Topics discussed during the Clay County Commissioners’ weekly meeting on March 31st included: Surplus renewal documents, asphalt bids, Community Baby Shower, EMS week, wildfire task force, tick station, fire, advertising, Public Transportation visit, and more.
Kayla Wang, County Clerk, discussed the State and Federal Surplus renewal documents that needed to be signed to continue business with the County. The Board signed and returned the documents. She also discussed indigent attorney fees and rates, and an email requesting money from Riley County Community Corrections regarding the Opioid Settlement and drug testing.
Bobby Shomper, Highway Administrator, and Doug Francis, Area Sales Manager for Ergon Asphalt, met with the Board to discuss sealed oil bids. After discussion on the bids, the Board made the motion to accept the bid from Ergon Asphalt, passing unanimously. Shomper informed the Board that the pre-order of chip seal was a great investment because other Counties are struggling to get materials. Roughly 6,000 tons are reserved for Clay County. He also reported that the paperwork had been completed, and the steel ordered for the bridge. The estimated start time for replacement is the beginning of August.
Alec Trembath, EMS Director, reported that they are currently on run 257 out of 191 from last year. Trembath informed the Board that they would be attending the Community Baby Shower hosted by CCMC and doing car seat checks with two certified car seat techs. He also updated the Board on EMS week and a district plan meeting he attended Friday with Pam Kemp, Jim Bogart, and Jacklyn Pfizenmaier. Over the district, there are now 50 people certified in CPR and or with AEDs. Also, in those meetings, a course for EMR and EMTs for high schoolers was discussed.
Pam Kemp, Emergency Manager, and Jim Bogart, Deputy Emergency Manager, met with the Board to give weekly update. Kemp reported on the Homeland Security meeting they attended and the projects that were reviewed during the meeting. Funding is still in question. She also reported that the Fire Chiefs meeting was well attended and that Chansey Smith, Emergency Manager from Chapman, alongside the fire chief from Chapman talked on the wildfire task force. Clay County currently is the only County that doesn’t participate in the task force.
Dana Rickley, Health Director, reported that branding is very important and presented to the Board a jacket for her public health employees that our local business Gate-9 made. The Health Department/County owns the logo now and Gate-9 can put it on any article of clothing they choose. The jackets were of great quality and professionally done. Rickley also reported that the Community Baby Shower is set for April 5th and the Health Fair is coming up as well. Rickley presented a photo of a tick station that KDHE would like Clay County to co-host. She would like to place it at the Arboretum for the most traffic. The station will provide materials and a holding station for the ticks. Then an individual would empty the specimens into an envelope and deliver them to the department which would then have their courier system pick them up. This would be a once-a-week collection. The station is a pilot project and citizen science-driven. Trailhead signage would be provided. The station project itself will spread prevention awareness and track a variety of ticks and diseases that could be carried in the area by the ticks.
Alan Benninga, Sheriff, reported that there were no fires this weekend, but traffic stops were made in and around those locations. Mr. Carlson reported to Mr. Benninga that he received calls Tuesday on burns from local citizens and asked Mr. Benninga if the dispatchers would reference them to their local fire chief on decisions for that area.
Jeff Gaiser, Museum Curator, and Franklin Murren, Museum Employee, met with the Board to discuss advertising. Gaiser handed out advertising options for the Kansas Travel Guide and Travel Kansas Magazine. Gaiser also included Facebook/Instagram ads alongside Google ads. He reported that the chain of how our community establishments are being advertised has changed over the years and believes that some advertising can be done by the Museum solely but additional paid advertising in travel guides/magazines could potentially boost both Clay Center and Wakefield’s museums. After much discussion, a motion to give the museum $2,000 to advertise and promote both Clay Center and Wakefield’s Museum, passing unanimously.
In a response to an email from Wakefield Birthday Bash committee for donations to the event a motion to donate $700.00 to Wakefield Birthday Bash, passing unanimously.
A tour of the new Public Transportation building was provided by Don Wright, Clay County Public Transportation, to the Board of Commissioners, Ms. Urban and Ms. Wang. Wright showed repairs to the garage, the lean two outside, new paint that was matched by Walls True Value, and varnished woodwork in rooms. He also has prepped the outside for landscaping. The building was split into maintenance offices, a conference room, a program room, a kitchen, a break room, and an open front desk area for the public. Printers, computers, and monitor screens have been updated and five edge tables and chairs for the conference room are next to be ordered. Mr. Wright expressed that with the opportunity of the garage, all four transportation vehicles will soon have cover from the elements. Wright expressed gratitude towards the Board for the opportunity to continue this service to the community and let the Board know he would continue to keep upgrading and growing.
