Commissioners discuss radio tower project

Sheriff Gary Knight and Emergency Management Director Butch Post were at the Rooks County Commission meeting on Tuesday, February 11th to update the commissioners on the radio tower project. Knight informed the commissioners that the tower will be installed on the Schult tower in Plainville. The City of Plainville will help with a fourth of the cost for the installation. Road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey and Knight will attend the next regular commission meeting to go over the plans and final costs for the project. Knight would like to have it installed by the end of March. Before leaving the meeting, Post also reported on the training he had recently attended in Salina.

Commissioner Corky Hagan reported that he had talked to a few people in the northwest part of the county about the condition of E Road.

Commissioner Greg Balthazor stated that he had traveled some of the roads in his part of the county. They are looking better, and even though there are rough places due to the muddy conditions, the road bases are in good condition. He has received a call on 20 Road, and has heard some complaints about the road department narrowing the roads.

Commissioner John Ruder had visited with Leon Ross about the rental of the Landfill’s pastureland. The County will be advertising for rental bids for the property this year.

Road and bridge supervisor Rich Bouchey was at the meeting and presented the commissioners with a check from the State of Kansas to go toward the clean up on the Jim Circle land. The check was in the amount of $3,000.83. The commissioners then signed the landfill check in the amount of $9,273.30 for deposit.

After the commissioners accepted the January reports for the sanitation and road and bridge departments, Bouchey noted that he had received an email from Solutions North Bank asking for the Resolution to be passed for the truck loan the County will enter into with the establishment. The Resolution will be ready to be signed at the next meeting. Bouchey also noted that the trucks should arrive by April 1st.

Next, Bouchey asked for the approval of the reclassification for one of the department’s employees, which was approved by the commissioners. Bouchey then invited the commissioners to attend the safety training meeting the department will be holding on Thursday, February 20th. Balthazor asked Bouchey if the workman’s compensation company could be scheduled in to give a short program as part of the department’s safety training meetings in the future.

Bouchey updated the commissioners on the equipment that is being worked on at this time. He also stated that he had called Dig Safe to check out the Maddy corner before any work begins on the tree removal project.

The crew was installing a culvert by Mike Reed’s residence, with Bouchey noting that he will be sending out a bid for 30-inch culverts for the department.

The commissioners then discussed options with Bouchey for rock pits, finding sand and the timing of working on the roads during certain times of the year.

County attorney Danielle Muir was at the meeting to ask for the commissioners’ approval to donate $500.00 from her transfer fund to the Western Child Advocacy Center. This was approved as requested by Muir.

After the treasurer’s quarterly report was accepted by the commissioners, they spent the remainder of the morning session reviewing and signing vouchers as presented.