Rawlins County approves engineering contract, vehicle purchases and routine business at May 31 meeting

The Rawlins County Board of Commissioners handled several infrastructure, procurement and administrative items at its May 31 meeting in addition to grant and ballot actions.

Engineering and procurement: The board accepted Penco as the engineering firm for the Klein Bridge project after a motion by Commissioner Lincoln Pochop and second by Commissioner Alan A. Solko. The board also approved buying two pickup trucks from Tubbs & Sons at $44,300.00 apiece following a motion by Commissioner Solko; the motion carried.

Landfill and demolition: Representatives from Spirtas Worldwide (Jim Moriarity and Eric Spirtas) discussed timelines, certifications and limitations for demolition and asbestos disposal related to the RCHS demolition. County discussion concluded that the landfill would not accept asbestos disposal; clean construction and demolition debris would be accepted under discussed limits.

Property values and appraisal: County Appraiser Alicia Baumfalk said she certified values to Clerk Finley, reporting that agricultural values decreased while residential values rose, and that the net difference exceeded $1,000,000. The board discussed the valuation discrepancy but took no formal action recorded in the minutes on revaluation or appeals.

Public safety and services: Chris Niermeier (RFD No. 2) requested consistent guidelines for the county’s burn-permit resolution; staff said a copy of previously distributed guidelines would be re-sent. EMS representative Megan Rippe provided call-volume breakdowns and said Medicare revalidation paperwork had been submitted; unit 416 is repaired but remains out of service pending state approval.

Administration and property matters: The board directed that the Public Health Building be advertised for sealed bids with no minimum and with the right to refuse; bids are due June 27 by 5:00 p.m. and will be opened June 28 during the commissioners meeting. The board authorized hiring abstractors to redo title searches at $65 per parcel due to a lapse in the prior time frame. The county also rehired DuWayne Reed as a part-time maintenance worker until the position can be filled.

Routine approvals: Commissioners approved the May 15 meeting minutes, May 2024 vouchers and an abatement from the appraiser’s office. The next regular meeting was set for June 14, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. in the Rawlins County courtroom; the meeting adjourned at 10:47 a.m.

No additional funding amounts for projects (beyond the two pickup unit prices and the economic development budget request) or projected revenues for the sales tax measure were recorded in the minutes.