Meeting Information
-Convene
-Pledge of Allegiance
CONSENT AGENDA
(1) (a) Consider approval of Commission Orders
(b) Consider approval of Article 26 Text Amendment (Keith Dabney)
(c) Consider resolution requesting a recommendation from the Planning Commission
concerning the proposed minimum maintenance designation of N 300 Road
(Michael Kelly)
REGULAR AGENDA
(2) Planning Item: CUP-10-04-04: Conditional Use Permit request for a communication tower. The property is located at N 1694 Road. Submitted by Selective Site Consultants, Inc., for Verizon Wireless. Walters Farms, LLC, is the property owner of record. (Sandra Day)
(3) Consider request from ECO2 for operating funds to be split with the city (Roxanne Miller)
(4) Consider approval of telephone and voice mail upgrade (Pam Madl)
(5) Discussion of Lone Star No Wake Regulations (Jones)
(6) Other Business
Jones called the meeting to order at 8:34 A.M. on Monday, May 2, 2005 with all members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
CONSENT AGENDA 05-02-05
Johnson moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
- Approve Commissioners Order Nos. 5315 and 5316. Orders are on file in the Office of the County Clerk; and
- Approve Resolution No. 05-19 requesting a recommendation concerning the designation of a portion of N 300 Road as "minimum maintenance."
Motion was seconded by Jones and carried unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS 05-02-05
The Board considered approval of a request from ECO2 for operating funds to be split with the City of Lawrence. Roxanne Miller, Chair of the ECO2 Board, was present for the discussion. Miller explained that the total requested budget is $25,000 which would be split between the City of Lawrence and Douglas County. Miller noted that the Chamber of Commerce is willing to take care of the allocations should the City and the County wish to fund the monies directly to the Chamber.
Jones stated he was impressed with the accomplishments of ECO2.
Johnson also complimented the board noting he believed the money will be well spent.
McElhaney also praised the work accomplished by ECO2, but expressed concerns about the budget being doubled. McElhaney questioned whether the board had explored the possibilities of utilizing other avenues or programs already in place where funding monies and mechanisms are already there such as the City's or County's information technology departments, mapping services, etc. McElhaney also expressed concerns about this becoming a permanent part of the County's budget noting that he didn't want ECO2 to become an academic exercise -- it should be tangible and put into place.
Miller explained that she understood that the mapping capabilities needed were beyond the capabilities of the GIS Department. She stated it was the Board's hope to guide future decisions on business parks and open spaces and to get a clear idea of what the public will support.
Jones stated he believed this represents a fairly small investment and is money well spent. Jones then made a motion to approve the commitment of $12,500 from the County to be matched by the City and directed ECO2 to return to the Commission in July with a budget request. Motion was seconded by Johnson and carried with McElhaney opposed.
PLANNING 05-02-05
The Board considered Item No. 9 of the minutes of the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Commission dated December 15, 2004. This item is CUP-10-04-04: Conditional Use Permit request for a communication tower. The property is located at 1694 N 1748 Road. Submitted by Selective Site Consultants, Inc., for Verizon Wireless. Walters Farms, LLC, is the property owner of record. Sandra Day, staff member of the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Department, and Trevor Wood, Selective Site Consultants, were present for the discussion. This item was tabled by the Board on January 10, 2005, with a request that the applicant provide documentation regarding attempts to co-locate.
Jones questioned whether there was any capacity to analyze the information independently or if staff was taking the applicant's word regarding technical interference and attempts to co-locate. Jones also noted there was no documentation provided from Dobson Wireless indicating their refusal to allow co-location.
Day responded that the Planning Department d s not have the professional staff on board to make these assessments.
Wood explained that locating a Verizon "A" Channel cell on the K-70 West Tower would cause technical interference as it would be tantamount to allowing two radio stations to broadcast different, competing messages within the same frequency at the same place and at the same time. Because Verizon d s not own the "A" Channel Cellular License in Leavenworth County and this portion of Leavenworth County is served by Dobson Cellular, Verizon needs Dobson Cellular's permission to construct a site. Because of the technical interference that will arise, Dobson will not allow Verizon's use of the K-70 West Tower as an "A" Channel cellular site. For the same reason (technical interference), Verizon d s not wish to construct an "A" Channel site on the K-70 West Tower. Wood also stated that he has made a good faith effort to co-locate. Wood noted he asked Chris Corey, Dobson Cellular's RF Engineer, for documentation regarding their refusal to allow co-location, but received no response.
Jones suggested that the application fees be set so that an independent consultant can be hired. Jones questioned whether the wireless companies received more monies for building new towers versus co-locating. Wood responded that the wireless companies receive the same amount of monies either way.
Jones stated he would like to contact Mr. Corey in order to satisfy his own curiosity about his refusal to respond. No action was taken.
TELEPHONES & AGREEMENTS 05-02-05
The Board discussed the need to upgrade the telephone and voice mail system. Pam Madl, Assistant County Administrator, explained that the equipment and software that is currently used will no longer be supported by the original manufacturer. Requests for Proposals were issued for an upgrade for the telephone system and replacement of the voice mail system. Madl recommended that the Board approve the proposal submitted by SKC Communications in the amount of $52,875.42. Funds are available in the Equipment Reserve Fund for the equipment expense and in the General Fund for the maintenance costs.
After discussion, Johnson made a motion to approve the proposal submitted by SKC Communications in the amount of $52,875.42. Motion was seconded by Jones and carried unanimously.
PARKS -- LONE STAR 05-02-05
The Board discussed No Wake Regulations at Lone Star Lake. Jones stated he had received e-mails from individuals that had been fishing at the lake complaining about the no wake sign being removed. Keith Browning, Director of Public Works/County Engineer, suggested the Board may want to look at not allowing skiing at the lake. Browning also indicated this has become an issue because of the new regulations, fishing permits were no longer required, attracting more people. Browning noted that the wake policy has not changed, but the sign had been removed for maintenance and will be replaced. No action was taken.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 05-02-05
Johnson moved approval of accounts payable in the amount of $113,462.93 to be paid 05/02/05; accounts payable manual checks in the amount of $1,368.24; payroll in the amount of $621,200.19; and electronic funds transfers in the amounts of $47,574.29 for FICA and $42,099.18 for KPERS to be paid 04/29/05. Motion was seconded by McElhaney and carried unanimously.
MISCELLANEOUS 05-02-05
At 10:15 A.M., Jones made a motion that the Board recess to go into executive session for 15 minutes with Craig Weinaug, County Administrator; Evan Ice, County Counselor; and Sharon Dominik, Appraisal Manager, to discuss potential litigation. Motion was seconded by Johnson and carried unanimously. At 10:30 A.M., Jones made a motion that the executive session be extended for 10 minutes. Motion was seconded by Johnson and carried unanimously. The Board returned to regular session at 10:30 A.M. No action was taken.
Jones made a motion to adjourn; Johnson seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
_____________________________ _____________________________
Charles Jones, Chairman Bob Johnson, Member
ATTEST:
_____________________________ _____________________________
Jamie Shew, County Clerk Jere McElhaney, Member
Time and Date