Chase County commissioners approve road reclassifications, contracts and multiple motions at May 28 meeting

Chase County Commissioners met May 28 in the courthouse meeting room and approved a series of motions including reclassifying seven road segments as Minimum Maintenance, accepting a modified fuel-tank bid, approving contract renewals and claims, and authorizing two surplus disposals.

Road reclassifications: After a public hearing opened at 9:00 a.m. and closed with no public testimony, the board individually approved reclassifying seven road segments to Minimum Maintenance (Road 745/321 Ave., Road 746/321 Ave., Road 736/320 Ave., Road 736/323 Ave., Road 740/326 Ave., Road 727/344 Ave., and Road 727/345 Ave.). Commissioner Kurt Bernhardt subsequently moved to approve Resolution #2024-10 formalizing the reclassifications; the resolution passed unanimously.

Procurement and contracts: Assistant Highway Superintendent Dick DeWester told the board that added fees appeared on a previously accepted fuel-tank bid, prompting a motion to rescind the April 9, 2024 acceptance of the Yant Equipment bid ($37,807.41). The board then accepted a modified bid from Midwest Petroleum Equipment for $33,697.10 (5,260-gallon tank with flamshield wrap) with a 25% down payment of $8,424.27.

Personnel and vendor items: Contractor Natalie Schra said additional offices were added to her cleaning duties and requested an increase in the daily cleaning rate from $140 to $180; the board approved the increase. Chase County Community Hospital representatives presented invoices for a Mammomat Revelation 3D mammography machine ($257,148.00) and a Cios 8-inch C-Arm ($149,465.00) and requested reimbursement from the county’s Capital Outlay line; commissioners agreed to reimburse and the claim will be paid at the next meeting (no formal board motion is recorded in the transcript for payment at this meeting).

Finance and claims: The board approved claims as submitted. The transcript lists a Grand Total All Claims of $181,130.12, with a General Fund total of $141,253.60, Road Fund $31,560.06, Tourism Fund $2,300.00 and Ambulance Fund $6,016.46.

Assessment services and IT: Assessor Mueller and Shannon Bird of Vanguard Appraisals, Inc. demonstrated Vanguard’s appraisal website as a potential replacement for the county’s current GWorks site; Assessor Mueller said the presentation was informational only because the County remains under contract with GWorks for one year. The board approved a $5,000 contract with Lake Mac Assessment, LLC for appraisal training and approved GWorks annual renewals for Roads ($1,943), Assessor ($14,103) and Planning/Zoning ($2,274) with terms ending June 30, 2025.

Surplus and adjournment: The board approved surplusing an old computer tower (tag #171) and an armchair (tag #736) for disposal. Chairman Jacci Brown adjourned the meeting at 10:25 a.m.

What’s next: Several items will return to future agendas for implementation (hospital claim payment at next meeting; Prairie Sage Hike Trail committee request to be added for action prior to the end of June event).