Commissioners sign off on loan for equipment purchases

Loretta George/Tribune photo Outgoing First District Commissioner Allen Warren gives Commissioner-elect Lynn Oharah computer tips in preparation for Oharah being sworn in on Jan. 12. The two worked on computer details during a break in the Monday morning Bourbon County Commission meeting.

Bourbon County commissioners finalized paperwork Monday to borrow money for a new road grader and new patrol car radios.

John Hill, vice president of City State Bank, presented the commissioners with the equipment purchase agreements.

One agreement was for a 2014 Caterpillar road grader for $122,875. To help pay for the new piece of county equipment, the commission traded in an old one and reached into the county's special equipment fund.

"We traded in a used Komatsu road grader and got $60,000 out of that," said Commission Chairman Allen Warren. "And we got $50,000 out of the special equipment fund."

The second agreement was for 13 patrol car radio replacements for the Sheriff's office, in the amount of $28,384. The radios are in the 2015 budget.

Other business

* Jim Harris, road and bridge director, reported that he had received federal fund reimbursement for the 145th Street bridge in the amount of $83,197.85 and the 267th Street bridge in the amount of $14,993.18.

* Rhonda Dunn, treasurer, came to the meeting to ask if the commission had any questions on the 2015 budget. Harris replied that he needed a more concise breakdown of different costs. A meeting was scheduled for Monday afternoon with Dunn, Harris and Warren to discuss the budget and "get current numbers," Warren said.

* Warren said the commission had looked at two different sites in the southern part of the county for possible rock quarries, and added that he'd like to do sample drillings on both places.

* The commissioners went into two 20-minute executive sessions to discuss non-elected personnel with no action following. Kendell Mason, clerk, also attended the executive session.

* Warren requested Harris let the commissioner know when road improvement requests have been completed.

* The commissioners approved sending dues to the Kansas Association of Counties for 2015 in the amount of $2,941.06.

* Commissioner Barbara Albright contacted Assistant County Attorney Justin Meeks to meet with them following Terry Sercer's meeting at 10 a.m. Dec. 29. Following the meeting, there will be a discussion of a possible land sale near the U.S. 54 and 69 junction, which is a former landfill.

On Dec. 5, commissioners voted to go through with selling the property. They met with Neal Burckart of Wall Street Properties, which asked to purchase a total of 23.8 acres for the assessed value. At one time, the property was the site of Fort Scott Hydraulic Cement Quarry, and later became the county dump.

The county has been monitoring the wells and mowing at the property.

Warren has told commissioners Burckart has completed paperwork required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment for the property.

The plans for the property have not been released during county commission meetings.

* Because the courthouse will be closed Friday for the holiday, the commissioners' next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday, Dec. 29.