Kris Miller
Hiawatha World
Two of the Brown County commissioners voted in favor of purchasing an Asphalt Zipper machine during the meeting that took place on Wednesday, Nov. 27. Two of these same commissioners also voted in favor of approving a Cost of Living and pay raise motion during the meeting that took place on Monday, Dec. 2.
In favor of purchasing the City of Hiawatha’s Asphalt Zipper
Commissioners Richard Lehmkuhl and Lamar Shoemaker voted in favor of taking the City of Hiawatha’s bid of $43,000 to purchase their Asphalt Zipper machine. Commissioner Willam Pollock voted against the bid.
Discussion of costs of living
During the Dec. 2 meeting, the commissioners discussed an increase of cost of living for employees. Lehmkuhl and Shoemaker voted in favor of the $0.50 increase for the cost of living for employees while Pollock opposed the motion.
Other equipment purchased
During the Nov. 27 meeting, all commissioners approved the purchase of a Buyers Salt Dogg 10 inch Electric Stainless Steel salt spreader from American Equipment Co. for $1,158.
Discussion on KDOT contract and bridge OS-265
Road and Bridge Secretary Tami Lehmuhl brought up the subject of Kansas Department of Transportation grant information regarding bridge OS-265. Pollock stated that the contract discussion needed to be tabled another week due to cost concerns but both Commissioner Lehmkuhl and Tami Lehmkuhl stated that rejecting the bid information brought up could hurt the county’s chances of receiving future grants. Tami Lehmkuhl also pointed out that $54,000 was already used for preliminary engineering with Commissioner Shoemaker remarking that the project needed to move forward due to that large amount of money invested. The deadline for the KDOT grant is Friday, Dec. 13.
Regarding the re-bidding process and that the bridge discussion took place over two months, Commissioner Lehmkuhl remarked the situation with, “This has been a nightmare,” and recommended that the bid needed to be accepted. No decision was made during discussion of the bridge topic.
As of Dec. 2, there have been two bids received on the bridge OS-265.
Discussion of Lloyd Group
During the Dec. 2 meeting, Commissioner Lehmkuhl said that it would be impossible to get to the revenue neutral rate next year. He recommended that Galva-based Lloyd Group to give a presentation and work with the commission to assist with budgeting and audits.
Meeting with Ian Schuetz about land close to Brown County Landfill
During the Dec. 2 meeting, the commissioners met with Hiawatha resident Ian Schuetz about property located close to the Brown County Landfill. Schuetz requested an easement and stated that his grandmother Phyllis J. Henry–who owns the land–would need to get involved.
Schuetz also explained that the Rutland family sold the landfill acreage in 1973 and in the process, it omitted another piece of land. He also explained that the land’s northern boundary is Wolf River. The southern boundary is owned by Brown County and that the eastern boundary is a forest owned by someone else, which left the western boundary to serve as the entrance to the land.
Close to the end of the discussion, Schuetz and Commissioner Shoemaker discussed more about the legal matters of the land and an easement for the land. Schuetz stated that he could meet with Brown County Attorney Kevin Hill regarding legal matters about the easement and the land; Commissioner Lehmkuhl and Schuetz agreed that Schuetz and Brown County Landfill Director Don Pounds needed to coordinate.
Other items of discussion
• During the Nov. 27 meeting, all commissioners approved roadside agreement 24-4 for Brown County and Atchison County.
• During the Nov. 27 meeting, all commissioners voted to approve cable bury permit 24-5 from Mercury Broadband.
• During the Dec. 2 meeting, all commissioners passed a motion for a bid to purchase a snowplow for $8,512 with blade installation for the Noxious Weed department.
Editor’s Note: This is an update on the Brown County meeting that was covered last week on Wednesday, Nov. 27.
