Cloud County commissioners approve hires, vehicle and equipment purchases and receive budget requests

The Cloud County Board of Commissioners met April 15 in Concordia and approved multiple personnel actions, vehicle and equipment purchases, and administrative items while receiving budget requests from area agencies.

Chairman Gary Caspers and Commissioners Michael Cleveland and Ron Copple voted unanimously to authorize several motions. The board approved hiring Christopher (Paul) McGuire as an equipment operator in the highway department effective April 29 at a six-month introductory rate of $17.50 and hired Timothy Dareen Wogoman Jr. as a part-time deputy effective April 20 at $18.50. The board also recognized the April 11 termination of Tyler Reed.

The commissioners approved several fleet and equipment transactions. They authorized the purchase of a 2023 Ford XLT F-150 from Farm Country Ford for $57,160 after discounts and financing credits and approved purchasing a 2024 50-foot WAVE Tipper Trailer from Travis Body & Trailer, Inc. for the transfer station at $80,225. The board also approved the sale of the Emergency Preparedness truck to the county from Solid Waste Director Mike Hake for $13,050 and authorized the county clerk to sign financing for the vehicle purchase.

Financial and administrative actions included the board reviewing the Fund Status Report as of March 31, 2024 (ending cash balance $14,554,596.56), approving Resolution 2024-08 to void wire #2479 for $45.00 to the Kansas Department of Revenue (wrong form of payment), and approving abatements 2024-89 through 2024-90 with a net change of ($308.98) and no refund. The board approved payroll totaling $176,296.33 and reported payroll deductions and benefits of $213,878.36.

In other business, the board approved ONEOK North System LLC's petition to cross county roads at two locations, authorized the chairman to sign environmental review records and an audit information form for two 23-CVR-002 projects (The Whole is Greater dba Ride On in Miltonvale and JKCC Print & Design in Glasco), approved real-property tax relief for James and Ethel White following a fire at 424 E. 8th in Concordia, and appointed Keith Best and David Gentry to the Cloud County Commission Aging Board representing Jamestown.

The commissioners received routine departmental updates: Solid Waste Director Mike Hake reported the transfer-station crawler was down and that the department sold 84,218 pounds of cardboard at $140 per ton; Emergency Preparedness Director James Quillen reported storm-spotter and LEPC activity and final planning for an upcoming full-size exercise; County Appraiser Kim Winsett reported 28 valuation appeals this year versus 90 last year; and County Clerk Shella Thoman announced election and budget filing deadlines and a county Everbridge message for upcoming events.

The board received 2025 budget requests from Pawnee Mental Health ($108,962), District Court ($243,000), OCCK, Inc. ($107,686), and department requests including Road & Bridge ($3,940,750) and Solid Waste ($1,253,500). The meeting adjourned at 11:47 a.m.; the board will reconvene April 22, 2024.

Votes at a glance:
- Environmental review records & 23-CVR-002 audit form signature authorization — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- ONEOK North System LLC crossing petition — motion by Commissioner Cleveland, second by Commissioner Copple; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Hiring of Christopher (Paul) McGuire (Highway) — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Resolution 2024-08 (void wire #2479 for $45.00) — motion by Commissioner Cleveland, second by Commissioner Copple; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Hiring of Timothy Dareen Wogoman Jr. (part-time deputy) — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Real property relief for James and Ethel White — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Purchase of Emergency Preparedness truck ($13,050) — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Purchase of 2023 Ford XLT F-150 ($57,160) and financing authorization — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Purchase of 2024 50ft WAVE Tipper Trailer ($80,225) — motion by Commissioner Copple, second by Commissioner Cleveland; outcome: unanimous approval.
- Payroll approval and abatements — motions recorded and approved unanimously.

Sources: Cloud County Board of Commissioners official proceedings, April 15, 2024.