Rooks County Courthouse open with limited access
At the start of the Rooks County Commission meeting held on Tuesday, May 5th, health nurse Lori Eichman updated the commissioners on the COVID-19 pandemic. There are six recovered cases in the County with no active cases recorded. She had received calls about hosting livestock shows during Memorial Weekend. Since they would involve people from around the state, Eichman discussed it with Dr. Jen Brull, and the decision was made to not allow the shows. If all of the phases time out as outlined, shows could be scheduled after the June 15th timeline. Eichman also reported that at this time 107 people have been tested for COVID-19 in Rooks County.
Emergency management director Butch Post informed the commissioners that he had dropped off supplies at the hospital and nursing homes in the county.
The commissioners held a department head meeting to get their input on the re-opening of the courthouse. Custodian Roque Garcia said he would like to stay closed to the public for now and wait until Phase II before opening the facility. Commissioner Corky Hagan said he was in favor of opening up the courthouse since other businesses are doing the same during this phase. Lori Eichman said she was not opposed to opening up the courthouse, but wanted to highlight that a lot of people would be paying their taxes in the next two weeks. Commissioner Greg Balthazor asked what other courthouses are doing, with it stated that Phillipsburg had opened their courthouse. Eichman suggested limiting the number of people that come into the courthouse. Others asked about putting desks in front of their office doors and having the sheriff’s department tape off six-feet spaces for social distancing. It was also asked if the custodian had adequate cleaning supplies, with Garcia saying he had supplies ordered. Connie Stithem, clerk of the district court, said their office is still to be closed indefinitely. Sneeze guards are to be in place and anyone going to the third floor of the courthouse must wear a facemask. These are mandates from the national and state levels. Her office will also have to check people coming in with thermometers. Eichman said that KDHE highly suggests people coming into the facility should wear masks since this virus is not going away any time soon. Eichman said they will probably open the health office with sneeze guards in place and scheduling appointments in a timely manners. Extension agent Anna Muir said they would not have any face-to-face meetings until after July 4th, and the organization is recommending that people wear masks. Post said he had distributed surgical masks to the courthouse employees. After the discussion, the commissioners voted to open the courthouse with limited access on Monday, May 11th. They will limit the number of people who come into the courthouse and will only have the east and west doors open. People will need to be signed in with no more than ten people in the courthouse at a time.
Appraiser Heather Poore presented the valuations to the commissioners noting that the final numbers will be given to the clerk by June 1st. At this time the assessed oil valuation is down by almost half of what last year’s numbers were. The real estate valuations have gone up approximately ten and a half million dollars from last year. Poore also reported on a legal appeal, which began a few years ago, dealing with minimum oil lease values. If this appeal goes through, it would affect how counties do valuations. Poore will check to see what other counties are doing to help support this appeal by letters of support or funding. She also asked if the road and bridge department could utilize four tires that her office does not need. When road and bridge supervisor
When road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey was at the meeting, he was asked if he could use the four tires from the appraiser’s office. He will check to see if any of the vehicles in his department or the landfill could use them.
Bouchey said that the crew had finished sanding S Road between 27 and 28 Roads,and that Y Road between 16 and 17 Roads was being reshaped. The bridge crew was cutting down trees on E Road between 12 and 13 Roads at the present time. He then went over equipment maintenance and repair with the commissioners, noting that he is still waiting on a part for the CAT truck, and noted that the Volvo truck needs new brackets.
The commissioners asked Bouchey about a spring cleanup. Bouchey said the Landfill has one every other year so they are on schedule for one in the spring of 2021.
The commissioners then reviewed the economic development departments proposed budget for 2021, and also approved and signed the minutes from the April 30th meeting before they have their weekly reports.
Commissioner Corky Hagan said he had driven around the northwest part of the county. People were appreciative of the road and bridge crew removing some of the trees in that area. Hagan had also talked to Leonard Bristow about the Spring Show and told him the County was following the guidelines set forth by the governor.
Commissioner Greg Balthazor said he had not received any calls during the week. He did drive some of the roads, which were rough and dusty. He also drove by Webster Reservoir, and noted several cars from surrounding states.
Commissioner John Ruder said he had talked with the Redbud Village Administrator. They will hold a board meeting on May 28th. He also received some calls about road concerns.
All the commissioners noted that local businesses are anxious to get back to work. Stockton and Plainville’s high school graduations have both been set for July 11th. Plainville will host an eighth-grade promotion on July 10th. Towns are having signups for summer ball programs, though they will remain on the local level with no traveling teams, and no times have been set for the schedules. Pools can open during Phase II, with safety precautions still being discussed and outlined for both the pools and baseball programs.
The commissioners then closed the meeting after they reviewed and signed vouchers as presented.
