Commissioners approve video service agreement extension with Nex-Tech

The Rooks County Commissioners met with custodian Roque Garcia on Tuesday, January 21st who asked permission to sell the old electric stove from the fourth floor Sheriff’s Department. The commissioners declared the stove excess property so it could be sold for less than $100.00. Garcia also informed the commissioners that an appraisal of the courthouse would be done later in the week for EMC Insurance purposes.

Sheriff Gary Knight was at the meeting to ask about sick and vacation time for one of his employees. The commissioners stated the County’s policy would remain as it is.

Mark Lowry with Heritage Insurance Group, Inc. was at the meeting to have the commissioners sign the supplemental professional liability policy for the County’s health department. The commissioners signed the policy as presented.

Next, Jessica Norris with Nex-Tech met with the commissioners to have them sign the two-year video service agreement extension for the County. She also presented a folder of the opportunities the business offers for the commissioners to review at their leisure.

After the January 14th regular meeting minutes were approved with minor corrections, commissioner Corky Hagan gave his weekly report. He had received some calls about the icy road conditions and about a hole on a bridge located north of the highway by Tim Berland’s. He relayed the message to road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey so he could go check it out.

Commissioner Greg Balthazor said he had also received comments about the icy roads, but reported a quiet week.

Commissioner John Ruder said he had received comments about the icy roads as well. He noted that the steel is going up at the Rooks County Regional Airport for the maintenance shed.

The commissioners accepted the annual reports from Townships 1 and the year ending December 31st, 2019 before they approved the nominations of Jonathan Berkley, Holly Buss and Justin Casey for the Rooks County Airport Board.

The commissioners had received After Prom Bash requests from the Stockton and Plainville schools. The commissioners voted to donate $300.00 apiece to the schools for the event, noting they are waiting on the request from Palco.

Road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey was at the meeting and informed the commissioners that he had sent out a request for loan bids to the area banks for the new trucks. He is also waiting to hear back from Wichita on what the truck box prices will be. The water truck is in Hays for some repair work. He noted that the pothole on the bridge Hagan had called him about had been filled with material.

After the commissioners signed the paperwork stating that the Rooks County boundaries are correct for the 2020 census, they spent the remainder of the morning session reviewing and signing vouchers as presented.