Commissioners approve purchase of tractor/loader for landfill
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The Rooks County Commission met for its regular weekly meeting at the 4-H building at the Rooks County Fairgrounds on Tuesday, March 31st. The first order of business was an update from health nurse Lori Eichman on the coronavirus pandemic. Eichman has worked with Dr. Jen Brull on press releases for the community to be used if Rooks County ever has a positive case. She noted that even though Rooks County has protocols in place, Kansas Governor Kelly’s protocols supersede all county and city regulations, although if Rooks County’s protocols are for a longer time period than the state’s, the County’s regulations will be in force until the end of the time period specified. A Zoom meeting with the Kansas Association of Commissioners (KAC), and a KDHE conference call were set up for later in the afternoon to receive updates.
Emergency management director Butch Post is putting updates on the department’s Facebook page as he receives them. He is getting the COOP plans from the courthouse offices. Post noted that 73 of the Kansas counties have signed a declaration, which will cover them if any FEMA aid is put into place. He advised that Rooks County sign the declaration. Post is ordering personal protective equipment for the county hospitals, nursing homes, fire departments, ambulance departments, and the county offices at this time. Post found a source in Dodge City to purchase hand sanitizer for the County. The company is asking for donations to help with the cost of making the product. The commissioners voted to cover the recommended donation of $500.00 for the County’s order of hand sanitizer. Post also asked the commissioners to discuss a county-wide burn ban, as recommended by KDHE. Nothing was decided upon at this time. Before Post and Eichman left the meeting, the commissioners approved Resolution 2020-R3 dealing with Public Health as outlined for the County.
Sheriff Gary Knight was at the meeting and asked if he could get bids for two computers for the dispatch office. The commissioners told Knight to present the bids to them at the next meeting. Knight also informed the commissioners that he has been notified from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism that the turkey hunting season has not been cancelled at this time. It is a concern to him as that means there might be outof-state hunters coming to the area next month.
Appraiser Heather Poore was at the meeting and asked that the commissioners consider a computer remote access program for the courthouse’s departments. Poore had information from Nex-Tech and CK Tech for the commissioners to review. The commissioners would like to have time to go over the information presented, and also asked Poore to get more details and specific costs for what would be needed to purchase such a program for the courthouse departments, so they can work offsite if needed. Road and bridge super
Road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey was at the meeting and presented the commissioners with a quote from CAT for a tractor/loader for the landfill. Bouchey has the funds in his budget for the purchase. With the trade-in of the old loader, the cost for the updated piece of equipment would be approximately $205,000.00. It was the consensus of the commissioners to allow Bouchey to purchase the equipment. Bouchey also informed the commissioners that the three dump trucks have been delivered to Hays. His department will be picking them up later in the week.
The project at S Road between 26 and 28 Roads will be completed soon. The belly dumps are in the Williams pit. Work is being done on 13 Road north of K-18 between W and Y Roads. Patching is being done on 7 Road. The trucks are hauling rock on 29 Terrace north of K-18. Rock will be hauled on 16 Road in the next few weeks. The bridge crew has completed the installation of culverts listed on the project sheet at this time.
The commissioners informed Bouchey about the calls they had received during the week. Bouchey then informed them he had checked out the road base by the Plainville Lake before they start on the project in that area.
Treasurer Kim Northup was at the meeting to ask if her department could start weekly shifts with her employees. The premise is to have half of her staff work one week and then the other half work the second week. Her office would do this until the end of April. The commissioners voted to approve paying the employees for the 80 hours (two weeks) they would be at home during the month of April as long as they abide by the travel stipulations and they do not leave the County unless it is a necessary appointment as noted. The commissioners said they would revisit the pay situation at the end of the month.
