The Board of Lyon County Commissioners met in Action Session at 8:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers with the following people in attendance:
Rollie Martin, Chairman Scott A. Briggs, Vice Chairman
Dan Slater, Commissioner * by phone Tammy Vopat, County Clerk
Marc Goodman, County Counselor Dan Williams, County Controller
Michael Halleran, Asst. Co. Counselor
Others attending the meeting:
Robert McClelland, resident Doug Peck, resident
Jarrod Fell, Emergency Manager Melissa McAllister, resident
Phill Mott, resident Roxy Van Gundy, 911 Director
Vi Heskett, resident Harley Heskett, resident
Angel Cushing, resident Jarom Smith, resident
Ron McCoy, resident Lynn McAllister, resident
Jamie Williams, I.T. Department Adam Blake, Gazette reporter
Jennifer Millburn, Health Department Renee Hively, Health Director
Linda Forbes, resident
Dr. Allison Garrett, ESU President *via zoom
Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance
Motion: To Approve the Agenda as presented. Martin/Slater 3-0
Motion: To Approve the Minutes of the 7-2-2020 meeting as corrected.
Martin/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve Warrants Payable 7-10-2020 in the amount of $70,948.56. Briggs/Slater 3-0
Motion: To Approve Payroll Payable 7-10-2020 in the amount of $294,706.61.
Martin/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve Payroll Withholdings Payable 7-10-2020 in the amount of $208,364.83. Martin/Slater 3-0
Appointments: no action taken.
Discussion regarding extending the Local Disaster Declaration for 60 days for Lyon County. Jarrod Fell gave an update on the declaration and identified details.
Motion: To Approve extending Resolution 5-20, the Local Disaster Declaration for 60 days for Lyon County, Kansas. Briggs/Martin 3-0
Personnel changes: no action taken.
Permits: no applications received.
Reports
Commissioner Martin:
• On Tuesday morning I attended the JEDAC meeting.
• Had a few questions on road and zoning issues.
• I will attend the Lyon County Extension meeting.
Commissioner Briggs:
• The Fair Board meeting is Monday evening.
• Attended zoom meetings with the Health Department.
Commissioner Slater:
• No report.
Controller Williams:
• Working on the budget.
• Canopy for the fairgrounds.
• Met with representatives regrading state funds related to the pandemic.
Clerk Vopat:
• Preparing to mail ballots next Wednesday.
• I will participate in the Talk of Emporia on Friday to discuss election dates and information.
Counselor Goodman:
• On Tuesday I attended the JEDAC meeting.
Sam Seeley presented Commissioners with a request to consider an addendum to the Road Use Maintenance Agreement with Reading Wind Energy, LLC.
Motion: To Approve the Addendum for the Lyon County, Kansas Road Use Maintenance Agreement with the Reading Wind Energy, LLC.
Briggs/Martin 2-0
Dan Williams presented information regarding the receipts and expenditures of the State Coronavirus Relief Funds (SPARK).
Motion: To Adopt Resolution 8-20, a Resolution for the Receipts and Expenditures of the State Coronovirus Relief Funds (SPARK). Briggs/Slater 3-0
Note: Counselor Goodman stated there are some exclusions.
Dan Williams presented Commissioners with a consideration of a contract for administrative services for Lyon County, Kansas with Western Consultants.
Motion: To Approve the Contract for Administrative Services between Lyon County, Kansas and Western Consultants for the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Roxy Van Gundy presented Commissioners with a request to approve the purchase of online protocols for the 911 Emergency Department. Roxy explained and discussed the current process.
Motion: To Table the purchase of ProQA Emergency Medical and Emergency Fire Dispatch online protocols from Priority Dispatch, in the amount of $154,961.48 until July 16, 2020. Martin/Slater 3-0
Motion: To move to Legal Executive Attorney/Client Session with Commissioners, Counselor Halleran and Counselor Goodman, to return at 9:35 a.m. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 9:35 a.m.
Break
Public comment: Angel Cushing commented on the protests going on throughout the state since the pandemic started. She explained the process of creating an event. Some of the interested people are being contacted by the Health Department. Ron McCoy commented on the zoning ordinances and expressed his appreciation of the fact sheet related to the zoning changes. The mask situation he believes everyone should be using their own safety strategies. Ron is concerned about getting the schools opened. Ron also commented on the proposed mill levy reduction and would be concerned about cutting back too hard then having to raise the levy again due to costs involved with the pandemic. Lynn McAllister presented Commissioners with a handout of information on the pandemic. Lynn also gave information on the Hong Kong flu. Tagan Trahoon offered an update on the SOS campaign and asked anyone who would like to, to donate. Melissa McAllister read from the constitution. She commented on the SPARK funds and FEMA grants. She questioned on the funding for the minority population. Jarom Smith commented on his view that the county should not mandate masking. Phill Mott expressed his opinion which masks should not be mandated. Robert McClelland commented on his personal experience of being exposed to the CoVid 19 virus. Robert also commented that his opinion is that everyone needs to be personal responsibility. Robert talked about constitutional rights. Harley Heskett commented about children and the elderly getting the virus. Linda Forbes commented on her opinion about wearing masks. She is not in favor of mandating masking.
Dr. Allison Garrett presented an update on Emporia State University. Dr. Garrett thanked the Commission for their financial support. She also updated on students, housing, athletics and education, etc. Kansas has been added to the do not travel list recently. ESU is working on enrollment but there is a concern of the international students. She is hopeful enrollment will remain strong. Dr. Garrett reported the work being done with Emporia High School with students while keeping the rate of student debt down.
Public Health Order: Commissioners discussed the Public Health Order.
Counselor Goodman commented on the rules of the adoption of the order. Counselor Halleran presented a draft of the order and introduced the order and explained the contents of the draft. Commissioner Martin discussed the personal responsibility and would not be in favor of a mandated mask wearing and to continue with the health order as it seems to be working with cases declining. Commissioner Briggs stated he agreed with Commissioner Martin then discussed the long-term affect. Commissioner Briggs talked about being aware of the pandemic numbers and using personal responsibility. Commissioner Slater thanked the citizens of Lyon County and especially our Health Department for their work and encouraged wearing a mask when possible if unable to social distance.
Motion: To Approve the Lyon County, Kansas Public Health Order Modified Phase 3. Martin/Slater 3-0
Note: Counselor Goodman commented this is a fluid document and may be changed at any time with minimal notice.
Motion: To move to Legal Executive Session for Confidential Data with Commissioners, Counselor Halleran, Controller Williams and Counselor Goodman, to return at 11:45 a.m. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 11:45 a.m.
Motion: To Adjourn. Martin/Slater 3-0
There being no further business before the Board, the next Action Session will take place on July 16, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
Attest: Affirm:
_______________________________________ ____________________________________
Tammy Vopat Rollie Martin, Chairman
Lyon County Master Clerk Lyon County Commission
