Meeting Information
Two Commissioners may be in attendence at the following:
Governor's Summit on H1N1 at Maner Conference Center, Shawnee Room, SW 17th Street and SE Western Avenue in Topeka, Kansas
Thellman called the regular session meeting to order at 8:10 a.m. on Monday, August 24, 2009 with all members present.
CONSENT AGENDA 08-24-09
Thellman moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
► Resolution 09-30 changing the normal date and time of Board of County Commissioners meetings pursuant to Charter Resolution No. 93-6-1. The Board will meet on Wednesdays at 4:00 a.m. for administrative items and at 6:35 p.m. for public items.
Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried unanimously.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/CITY OF LAWRENCE 08-24-09
The Board considered a request from the City of Lawrence to declare Douglas County as a recovery zone for the purposes of using special recovery zone financing and approving $2 million of the County's Economic Development bond allocation to the City's project to extend water and sewer to the airport. Roger Zalneraitis, City of Lawrence presented the item. Zalneraitis stated there are three actions for the Commission to consider: 1) approval of a resolution declaring a recovery zone; 2) approval of the City's request to earmark $2 million of the bonds to be used for water and sewer projects; and 3) approval of a Notice of Intent to be sent to the Department of Commerce showing what the bonds will be used for, due September 15, 2009.
There was a Consensus by the Board finding that the unemployment rate and number of home foreclosures qualifies Douglas County as a recovery zone.
Thellman opened the item for public comment. No comment was received.
It was noted during the meeting that Beth Johnson, Chamber of Commerce, stated the Chamber is in support of the actions recommended by Roger Zalneraitis.
Flory moved to approve Resolution 09-29 designating a recovery zone pursuant to the American Recovery Investment Tax Act of 2009 for the purpose of issuing Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds and Recovery Zone Facility Bonds with the understanding that under Section 2: the Distress Factors of unemployment and home foreclosures will be included in the resolution. Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried unanimously.
Flory moved to authorize the chair to sign the Notice of Intent to be sent to the Department of Commerce. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried unanimously.
[Note: Resolution 09-28 allocating $2,000,000 of Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds will be placed on the Consent Agenda for the Wednesday, August 26, 2009 meeting.]
QUIT CLAIM DEED/CITY OF LAWRENCE 08-24-09
The Board considered a request to make a determination that the following described tract of land, which is located within the Kansas River Levee easement, is surplus property not required for public use by the County. The land is unmarketable and has no significant value to the County. The land is described as follows: East 16 feet of Lot 38 on Locust Street, North Lawrence, in the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, Kansas. The City asks that the Commission sign a Quit Claim Deed to transfer title of the property to the City of Lawrence. The item was presented by Paul Werner, Paul Werner Architects.
Thellman opened the item for public comment. No comment was received.
Flory moved to approve the Agreement Quit Claim Deed to transfer property ownership to the City of Lawrence. It was noted that the property is not marketable and holds no significant value to Douglas County. Motion was seconded by Thellman and carried unanimously.
PURCHASING 08-24-09
The Board considered the purchase of an End Dump Trailer for Public Works. Mike Perkins, Project Manager for Public Works, presented the item. Public Works has funds allocated to replace a 1988 Fruehauf 24' 20cy end dump trailer with structural problems. The equipment is used to haul rock, asphalt, and salt/sand mix. Public Works has an opportunity to purchase a new 2010 end dump trailer at a substantially reduced cost. This equipment would typically cost $57,000-$60,000. Due to a default on an order, Berry Tractor & Equipment can offer the equipment new at a cost of $37,747. A quote was received from the HGAC (Houston-Galveston Area Council), an inter-local cooperative agreement through MARC in the amount of $64,022 for a slightly smaller capacity trailer. Public Works intends to sell the existing end dump trailer in an auction.
Thellman opened the item for public comment. No comment was received.
Thellman moved to waive the purchasing policy to purchase a 2010 end dump trailer from Berry Tractor & Equipment in the amount of $37,747. Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried unanimously.
ADMINISTRATION/PURCHASING POLICY 08-24-09
Pam Madl, Assistant County Administrator, brought to the Board proposed changes to the purchasing policy that would assist the Public Works department in meeting the new Commission Meeting agenda deadline schedule, while also adding the ability to purchase equipment through auctions. Madl discussed stipulations when using the auction option, that equipment must be viewed in person and we must know the value of the existing piece of equipment for selling and trading purposes. The amendments would also extend the approval authority to the County Administrator to accommodate time restrictions.
Thellman opened the item for public comment. No comment was received.
Thellman moved to approve the revisions to the purchasing policy. Motion was seconded by Flory and carried unanimously.
ACCOUNTS PAYBLE 08-24-09
Thellman moved to approve accounts payable in the amount of $877,748.48 paid on 08/24/09. Motion was seconded by Gaughan and carried unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENT 08-24-09
Karen Willey, Douglas County resident, stated she is unable to receive a variance for a rural home Type 2 business. She is interested in using a 5,000 square foot building for a home occupation business, but the size of the building exceeds the Type 2 size restriction. It was determined that Willey should set an appointment with Linda Finger, Planning Resource Coordinator, to discuss her options Flory commented that he would like to see a mechanism put in place that would allow the Board to make variances when the Board feels the situation is appropriate.
Thellman moved to adjourn the meeting; Gaughan seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
____________________________ ____________________________
Nancy Thellman, Chair Jim Flory, Vice-Chair
ATTEST:
_____________________________ _____________________________
Jamie Shew, County Clerk Mike Gaughan, Member
Time and Date