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MITCHELL COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - Monday, February 10, 2025

By Terry Bailey

The Mitchell County Commissioners conducted their weekly meeting at the Courthouse Monday morning, February 10. All the Commissioners and the County Clerk were present.
The Commissioners had an agenda with several items of consequence requiring focus and concentration.
First up were Missy McGinnis, Director of the Mitchell County Ambulance service, and Stewart Porter, County Engineer with Schwab-Eaton. They are attempting to square up the details on the expansion of the Ambulance barn at the corner of Highways 14 and 24.
This project has had several starts and stops, beginning with finding the legal owner of the property just north of the current ambulance barn. The main reason for expanding the current home for the ambulances is because the new ambulance ordered several months ago will not fit in the current structure. When it finally arrives, as with pickups and farm machinery, things keep getting bigger and bigger.
McGinnis was very sure that she would let Porter take the lead on the problem. Two questions need answered before they can move forward. Does the work require an architect to draw with specifications and guidelines? Secondly, are there local fire codes and building codes that need to be followed?
McGinnis volunteered to get cost estimates and the status of codes that need to be followed, or not.
Commission Chairperson Tom Claussen offered this observation, "Most likely we will need to have an architect for the project and if so, we will need to be bonded."
Commissioner Mike Reiman offered these thoughts to McGinnis and Porter, "Find out what the final expected costs will be and let us know. That will give us and idea of how to proceed."
Lisa Blad was present to discuss years of service certificates and Chamber bucks that accompany the award. The certificates are awarded on a five-year basis. This year Mitchell County will honor two employees each with 40 years of service. There was some concern the County is charged $2 for each check that is printed. The Commissioners observed that a check is inserted in a printer, and it runs through with the employees name and the dollar amount printed. It seemed that there is limited labor or supplies with the printing of the Chamber bucks.
David Dohe, Emergency Management Director, stopped by to alert everyone regarding inclement weather expected in the next day or so. He said the Weather Bureau is forecasting between six to ten inches of snow in North Central Kansas. The temperatures are expected to drop quite low, but not much wind is expected.
Dohe mentioned that the folks who are in charge with removing the snow usually wait until the storm has passed. If they clear the roads too soon, the roads will just blow shut right away and they will have to do it all over again.
Lynne Imboden, Deputy County Clerk, presented the Commissioners with a proposal to buy a new copier. The current copier is eight years old and is facing two problems. First of all it is virtually worn out. Secondly, changes in accounting software have made the old copier obsolete.
Crystal Hernandez, Associate Account Executive for TimeClock Plus (TCP), had provided Imboden with a cost purchase bid of 36,367.26 as well as some yearly maintenance fees.
The Commissioners voted to move forward with purchase noting that putting off the inevitable will not make anything less expensive.
Having addressed all the items on the printed agenda, the meeting was adjourned.

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Beloit, KS 67420, USA