Commissioners change holidays for employees

A request from the public works department prompted Bourbon County Commissioners to change the days employees will be given for the holidays.

Originally, county offices were scheduled to be closed Dec. 24 and 25. On Monday, Public Works Director Jim Harris asked if his employees could have Dec. 25 and 26, which he said would be more convenient for those who want to travel out of town.

Commissioners agreed they should treat all departments equally and County Clerk Kendell Mason said her office staff would also prefer to have a four-day weekend.

The problem was a resolution setting holidays for county employees was already in place. After Second

Second District Commissioner Barbara Albright discovered, after a quick poll of each county office, county employees preferred to have the four-day weekend instead of Christmas Eve off.

Albright said the district court follows the state calendar and court is not scheduled for Dec. 26. Likewise, the extension office also had planned to be closed on Dec. 26.

The courthouse will be open Christmas Eve, but will be closed on Dec. 25 and 26.

The resolution is expected to be amended Friday.

Other business

* Commissioners will take another look at the Bailey Farm, which is being considered for an additional rock quarry in the southern portion of the county. Warren said he is taking a geology company to the site. The company has offered to drill samples of the area for a lower rate than was proposed by Terracon of Kansas City. Terracon submitted a proposed contract for $12,000 to take three core samples. Warren said Dave Creek has offered to move equipment in for $560, then charge 95-cents per foot for drilling.

Harris said he also is waiting on a report from the University of Kansas Geological Service regarding Pawnee limestone, which the county expects to find in the first 25 feet, then shale for the next 60 feet before reaching Fort Scott limestone.

Later County Attorney Terri Johnson asked if the commissioners have made a decision on the quarry yet. She said she received a letter from an attorney asking for a copy of a contract.

Warren said he provided Gene Bailey with a copy of a contract used for the George Quarry as an example, but nothing has been decided on a new quarry yet.

During one meeting, Warren and Harris said they had been contacted by other property owners asking the county to consider their properties. Warren said the county has looked at one of those properties and determined it is not suitable for a quarry.

* Commissioners approved a culvert application from Levi Yoder on Valley Road. The request is for a 40-foot culvert, but because the tubes come in 24-foot sections, commissioners asked Harris to speak with Yoder about having 48-feet installed.

* Commissioners set a public hearing at 10 a.m. Dec. 29 to amend the 2014 budget. The Road and Bridges Sales Tax fund expenditures are being increased from $1,108,315 to $1,783,041. The Employee Benefits fund expenditures are being increased from $2,358,420 to $2,500,000.

* Commissioners held a 10-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel to protect their privacy with Johnson. No action was taken.

* The commissioners also agreed to eliminate formal employee evaluations, as Kansas is an at-risk state. The decision came a week after Albright posed the question of whether the evaluations are necessary.