The Regular Meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order at 9:00 a.m. on November 24, 2015 with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.  Those attending were: 

Richard Scott, Chairman of the Board

Cindy McLoud, Commissioner

Donald Oswald, Commissioner

Delisa Weeks, County Clerk

Tina Adamson, Administrator

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to approve the minutes of the November 12, 2015 minutes as amended.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.  The corrections to the minutes were completing a sentence concerning advertising and bid items which will go into executive sessions.

Scott moved and Oswald seconded to approve the agenda with additions.  One addition will be road information with Commissioner McLoud reporting on it.

Jay Haase entered the meeting as a member of the audience.

Donald Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to recess the commissioner regular meeting and go into the Budget Hearing at 10:08 a.m.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Haase provided information for the Kiowa County Fire Department.  Haase requested that he will need an additional $5000.00 put in Capital Outlay for the 2016 budget.  Haase explained he will need the funds to complete the fire truck for the Towner Fire Department.  Commissioners discussed and said they would make a final decision by the end of the day.  Haase exited the meeting.

The Veteran’s Office was discussed.  The state will provide $8,316.00 for the Veteran’s 2016 Budget.  The Commissioner’s will be requesting  Ms. Roper to work an additional 2.0 hours per week.  The Commissioner’s requested $1000.00 from this budget will go to the Lamar Veteran’s Office since they do some transports for Kiowa County. The commissioners would like to have better public relations for this office.  The BOCC would like advertising for this entity.

Scott moved and McLoud seconded the motion to end the Budget Hearing at 11:25 a.m.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

The regular session reconvened at 11:26 a.m.

The Administrator reported there will be a letter for the use of the fairgrounds to be signed from each entity or person that is renting the facility.

The Event Manager position has been advertised and interviews will be December 8, 2015.

The tourist signage was discussed for local businesses.  Administrator Adamson had mailed letters to some of the businesses inviting their input for road signage.

The road and bridge equipment was discussed again.  Oswald made the motion and McLoud seconded the motion to lease three John Deere 770 G Road graders with no service contract from 4-Rivers.

Scott requested a thank you letter be sent to Terry Koehn for providing information with CAT and the equipment information.

Old Business was completed and monthly reports were reviewed and signed.  It was reported SECED had completed a housing rehab loan for Kiowa County.  

New Business:  Time off Requests.  Two requests were made.  Oswald moved and McLoud seconded the motion to approve the requests.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to recess for lunch at 11:55 a.m.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.  The regular meeting reconvened at 1:05 p.m.

Director of Social Services, Dennis Pearson and Haley Smith assistant of the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Lincoln Counties Early Childhood Council (CKLECC) from Lincoln County requested to use TANF funds for the early childhood program for the four county area.  Ms. Smith explained the budget for the CKLECC program had fallen short and would not have enough to support two employees for this program.  The Lincoln County commissioners asked Smith to request financial assistance from the other counties, since they were part of the program.  After further discussions the Commissioners did not feel they could support the funding requested from CKLECC.  Ms. Smith thanked the board for listening and exited the meeting at 1:45 p.m.

Pearson provided the Commissioners with information regarding House Bill 1451.  This is a collaborative management program for the youth.  This program is for a four county region: Baca, Cheyenne, Prowers and Kiowa.  Pearson asked the Board if the coordinator’s budget for this program could be run through Kiowa County as the fiscal agent.  Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to make Kiowa County be the fiscal agent for the House Bill 1451 program coordinator.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Pearson requested approval for the Healthcare Policy and Finance Incentive Program with Medicaid.  McLoud moved and Oswald seconded the motion for Kiowa County to participate in the Healthcare Policy and Finance Incentive Program.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.  

Pearson discussed the attorney for Social Services.  Oswald moved and McLoud seconded the motion to continue with Donald Steerman as legal counsel for Department of Social Services.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to verify Kiowa County Department of Social Services as following the state merit system.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.  Pearson reported that Medicaid paid out $67,245.79 for August, $69,256.54 for September and $51,425.68 for October on behalf of Kiowa County residents.

Teresa Witte, Emergency Manager entered the meeting in regards to the EMPG Special Project Grant for 2015.  Oswald moved and McLoud seconded the motion to approve of the amount granted, which was $1623.00.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Administrator Adamson presented the HUTF Fund Report.  McLoud moved and Oswald seconded to sign the C-DOT HUTF Fund Report.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Information was received and discussed about the DTR fence and its completion.

2016 Budget Finalization.  The budget was discussed and those line items that needed to be adjusted were.  Oswald moved to accept the 2016 Budget as presented at the time pending review by Amanda Brown, CPA.  McLoud seconded the motion.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Adamson reported there will be an Equipment Operator position open in District one.  Oswald said he would like to thank Nick Eder for his time and wish him well on his next endeavor.

With no further discussion, Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to adjourn the meeting at 4:54 p.m.

The next meeting will be December 29, 2015.

_________________________________                       _______________________________

Delisa L. Weeks, County Clerk                                           Richard Scott, Chairman of the Board