Grant County Commissioners were provided updates on how things were going in various departments and conducted other business during their regular session August 5.
The trio were started off their meeting with a sweet treat, courtesy of Reagan Gray. Gray, a member of the Sunflower 4-H Club, presented them with a sample of her Grand Champion Chocolate Espresso Salted Caramel Butter creme cupcakes.
During their meeting, Grant County Clerk Anita Lane made a request regarding wellness benefits.
Lane asked commissioners to consider including fire fighters with the wellness benefits full-time county employees receive.
Currently, Grant County employees who are full-time and their spouses are able to go Grant County Recreation gym and the county pays for their memberships. One stipulation is that the employees and their spouses must utilize the benefit at least "10 times a month each."
"If they do not, the $30 for each membership is deducted from the employee's paycheck," Lane explained, adding a concern she has regarding the fire fighters. "(Firefighters) are volunteer and may not have enough hours to cover the membership."
Lane suggested to the commission that firefighters pay their own membership of $40 per month.
"If they go 10 times the county could reimburse them $30 (full time membership fee)," Lane suggested.
There are already 12 firefighters who go to the gym.
Grant County Commissioner John Martin said he would like to see the benefit extended to more, extending it to all part-time employees as well.
Grant County Commissioner Darrin Figgins agreed with Martin, while Grant County Commissioner Mark McGaughey stated the benefit should not include seasonal employees.
After discussion about how the addition to the benefits package would work, commissioners opted to table a decision until they could review how much the proposed costs would be to the county.
Lane presented commissioners with another request on behalf of a county employee, who had requested the county provide bottled water to the courthouse.
Following a short discussion, commissioners opted to not grant the request as the courthouse has a reverse, osmosis system.
Department heads in attendance at the Tuesday morning meeting were: Nancy Borthwick, Grant County Senior Center Director; Shaun Minks, Grant County Public Works Supervisor; Mari Honstead, Grant County Civic Center Manager; Terri Trotman, Grant County Treasurer; and Jeff Baier, Grant County EMS Director/Emergency Management Coordinator.
Department heads reported on a variety of topics:
Nancy Borthwick
Nancy Borthwick, Grant County Senior Center Director, presented a letter to the commissioners about the air conditioner not working at the Senior Center. Due to the need, Borthwick had already made the decision to have the repairs done.
"We tried to baby it along for a little bit, but it got so hot in that kitchen I just couldn't do it anymore," Borthwick explained "The hood was awful nasty and gross, so I thought maybe the exhaust fan couldn't breathe to pull all the hot air out. I called and had the hood cleaned."
In visiting with the company she had called, they advised her the condition of the hood was not the problem.
"(They said) that's not connected - it's gotta be something different, but we were having problems with the exhaust fan kicking off, so I think it was a problem for that, because ever since we cleaned the hood the exhaust fan piece does not click off ," Borthwick said. "It's not working quite so hard to pull all of that stuff out."
Borthwick was able to have the repairs done prior to having commissioners vote on it, as county policy allows department heads to make decisions if the "situation is an emergency" according to the Grant County Kansas Purchasing Procedures.
Borthwick said ACC was called out a couple of times.
"We've turned the fan on at night and left the air conditioning off, just so it would defrost everything, but it never made a bit of difference," Borthwick said. "We called ACC and he said, 'yeah, we can get that (needed parts) for you. I had him go ahead and order it."
Borthwick had received bids on the work from ACC (Air Comfort Consultants, LLC) in the amount of $6,120; and Weber Refrigeration in the amount of $21,500.
Borthwick said employees are cooler and happier. She thanked Grant County Commissioner Darrin Figgins for discussing the situation with her.
"(And), we got everything cleaned there so that's a good deal," she said. "I appreciate you having a conversation with me on that Darrin because I really didn't want to wait until today to get it fixed because it was miserable."
In other business, Borthwick advised the commissioners that Pye-Barker fire and Safety was expected around 11 a.m., that day to do an inspection
Due to a visit from a food representative, Borthwick said she learned something.
"We had a little meeting on how things are going and I did find out that any leftovers we might have of lunches we can put those in a travel container and freeze them with a date on it and if someone needs some food on the weekends we can utilize that, so that was nice to know," she said.
A representative from Eldercare was in Ulysses recently.
"(They were) checking on our inventory," Borthwick said. "They had been here about a month ago to check and see how we were doing. We had excessive inventory in the freezer. We worked hard to get that down and utilize all that food we could, so we weren't wasting anything. They were pleased with our inventory. We kind of made some modifications to the menu this month in order to finish out that piece."
Borthwick announced the Grant County Mennonite kids would be at the center August 15, to provide a hamburger feed to the patrons.
"Apparently, this is an annual thing, which is super duper," Borthwick said.
Borthwick also advised the commission of a scam targeting the elderly.
"Several elderly scams going on - there is a mailing comes through for the seniors group for social security that is a scam," she explained. "I just got one from Bill Stewart today that is a Collios Enterprises LLC. What it is, they are wanting you to give them money to provide food, shelter clothing and other services out of Arizona."
Borthwick said anyone who receives something questionable should check it out first.
"If you'll go on the computer and do charity navigator it will give you an idea whether or not that is a viable charity or if it is not," she said.
Borthwick said their average service of people at the center has been around 35 for those who come in every day, it doesn't include the people they deliver to.
Shaun Minks
Shaun Minks, Grant County Public Works Supervisor, met with the commissioners about a request from a citizen for the county to put in a culvert to a new residential building. Commissioners voted unanimously not to provide the culvert; however, they did agree to providing materials and help with the installation of the culvert.
Commissioners suggested Minks hire a part time noxious weed sprayer for a couple of months. Minks stated he has another spray rig ready and he will look for someone to fill that position.
Terri Trotman
Terri Trotman, Grant County Treasurer, presented a quote from Southern Office for a Sharp color copier in the amount of $4,030.
Trotman advised the commission that funds to pay for the copier would come from her Technology Fund.
Commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the request.
In order to help with cutting time and costs, Trotman asked commissioners if there was a limit on sending receipts to taxpayers regarding their property taxes.
"The ones requesting receipts are the ones who have very little tax amounts," Trotman said. "This takes time and costs to send receipts."
Commissioner Figgins said some locations request customers send a "self-addressed stamped envelope if they want a receipt".
Commissioner Martin suggested if the tax amount is less than $25, then the taxpayer will have to send a self-addressed stamped envelope. Commissioners agreed with Trotman to only send receipts to those taxpayers who provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope with their payment. Or, taxpayers can get a receipt online or in person.
In other business:
Commissioner Figgins questioned late fees being accrued with Nex-tech invoice for the Health Department. Commissioner Martin stated the late fees and backup fees are combined. So, the commissioners do not know the amount of the late fees. Commission Martin stated he would like the grant that is reimbursing expenses from the vouchers from the Health Department to be added to the voucher listing.
Commissioners approved minutes for the July 15, meeting and accepted claims against various funds, voucher numbers ending 176003 totaling $541,441.25, which included an additional $6,120.00 for an invoice from ACC for the repairs to the air conditioner at the Senior Center, and payroll totals $163,094.05 dated July 23.
New Hires were approved for: Road & Bridge department at the Transfer Station Scale Operator and the Road & Bridge Operator I position with the wages presented; new hire with the fire department as a probationary fire fighter as presented; and rehire with the sheriff's department as a PRN corrections officer as presented.
Commissioners accepted wage increases for: Deputy payroll clerk and Deputy accounts payable clerk as presented, and three wage increases as presented by the Road & Bridge department.
Appointed Shae Higgs and Jay Gorman to replace Larry Borthwick and Michael Tarbet, as recommended, to the Ulysses Stampede Board. Commissioner
Agreed payment of $15,000.00 to the Chamber of Commerce and $12,000 to Western Kansas Child Advocacy for the 2026 Appropriations. These are the same as 2025 Appropriations.
Accepted the commitment made with Pioneer Communications of $5,000, for the co-investment in the BAG 4.0 Grant Build.
Adopted Resolution 25-06, the Kansas Homeland Security Region C Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Re-appointed Jennifer Hegwood, Shan Meile, Steve Rice, Wally Raines, Elizabeth Rogers and Orlando Maldonado to Grant County Fair board for the upcoming year.
Commissioners had a discussion on the Airport Fencing Project as well as fixing the asphalt at the North private hangers.
L & L Flooring, Trevor Funk, Treasurer, Terri Trotman and Register of Deeds, Julie Widder joined the meeting to decide on the flooring in the Commissioner Room, Break Room, Mail Room, Treasurer and Register of Deeds offices.
Commissioners went in to executive session for 10 minutes to discuss matters of a non-elected personnel member. After 10 minutes the meeting continued in open session, no action taken.
Commissioner Martin requested County ClerkLane to call Craig Malone about the basement wall in the Register of Deeds. It has moisture causing the wall to deteriorate.
Commissioners discussed the possibility of hiring a Full-Time Building Maintenance and Groups Supervisor. The County would benefit from this position at all County Building locations. After a short discussion the other commissioners agreed to look in to the matter further. Commissioner McGaughey requested the Lane contact Rod Hay with Hay, Rice and Associates, to see if the County has a position like this in the budget for the remaining 2025 budget year and 2026 budget year. County Clerk will add this for the next meeting agenda to discuss.
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