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Time running out on COPS grant
Sheriff Bill Martin, Undersheriff Ben Cole, and Jail Administrator Bobby Reed met with county commissioners for an update on the status of the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Grant and the subsequent new employee that would be hired if the grant is approved.
"We're here for...the new vehicle for the COPS Grant that you're hopefully going to approve," Martin said.
The total cost for the purchase of a vehicle is $38,849. If the grant is approved, Martin wants to make sure this cost would come out of the 2015 budget, rather than waiting and having it come out of the 2016 budget.
The priority for the commissioners is to make sure there are enough funds to pay for the officer for which the grant will help pay. They are making efforts to come to a decision as soon as possible before the year ends.
"We haven't approved the COPS Grant because we don't know if we can afford it," Albright said. "We need to let them know before the end of the year."
Reed expressed concern the commissioners' main concern is money, rather than personnel. Albright tried explaining that, ultimately, it depends on if the funds are available, regardless of personnel needed. At this point, Reed left the meeting.
Martin said he had been told to search for and to "get a grant, get a grant, get a grant" by the commissioners.
Albright said that the commissioners are "going to see about that at the end (of the year)" and will make a decision once they have more time.
In October, the sheriff's department was awarded a Justice Assistance Grant that will reimburse the department 100 percent of $72,568. Martin warned the commissioners that there would be a few bills coming out which will be paid back by the grant.
"I submitted a bill for $44,656 coming out of my budget, but that's part of the grant we were awarded earlier this year in October," he said. "You're going to see another bill come out for $14,464-that's part of the grant too. And then you're going to see another one for Mobile Broadband for $4,318. I'm just here to explain to you that it's covered under the grant. Everything, (including) the mobile data terminals, were paid for by the grant."
County budget discrepancy
Bourbon County Treasurer Rhonda Dunn met with the commissioners to report that some of the 2015 budget numbers are off.
"We're $300,000 short in our revenue," she said. "We have not collected all the revenue we budgeted. We budgeted that 5 percent would go delinquent. Four percent went delinquent. Something's amiss."
Some of the areas creating that differential are the current tax distribution, delinquent real estate, interest on taxes, and a shortage in mortgage reimbursement.
Dunn will meet with Terry Sercer, an accountant from Diehl Banwart Bolton, to review the budgeted revenue numbers to find the inconsistency.
Uniontown updates
Uniontown Mayor Larry Jurgensen brought a crushed culvert that needs replaced to the commissioners' attention.
Jurgensen said the culvert is on the south side of Maple Road between Hill and Clay streets in Uniontown. He said it was run over by a cement truck and asked that it be replaced. Jurgensen thought it was a Freedom concrete truck. County Counselor Justin Meeks suggested the concrete company pay for the damages instead of the county.
The Mayor also said the city of Uniontown was approved for a grant from the Kansas Department of Wildlife Parks and Tourism that will partially pay for a floating dock. The dock would be 10-foot-by- 12-foot with rails, concrete steps, and a concrete trough to divert overflow from the pond to a drainage ditch. The total cost will be approximately $9,900. Originally, the grant would pay for 50 percent of the costs, with the city of Uniontown and USD 235 both paying for 25 percent of the costs. However, USD 235 is now not going to help cover the costs. Jurgensen asked the county to consider paying for the 25 percent instead.
Albright asked if someone in the area might donate. Jurgensen said they had considered trying to get some labor done as an "in kind" donation. County Commissioner Lynne Oharah pointed out that the county has helped the city of Fort Scott with various projects. No decision has yet been made. Jurgensen is going to contact Public Works Director Jim Harris to go over his requests.
Jurgensen also asked that the speed limit on 75th Street, from the north property line of USD 235 to the south property line, be reduced to 20 mph. Harris will look into this.
Long-time county employees honored.
Several Bourbon County employees have celebrated anniversaries in their positions with the county. The 10 employees have reached a milestone number of service years, County Commissioner Barbara Albright said. These employees are: with five years of service, Janet Harper, Neal Underwood, and Lloyd "Skip" Brown; 10 years of service, Bill Metcalf, Shane Walker, and John Weikel; 15 years of service, Emmett Chapman and Doug Holt; and with 25 years of service, Roland "Pat" Keating and Gene Bailey (see photo on page 1).
Other discussions
Bourbon County Public Works Director Jim Harris and his crews are in the process of replacing culverts around the county. These culverts are being installed on Limestone Road, Range Road, 215th Street and 245th Street The department has also been adding gravel to various roads around the county that need some work.
Two quarry employees will be moved from eight-hour shifts to four 10-hour shifts a week to allow for more time to crush rocks. Also, a second two-person crew will crush during eight-hour shifts on Fridays.