PROCEEDINGS OF THE
STATE OF
) SS
Proceedings of the
regular meeting of the Knox County Board held at the Knox County Courthouse,
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Allen Pickrel and upon roll
call the following members reported present:
District 1
Caroline Porter
District
2 Greg Bacon
District
3 Tim Hasten
District
4
District
5 Gerald
“Jerry” Link
District
1 Allen Pickrel
District
2 Paul Stewart
District 3
Dale Parsons
District
4 George Knapp
District
5 Ricardo
“Rick” Sandoval
District
1 Lyle Johnson
District
2 William
“Bill” Abel
District
3 Janet Occhi
District
4 Wayne Saline
District
5 Stephen
“Steve” Johnson
Also present were State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer, Sheriff Dave Clague,
Treasurer Robin Davis, and County Clerk Scott Erickson.
Sheriff Dave Clague delivered the proclamation. Chairman Pickrel led the
Members in the pledge to the flag. Member Abel delivered the invocation.
Chairman Pickrel announced that he had an emergency and would be leaving
the Meeting. At that point, Member Saline will be stepping in to chair this
Meeting.
Chairman Pickrel asked for additions to the agenda. Member Mannhardt
asked for an addition at 20 A, to bid and bring back for a bulldozer for the
landfill. Member Saline asked that the following items be removed: item 5,
comments on the special audits; item 6, approve a policy on the selection of
auditing firms for special audits; and item 12, approve decision on the contract
with the County auditors. Chairman Pickrel agreed to these changes.
Chairman Pickrel asked for public comments. There were none.
Motion was made by Member Parsons and seconded by Member Stewart to
approve the following items of the consent agenda: 1) minutes of the Regular and
Closed Board Meeting on August 27, 2008, 2) claims by Members for per diem and
mileage for the Meeting of September 24, 2008 and other claims for per diem from
meetings, 3) sales tax and various taxes for the month of June 2008 in the
amounts of $108,116.74 and $20,868.51 and public safety tax in the amount of
$93,015.48.
Member Stewart asked for an addition to be made on page 3 of the minutes.
His comments about public health and food safety should include the phrase
…“of the public.” Member Mannhardt asked for a correction to page 8
regarding Al Varney’s presentation of the facility condition report of the
Courthouse. The Knox County Courthouse is not included on the National Registry
of Historic Sites. There should also be change regarding the square footage of
the proposed in new addition. It should be 24,000 square feet, not 6,000 square
feet.
Member Steve Johnson questioned that the Courthouse is on the National
Registry of Historic Sites. Member Mannhardt stated that according to his
research, it is not. During that previous Meeting, he questioned if the report
lists the old courthouse in
Motion was made by Member Steve Johnson and seconded by Member Bacon to
approve the proposed changes to the Knox County Food Safety Ordinance. Greg
Chance asked if the Board Members had any questions since this was presented
last month. Chairman Pickrel reported that he had received many phone calls
about this subject and asked the callers to phone the Health Department. Mr.
Chance reported that they had received no phone calls on this matter. Roll call
vote is recorded as follows: Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link,
Stewart, Parsons, Knapp, Sandoval, Lyle Johnson, Abel, Occhi, and Steve
Johnson—(13). Noes—Pickrel and Saline—(2). Motion carried.
Motion was made by Member Occhi and seconded by Member Sandoval to
approve the contract for the Fraternal Order of Police. Member Steve Johnson
commented that although the contract was on the desk tonight before this meeting
actually begun, he had not had the opportunity to read it and therefore will be
voting against approving this contract until he can read it. Roll call vote is
recorded as follows: Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel,
Stewart, Parsons, Knapp, Sandoval, Lyle Johnson, Abel, Occhi, and Saline—(14).
Noes—Steve Johnson—(1). Motion carried.
Motion was made by Member Parsons and seconded by Member Occhi to appoint
Mark Petrino to the Knox County Housing Authority Board. This term will expire
in 2010. Chairman Pickrel reminded Members of the resignation of Paul Stewart
which was announced at the previous Board Meeting. Roll call vote to appoint
Mark Petrino to the Knox County Housing Authority Board is recorded as follows:
Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel, Stewart, Parsons, Knapp,
Sandoval, Lyle Johnson, Abel, Occhi, Saline, and Steve Johnson—(15).
Noes—(0). Motion carried.
The Finance, Insurance, Treasurer, Judicial, and Clerk Committee report
was presented by Committee Chairman Wayne Saline. Reports are included in the
packets.
Motion was made by Member Saline and seconded by Member Sandoval to
approve the lowest bid in the amount of $9,335.00 for the County e-mail project
submitted by R-Cubed Technologies. Mr. Erickson explained that at the previous
Board Meeting, Members had been informed of the problems with this project and
had approved to bid and bring back for a new vendor. The committee reviewed the
submitted bids. This will be a hosted in-house solution. We will have the
hardware and software in our possession and under our control. This project did
come in under the budgeted amount. Roll call vote is recorded as follows:
Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel, Stewart, Parsons, Knapp,
Sandoval, Lyle Johnson, Abel, Occhi, Saline, and Steve Johnson—(15).
Noes—(0). Motion carried.
Motion was made by Member Saline and seconded by Member Bacon to approve
to rebid for laptop computers for the
Chairman Pickrel presented the statement of the condition of the banks as
of
Member Stewart asked that the next month’s agenda include a decision to
hire a
Member Saline stated that he would have no problem with bringing that
decision to the full Board. However, the previously approved resolution stated
that a
Member Stewart questioned if there is money in the budget. In the past,
funding has been used as an excuse not to hire a
Member Saline explained that there really is not that much money in
carryover funds as some of these funds are designated funds, which can only be
used for specified uses. At the conclusion of this year, he anticipates that the
undesignated funds will be only breaking even. In previous years the County has
continued to pull funding from the carryover funds just to balance the budget.
At some point in time, these funds will be depleted. For the last two years
there has not been a surplus amount in the undesignated funds in the general
fund.
Member Porter stated that the budget is a matter of priority. She is in
favor of hiring a
Chairman Pickrel responded that when the County did have a
Member Porter commented that previously the Board did not cooperate with
the
Chairman Pickrel stated that the finance committee has worked extremely
hard on this budget. There is little surplus left in this budget. Now if the
finance committee is charged to find the funding to hire a
Member Stewart responded that this is a scare tactic. He never said that
he would recommend hiring a
Member Hasten commented that the finance committee should take the budget
and find the necessary funds to hire a
Member Stewart again asked that this matter be placed on next month’s
agenda.
The Ad Hoc Building Committee reported was presented by Committee
Chairman, Steve Johnson. Last month the full Board heard the presentation given
by Al Varney regarding the facility condition report of the Courthouse. The next
step would be to invite the citizens of the County to attend a public forum to
address certain questions that the public may have concerning that report. Under
the Freedom of Information Act the Galesburg Register Mail did obtain a copy of
that report. He feels that it is imperative to hold a public forum to discuss
this report and what it means to the taxpayers of
The Sheriff, Jail, Courthouse, Animal Control, Mary Davis Home, and Annex
Committee report was presented by Committee Chairman Steve Johnson. The monthly
reports and committee minutes are included in the packets.
Motion was made by Member Steve Johnson and seconded by Member Link to
approve the low bid to purchase four 2008 Chevy Impala squad cars from Yemm in
the total amount of $77,699.88, to be used by the Mary Davis Home. The funds for
this purchase will come from the Mary Davis Home Bond Fund. These vehicles are
to be available within two weeks. Roll call vote is recorded as follows:
Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel, Stewart, Parsons, Knapp,
Lyle Johnson, Abel, Occhi, Saline, and Steve Johnson—(14). Noes—(0).
Pass—Sandoval—(1). Motion carried.
Member Steve Johnson reminded Members of the used van that was recently
purchased from the Missouri State Police. This big van is in excellent condition
and has only 36,000 miles on it. To make it easier to transport election
machinery, the back seat has been removed. At the committee level, their
question is where to store it. Although various options were suggested, the
consensus of the committee was to leave it at the Courthouse. That would make it
more accessible to more people. The Board Members gave their consensus to store
this vehicle at the Courthouse.
The Highway, Assessor, Zoning, GIS, and Recorder Committee report was
presented by Committee Chairman Jerry Link. The monthly reports and committee
minutes are included in the packets. The committee is very concerned about the
increasing cost of salt. The committee is pleased that Mr. Ratermann contracted
for salt early enough to arrange for salt delivery to avoid these higher prices.
Motion was made by Member Link and seconded by Member Sandoval to approve
the employee contract for the GIS director, Bill Lotz. Chairman Pickrel stated
that they have heard nothing but good things about Mr. Lotz. Roll call vote is
recorded as follows: Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel,
Stewart, Parsons, Knapp, Sandoval, Lyle Johnson, Abel, Occhi, Saline, and Steve
Johnson—(15). Noes—(0). Motion carried.
Member Bacon stated that he is continuing to do research regarding
establishing County building codes. This is a complicated process that will
require time to complete. It will come in stages.
The Landfill Committee report was presented by Committee Chairman Lowell
Mannhardt. The Committee minutes and landfill report are included in the
packets.
Motion was made by Member Mannhardt and seconded by Member Occhi to bid
and bring back for a bulldozer for the landfill. Member Mannhardt explained that
the old unit is five years old and has 7,000 hours on it. This will be a
trade-in situation, not a buy back. Voice vote is recorded as follows:
Ayes—(15). Noes—(0). Motion carried.
Member Mannhardt introduced discussion on GREDA funding. This was pushed
on the landfill committee from the finance committee. Member Steve Johnson
stated that he has not been happy with GREDA for the last couple years.
Apparently the City of
Member Saline reminded Members that the funding for GREDA comes from the
landfill revenues, not the General Fund.
Chairman Pickrel stated that some county citizens have suggested that the
County give $20,000 to the Railroad Hall of Fame and $10,000 to GREDA.
Member Hasten expressed his disappointment with GREDA. They often report
that plans are “in the works,” with no other explanation as to what progress
is being made. He cannot see any visible progress.
Member Bacon stated that last year he was against the continued funding
of GREDA. He is disappointed that the logistics park has water and power
available and yet is still empty as it has been for years. He would be opposed
to this level of continued funding.
Member Steve Johnson explained his reasoning to reduce GREDA’s funding
by half. By statute the Board is required to undertake economic development in
Member Parsons stated that this would send them a message.
Member Stewart stated that he was not yet a resident of
Member Occhi clarified that GREDA did not purchase that property. It was
purchased by the City of
Member Steve Johnson also asked that this matter of continuing GREDA
funding be included on the next agenda for the full
Chairman Pickrel stated that as he interprets the opinion of the Board
Members, there are three options: 1) discontinue funding GREDA, 2) decreasing
funding GREDA by ½, or 3) continue funding GREDA at the present level. He asked
that this be discussed at the finance committee and that they bring their
recommendation to the full Board.
Member Saline commented that it might be more appropriate to send this to
the landfill committee, since it is the landfill that provides this funding. The
finance committee is willing to discuss this matter and bring their
recommendation.
Member Bacon stated that now since it is going to be on the agenda to
continue to fund GREDA, now we will see them. Usually we only see them once or
twice a year. But since they want our money, we will be hearing from them.
Member Stewart inquired if the City of
Chairman Pickrel stated that the finance committee will bring a
recommendation regarding continued funding of GREDA to the next Board Meeting.
The Nursing Home Committee report was presented by Committee Chairman
Marianne Wiesen noted that the nursing home won first place in the recent
Cardboard Boat Regatta at
Motion was made by Member Occhi and seconded by Member Mannhardt to
approve the opening of the budget for line item adjustments. Roll call vote is
recorded as follows: Ayes—Porter, Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel,
Stewart, Parsons, Knapp, Sandoval, Abel, Occhi, and Saline—(13). Noes—Lyle
Johnson and Steve Johnson (2). Motion carried.
Motion was made by Member Occhi and seconded by Member Parsons to approve
line item adjustments in the budget
Member Bacon commented that he hoped in the coming budget year, that
there would not be the need for so many line item adjustments.
Member Stewart noted that the highway department had three lines that
were over budget and yet there were no line item adjustments presented to the
Board during this Meeting. Roll call vote is recorded as follows: Ayes—Porter,
Bacon, Hasten, Mannhardt, Link, Pickrel, Parsons, Knapp, Sandoval, Abel, Occhi,
and Saline—(12). Noes—Stewart, Lyle Johnson, and Steve Johnson—(3). Motion
carried.
Motion was made by Member Occhi and seconded by Member Hasten to approve
the claims against
STATEMENTS OF
GENERAL CONCERN
Member Porter, Member Bacon, and Member Hasten had no comments at this
time.
Member Mannhardt commented that we will need to look at moving the Board
meeting for November.
Member Link had no comments at this time.
Chairman Pickrel commented that Roger Underwood’s father had passed
away. On another matter in the Galesburg Register Mail, Chairman Pickrel was
quoted as saying that the special audit was not worthwhile. That report is in
error. He supported that audit from the beginning and continues to do so. Yes,
he did speak to the press but that quote is not correct.
Member Stewart, Member Parsons, Member Knapp, Member Sandoval, Member
Lyle Johnson, Member Abel, Member Occhi, and Member Saline had no comments at
this time.
Member Steve Johnson encouraged Board Members to attend the public forum.
The next regular meeting will be held on
Motion was made by Member Steve Johnson and seconded by Member Hasten to
adjourn. Voice vote is recorded as follows: Ayes—(15). Noes—(0). Motion
carried. Meeting adjourned at