Submitted by Dawn Boyles County Clerk

May 1, 2023

The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in regular session Monday, May 1, with the following members present: Chairman William Pollock, Richard Lehmkuhl and Lamar Shoemaker. Also present was Brown County Clerk Dawn Boyles. County Attorney Kevin Hill was present for a portion of the meeting. Pollock opened the meeting at 8:10 a.m. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Lehmkuhl led the meeting with a prayer.

Department Reports

Road and Bridge District 3 Road Foreman Rodney Allen discussed the Peterbilt. Allen reached out to two additional mechanics. One of the mechanics did not want to work on a truck that had been taken apart by another mechanic and the other is at least one month out before they could start working on it. Hill thought that would be sufficient to qualify for a sole source vendor. Allen also reported on the excavator’s mechanical issues and with the Sterling they use to haul the excavator.

Also at the meeting:

Brown County Appraiser Steve Markham requested a 10-minute executive session. The commissioners held a 10-minute executive session for attorney client privilege to discuss legal matters with legal counsel, to protect the board’s privilege and communication with an attorney, with the commissioners, Markham and Hill present. There was no binding action taken following the executive session.

Boyles requested a 10-minute executive session. The board held a 10-minute executive session on non-elected personnel, with the commissioners and Boyles present to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel with an executive session necessary to protect privacy interests. No binding action was taken following the executive session.

City of Hiawatha Administrator Becky Berger and HFED Director Mikaela Moore discussed a proposed housing project in Hiawatha. Berger also discussed the process of the tax sale. Berger would like the county to consider approving a resolution about the process of paying delinquent taxes.

The board approved the April 28 meeting minutes.

The board discussed the Fence Viewing request regarding a fence viewing in the NW/4 Section 16 Township 3 Range 18. The commissioners agreed to appoint the three commissioners as the fence viewers at the fence viewing to take place at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, in the NW/4 Section 16 Township 3 Range 18.

Boyles presented the commissioners with the KWORCC First Quarter Report for 2023 for the board’s review.

The next regular meeting was held on Monday, May 8. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.

May 8, 2023

The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, May 8, with the following members present: Chairman William Pollock, Richard Lehmkuhl and Lamar Shoemaker. Also present was Brown County Clerk Dawn Boyles. County Attorney Kevin Hill was present for a portion of the meeting. William Pollock opened the meeting at 8:10 a.m. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioner Lehmkuhl led the meeting with a prayer.

Commissioner Pollock stated the following: “Considering that the proposed budget for the sheriff’s office and jail is over $1,750,000; I would strongly suggest that we do everything possible to reduce the crime rate in Brown County since historically we are responsible for the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. Remembering that we are one Nation under God’s authority, I recommend that we request that the local Public School superintendents attend our meeting on May 22 so that they can confirm that they are doing everything possible, with citizens tax dollars, to insure that our young citizens are being taught the morals and beliefs that were present when our country was founded which enabled it to become the most civilized and strongest nation in the world.”

Commissioner Lehmkuhl would like Commissioner Pollock to talk to the superintendents and extend an invitation to a commission meeting.

Department Reports

Services for the Elderly Director Wanda Davis discussed the Services for the Elderly taxi repairs. Davis would like to pay one employee for the time the taxi is down. The employee will deliver the meals every day in their own vehicle. The consensus of the board was to pay the employee the full amount while the taxi is being repaired.

Road and Bridge Secretary Tami Lehmkuhl discussed the possible purchase of a Case 580 Super NWT Backhoe that District 1 would like to purchase. T. Lehmkuhl also presented a quote from Clements Welding for repairs to the end dump in District 1. Commissioner Lehmkuhl would like to see what is available before making a decision on the repairs.

Brown County Treasurer Betty Spiker discussed an issue with paid taxes. County Attorney Hill felt the responsibility of the issue would not fall on Brown County.

Also at the meeting:

The board held a five-minute executive session on non-elected personnel, with the three commissioners, Davis and Boyles present to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel with an executive session necessary to protect privacy interests. No binding action was taken following the executive session.

Road and Bridge Secretary Tami Lehmkuhl requested a five-minute executive session. The board held a five-minute executive session on non-elected personnel, with the three commissioners, Hill, T. Lehmkuhl and Boyles present to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel with an executive session necessary to protect privacy interests. No binding action was taken following the executive session.

The board held a five-minute executive session on non-elected personnel, with the three commissioners, Hill and Boyles present to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel with an executive session necessary to protect privacy interests. No binding action was taken following the executive session.

Emergency Manager Don Pounds, Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, Sheriff IT Director Ron Segrest, Midwest Mobile Representative Michelle Blakely, Motorola Representatives Kirk Moore and Brian Flynn, and Horton City Administrator John Calhoon met with the board to discuss the updated quote from Motorola on updating the 800 system.

Willis City Mayor Branden Thomas requested ARPA funding for the damage to the Willis storm siren. Boyles explained the Informal Solicitations Policy and the need for three informal quotes. Thomas will email the quotes to Clerk Boyles.

T-Mobile and GeoTab representatives Brent Cooper, Adam Lynd and Kyle Hammontree met with the board via Webex to demonstrate the services they have to offer.

The board approved the May 1 meeting minutes.

Brown County Appraiser Steve Markham requested a 10-minute executive session. The board held an executive session to discuss legal matters with legal counsel, to protect the Board’s privilege and communication with an attorney, with the three commissioners, Markham and Hill present to discuss legal matters with legal counsel, to protect the board’s privilege and communication with an attorney, with an executive session necessary to protect privacy interests. No binding action was taken following the executive session.

District 3 Road Foreman Rodney Allen discussed the Peterbilt. Allen reached out to two additional mechanics. One of the mechanics did not want to work on a truck that had been taken apart by another mechanic and the other is at least one month out before they could start working on it. Hill thought that would be sufficient to qualify for a sole source vendor. Allen also reported on the excavator’s mechanical issues and with the Sterling they use to haul the excavator.

The May 3 payroll was approved as follows: General, $89,051.18; Road and Bridge, $17,168.25; Election, $2,380; Technology, $384; Appraiser, $8,660.01; Noxious Weed, $1,800.01; ACC, $8,758.54; JJA Core, $7,666.98; Reinvestment Grant, $1,159.27; Services for Elderly, $3,303.75; Solid Waste, $5,898.63; Special MVT, $2,962.93; Employee Benefit FICA, $9,663.07; and Employee Benefit KPERS, $11,728.38. After State Unemployment and Worker’s Compensation of $145.05 and Insurance of 2,770.37 was taken out, the total was $167,669.58.

Tax Change Orders 2022-80 through 2022-85 and 2022-87 through 2022-89 were signed and approved.

Boyles presented the Month End Reports for the commissioners’ review.

The May 8 claims were approved as follows: General, $24,191.74; Road and Bridge, $6,878.18; Employee Benefit, $101.60; Election, $170.83; Appraiser, $2,226.82; Noxious Weed, $403.61; Diversion, $384.06; 911 SB 50, $108.08; ACC, $1,470.17; JJA CORE, $1,375.07; Services for Elderly, $4,053.80; and ARPA Fund, $15,325.20. The total was $56,689.16.

The next regular meeting was held on Monday, May 15. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.