The Board of Lincoln County Commissioners met at 9:00 a

Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County

Agenda for August 18, 2008

9:00 Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance

9:05 Patricia Phillips with Social Services to present the CORE Plan for review and signature

1:00 County Assessor Estelle Thaller and County Treasurer Jim Covington to discuss hardware and software for their respective offices and companies who can provide them

1. Approve the minutes from the August 6th meeting

2. Review the July report from the Clerk’s Office

3. Review paperwork from Limon Ambulance Service and Lincoln Community Hospital Transport Service for renewal of their annual license for the service and the licenses for each ambulance

4. Review a Treasurer’s Deed to Lincoln County for mineral interest only in various sections located in T11S-R56W and T12S-R56W

5. Review and sign a work order with W.W. Enterprises for the performance of engineering services at the county landfill

6. Review a request from Jo Downey with Prairie Development Corporation to provide a letter of support for a grant request to the Colorado Tourism Board for tourism marketing funds

7. Review a letter from Lincoln Community Hospital concerning a loan/grant with USDA Rural Development that will be applied for

8. Review information concerning use of Transportation Enhancement grant funds to construct a new roof over four bays of the roundhouse

9. Work on some of the 2009 budgets

10. County Commissioners’ reports

11. County Administrator’s report

12. County Attorney’s report

13. Old business

a. Contact Mike Trahern with Farmers New Holland to discuss the skid steer purchased there

14. New business

a. Discuss having a handicap accessible door in the Ellis Allen building

b. Discuss changing the September 18^th Commissioners meeting due to a conflict with the County Health Pool renewal meeting

The Board of Lincoln County Commissioners met at 9:00 a.m. on August 18, 2008. The following attended: Chairman Ted Lyons, Commissioners Steve Burgess and Gary Beedy, County Administrator Roxie Devers and Clerk to the Board Corinne M. Lengel. Kay Christie with The Limon Leader and the Eastern Colorado Plainsman was present from 10:00 a.m. until noon, and County Attorney Stan Kimble was present in the afternoon.

Chairman Lyons called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance, and then Patricia Phillips with Social Services met with the Board to present the CORE Plan for review and signature. Mr. Burgess made a motion to sign the CORE Plan, Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, and it carried unanimously.

Mr. Burgess asked Ms. Phillips if she felt Centennial Mental Health was making any progress and Ms. Phillips said she definitely liked the new director.

The minutes from the meeting held on August 6, 2008, were approved as submitted.

The Board reviewed the July report from the County Clerk’s office, as well as July reports from the E911, Landfill, Library and Road & Bridge funds and the individual road districts.

Ms. Devers said she had sent out letters in May to the local ambulance services, but no one had responded for their renewals on time and the licenses all expired on August 6. She wanted to wait for Mr. Kimble to see who would be liable should a lawsuit occur. The Board reviewed the paperwork from the Limon Ambulance Service, as well as that from the Lincoln Community Hospital Transport Service for renewal of their annual license for the service, as well as the licenses for each ambulance. Ms. Devers did say that Patrick Leonard told her he is working on Karval’s, but she would still feel more comfortable speaking with Mr. Kimble since there are more stringent regulations now.

Mr. Burgess made a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing Limon Ambulance Service to provide ambulance service in Lincoln County as basic life support with advanced life support capabilities. Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

At a regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County, Colorado held in Hugo, Colorado on August 18, 2008 there were present:

Ted Lyons, Chairman Present

Steve Burgess, Vice Chairman Present

Gary A. Beedy, Commissioner Present

Stan Kimble, County Attorney Absent & Excused

Corinne Lengel, Clerk of the Board Present

Roxie Devers, County Administrator Present

when the following proceedings, among others, were had and done, to-wit:

RESOLUTION #689 It was moved by Commissioner Burgess and seconded by Commissioner Beedy to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Colorado Emergency Medical Services Act, Section 25-315.101, et seq., C.R.S., the Board of County Commissioners has the authority to establish requirements for the inspection, licensure, and operation of ambulance services, ambulance personnel, and ambulance vehicles operating in the county; and

WHEREAS, the Lincoln County Commissioners adopted Resolution #651 and thereby established rules and regulations governing the licensure of ambulance services operating within Lincoln County; and

WHEREAS, the Limon Ambulance Service has presented the Board of County Commissioners with an application to license the ambulance service and to permit their ambulances as basic life support with advanced life support capabilities; and

WHEREAS, upon review the Board of County Commissioners determined that the documentation presented met the rules and regulations established under Resolution #651;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County that the Limon Ambulance Service is hereby authorized to provide ambulance service in Lincoln County as basic life support with advanced life support capabilities.

Upon roll call the vote was:

Commissioner Burgess, Yes; Commissioner Beedy, Yes; Commissioner Lyons, Yes.

The Chairman declared the motion carried and so ordered.

Board of County Commissioners

of Lincoln County

_______________________________________

ATTEST: _______________________________________

_________________________________ _______________________________________

Clerk of the Board

Mr. Burgess then made a motion to adopt a resolution authorizing Lincoln Community Hospital Transport Ambulance Service to provide ambulance service in Lincoln County as basic life support with advanced life support capabilities. Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

At a regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County, Colorado held in Hugo, Colorado on August 18, 2008 there were present:

Ted Lyons, Chairman Present

Steve Burgess, Vice Chairman Present

Gary A. Beedy, Commissioner Present

Stan Kimble, County Attorney Absent & Excused

Corinne Lengel, Clerk of the Board Present

Roxie Devers, County Administrator Present

when the following proceedings, among others, were had and done, to-wit:

RESOLUTION #690 It was moved by Commissioner Burgess and seconded by Commissioner Beedy to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Lincoln County Commissioners adopted Resolution #651 and thereby established rules and regulations governing the licensure of ambulance services operating within Lincoln County; and

WHEREAS, the Lincoln Community Hospital Transport Service has presented the Board of County Commissioners with an application to license the ambulance service and to permit their ambulances as basic life support with advanced life support capabilities; and

WHEREAS, upon review the Board of County Commissioners determined that the documentation presented met the rules and regulations established under Resolution #651;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County that the Lincoln Community Hospital Transport Ambulance Service is hereby authorized to provide ambulance service in Lincoln County as basic life support with advanced life support capabilities.

Upon roll call the vote was:

Commissioner Burgess, Yes; Commissioner Beedy, Yes; Commissioner Lyons, Yes.

The Chairman declared the motion carried and so ordered.

Board of County Commissioners

of Lincoln County

_______________________________________

ATTEST: _______________________________________

_________________________________ _______________________________________

Clerk of the Board

Mike Vaughn stopped by the meeting to discuss the demolition derby at the county fair, and the commissioners had nothing but good things to say about the event. Mr. Lyons did say he heard one complaint, and that had to do with the announcement of the event. Mike said he’d had trouble with that all day long, and that every time the derby was announced it seemed that it was going to begin at a different time. He said there were a couple of other issues that they needed to work out, but that they fully intended to hold the derby again next year. They would like to have some other form of entertainment in front of the grandstands during the lax times while the drivers are working on their cars, so they had discussed holding something for kids to participate in. Mike said that he had received one negative comment in regard to the arena, even though he had raked it three times and only picked up about a coffee can full of metal or other debris from the vehicles. When asked if it was worth their while to hold the event, Mike said they had split the gate admission with the Hugo VFW and were able to give them almost fifteen hundred dollars, so he felt it was very worthwhile.

Since Mike was there, the Board asked his opinion on the skid steer they were having problems with. He said that he stood by the mechanic one hundred percent since driving it himself, explaining that the restriction is due to the fact that it is a two-speed. He has total confidence in the machine now, but if the Board would like to upgrade to the 185, he thought it could be done for roughly $7,000.00 extra. Mr. Lyons said it would probably only come with a one-year warranty if they were to upgrade, but Mike said he would be willing to work with the county since they have had so many problems with the other one.

Mr. Burgess asked if he would be willing to go out and drive them both, as Mr. Lyons was afraid the unit was a lemon, so Mike said he and Chris Monks would go and drive them and then they would both come back afterward and report what they found.

After reviewing a Treasurer’s Deed to Lincoln County for mineral interest in various sections located in T11S-R56W and T12S-R56W, Mr. Burgess made a motion to lift the countywide fire ban, effective immediately. Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, but added that the sheriff would still need to be notified of large burns. The motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Beedy then made a motion to sign a work order with W.W. Enterprises for the performance of engineering services at the county landfill. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

Mr. Burgess made a motion to sign a request from Jo Downey with Prairie Development Corporation to provide a letter of support for a grant request to the Colorado Tourism Board for tourism marketing funds. Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

Mr. Burgess also made a motion to sign a letter for Lincoln Community Hospital concerning a loan/grant with USDA Rural Development that will be applied for. Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

Ms. Devers explained the information that the Board reviewed regarding use of Transportation Enhancement grant funds to construct a new roof over four bays at the roundhouse. The funds were reduced by $274,000.00 as part of CDOT’s fiscal year 2009 budget cuts of roughly three hundred million dollars. Since Lincoln County is not ready to move forward with that particular portion of the roundhouse project, Regional Planner Darin Stavish requested that the federal award of $347,000.00 be postponed until the county could provide its $87,000.00 match. Ms. Devers said they actually have $30,000.00 at this time and may have the other funding as early as next March, so she is to contact Mr. Stavish when she hears from the El Pomar Foundation, from which they may receive $25,000.00.

Mr. Lyons said he’d spoken with Mike Greybeal with Union Pacific, since they did spray the weeds along the railroad rights-of-way. Mr. Lyons asked him if he knew of anyone who would be interested in helping with the roundhouse project, and Mr. Graybeal provided him with a name and phone number, which Mr. Lyons passed on to Ms. Devers.

Discussion ensued on putting handicap accessible doors in the Ellis Allen building at the fairgrounds; everyone agreeing that the most likely place would be the double doors on the west side of the building by the restrooms. Ms. Devers said she would contact the company that put the doors in at the courthouse and see how much they would cost.

Mr. Beedy said he would also like to see the restrooms beneath the grandstands addressed, as there were serious problems with toilets clogging up and overflowing during the demolition derby, especially in the women’s restroom.

Mr. Lyons said there are supposed to be two septic tanks; one on the east side and one on the west side, but that Mike Mosher told him that as far as he knew they had never been pumped. He added that they did have to pump the septic tank during fair because there were also issues with the restrooms in the Ellis Allen building. Mr. Lyons called Kelly Alvarez and she suggested that they have Rob Fager do an assessment of the tanks. He asked Ms. Alvarez if it mattered how far the water ran, as there is a place in some trees out to the west of the grandstands that could be used for a septic system, and she told him it made no difference.

Mr. Burgess said that if they had to install infiltrators, the parking lot would certainly be out, unless they built a pipe fence around it, as Mr. Lyons suggested.

Mr. Beedy said he would like to see the restrooms completely upgraded and refurbished under the grandstands, and Mr. Burgess suggested that purchasing a complete restroom unit might be more cost effective in the long run. He said he would check into it.

Mike Vaughn and Chris Monks stopped in with a report on the skid steer, and it was decided that the county would keep the 175 that they have now, since Mike seems to think there will be no more problems with it. A phone call was made to Mike Trahern with Farmers New Holland to let him know the Board’s decision. Mr. Lyons did tell him that they wanted their letter kept on file, just in case they have any future difficulties.

Mr. Burgess asked Chris to stay once Mike Vaughn left, since he wanted to talk to him about the nurse’s van. Chris said it had not been serviced as it should have been and it had over five thousand miles on it since they had checked it out last. Mr. Burgess said he spoke with Tonda Scott about it earlier this morning and told her that the van needs to be brought in for service roughly every three thousand miles.

Mr. Lyons called for new business, and Ms. Devers said the Board had received letters from Kenneth and Virginia Becker and Robert Eikermann, each expressing their support for rapid and comprehensive expansion of the transmission capacity from the Kansas border of eastern Colorado to the Front Range.

There was also a letter from the Arikaree Groundwater Management District regarding their displeasure with the Republican River Water Conservation District’s manager, executive committee and legal council. Further, the ARGWMD requested to have all high capacity wells in the ARGWMD removed from the tax rolls of the RRWCD due to non-payment by the Division of Wildlife on their 2005, 2006 and 2007 assessment for evaporation, and actions taken concerning Bonny Reservoir and sub-basin implications on the South Fork of the Republican River. There was also a concern that the RRWCD continually disregards the Sunshine Law and their by-laws.

Mr. Burgess said he actually had old business to discuss, which concerned the cattle guard problems up north. He wanted to know if the county would like to file a formal complaint protesting the constant maintenance work on the county road that is being created for the District Two road crew, since the landowners are clearly making no effort to comply with county regulations and take care of their cattle guards. He said he would speak with Mr. Kimble about it later.

Also, Mr. Burgess commented that he was told the Karval Fire Protection District dissolution issue will most likely appear on the November ballot, as there was never mention of the seven mill tax increase in the original ballot wording.

Mr. Lyons said he had a bit of new business that he found worrisome, and that was that the Lincoln County courthouse appears on the rail study website and he felt it shouldn’t be there. Mr. Beedy agreed, adding that it gives the appearance that Lincoln County supports the rail project.

Mr. Lyons said he’d spoken with Scott Ravenkamp, who told him that they are receiving more positive feedback and that Joe Kiely is providing some good information, so their stance now is to back off a little.

Ms. Devers then gave her report, first stating that Shawn Smith with Smith Construction would install the new front entry doors at the courthouse on August 21 and 22. Next, she reminded the Board that they had not made a decision about Tonda Scott’s comp time, and Mr. Beedy said he felt they should follow the personnel policy. The others agreed, so Mr. Beedy made a motion to abide by the county personnel policy in regard to the Public Health Director’s comp time, and that she be required to submit her time sheets on a monthly basis and that they include an explanation for any additional hours worked. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

Ms. Devers submitted the trip sheets and mileage records of the county coroner’s van, stating that they were not filled out correctly and seemed to have inaccurate information on them. The Board reviewed the sheets and discussed how best to handle the situation, and then Ms. Devers said she thought she could send Ms. Nestor an example of a sheet that is correctly filled out for her to follow.

David Seymour had turned in a bill in the amount of $209.83 for a broken side window in his personal pick-up that occurred when the county mower he met kicked up a rock and broke it. The Board agreed that they would pay the bill out of the District Three budget since they would not be able to turn it into the insurance because the amount was less than the $500.00 deductible.

Ms. Devers informed the Board of a Red Cross Emergency Sheltering Information meeting hosted by RSVP at the courthouse on August 21 at 9:00 a.m., and then explained that RSVP Director Melody Maskus was invited to be on the Advisory Council for Old Town in Kit Carson County and wanted to know if it would be acceptable to attend evening meetings in her capacity as RSVP Director. The Board agreed that Ms. Maskus could do so.

The budget meeting for the District Attorney was re-scheduled for September 4, and Ms. Devers wanted to know if any of the commissioners would be able to attend that day. Mr. Beedy said he might be available.

Ms. Maskus met with the Kit Carson County commissioners regarding the lease for the RSVP building in Flagler, and they were not opposed to the increase in utilities, but would like to revise the lease and make it for twelve months, rather than six. Ms. Devers said it didn’t look as if Lincoln County’s portion of the gas or sewer and water bill had changed, but she had found some typos in the document that Ms. Maskus would need to correct. She said she would ask her to make those corrections and also to clarify that Lincoln County’s portion of the utilities would not increase.

Also, the Kit Carson County commissioners did not want the RSVP coordinator in Flagler using the car that Lincoln County allows Ms. Maskus to drive, but would prefer that she continue to use her personal vehicle and submit her mileage claims.

Ms. Devers provided the Adjuster Final Summary in the amount of $132,816.45 for the roundhouse as her last item to report. She said she did not know if the engineer’s fees were figured into the total amount, so she would need to check on that, adding that the engineer also sent the draft project manual and drawings, but she wanted Mr. Kimble to look at them. She would also like to ask him if it would be possible to request that they purchase any materials locally. The Board reviewed the document and Mr. Lyons commented on the charge that was listed for dumpsters. Mr. Burgess said they should be able to use the county dumpsters. Ms. Devers said she also intended to inquire about the lodging costs.

Mr. Lyons then called for commissioner reports, so Mr. Beedy said he had attended the CHP board meeting via conference call on August 7. There will definitely be an increase in health insurance in 2009, but he assured the others that it would be nowhere near the average ten-to-twelve percent. On August 13, Mr. Beedy attended the Works Allocation Committee meeting in Denver for Social Services, stating they are getting a little more for close-out on the Colorado Works Program. He added that he intended to put his name in for SB177, as he would like to represent the small counties to be sure that the distribution of approximately ten million dollars does not all go to the larger counties. On August 14, he attended the Fatherhood Initiative meeting, stating that Ms. Barksdale is looking into using TANF funds to purchase school supplies and backpacks for school students on their programs next year. Mr. Beedy also reported that interviews were held on August 15, and Rebecca Carter was hired as the Colorado East Community Action executive director.

Mr. Burgess reported that he attended the fair on August 7 (and other days that week), then toured roads and checked on the cattle guards up north. Ken Morrison composed a letter giving the landowner forty-five days to correct the problem, or the county would take action. Mr. Burgess repeated that he intended to have Mr. Kimble review the letter. On August 9, he attended the fair queen dinner, on the Eleventh he checked out roads that were washed out from the recent rain, and then helped Roger Noakes haul gravel. On August 12, Mr. Burgess spoke with Gary Stillmunkes with Asphalt Specialties regarding the off-load project in Genoa. He told Mr. Burgess that he was ashamed of the mess it had created and that they intend to get it cleaned up as soon as possible. He added that the pallets will be hauled to the landfill, and that the party who had moved some of them onto his property had told Mr. Stillmunkes that he intended to grind them up. They hope to put up fence around the pallets to keep the trash from blowing so much, but he also informed Mr. Burgess that Kyle Railroad has told them that they no longer have funds to purchase ballasts. Mr. Burgess also returned the dumpsters to Flying J that he had borrowed for the fair. On August 13, he helped Roger Noakes, and on the Fourteenth he attended the Centennial Mental Health meeting in Fort Morgan, as well as the Bookmobile board meeting. The request for funds from CMH for 2009 is a little over $8,000.00, and Mr. Burgess said he was a bit surprised that Elbert County had only given $10,000.00 of the $29,000.00 that was requested from them. On August 15, Mr. Burgess checked roads where water had run, and he also provided the Census Report that he received from COG. He added that he again received a complaint during the fair that there was no drinking fountain at the fairgrounds. He told the party that the problem with putting one in is that they are often vandalized, and Mr. Beedy commented that the most logical place to put one may be inside the Ellis Allen building by the restrooms.

Mr. Lyons reported that Mr. Burgess had received a complaint during fair about one of the roads in District One so, on August 8, Mr. Lyons checked into it. On August 11 he toured more roads, went by the landfill, and checked on County Road 26. The Thirteenth, he and Chris Monks took another road tour and Mr. Lyons commented that County Road 25 was perfect where they had put the rotomill down. They plan on putting it even further. On August 17, Mr. Lyons again checked roads after the rains, and then went out to the fairgrounds to see if he could come up with a way to fix the parking lot.

At 1:00 p.m., County Assessor Estelle Thaller and County Treasurer Jim Covington met with the Board to discuss hardware and software for their respective offices and companies who can provide them. Jeremiah Higgins was also present. Comparisons of three different companies were reviewed: ACS, the current vendor for $207,720.96 annually; Tyler Technologies for $111,776.04 annually; and CCI for $68,748.00 annually.

Ms. Thaller said they would have to run dual systems for a portion of the year until the conversion is done, but she felt that CCI was by far the best option. Mr. Covington put in that the Assessor’s software had already been developed and that their number one priority now is the Treasurer’s programs. If Mr. Covington were to go onto the system as a Beta county next year in August, it would only be an additional $11,000.00 to run two side-by-side systems. Ms. Thaller said it would cost her $10,000.00 extra for next year, but it certainly would not take long to recover the costs, as there is no yearly increase with CCI, at least through the year 2015. She did say that CCI does not pay for tax notices or notices of valuation, but the price does include equipment and computers. She added that they hope to run the tax notices and NOVs in-house, to avoid further costs, and that she is very excited about the new technology and it will be much easier once everything is converted.

Mr. Burgess wanted to know how long the company has been in operation, and Ms. Thaller said they have been around for seventeen years, and have just finished converting the majority of the state of Wyoming to their systems. They would like Mr. Kimble to review the contracts or come up with one of their own. Mr. Covington said the service would be very good and Jeremiah agreed that since they are still committed to small business, CCI will be much easier to work with.

The Board was in favor of pursuing the change in hardware and software companies for the Assessor and Treasurer, as well as for Mr. Covington to allow Lincoln County to be a Beta county for the system.

Mr. Burgess asked Mr. Covington to remain as he wanted to question him about the process to legally add a fee to someone’s property taxes. Mr. Covington said that in order to do that, he would need a copy of all the regulations giving the commissioners authority to take such action, and Mr. Kimble said it could not be done unless state statute provides for it.

Mr. Lyons put in that he felt the question would come up again if they plan on pursuing the weed problem and the problems with prairie dogs, but Mr. Burgess reminded him that the county does not have a pest ordinance of any kind. Mr. Kimble said that there is a provision in statute specifically for noxious weeds, but that he couldn’t seem to find anything right off that referred particularly to pests or cattle guards. He advised that if there is no statutory authority to do so, it cannot be done, but he would research it further.

Mr. Kimble then gave his report, starting with the project manual that Ms. Devers left for him to look over. He said it appeared to be fine except for a portion that pertained to bids not being made public. Ms. Devers agreed that all bids would need to be opened during a public meeting. Mr. Kimble added that he is still waiting for the $5,000.00 reimbursement from the Fal Calvert case, and provided a couple of items for the Board’s review regarding the noxious weed management enforcement policy, including a request for inspection and an order to bring property into compliance.

Extension Director Linda Yoder stopped by the meeting to ask if the Board would allow her department to go to a four-day work week. She explained that they would have the office open from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., rather than from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and that all employees have to drive to Hugo, so it would be very beneficial for them. She felt that since they are in a separate building and actually have their own furnace and air conditioner, energy savings would be an advantage, as well.

Ms. Devers brought up the fact that the Assessor’s office is trying a four-day work week with one of their employees, but that Ms. Thaller brought it to her attention that that person will have to work extra hours during a week when there is a Monday holiday. She wanted Ms. Yoder to be aware of that fact also, as the same principle would apply to her staff.

Mr. Lyons said he felt that county offices are open to serve the public, and he wasn’t sure that improving the employees’ lifestyles actually served that purpose. He asked if they actually felt like they would serve more customers being open earlier in the morning and later in the evening.

Ms. Yoder said she did keep statistics for numbers of phone calls and customers served, since those figures have to be reported to CSU, if the Board felt that would help, and Mr. Lyons asked that she bring the information in. Ms. Yoder added that the office is normally not very busy on Fridays.

Once Ms. Yoder had gone, Mr. Beedy made a motion to go into executive session, per C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4) (f) (I) to discuss personnel. Mr. Burgess seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. Those remaining for the session were Mr. Lyons, Mr. Burgess, Mr. Beedy, Ms. Devers, Mr. Kimble and Ms. Lengel. The executive session was tape-recorded, and the tape is on file in the County Clerk’s vault.

When the Board came out of executive session, Ms. Devers commented that Travis Nall would be gone the week of September 15, and asked if the Board would like for her to have him teach someone else in the courthouse about the air conditioning units, or if they would prefer that she just contact Plains Heating and Air Conditioning in the event something happened. It was agreed that the latter option would be the best.

Ms. Devers asked Mr. Kimble about the ambulance regulations and explained that she sends the forms out to the entities sixty days prior to their due date. She told him that all licenses had expired, but that the Board had renewed two of them earlier in the day, and that Karval at least was in the process of working on theirs. She asked what the liability to the county would be, or who would be responsible in the event of a problem. Mr. Kimble advised that it normally would be the ambulance service’s responsibility, but that anyone looking for a lawsuit would undoubtedly blame the county, as well. He asked if she had sent follow-up letters to those who had not responded, and Ms. Devers said she would do so.

The Board discussed several of the department budgets for 2009, including Office of the Board, Administrative, Council of Governments, Centennial Mental Health, Ambulance Service, Fire Control, and Pest & Predator Control. Mr. Lyons felt that the coyote bounty should be done away with and the $1,000.00 in the fund could be used to purchase bait equipment for prairie dog eradication. He felt that if they purchased two or three of the mechanisms that can be attached to four-wheelers, they could then rent them out to landowners interested in doing so. The others agreed that it was a good idea, and Ms. Devers added that Mr. Covington had commented that the coyote bounty has become quite a nuisance, anyway.

Other budgets also briefly discussed were the Developmentally Disabled and Wal Mart Grant budgets and then, with no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was adjourned until 9:00 a.m. on August 28, 2008.

__________________________________________ _______________________________

Corinne M. Lengel, Clerk to the Board Ted Lyons, Chairman