[0:00] Okay. Where's that? >> Good morning. I'd like to welcome

[0:03] everyone to the Aerson County Commission meeting for Tuesday, September 8th. I'd

[0:07] like to call the meeting to order and if our clerk could please provide a roll

[0:11] call. >> Commissioner Quinn,

[0:12] » present. Commissioner Campbell >> here.

[0:16] » All right. If you please stand and join Rachel Danner for our invocation

[0:19] followed by the pledge of allegiance. >> Good morning.

[0:22] » Good morning. >> Let us pray.

[0:25] Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks that you call us to love one

[0:28] another, to be your people, and to gather together, to make decisions, to

[0:33] be discerning about how best to serve you, how best to care for and with one

[0:38] another, and how to be your people united in this place, to do your work,

[0:44] to serve each other, and to care for your world. Lord, we ask that as we

[0:48] gather together that you will help us to listen for you, to be discerning, and to

[0:55] hear your words for each and every one of us. That we can make the best

[0:59] decisions to be your people in this time and in this place doing your work with

[1:05] energy, intelligence, imagination, and love. Lord, all these things we pray in

[1:10] Jesus name. Amen.

[1:15] I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic

[1:20] for its one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[1:26] for all.

[1:35] » All right, public comment. Uh, Mr. Neman, you want to come up?

[1:40] Oh, >> if you want to come up here. Sure,

[1:49] » Eric Neman. Um, I just heard on the radio that there

[1:54] was some comments about data centers at the last meeting

[1:58] and what I know about them is zero. But, uh, you hear a lot of negative

[2:05] comments, but I would just hope that the commission would keep an open mind. I

[2:11] think there's a huge monetary benefit to them

[2:16] and um talking to some other people that are working on the one out at the Jeffre

[2:24] Center. Um there's going to be a lot of benefit to the county out there.

[2:31] Um, but I would just hope that the

[2:36] commission, whether it be through a public forum or what have you, would

[2:41] keep an open mind that um uh might be a sign of the times thing to

[2:49] come. It's going to be somewhere anyway. Uh whether our county could benefit from

[2:55] it. >> Awesome.

[2:58] » That's all I have. Hey, thank you so much. Yeah, and just um that was a day

[3:04] uh it was on there there was a gentleman, a constituent that was asking

[3:08] what we were doing um to protect ourselves from it and I

[3:12] it's one of those things like if you asked me a question I would bring it and

[3:15] he watched the meeting and he's like I didn't see it and so I put it on the

[3:18] agenda so I remembered to ask what we would do. Um but I'm not aware of any

[3:24] looking at right now but we were just trying to um be proactive and Mr. Van

[3:28] Paris was um gathering some data for us as well. Um just as far as educating

[3:34] ourselves, right? Because that was the point. We we all need to educate

[3:37] ourselves on the facts because there's a lot of noise out there.

[3:41] » Um and just making sure we don't fall succumb to noise.

[3:45] » But I've seen other counties that say no, we're going to put a moratorum

[3:49] against them and >> and uh that's it. But um you know I

[3:55] think they really need to be looked at as what it could do for the county and

[4:01] um what what the downfall and what the benefits are and weigh those.

[4:06] » Yeah. No, I we haven't made any kind of policy decision on it. U it's it's

[4:13] certainly not a new uh thing in our in our local community because we're seeing

[4:19] it. like you said, if you're following it, it's happening all around us and

[4:23] there's push back. Um, and and I'm sure you're aware of the push, the reasons

[4:28] for the push back. Um, and you you know our stance this last year and a half,

[4:34] two years on tax incentives and taxes, right? We're we're we're we're pro uh

[4:41] property owner. So, so we are trying our best to uh come in on the side of

[4:47] property owners in uh because they are providing the majority of our budget the

[4:54] property. So, what we're doing is uh looking at everything through that lens.

[5:01] Can it be can it can it profit our community? Whatever it is,

[5:06] » I don't care if it's, >> you know, data centers or whatever we're

[5:09] talking about. Does it profit? and what's the temperature of the community

[5:14] on certain things. So, when it comes to data centers, um we're looking for as

[5:19] much information as we can get. Um and we definitely want to be transparent.

[5:25] You know, if if what whatever we decide, but uh but there are plenty of issues

[5:31] and plenty of folks that are pushing back as we speak uh on it and we want to

[5:37] have all our facts. But thank I appreciate

[5:41] Yeah. >> Coming in because that

[5:44] » when when we hear directly from it it from folks it it it shows that they're

[5:48] engaged that they're concerned >> and speaking to your request of

[5:52] open-minded when you sit in a seat I feel like that's a must because you re

[5:57] represent your constituents. So keeping an open mind to understand both sides

[6:01] and you know pros and cons basically is like what you're explaining and

[6:05] » well I think what what I've seen abson county is is a lot of status quo

[6:12] and to look at something else that would come in that would would improve a lot

[6:20] of things. So, um, >> yeah. Yeah. The status quo meaning leave

[6:29] things alone the way they are and let it let us

[6:32] » just doing maintenance. >> Okay.

[6:35] » But, you know, something that would have a great uh monetary benefit. You know,

[6:41] you're looking at infrastructure, you're looking at roads, you're looking at

[6:45] schools, >> water lines,

[6:47] » water lines, how all that could be bene beneficial to uh something like that.

[6:53] And from what I hear, it is a huge monetary benefit to a an area where they

[7:01] where they come.

[7:05] » Thank you.

[7:13] Gary,

[7:20] » how are you guys today? >> Good. How are you?

[7:22] » My name is John Garing. I go by Greg. I'm here to see if I can get a request

[7:30] on 234th Road. You guys lowered the speed limit from

[7:35] the cemetery to the church to 35 m an hour.

[7:39] I would like to see it from the church to 73 highway 7 35 mph.

[7:46] There's people I've called the sheriff's office a couple times. There's people

[7:49] fly up down that road 70 mph. There's like 10 intersections,

[7:56] not counting two road intersections, and there's blind spots.

[8:01] And I mow along there. I take care of that a lot around my property. If

[8:06] anybody's been down that way, they can see that I mow and take care of

[8:09] everything. But, you know, there some of that grass

[8:13] gets on the road, I blow it off the road. But the other day, I had a a white

[8:18] truck come by me about 70 mph. And I thought there's blind spots, there's

[8:23] intersections, people live there, and I I don't see why a resolution can't be

[8:29] made to make it 35 from the church to the highway.

[8:36] But I mean, I got semis running up down that road. They ain't even supposed to

[8:40] be on it. So, I didn't know if anything can be

[8:45] done about that. But I mean there's like 10 10 driveways and two intersections.

[8:53] » So, um, a couple things as I know exactly where you're talking about. And

[8:56] so I, um, as I'm hearing you say this, I think that we need to do a good job of

[9:01] quantifying what what would entail a change because then, you know, we opened

[9:08] up a can of worms that everybody coming in would ask us to change to 35 mph. we

[9:12] need to quantify based on what you're saying like how many driveway interest

[9:17] spot sight distance all of the things. Um and then

[9:21] » I know that there's like the blanket of if there's not a speed limit on our

[9:26] rural roads it's 55 m an hour. Um, and then looking into how we can quantify

[9:32] those areas because all of these speed limits were done prior to me being here.

[9:37] And so I need to lean on um our county counselor a little bit for guidance on

[9:42] on how we do it. Um, and make sure it's warranted so that you know if there's

[9:47] another request, there's a rhyme or reason, we didn't just do it because we

[9:50] were asked that, right? You know, >> but I noticed like going to Pine View,

[9:54] the speed limit's not 55. going to warn if not 55.

[9:58] » I mean, >> and I that's what I would like to look

[10:01] back at how those were done because you're right there. Those stretches of

[10:06] road have a lot of folks living in driveways off of them. So maybe it's a

[10:11] certain amount in proximity. I don't really know what the answer.

[10:14] » I did a couple resolutions way back early 2000s when I was on the township.

[10:19] Okay. >> Cuz I got little kids that lived on the

[10:21] road. school bus picked them up and you know I did resolutions 20 m an hour I

[10:26] think it was 25 going to the quarry and stuff well they've stole those signs but

[10:30] I still had signs on my road but UPS sends FedEx up I mean their internet or

[10:37] whatever sends them down there instead of going down the highway going down

[10:40] they come down through that dirt road and I've caught a couple of them you

[10:44] know you slow down there's a little year and a half two-year-old little girl

[10:48] right there on our road again now got kids And she goes out in the middle of

[10:53] the road following her mom to the mailbox. She don't even know what's

[10:55] following her. >> M

[10:56] » I mean and and but you know I try to try to slow people

[11:02] down. They don't. And then I thought you know maybe I put some speed bumps in the

[11:06] road and I said no and I'd be liable somebody has a wreck.

[11:09] » Yeah. >> So but

[11:12] » yes sir. >> I apologize. I missed your last name

[11:15] sir. >> Garen.

[11:16] » Garen. Yeah. I'm David Van Paris. Nice. Glad to meet you. Um,

[11:21] we had a fellow down in Lorth County. His solution to his problem was he'd go

[11:26] out and break beer bottles in middle road.

[11:29] » So, I apologize for not putting in your >> Oh, no.

[11:32] » The county commissioners have a duty to maintain safe roadway limits.

[11:37] » Speed limits have to be, however, determined by what's called an

[11:41] engineering study. That's what the state law says. It does not define what an

[11:45] engineering study is, but generally I've always believed it is it's meant to

[11:51] reference a deliberate studied determination of what is safe

[11:57] speed on a certain section of roadway is. And uh you know, you've brought the

[12:04] matter before the commission's attention, which in my mind means we

[12:09] have to look at it now. >> Well, there there's deer that cross that

[12:12] road all the time. People have hit several big bucks by the I call it the

[12:18] Wana Creek bridge right there. I don't know. That's part of Wana Creek that

[12:22] drains down in there. And there's neighbors and it's been recorded.

[12:26] They've had hogs on the road. They've had cattle on the road. I mean, I've

[12:30] I've rebuilt all my fence. I haven't had any cows out. Knock on wood. But, uh,

[12:35] » it's because they don't want to get out. >> No, I hope not. But I have had cattle

[12:40] get out before. And and but I mean >> if a cow wants out, cow's going to get

[12:45] out. >> But like on the the south side of my

[12:47] place, there's like a six, seven foot ditch on that side of the road and

[12:53] somebody can easily go over. There was a couple guys worked for Buddy Lee. They

[12:57] went all up in it. I pulled them out my tractor. But

[13:00] » have you ever made any reports to the the sheriff Lowry and his department

[13:05] regarding the excessive speed? I called him the other day when that guy flew

[13:09] around me. I said something needs to be done out here. People, they don't drive

[13:14] 55. Even when the church going on up there,

[13:17] they don't drive 35. So, I mean,

[13:22] there's a lot of lot of activity on the weekends,

[13:26] you know, but I'm just trying to get something maybe settled so there is an

[13:32] accident. some of them places where they come out of their driveway, you know,

[13:36] there's blind spots that come up over that hill. There's a driveway and

[13:39] another one. I mean, it's it's going to happen sooner or later,

[13:45] but I just wanted to bring it to you guys

[13:49] attention. Maybe they can look at it and >> Yeah.

[13:52] » see what's going on. >> Thank you for bringing it up. I know

[13:55] there's pedestrians that walk on that road, too.

[13:57] » Oh, yeah. PRS walk on there all the time.

[14:00] » Yeah. We will um we will look into this and uh

[14:07] do our deliberate study and see what we come up with and what that process looks

[14:12] like and be interesting to learn learn it.

[14:17] Commissioner, it it could start with a request by you to the road and bridge

[14:23] department to examine that section of road and what might be in their opinion

[14:28] an appropriate speed limit. >> Okay,

[14:32] » sounds good to me. >> Thank you.

[14:34] » Thank you, sir. >> Thank you, guys.

[14:46] Okay, we have approval of the agenda. Um, I've looked for a motion to approve.

[14:52] » So move. >> Second. Moved and seconded. All those in

[14:55] favor say I. Passes two to zero. There is no consent agenda this week. Um, our

[15:02] commission meeting minutes will be or the first will be on next week. Um,

[15:06] Commissioner comments, Commissioner Campbell.

[15:09] Well, uh we will the country will commemorate uh

[15:16] the 911 um

[15:20] date Friday. So this will be 25 years since 911.

[15:29] And so that what we will do here at the county is what we did last year was meet

[15:33] at the flag pole that morning. I don't have a specific time yet. I'm kind of

[15:38] waiting on that. Um, but we will get it out to the staff and publicly to the

[15:45] community. Um, so I just

[15:50] want to let you know that there are of course there are hundreds if not

[15:53] thousands of these going on around the country.

[15:57] 25 years I I believe is uh a significant milestone because

[16:04] um this this year happens to be our 250 50th uh anniversary um as a country u

[16:14] and so I think it's significant that we pay closer attention

[16:20] this year 25 years uh what it also means is that

[16:26] We have an entire generation that has grown up after 911. And what's

[16:31] significant about that is that these these commemorations educate those

[16:38] those folks if they don't already know. Uh this this helps to educate those

[16:43] folks so that we never have this happen again. We need to stay vigilant and this

[16:48] is part of part of doing that. So that's all I have.

[16:56] Thank you. Um I do not have anything this week. Um consideration of a quarter

[17:02] cent sports complex sunset resolution. Mr. Van Paris

[17:07] with all apologies. I don't have that prepared for you this morning. I I will

[17:10] need to contact our bond council to uh work on that. I believe he may have

[17:15] circulated draft but I cannot locate it in my email. So we'll work that up. I

[17:21] did have occasion to discuss with the Kansas Department of Revenue

[17:27] upcoming quarter cents or 1 cent sales tax for EMS purposes. Oddly enough, the

[17:32] young lady I was speaking to in the department of revenues office, her

[17:37] mother taught mathematics at Herson High School for 32 years.

[17:42] » So, she's very interested in assisting the county in getting this done. Uh I

[17:48] discussed with her whether well what she needed to uh have this proceed. Uh we

[17:55] discussed a possible certification of election that the approval of the ballot

[18:00] question from the secretary of state's office. It was suggested to me that

[18:04] instead we rely and the department of revenue would rely upon certification

[18:09] from our county clerk as to the result of the election on the question. uh upon

[18:15] receipt of a certified uh statement of the uh result u the process will start.

[18:25] » Okay. >> And they they expressed interest great

[18:30] interest in assisting the county. >> Okay. And that's for the one that just

[18:33] passed. >> Yes. For the EMS the sunset will take

[18:37] care of as well. >> Okay.

[18:46] All right. Um, discussion of appointed attorney contracts.

[18:56] Uh, what information? So, I have the email drafted to them. Um,

[19:03] the commission's the commission or based on what we discussed this morning,

[19:08] commissioners are preparing for our for

[19:14] um the renewal

[19:18] of your 2027 contracts and your current contract amount is $3,500 a month.

[19:33] If each of you would please send us a quantification of your time spent

[19:37] performing your court append appointed duties that will be helpful. case

[19:42] numbers, hours spent, descriptions, I think is what we talked about. Uh,

[19:46] please send us the contracted amount you'd like to see in 2027. We are

[19:50] working at looking at potential revenue from order attorney and guardian adalum

[20:00] fees.

[20:06] Commissioner, there are a rather limited number of cases uh that uh you are

[20:12] required to provide legal counsel for that can be reimbursed from the office

[20:17] of the Kansas attorney general. We need to look into that process. And again,

[20:22] it's rather limited, but it is available.

[20:24] » Okay. Do you know how to spell that? Because

[20:27] my spell check is not giving me a suggestion, but telling me I didn't

[20:31] spell >> guardian as in the

[20:33] » Oh, yeah. I know that. Adel item. Then eight separate word a d

[20:39] another word l i t e m

[20:45] » l i t e n words. >> Thank you.

[20:53] » Anything else on that email before I send it? I mean, anything else you want

[20:58] to see?

[21:01] No, I mean, no, I think that that'll

[21:07] clear things up. Like I said, I don't want them to think that we're set in

[21:12] stone, that we just can't move forward without that information. So, yeah.

[21:22] » All right. Well, that was all that I have this week. So if you don't have

[21:27] anything else that

[21:35] » Oh yeah. So from last week we pushed um the

[21:41] auditors um additional due diligence um to this

[21:46] week. They sent the breakdown of what we requested. So I'd look for a motion to

[21:52] approve the purchase order from last week to Forvis Mazar for $10,192.

[21:58] » So move. >> I'll second. Moved and seconded. All

[22:00] those in favor say I. >> I.

[22:36] the 15th we have Holly coming with a consideration of PO for 2027 CVN

[22:45] mailings that's all we have for next week so far so

[22:49] all right well with that I would look for a motion to adjourn into workshop.

[22:54] » So moved. >> Second. Moved and seconded. All those in

[22:57] favor say I. I. Passes two to zero.

Atchison County Commission Video 2026-09-08

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