelligence, moral strength, and devious motives for being a County Commissioner.  It will take a special measure of grace to weather such times.

               The other side of the commissioner coin is about fulfillment and reward.  You will enjoy working with community-minded people who have bright ideas and forward-looking vision.  You will be inspired by county team-mates who take pride in their jobs, do good work and go the extra mile.  You will feel blessed when you discover the unsung heroes who do the job they do because they are committed professionals.  No amount of money will duplicate the feeling of being appreciated when you hear a heart-felt thank you from an understanding citizen.

               It is a special calling and privilege to serve in the public arena.  It is a task that not many can nor will do.  To choose to be chosen gives one a special sense of obligation, opportunity and awareness.  It will be good to work together.”

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ADJOURNMENT:    12:14 PM

ACTION:  Motion by Commissioner Lewark-Wood, seconded by Commissioner Mattix.

    ROLL CALL VOTE – Commissioner Mattix - Yes

                                                                      Commissioner Tucker - Yes

                                                            Commissioner Lewark-Wood – Yes

 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, KANSAS 

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LEE MATTIX, Chairman

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GENE TUCKER, Member

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BILLIE LEWARK-WOOD, Member

ATTEST:

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                    County Clerk

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