The Board of Lyon County Commissioners met in Action Session at 9:00 a.m. in the Commission Chambers with the following people in attendance:
Rollie Martin, Chairman Doug Peck, Vice Chairman
Scott A. Briggs, Commissioner Tammy Vopat, County Clerk
Marc Goodman, County Counselor Dan Williams, County Controller
Others attending the meeting:
Jerry Campbell, resident Ken Bazil, resident
Melissa McAllister, resident Hope McAllister, resident
Mark McAllister, resident Robert Davis, resident
Viola Heskett, resident Harley Heskett, resident
Lillian Spellman, resident Jamie Potter, resident
Sarah Henry, resident Lynn McAllister, resident
Zach Deloach, Gazette reporter Chuck Boyce, I.T. Director
Robert McClelland, resident Linda Forbes, resident
Tagan Trahoon, KVOE reporter Earl Murphy, resident
Harold Ingles, resident Russ Reed, resident
Chip Woods, County Engineer Steve Willis, Community Corrections Dir.
Janice Huffman, Human Resources Renee Hively, FHCHC
Dr. Oyenuga, Public Health Officer Ryan Janzen, Appriaser
Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance
Motion: To Approve the Agenda as presented. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve the Minutes of the 4-15-2021 meeting. Briggs/Peck 3-0
Motion: To Approve Warrants Payable 4-23-2021 in the amount of $841,243.35. Peck/Briggs 3-0
Appointments: Commissioners discussed board appointments.
Motion: To remove from the Table a request from Timothy Rogers, Fire District #2, to consider red lights and sirens on personal vehicles. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Commissioners and Counselor Goodman discussed the liability issue related to lights and sirens being placed on personal vehicles.
Motion: To Approve the request from Timothy Rogers, Fire District #2 to place lights and sirens on a personal vehicle. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Personnel changes: no action taken.
Permits: no applications received.
Melissa McAllister presented Commissioners with a consideration to review zoning petitions. Melissa presented examples of the petitions submitted. Melissa discussed several points related to the zoning plan. Melissa stated she was denied the amount of petitions received. Melissa discussed several different issues including correspondence from Commissioner Briggs, Sam Seely. She mentioned the multi-use path encroaching on private property. Melissa discussed putting a question on the ballot to let voters decide if Lyon County needs 5 commissioners and wants the zoning regulations repealed. Melissa would also like to have a redistricting committee. She stated the people in unincorporated Lyon County need to be represented. Mark McAllister offered a summation of Melissa McAllister’s presentation and asked Commissioners to do their jobs. They have one request and that is to listen to the concerns of the voters.
Steve Willis presented Commissioners with the Community Corrections budgets. Steve discussed each grant applications.
Motion: To Approve FY 22 Grant Application Comprehensive Plan for Adult Services. Peck/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve FY 22 Grant Application and Budget KDOC-Juvenile Services Grant. Briggs/Peck 3-0
Motion: To Approve the FY 22 Juvenile and Adult Services Kansas Department of Corrections budgets.
Martin/Peck 3-0
Motion: To Approve FY 22 Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Grant Budget. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Road Hearing on Road 30: Commissioner Martin explained the process of a road vacation petition, road viewing and public hearing. Russ Reed discussed about the concern of the watershed board regarding closing the road. Russ mentioned the concern of others and understands their concerns. Russ spoke with Tom Ritchie and an attorney to possibly move the easement to the road. Russ has no intention of closing the road and asked the petition be tabled to work on a solution to needed access. Earl Murphy discussed his concerns of accessing the watershed dams for water control which is a Federal Dam. Maintenance and upkeep is required. Earl’s concern is future landowners would be able to install a fence in the middle of the road which would prevent access to the dam. Harold Ingles suggested that the watershed prefers the road stay open. Commissioner Briggs and Chip Woods commented it is not convenient to gate a county road.
Motion: To Table the Road Vacation Petition by Russ Reed on Road 30 and Road C for 30 days.
Martin/Briggs 3-0
Public comment: Deanne Howell commented about her outrage about the Comprehensive Plan and deception used in uncommon words. She stated there is no purpose for the plan and comparisons do not make sense. She said this is a very deceptive plan and not a survey on zoning but preferences and suggested the plan is invalid and illegal. Sarah Henry commented in agreement with Deanna Howell. Sarah suggested this plan is a sham and irresponsible. She continued with the plan is an embarrassment. Dusty Howell commented that as an avid cyclist and is against encroaching on personal property with paths. Dusty stated the City does not maintain the trails and explained that we need to maintain what we have. Cost and time is high to maintain. Harley Heskett commented about the survey done. Lynn McAllister commented summarized that people don’t like the Comprehensive Plan. He asked that Commissioners fix the problem. Melissa McAllister and asked questions and wants an opportunity to discuss ballot and redistricting.
Motion: To Amend the Agenda to allow for a break. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Reports:
Commissioner Martin:
• Last week I attended the Fairground Foundation meeting.
• Next week is the Council on Aging meeting.
• Receiving several comments about the mask mandate.
Commissioner Briggs:
• No report.
Commissioner Peck:
• I was unable to attend the Community Corrections Advisory Board meeting.
Clerk Vopat:
• I recorded the minutes of the road viewing yesterday.
Counselor Goodman:
• I attended the Community Corrections Advisory Board meeting.
Controller Williams:
• Attended the road viewing and the Fairground Foundation meetings.
Motion: To move to Non-Elected Personnel Executive Session with Commissioners and Steve Willis for evaluation, to return at 11:10 a.m. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 11:10 a.m.
Public Health Report: Dr. Oyenuga and Renee Hively presented Commissioners with an update on Public Health. Renee presented the Quarterly Report on the services provided by the Flint Hills Community Health Center. No vaccination clinic will be held this week. The next clinic is next Friday. Demand for the vaccine is currently low while 1,500 vaccines are on hand. Pop-up testing is being organized. 30% of Lyon County is fully vaccinated. 37% are partially vaccinated. Dr. Oyenuga commented she was happy with the numbers so far. Commissioners discussed the mask mandate restrictions. Commissioners have received a tremendous amount of requests to remove the mask mandate in Lyon County. Commissioners Briggs thanked the health workers in there work during the pandemic. A job well done! There are people who will not get vaccinated or wear a mask. People should still take their personal responsibility. Renee stated that numbers may go back up when taking away mitigation strategies. Dr. Oyenuga emphasized she would make the recommendations for public health. She still recommends masking but possibly relaxing masking while attending outdoor activities. She suggested revisiting the health order. Dr. Oyenuga commented her biggest concern are the big events coming to Lyon County at which there will be mass gatherings.
Motion: To Approve removing the wording mask mandate from the Public Health Order and still maintain other safety measures for Lyon County. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Note: Commissioners strongly stress people take personal responsibility related to the pandemic and maintain social distancing and hygiene measures.
Janice Huffman and Ryan Janzen presented Commissioners with the Lyon County Appraiser Renewal Contract.
Motion: To Adopt Resolution 14-21, a Resolution Hiring a Lyon County Appraiser effective 7-1-2021. Martin/Peck 3-0
Motion: To Approve the Employment Agreement between Lyon County, Kansas and Ryan Janzen as appointed Lyon County Appraiser. Briggs/Martin 3-0
Motion: To move to Non-Elected Personnel Executive Session with Commissioners, Controller Williams, Anna Schneider and Janice Huffman, to return at 12:35 p.m. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Meeting reconvened t 12:35 p.m.
Motion: To move to Legal Executive Session for data exchange with Commissioners, Sam Seeley and Counselor Goodman, to return at 12:45 p.m. Martin/Peck 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 12:45 p.m.
Motion: To move to Legal Executive Session for data exchange with Commissioners, Clerk Vopat, Deputy Clerk Jackson and Counselor Goodman, to return at 1:05 p.m. Martin/Peck 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 1:05 p.m.
Motion: To Adjourn. Martin/Peck 3-0
There being no further business before the Board, the next Action Session will take place on April 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Attest: Affirm:
__________________________________________ _______________________________________
Tammy Vopat Rollie Martin, Chairman
Lyon County Master Clerk Lyon County Commission
