The Commission met November 1, 2018. Present were: North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission. Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood was absent.
South District Commissioner Burke called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed, approved and ordered paid.
W.C. Farmer was present to inquire about information he had heard related to the cancellation of the public hearing for the Brickyard Hill Project. The Commission and Clerk Taylor stated that the county had received information that Ameren, a public utility, had filed with the Public Service Commission to purchase a 157 MW wind farm in Atchison County, which is the Brickyard Hill Project. That led to the postponement of the hearing to allow the county time to gather information. The county has scheduled a meeting with the developer, EDF, to determine why this information was not disclosed during early talks with the commission. He inquired if the information was disclosed to landowners. He was told the commission has no interaction between the landowners and the developer, and the commission is not aware of what information was given to the landowners. He asked if a meeting with landowners was planned. The commission stated not at this time. The county’s efforts will be to assist with drafting and supporting legislation where wind farms owned by a public utility will be assessed with tax revenue coming back to the local level where the turbines are located. There are currently no statutes in the State of Missouri that govern how wind is assessed so it is being lumped into a 30 year old statute that would take the tax dollars out of Atchison County and distribute them over the entire state. It is the commission’s desire to support the project as long as Atchison County citizens, businesses and political subdivisions benefit from the economic development.
Rhonda Wiley, E-911/Emergency Management Director, was present to discuss Code Red, an emergency alert system with enhanced benefits. TextCaster is currently used. Presiding Commissioner Livengood was in on the discussion, via speaker phone. Director Wiley explained the additional alert option that Code Red would offer. She is planning to meet with a representative from Cooper Nuclear Station to see if they will contribute to the $3,000 cost of the alert system. No decision was made at this meeting about moving forward.
Director Wiley also presented Flood Plain Permit #2018-003 for the Tarkio Airport. It is complete and just needs the signature of Presiding Commissioner Livengood.
Bids were opened and read for the 2005 Crown Victoria. Only two bids were received: Mike Vance for $300, and Steve Irvine for $505. The commissioners voted to accept Steve Irvine’s bid of $505.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
The Commission met November 6, 2018. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.
Presiding Commissioner Livengood called the meeting to order.
Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved.
Bills were reviewed, approved and ordered paid.
Monthly department reports were reviewed and approved.
Flood Plain Permit number 2018-003 was signed by Presiding Commissioner Livengood for the Tarkio Airport runway.
Public Administrator Jayne Scott presented her 2019 budget figures. She had no changes in her request, and reported that she currently has 28 clients.
Budget forms were also accepted from Treasurer Debbie True and Recorder Eliza Beasing. Both departments had no significant changes or requests.
The commissioners reviewed the Code Red Agreement. All were in agreement that the enhanced benefits it allowed would be an improvement to the current text caster system. The commissioners voted to approve the Code Red Agreement with an annual cost of $3,000. Presiding Commissioner Livengood noted that Director Wiley is working with Cooper Nuclear Station to share in the expense.
Clerk Taylor reported that the general election was going very well with a very high voter turnout.
The commission participated in a conference call with Attorney Ivan Schraeder. Mr. Schrader reported on the intervention that was filed with the Public Service Commission in regards to Ameren purchasing a local windfarm under development. He will send paperwork for the commission to review prior the settlement conference, which will be held in Jefferson City on November 14.
There being no further business, the commission adjourned.
