Submitted by Nicole Lee

County Clerk

The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Aug. 28, with the following members present: Chairman William Pollock, Richard Lehmkuhl and Lamar Shoemaker. Also present was Brown County Clerk Nicole Lee and Deputy County Clerk Barbara Grabhorn. County Attorney Kevin Hill was present for 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.

Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing/Budget Hearing

The commissioners recessed into the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing at 9 a.m. Public comments were made.

The commissioners approved the motion to cast Roll Call Vote and pass Resolution 2023-11 to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate.

The commissioners also approved the motion to close the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing.

The board entered into the Budget Hearing portion of the meeting at 9:21 a.m. Public comments were made.

Commissioner Pollock made a motion to not adopt the proposed 2024 budget. Commissioner Shoemaker seconded the motion, and Commissioner Lehmkuhl voted nay. Budget discussion would continue during the Aug. 31 meeting.

The board approved the motion to close the Budget Hearing portion and go back into regular session.

Department Reports

The commissioners approved the motion to promote Joshua Linck to Crewman VII at $22 per hour, effective Sept. 4.

Also at the meeting:

The commissioners held a five-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 three commissioners and the County Attorney Hill present. There was no binding action taken following the executive session.

The board held a 10-minute executive session on non-elected personnel, with the three commissioners, Road and Bridge Foreman Jerry Hisle, Road and Bridge Secretary Tami Lehmkuhl and Attorney Hill present to discuss personnel matters of non-elected personnel with an executive session necessary to protect privacy interests. There was no binding action taken following the executive session.

Bill Sechler provided information to the commissioners on solar energy.

The board approved the Aug. 21 meeting minutes.

The Aug. 23 payroll was approved as follows: General, $91,265.81; Road and Bridge, $16,279.50; Election, $2,030.94; Technology, $384; Appraiser, $8,660.02; Noxious Weed, $2,469.39; ACC, $11,685.40; JJA Core, $12,153.74; Services for Elderly, $3,261.25; Solid Waste, $6,168.57; Special MVT, $3,025.81; Employee Benefit FICA, $9,893.46; and Employee Benefit KPERS, $11,813.05. After State Unemployment and Workers Compensation of $144.70 and Insurance of $9,398.96 were taken out, the total was $169,547.28.

The commissioners approved the appointment of Carol Spangler to the KANZA Governing Board of Directors.

The board approved the property use agreement for Hiawatha Chamber Maple Leaf Festival.

Commissioner Pollock read aloud a public comment letter from Daniel Paternoster.

The next regular meeting was held on Thursday, Aug. 31. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.