MONDAY DECEMBER 15TH MITCHELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

Mitchell County Commissioner

December 15, 2014

By Terry Bailey

The Mitchell County Commissioners conducted their regular weekly business meeting yesterday, Monday, December fifteenth. All three Commissioners, Tom Claussen, Mike Cooper, Jim Marshall, and County Clerk Chris Treaster were present.

County Health Nurse, Courtney Murrow, was present to inform the Commissioners about her search to replace a Department vehicle that was “totaled” in the Labor Day Weekend hailstorm. One major concern for a replacement vehicle was for the car to have ample space to carry the numerous supplies required by the County Health nurses as they make their rounds and for these supplies to be easily accessible when the staff needs to access them.

Murrow has located a vehicle that meets their needs at the Beloit Auto Truck Plaza. She test drove a used Ford Focus with thirty-five thousand miles on it. The Focus is equipped with a hatchback which is the ideal set up for accessing supplies as needed. The asking price was thirteen thousand nine hundred ninety dollars. After a brief discussion, the Commissioners voted their approval for the purchase of the vehicle.

Murrow reported that the Mitchell County Health Department has no more flu vaccine. It is not known when or if more will be available.

Emergency Medical Services Director Kelly Hawk reported to the Commissioners that currently two of the ambulances are requiring repairs to make them fully operable. One ambulance is in Concordia undergoing the replacement of two cylinders at a cost of one thousand three hundred dollars. The other ambulance has a significant problem with the air conditioner clutch. The ambulance crews have been rotating working ambulances so that dependable vehicles are available to respond to calls.

Hawk told the Commissioners that the EMS Department will be receiving a Clinical Laboratory Permit which will allow personnel to check blood sugar levels. This is a new requirement. The permit will cost one hundred fifty dollars and is good for two years.

The Commissioners approved the purchase of a snow blower to be used by EMS personnel to ensure the ambulances can come and go as needed during snowy weather. The snow blower will be purchased from ACE Hardware at a cost of six hundred and nine dollars.

EMS personnel recently conducted CPR recertification training for forty-eight people. They will be doing the same for Courthouse employees in the near future.

Hawk said the Department now has two part-time paramedics on staff. This means that the EMS is only one person down from being fully staffed.

The commissioners approved a thirty-six thousand seven hundred dollar Neighborhood Revitalization application for Mike and Karla Kruse. They are remodeling a residence at Independence Ave and Main Street. The cost of material is seventeen thousand seven hundred dollars and the labor costs are nineteen thousand dollars.

Larry Emerson, Public Works Superintendent, announced they are still waiting to complete inspections on two critical access bridges. By law, these bridges must be inspected every two years. A “snooper truck” can be used to do these inspections but the cost would be twenty-five thousand dollars. It is permissible to have qualified inspectors do visual inspections with high power binoculars from underneath the bridge. No formal action was taken.

A call had been received from Jerry Winkel regarding low hanging tree branches over a bridge north of Glen Elder. Winkel reported that he would be happy to cut down the overhanging trees but he was justifiably concerned about liability. He requested assistance from the Public Works Department to resolve both the low hanging limbs and the liability issues. Emerson said his Department will check it out and get in touch with Mr. Winkel.

Another call had been received regarding a bridge on Eighth Street. The person said they would like reflectors on the bridge. Emerson said there were reflectors on it already.

Heather Hartman, Community Development Director, informed the Commissioners that nineteen demolition grant applications and eleven rehab grant applications have been received. These applications will be evaluated to determine which ones best fit the criteria of the grant.

Hartman also announced that the Solomon Valley Economic Development group will meet at twelve thirty p.m. this coming Thursday in the North Central Regional Planning Commission building.

The Purdue House conducted an open house last Monday night, December eighth. The event was very well attended. Commissioner Ton Claussen said, “The house looks very good from the outside and even better on the inside.”

According to Stephanie Simmons, executive director of the Foundation, the number of people who donated money and time and expertise and labor was simply amazing. Simmons said, “It would be almost impossible to list all the people who helped make this become a reality. That is what makes Beloit special.”

On a closing note, the Commissioners wanted to remind everyone that the first half their personal property taxes is due by December twentieth.

Having completed action on all items on the agenda, the Commissioners adjourned their meeting.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA