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Changes To County Fire Burn Permit Rules Discussed

The Mitchell County Commissioners met with Larry Heidrick, President of the County Fire Chief's Association, during the meeting this morning. Heidrick was present to report the changes/additions the Fire Chiefs as a group would like to see incorporated into the county's Burn Permit Resolution that has been in place for several years.

After problems with a recent Burn Permit violation and out of control burns that have taken place in the past, Commission Chairman Virgil Palen and Commissioner Tom Claussen attended a Fire Chiefs meeting to get their perspective on the situation.

Heidrick made it clear he was just the messenger reporting on the decisions made by all the Fire Chiefs throughout the county. The firemen would like a clause put in the resolution that the burn permit is only good for a period of 1 hour after it is obtained. If the fire is not set within that period of time the person planning to burn has to call and get another permit. This is because the velocity of the wind can change a lot within an hour.

The landowner/tenant has to have a burn permit before starting the burn. The wind can only be blowing up to 15 miles an hour and the temperature is not to exceed 95 degrees because the excessive heat can present a health problem for firemen. The decision to issue a permit is made by the Fire Chief in the area the fire will be set in.

If the fire departments are called to an out of control fire and see nothing has been done on site to help control the fire or the person has set the fire and left it, this is cause for the owner to be fined. After discussion it was decided to follow the guidelines used in the Russell County Burn Resolution.

If the guidelines of the resolution are not followed and the necessary preparation made to help control the fire there will be a $250 charge for each truck or emergency vehicle dispatched to the fire and a $10 an hour charge for each fireman called out.

Heidrick reminded everyone this is not a "burn ban," it is a burn permit system. The dispatcher and the fire departments need to know when and where the burns are to take place. Then if a member of the public has a concern and calls in a fire the dispatcher will know not to call out the fire department.

"We are trying to avoid a problem, not trying to keep anyone from burning. The Public needs to understand the fire department doesn't need to know every time you rake up tomato plants in your garden this pertains to larger fires," he said. Heidrick will meet with Mitchell County Attorney Mark Noah to draw up the changes/additions that will be made to the present resolution. It will then come back to the Commissioners for approval. The Resolution will be published after it has been finalized.

Sheriff Doug Daugherty reported on improvements being made at the LEC Building on North Campus. Central Design of Salina has been going through office furniture as part of Don Marr's contract and setting up offices. Daugherty will take part of his old office equipment to his new office. They will leave some items for the dispatcher's office and the Emergency Management office. The new furniture request is $18,830.80 from Central Design.

Commissioner Mike Cooper said the county is running really close to the top of the funds they budgeted for this project. He asked if the Sheriff has any money in his capitol outlay fund to do some of this last project. Daugherty will check on this. He said it looks like the building will be finished about the first of August if everything goes according to schedule.

Commissioners Cooper talked about the discussion the Commissioners had last week about the request for carpeting. While it would be nice to have it all done the Commissioners are leery of adding $6,000 to $8,000 cost right off the bat. Cooper will discuss the carpeting situation with Architect Don Marrs. The Commissioners approved the bid from Central Design for $18,830.80.

Daugherty said Ray Winkel did an outstanding job of designing the new cell windows and explained how they will work. The crew is starting work on the new bunks. "I want to make the jail as secure as possible for the public. I feel more secure at this place than in our old facility. It is well worth the money we spent on it," he said.

Mark Noah, Mitchell County Attorney, provided information on the tax foreclosure sale he is planning. He anticipates some people will go ahead and pay up. He has charges going back 12 years. He plans to wait until September or October to have the sale so he can add the 2008 taxes into the mix. There are also delinquent personal property taxes that he plans to wrap up at the same time. Attorney Noah said he has been receiving phone calls about people not paying taxes, the tax money involved in setting up the LEC Building and the cost of the City Pool Project.

Emergency Medical Services Director, Ed Debesis, reported the Board of Pharmacy team that comes in to check their drugs did a "pop inspection" recently and they passed easily. The Board of EMS did an inspection that went well. Debesis presented two bids on the carpet for their lounge. Ellenz of Tipton bid $893.85 and has no charge to tear out carpet. Boeve's Interior Design Inc. bid $1241.38 including charge for removing carpet. The Commissioners approved the bid from Ellenz.

The EMS had 42 calls in April and 190 calls this year to date. This is higher than last year by 35 runs as of the end of April. Debesis said he is working with the County Attorney on collection of delinquent accounts and trying to move them through the court. Attorney Noah will write them a letter and give them 10 days to make payment. If not they will be placed in the Set-Off Program through the State of Kansas. They have received $2,138.23 from the State so far this year on accounts owed.

Larry Emerson and Casey Fraser of Foley Tractor Inc., discussed the Public Works Department purchasing a new 12M Motor Grader. Fraser said they have a few new machines left over from 2010 that would be cheaper than the new 2011's. He discussed the advantage of the county going with a 7-year maintenance contract over a 5-year contract. Chairman Virgil Palen asked him to get the figures on the cost of a 12M and bring them in to the meeting next week.

Emerson said they got the CD Pit at the Landfill finished and the culverts on K-Road finished. If the work on the Waconda Dam surface is finished in time before Memorial Day weekend, Emerson plans to work on the area under the dam.

Commissioner Cooper has been working on following up on problems with EMC Insurance. He does not think the problem is with Fouts Insurance he thinks the problem is inside EMC Insurance Co. itself. He requested they have an EMC representative come out and explain the problem as to why they made a bid and then change it to a higher amount later. He said Kathy File's information appears to be right so the problem has to be within that company.

Commissioner Claussen reported on the Blue Ribbon meeting he attended last week. He encouraged people to speak out to keep the same system we have now in place and keep our Magistrate Judge in this county.

County Clerk Chris Treaster discussed the State Clerks Convention she attended in Salina. Each year they give scholarships to high school students going into Journalism or Political Science. She was happy to announce that this year Mitchell County's Vanessa Kersin won a $500 scholarship.

Jerry Oetting, newly elected President of the Mitchell County Fair Board presented their 2012 Budget request to the Commissioners for $48,500. Doug Newquist retired as president and board member this year. New members of the Fair Board are as follows: Aaron Abercombie, Derrick Fobes, Brian Streit and Debbie Beam. The fair will be held August 11 through 13, this year which is later than usual, Oetting said.

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