BOARD OF McPHERSON COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS
NOVEMBER 8, 2005
REGULAR MEETING
10:00 A.M.
ALL PRESENT
One change was made to the agenda: cancel the 1:00 p.m. meeting at Public
Works. Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the agenda as amended. Commissioner
Patrick seconded. All voted
aye.
No one spoke during Public Input Session at 10:00
a.m.
Dianna Carter, County Appraiser, joined the meeting
at 10:03 a.m. and requested five (5) minutes, from 10:04 to 10:09 a.m. in
executive session to discuss non-elected personnel in the Appraiser’s Office,
and to include Mr. Witte. Commissioner
Patrick made a motion to go into executive session as requested. Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted aye.
The
Commissioners returned to open session at 10:09 a.m. No action was taken during executive session. Ms. Carter requested approval of a Personnel
Change Notice (PCN) to promote Rhonda Hart from Commercial Property Specialist
(12/I) to Deputy Appraiser (14/H0) effective November 20, 2005. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to
approve the PCN as presented.
Commissioner Terry seconded. All voted
aye.
Dillard Webster, Emergency
Management/Communications Director, joined the meeting at 10:10 a.m. with the
following requests:
B. A revised Personnel Change Notice (PCN) will be prepared and Item
B will be placed on next week’s agenda.
A. Presented information on Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), one of
the final components tying the 911 Dispatch Center upgrades together. After researching various vendors the choice
came down to Logisys for $160,000 and GeoConex for $110,000. Communications Tech James Bruntz, 911
Supervisor/Dispatcher Tim Hawkinson and County Cartographer Kevin Beakey have
researched both vendors and all three recommended Logisys. The initial cost of the Logisys program also
includes training; service via phone and/or Internet and the 1st
year of maintenance is included in the cost.
After the first year maintenance would be $12,000 per year. After discussion, Commissioner Terry made a
motion to sign the contract with Logisys for $160,000. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye. The cost of the system will be paid 100% by a Homeland Grant.
At 10:30 a.m. Chairman Schroeder
opened the meeting for public comment on the pros and cons of the proposed
Planning & Zoning Regulations changes relating to wind turbines. Several people spoke with various concerns
such as lighting on turbines, distance from residences, maximum height of
turbines and noise levels. Mr. Bahr
stated that these issues could be dealt with in a Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
and if they did not meet approval, the CUP could be lifted. Mr. Neil Colle of Delmore Township stated
that he felt the Planning & Zoning Board did not look at the County’s
Comprehensive Plan, that wind farms are not agricultural (ag.) use. Commissioner Terry also expressed concern
that wind farms are commercial, not ag. use and this goes against the
Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Albert Bailey
stated that Fireworks in Trailers (as discussed a last week’s meeting) does not
fit the Comprehensive Plan either.
Commissioner Terry made a motion that the Board vote that wind turbines
do not meet the Comprehensive Plan. The
motion died for lack of a second. After
more input from the public, Chairman Schroeder closed Public Input. There was further discussion by the
Commissioners on the proposed changes.
Commissioner Patrick made a motion to approve Resolution 05-21, a
resolution amending the McPherson County Zoning Regulations, addressing the
lack of specific wording regulating electric wind energy conversion facilities,
as presented by the Planning & Zoning Board, as written. Chairman Schroeder and Commissioner Terry
questioned the need for a specified distance from residences. Commissioner Patrick made a motion to
approve an amendment to Amendment #2: Article 3, Section 107A1 to specify that
a turbine cannot be located within 2,000 feet from any active residence located
off the CUP property unless waived by the property owner of residence. Commissioner Schroeder seconded All
voted aye. Chairman Schroeder then seconded Commissioner Patrick’s original
motion. Commissioner Schroeder
voted aye. Commissioner Patrick voted
aye. Commissioner Terry voted nay.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the minutes of November 1, 2005 as corrected. Commissioner Patrick seconded. All voted aye.
Commissioner Patrick made a motion
to approve payroll for November 11, 2005.
Commissioner Terry seconded. All
voted aye.
Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the adds and abates of November 4, 2005. Commissioner Patrick seconded.
All voted aye.
Mr. Witte presented a Personnel
Change Notice (PCN) for end of probation (12/A to 12/B) for Katherine Grossman,
Correctional Officer in the Sheriff’s Department, effective November 5,
2005. Commissioner Terry made a motion
to approve the PCN as presented.
Commissioner Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
At 12:30 p.m. Commissioner Terry
made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner
Patrick seconded. All
voted aye.
Commission Minutes taken by Irene R. Goering.
Don
L. Schroeder, Chairman
Duane
J. Patrick, Vice-Chairman
Harris
G. Terry, Commissioner
Attest: County Clerk
Susan
R. Meng