The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on August 24, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. by Chairman, Donald Oswald. Lening opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Donald Oswald, Chairman 
• Howard "Butch" Robertson 
• Mike Lening, Commissioner 
• Delisa Weeks, County Clerk 
• Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Cindy McLoud, with Kiowa County Economic Development Coordinator and Natasha Kiler, lnvenergy Consultant were in attendance as a member of the audience. 

Cindy McLoud, Kiowa County Economic Development Coordinator entered the meeting at 9:30 a.m. to provide an update on the grants that she has applied for. 

Minutes: Robertson moved, and Lening second the motion to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. 

Vouchers: Lening moved to approve the vouchers as presented. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

Agenda: Oswald moved to approve the amended agenda with the following additions: New Business - Transfer of Ownership for Cobblestone Inn. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess the regular meeting and move into the Public Health Board meeting at 10:00 a.m. Motion carried. 

Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to adjourn the Public Health Meeting and move back into regular session at 10:44 a.m. Motion carried. 

Glen Marciniak with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs entered the meeting to discuss the changes that will be coming from the State Marciniak explained the wages will be cut drastically. Discussion ensued with the possibility of partnering with another agency or outsourcing with another agency. No action was taken at this time. 

OLD BUSINESS: 

Grant Updates: The two Mini Grants for the electrical work for the Fair Grounds has been approved and the project will be completed by September 30, 2023. 

Housing: The sewer line at the apartments has been fixed. 

Planning and Zoning: The need for a building inspector and certificates of occupancy for completed buildings was discussed.

Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to recess for lunch at 12:02 p.m. 

The regular meeting reconvened at 1:03 p.m. 

Fairgrounds Repairs/Estimates: The Road and Bridge employees will be repairing the gates at the fairgrounds. 

The BOCC wanted to thank our maintenance department for the painting at the fairgrounds. Everything was looking great. 

The wiring on the arena lights has been completed. 

Tracey Purvis and Dan Grinook with Eastern Slope Rural Telephone entered the meeting to provide a presentation on the auditing of our IT (Informational Technology). Lening moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve Eastern Slope Rural Telephone to perform and IT Audit in the amount of $7000.00. Motion carried. Purvis and Grinook exited the meeting at 2:03 P.m.

Josh Kettles & Bill Hapes owners of Country Air & HAVOC entered the meeting at 2:05 p.m. to submit a bid for replacing the air conditioning/heating unit throughout the Courthouse. After further discussion, and no decisions being made, Kettles and Hapes exited the meeting at 2:30 p.m. 

Daniel Burnside with Parker Mechanical entered the meeting at 3:00 p.m. to provide an estimate for the Courthouse air conditioning system. Discussion ensued. Burnside thanked the BOCC for their time and exited the meeting at 3:17 p.m.

Administrator Adamson submitted an estimate from Plains Heat and Air. The bids were reviewed and discussed. Decision was tabled.

Sheriff Williams entered the meeting at 3:30 p.m. to discuss vehicle usage and to inform the BOCC that Courthouse Security Office, Darrell Hollis had resigned. The BOCC would like to thank Hollis for his years of service as the Courthouse Security Officer. 

Sheriff Williams discussed the possibility of getting another pick up. No decisions were made at the time. 

Sheriff Williams thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 3:50 p.m. 

Kip Peck, Fair Board member entered the meeting to discuss the dinosaur project Keri DeWitt will bring for entertainment for the children during the fair. Peck also discussed the horse races that will be run.

Peck thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 4:05 p.m. 

Robertson moved and Lening seconded the county to pay for the entry bracelets for county employees working the fair and BBQ. Motion carried.

Oswald moved to donate $500.00 to the Dinosaur Project. Lening seconded the motion. Motion Carried. 

Robertson moved to purchase 10 - 10 foot panels to be used as dividers for the race horse area at $164.00 each. Oswald seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

Upcoming Meeting and Reports were signed acknowledged. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

New Hire Progress Report: Traci Uhland will be taking the position as assistant to the Clerk. 

Rural Philanthropy Days: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion for donating $200.00 to Philanthropy Days. Motion carried. 

Robertson moved, and Lening seconded to approve Emergency Support Functions #7 (Resource Support) and #14 (Community Recovery and Mitigation Plan) 9 Motion carried. 

ESF #9 (Search and Rescue Annex) and ESF #13 (Public Safety and Security Annex) were signed by the Sheriff Williams. 

Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the addition of four units for the Brown RV Parksight. Motion carried. 

Lening moved, and Robertson seconded to approve Resolution 2023-7 designating the Haswell School as a historical property. 

Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve the application for deed for mineral rights tax certificate. Motion carried. Legal description (1/16 INT NW 25-20-48) 

Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to approve the 180 day Temporary Permit for the Liquor Licensing to Cobblestone Inn & Suites. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the Certification of Occupancy for Deep Space. Motion carried. 

The next meeting will be September 14th at 9:00 a.m. 

With no further business to discuss, Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 4:53 p.m. Motion carried.