Meeting Information
- Convene
- Pledge of Allegiance
CONSENT AGENDA
(1) (a) Consider approval of Commission Orders
REGULAR AGENDA
(2) Consider approving chip sealing of E 900 Road north of US 40 Highway by private individual (Keith Browning)
(3) Consider approval of personal computer purchases for 2003 (Jim Lawson)
(4) Consider approval of recommendation for pharmaceutical services contract for Jail (Jackie Waggoner)
(5) Consider approval of recommendation to purchase draperies for the Courthouse (Jackie Waggoner)
(6) Consider approval of request for authorization to negotiate long distance service contract (Jackie Waggoner)
(7) Consider approval of health insurance renewal (Pam Madl)
(8) Work session on waste treatment and related issues for lots in Lone Star Lake Park (Keith Browning)
(9) Consider approval of letter to Governor Sebelius regarding EPA's consideration of the boundary of an 8-hour ozone non-attainment designation area within the Kansas City region that might include Douglas County, Kansas (Craig Weinaug)
(10) Other Business
(a) Consider approval of Accounts Payable (if necessary)
(b) Appointments
(c) Miscellaneous
(d) Public Comment
(11) Adjourn
Johnson called meeting to order at 9:03 A.M. on Monday, May 12, 2003. All members were present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
CONSENT AGENDA 05-12-03
Jones moved approval of the following Consent Agenda:
- Approve Commissioners Order Nos. 5137 and 5138. Orders are file in the office of the County Clerk.
Motion was seconded by McElhaney and carried unanimously.
PUBLIC WORKS 05-12-03
The Board discussed a proposal received from Mike Stultz to contract with a qualified contractor to chip seal E 900 Road from US 40 Highway north to the entrance of Ranch Estates subdivision at Mr. Stultz' expense. Ranch Estates subdivision was developed by Mr. Stultz. John Selk, representing Mr. Stultz was present for the discussion. Keith Browning, Director of Public Works/County Engineer, was also present for the discussion. Browning explained that this section of E 900 Road was constructed as part of the K-10 Highway (SLT) construction project. As constructed, this road meets county standards regarding base rock depth and roadway width, and surpasses county standards for frontslopes, backslopes, and ditch width. The roadway will need to be prepared for chip sealing by ensuring a minimum 6" base rock depth, and blading, shap ing, and compacting the base rock. The base will need to be primed prior to applying a double chip seal. Approximately 3,550 linear feet of road would be chip sealed. The road is currently the maintenance responsibility of Kanwaka Township. It has been customary that Douglas County assumes maintenance responsibility of chip sealed roads outside of Wakarusa Township since other townships are not equipped to maintain chip seal roads. The Public Works Department estimates that total average annual maintenance costs for this section of roadway would be $3,550. The county already has assumed mainte nance of N 1663 Road, the roadway within Ranch Estates subdivision. Jones stated that he believed this was the worst decision this County Commission has made and is opposed to it. He also stated that he would be ok with fixing and maintaining until the tax base is there. McElhaney stated that he would support it and made the motion to authorize Mike Stultz to contract with a qualified contrac tor to chip seal E 900 Road from US 40 Highway north to the entrance into Ranch Estates subdivision in accordance with plans and specifications approved by the County Engineer and acknowledges that upon completion of the chip seal project, appropriate action will be taken for Douglas County to assume mainte nance of the roadway section. Johnson seconded the motion which carried 2-1 with Jones opposing.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, PURCHASING, & CONTRACTS 05-12-03
The Board discussed personal computer purchases for 2003. Jim Lawson, Director of Information Technology, was present for the discussion. Lawson explained that when the Board discussed computer purchases for 2002, staff had contacted four local computer makers/resellers requesting prices and received responses from three of those companies. Pricing was then compared to the prices of computers purchased utilizing the Western States Contracting Alliance (WSCA) contract. At that time, the WSCA contract price was $28 less per system than the lowest local company, Microtech. It was the Board's direction at that time to utilize Microtech Computers in order to keep the money local. At that time, Lawson voiced some concerns about ordering, delivery and service issues that have been experienced in the past with Microtech. The Board then directed Lawson to track problems for review in 2003. Lawson discussed various prob lems experienced with Microtech. He noted problems with the on-line ordering mechanism, quality of computers, i.e., at least six hard drive failures, multiple motherboard failures, and problems getting computers serviced when they have failures. Lawson then recommended the approval of the utilization of the WSCA contract for the rest of the 2003 computer purchases. He noted that Section 2.5 of the Purchasing Policy allows the County to make use of governmental cooper ative agreements with Commission approval. Johnson made a motion to autho rize the utilization of the WSCA contract for the purchase of computers for the remainder of 2003. Motion was seconded by Jones and carried unanimously.
SHERIFF & JAIL, PURCHASING & CONTRACTS 05-12-03
The Board discussed bids received for pharmaceutical services for inmates of the Douglas County Jail. Jackie Waggoner, Purchasing Agent, was present for the discussion. Jones made a motion to accept the bid submitted by QualiCare, Inc. to provide pharmaceutical services for inmates of the County Jail. Motion was seconded by McElhaney and carried unanimously.
PURCHASING & COURTHOUSE 05-12-03
Waggoner then presented bids received for the purchase and installation of seventy-one (71) commercial grade draperies, including hardware, for the County Courthouse. Jones moved acceptance of the low bid received from Anderson Interiors in the amount of $14,900 for the purpose and installation of the draper ies. Motion was seconded by McElhaney and carried unanimously.
PURCHASING 05-12-03
Waggoner then presented information regarding bids received for long distance services. She explained that the County, City and Lawrence Public Schools issued a proposal request for long distance services. Proposals have been received and a committee of six has reviewed the scope of each proposal and invited Sunflower Broadband, Inter-Tel, Qwest, and SBC Communications in for interviews. Following this process, the committee unanimously agreed that SBC Communications has provided the best proposal. Waggoner requested the Board's authorization to negotiate with SBC Communications with respect to both features and cost. In the event the negotiations are unsuccessful, the committee would like the ability to open negotiations with Qwest. The award will be contin gent upon each entities approval process and the final recommendation will be presented to the Board following negotiations. McElhaney made the motion to authorize the committee to negotiate with SBC Communications with respect to both features and cost, and in the event negotiations are unsuccessful, the Board authorizes negotiations with Qwest. Motion was seconded by Jones and carried unanimously.
INSURANCE 05-12-03
Pam Madl, Director of Administrative Services, conducted a brief presentation with respect to health insurance utilization in 2002-03. Madl indicated that there will be a reserve of approximately $1.2 million and the maximum aggregate claim limit (before reinsurance kicks in) has been decreased by about $600,000 for the 2003-04 plan year. Given the same revenue levels, the plan will be fully funded with a reserve of approximately $1.8 million at the end of May 2004. Madl reported that it is the recommendation of the Health Insurance Committee to renew the health insurance plan with the same benefit levels and the same premiums for the 2003-2004 plan year. Madl also reported that the Committee also has two recommended policy changes:
(1) Elected Officials Retiree Eligibility. It is recommended that this eligibility be the same as for appointed staff, to be effective only for future elected officials (in other words, current elected officials would still be considered under the current policy): Elected officials who have served a minimum of ten (10) consecutive years and are of retirement age (as defined within the retirement plan in which they are participating). The current eligibility reads as follows: "Elected Officials who have served a minimum of four (4) years and are of retirement age (as defined within the retire ment plan in which they are participating).
(2) Retirees Premium. It is recommended that it be County policy that the retiree must pay 55% of the health insurance premium for which he/she is enrolled. Currently the County subsidy is 52% for individual and 45% for retiree +1. Implementation of this change is recommended to be stag gered: approximately half of the increase ($6 for retiree only and $45 for retiree +1) would be effective on January 1, 2004; another increase on June 1, 2004 would then bring them up to the full 55%.
It was the consensus of the Board that the proposed changes be approved but that the Elected Officials Retiree Eligibility be changed to a minimum of eight (8) consecutive years instead of ten (10) consecutive years. This item will be placed on the Consent Agenda on June 2, 2003.
MISCELLANEOUS 05-12-03
The Board considered approval of a letter from the Douglas County Commission and the Lawrence City Commission to Governor Sebelius regarding the Environ mental Protection Agency's consideration of the boundary of an 8-hour ozone non-attainment designation area within the Kansas City region that might include Douglas County, Kansas. McElhaney made a motion to authorize the Chair to execute a letter to Governor Sebelius stating that Douglas County is not a significant contributor to Kansas City's air quality problem. Motion was seconded by Jones and carried unanimously.
PARKS -- LONE STAR & PUBLIC WORKS 05-12-03
The Board conducted a work session on waste treatment and related issues for lots in Lone Star Lake Park. No action was taken.
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 05-12-03
Jones moved approval of accounts payable in the amounts of $838,710.09 to be paid 5/5/03 and $206,711.08 to be paid 5/12/03; accounts payable manual checks in the amount of $766.00; payroll in the amount of $570,240.58; and electronic funds transfers in the amounts of $42,132.61 for FICA and $31,876.56 for KPERS to be paid 5/2/03. McElhaney seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Jones moved for adjournment. McElhaney seconded and the motion carried.
____________________________ _____________________________
Bob Johnson, Chairman Jere McElhaney, Member
ATTEST:
_____________________________ _____________________________
Patty Jaimes, County Clerk Charles Jones, Member
Time and Date