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
Michael Halleran, Asst. Co. Counselor
Others attending the meeting:
Jamie Williams, I.T. Department Megan Sando, Gazette reporter
Tagan Trahoon, KVOE reporter Mark McKenna, Facilities
Eric Hethcoat, BG Consultants Ryan Janzen, Appraiser
Jack Barger, KVOE reporter Rachell Rowland, Dept. of Commerce
Rob Gilligan, Director of Ignite Emporia Shane Shively, ESU
Jim Williams, ESU Dr. Oyenuga, Public Health Officer
Renee Hively, Flint Hills Community Health Ctr.
Call to Order / Pledge of Allegiance
Motion: To Approve the Agenda as presented. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve the Minutes of the 6-17-2021 meeting as corrected. Peck/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve Warrants Payable 6-25-2021 in the amount of $227,842.43. Briggs/Peck 3-0
Motion: To Approve Payroll Payable 6-25-2021 in the amount of $291,543.04. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Motion: To Approve Payroll Withholdings Payable 6-25-2021 in the amount of $422,265.71.
Martin/Peck 3-0
Appointments: Commissioners discussed board appointments with no action taken.
Personnel changes: Commissioners reviewed informational changes.
Permits: no applications received.
Mark McKenna and Eric Hethcoat presented Commissioners with a request to consider permission to publish to bids on Generator #2 Project and Domestic Water Storage Tank Replacement Project for the jail.
Motion: To Approve the publications to bid on the Lyon County Jail Generator #2 Project Replacement and the Lyon County Jail Domestic Water Storage Tank Replacement. Briggs/Martin 3-0
Motion: To move to Non-Elected Personnel Executive Session for hiring personnel with Commissioners and Ryan Janzen, to return to commission chambers at 9:45 a.m. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 9:44 a.m. in commission chambers.
Public comment: Tagan Trahoon talked about the SOS, Inc. The SOS Strong Campaign that is being launched. Tagan wanted to bring awareness to the community and asked for support from the community.
Break from 9:48 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Rob Gilligan and Rachelle Rowland presented Commissioners with a request to discuss the Rural Opportunity Zone and consider a resolution designating Lyon County as a ROZ participating county which is eligible by designated population under 40,000. There are 95 counties in Kansas who participate in ROZ who offer financial incentives for new full-time residents in the form of a 100% state income tax credit and/or student loan repayment assistance. This program is focused to recruit people into the state. Jim Williams, ESU talked about an opportunity for partnering together to recruit and retain population. Discussion and questions followed.
Motion: To Adopt Resolution 17-21, a Resolution Authorizing Lyon County, Kansas Participation in the Rural Opportunity Zone Student Loan Repayment Program Calendar Year 2021. Martin/Peck 3-0
Comment: Commissioner agreed this is an opportunity to open partnerships with businesses.
Motion: To move to Non-Elected Personnel Executive Session for LCAT personnel matters with Commissioners, Controller Williams and Counselor Halleran to return to commission chambers at 10:45 a.m. Martin/Peck 3-0
Meeting reconvened in commission chambers at 10:43 a.m.
Motion: To move to Legal Executive Session for contractual updates with Commissioners, Controller Williams, Counselor Halleran and Counselor Goodman, to return to commission chambers at 11:00 a.m.
Martin/Peck 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 10:58 a.m. in commission chambers.
Public Health Report: Dr. Oyenuga and Renee Hively presented Commissioners with an update on Lyon County Public Health. Renee presented a report on Covid vaccination. There is still a steady stream of public getting vaccinated at the health department. There are some grant funding options to assist with offering incentives to get people vaccinated. The health department is constantly monitoring the variant. Renee gave an update on the health department services. Dr. Oyenuga reported on vaccinations received working on the variant. She stated everyone should be vaccinated against the variant. Commissioners asked if a booster will be necessary in the coming months.
Reports
Commissioner Martin:
• I attended the RDA recognition ceremony.
• Tuesday was the RSVP appreciation luncheon.
• Council on Aging meeting is coming up on Monday.
Commissioner Peck:
• I attended the RDA reception dinner.
• On Friday I attended the RDA meeting.
• I will attend the Ribbon Cutting at the Fairgrounds for the new walking path.
• Dean Hollenbeck retirement is tomorrow.
Commissioner Briggs:
• I attended the RDA reception dinner.
• Reminder, go to the Lyon County website to do the Broadband Study.
• Congratulations to Dean Hollenbeck on his retirement.
Clerk Vopat:
• No report.
Commissioners noted sales tax numbers are ahead of budget.
Counselor Goodman:
• I attended the RDA appreciation dinner.
• I presented for the Sanborn training in Wichita for the County Clerks.
• I was unable to attend the RDA meeting.
• There seems to be an uptick in serious crime/offenses.
Motion: To move to Legal Executive Session, Attorney/Client Privilege to discuss confidential legal matters with Commissioners, Counselor Halleran and Counselor Goodman, to return to commission chambers at 12:00 p.m. Martin/Briggs 3-0
Meeting reconvened at 12:02 a.m. in commission chambers.
Motion: To Adjourn at 12:03 p.m. from commission chambers. Martin/Peck 3-0
There being no further business before the board, the next Action Session will take place on July 1, 2021. at 9:00 in the Commission Chambers.
Attest: Affirm
_________________________________________ _______________________________________
Tammy Vopat Rollie Martin, Chairman
Lyon County Master Clerk Lyon County Commission
