February 21, 2023
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners met in the courthouse commission meeting room Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Chairman Dennis Ray called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. with Vice-Chairman Darrell Oetting and Member Debora Smith present. County Clerk Dawn Harlow was in attendance as recording secretary.
Others present for portions of the meeting: Dale Hlad, Ladonna Reinert, Shawn Esterl, Brandon Cochran, Randy Lohmann, and Scott Wright.
Correspondence: a letter from CASA notifying that April 7, 2023, is the Annual Wear Blue Day, bringing awareness to Child Abuse Prevention month; a bill for Lincoln Park Manor; and a letter from Jeff White expressing interest in being appointed to the Repeater Board.
Dennis Ray moved to approve the February 13 minutes as corrected, seconded by Debora Smith. Motion carried.
Director of Highway Department Dale Hlad reported that the City of Sylvan has agreed to sell 600,000 gallons of water to the contractor for the N 60th Rd pavement project. KCAMP has totaled the loader involved in an accident, agreeing to pay $187,549.33; the county can buy back the loader for $4,000. The board approved the buyback allowing the loader to be used for parts. Hlad presented quotes received to replace the loader. Dennis Ray moved to sign the sales agreement with Foley Equipment Company for the purchase of a 2019 Caterpillar 938M loader in the amount of $253,000 on the condition that it passes the Highway department inspection, seconded by Debora Smith. Motion carried. Hlad reported that ten employees will attend the Kansas 811 Excavator training in Salina. Health Nurse/Administrator Ladonna Reinert reviewed the status of COVID grants received and noted deadline changes. Reinert provided the Aid to Local grant application signature page for the board’s approval. Reinert related that Insight Global is a consulting firm that provides grant assistance. Reinert believes that the group might be able to help the county use grant funds to repair the drainage issues at the health department. The federal COVID emergency ends on May 11. Department staff will be working to ensure that Medicaid recipients know they must complete applications to continue receiving coverage, as they have not had to fill out applications since before the pandemic. Reinert provided an update on COVID cases and department activities.
Debora Smith moved to approve the grant application for the Immunization Action Plan (IAP), Public health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), and State Formula (SF), in the amount of $18,765, seconded by Darrell Oetting.
Motion carried.
Shawn Esterl, Saline County Environmental Sanitarian, presented the 2022 quarterly and yearend wastewater statistics and water analysis for the Local Environmental Protection (LEP) program. Esterl answered questions on water tests conducted by Saline County. Esterl discussed the importance of sealing abandoned handdug wells and cisterns.
EMS Director Brandon Cochran provided an update on department activities. Cochran related that the department will begin hosting blood drives every other month at the EMS station.
Cochran presented a proposal from Vyve to continue managed service and computer rental and will contact other businesses that also provide the service. Cochran inquired whether the department could use ambulance fees exceeding the budgeted amount to pay for a benefits plan to add a full-time position. The board will consider budgeting for an additional position when completing the 2024 budget. Dennis Ray moved to recess into executive session for fifteen minutes for the purpose of discussing employee evaluations in the EMS department pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319(2) (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of nonelected personnel, to reconvene in the courthouse commission meeting room with the commission, EMS Director Brandon Cochran, HR Sarah Hageman, and County Clerk Dawn Harlow, seconded by Debora Smith. Motion carried. Time in: 10:14 a.m. Time out: 10:29 a.m.
The chairman reconvened the meeting to regular session at 10:29 a.m. with no action taken.
Human Resource Officer Sarah Hageman related that she had spoken with Phil Hayes with the Arnold Group, and the additional year paid for previously expired in July 2022. The Arnold Group can complete an update to the pay scale for $1,250. Hageman requested an executive session to discuss employment negotiations. Dennis Ray moved to recess into executive session for five minutes for the purpose of discussing employee negotiations with the health department, pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319(2)(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of nonelected personnel, to reconvene in the courthouse commission meeting room, with the commission, HR Sarah Hageman, and County Clerk Dawn Harlow, seconded by Debora Smith. Motion carried. Time in 10:33 a.m. Time out: 10:38 a.m.
The chairman reconvened the meeting to regular session at 10:38 a.m. Debora Smith moved to hire Elizabeth Sheldon as the Health Department Administrator, effective March 20, 2023, at an annual salary of $62,400, seconded by Darrell Oetting. Motion carried.
The board discussed the nursing home lease agreement proposed by Ryan Grace, Graceteam. County Attorney Scott Wright will change the agreement and forward it to the board for review. The commission agreed to hold a special meeting to review the changes and approve the submission to Grace.
Dennis Ray moved to recess into executive session for twenty minutes for the purpose of discussing HR duties, pursuant to K.S.A. 75-4319(2)(b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of nonelected personnel, to reconvene in the courthouse commission meeting room, with the commission and County Clerk Dawn Harlow, seconded by Debora Smith. Motion carried. Time in: 12:52 p.m. Time out: 1:12 p.m.
The chairman reconvened the meeting to regular session at 1:12 p.m. with no action taken. The board called a mandatory department head meeting for Monday, February 27.
The chairman adjourned the meeting at 1:17 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, February 27, 2023, in the courthouse commission meeting room.
February 23, 2023
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners met in the courthouse commission meeting room Thursday, February 23, 2023. Chairman Dennis Ray called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. with Vice-Chairman Darrell Oetting and Member Debora Smith present. County Clerk Dawn Harlow was in attendance as recording secretary.
Purpose: to approve submitting a nursing home lease agreement to Ryan Grace, Graceteam.
Others present for portions of the meeting: Scott Wright. The board reviewed the changes to the nursing home lease agreement approved at the February 21, 2023, regular meeting. The board approved County Attorney Scott Wright forward the agreement to Ryan Grace, Graceteam.
The chairman adjourned the meeting at 3:04 p.m. The next meeting will be Monday, February 27, 2023, in the courthouse commission meeting room.
