The Atchison County Commission met Tuesday, October 29, 2019. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.

The commission adjourned at 9:30 a.m. to open the 2019 meeting of the Salary Commission.

Following the Salary Commission meeting the Commission reconvened for regular business.

Don Woody with Ameren was present to introduce the commission to Phil Reed with Fagen, Inc., the contractor for the Outlaw Wind Project. They went over terms of the development agreement and discussed a few road issues. Mr. Reed plans to meet with Road Supervisor Adam Meyer to discuss details. Mr. Reed reported that they are beginning construction of driveways at turbine sites and have space rented in Westboro for office use. He further reported that they would have some job openings during the construction phase. They plan to use local businesses to the best of their ability. ACDC Director Monica Bailey has provided them with needed information and will continue to assist with information as needed. Fagen Inc., has leased the laydown site from the county for storage and will provide security 24 hours a day on the site.

Randy Arnold, County Health Insurance Broker, was present to review the 2020 renewal rates for county employees. Quint Lingerfelt, local agent, was not present for the meeting. Original renewal rates came in with a 28.9% increase because Blue Cross had used the 2017 full-time equivalent report which showed the county under 51 employees. Clerk Taylor’s office submitted the 2018 report which brought the county to over 51 employees, putting them in a different rate class, bringing the renewal rate down to a 9.5% increase. North District Commission Jim Quimby made a motion to accept the renewal from Blue Cross & Blue Shield for 2020. Discussion followed that the time has come for the commission to look at capping the amount the county will pay for health insurance in the future. The commissioners voted to accept the renewal from Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

Clerk Taylor reported that she met with Midwest Data Center to see how many computers within the courthouse will need to be upgraded to Windows 10 since the current versions will no longer be supported. Ten computers need to be upgraded and a bid from Midwest Data Center to upgrade the units using their regular bid and a government bid were presented. The government bid came in cheaper. Clerk Taylor requested approval to take the cost of the new computers out of an equipment line that has been set aside for large equipment needs. The commissioners voted to approve the request as presented to purchase the Windows 10 computers from the equipment budget.

There being no further business, the commission adjourned.

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The commission met on Thursday, October 31. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.

Senator Dan Hegeman stopped in to visit with the commission.

Amber Barnes with USDA and Monica Bailey, ACDC Director, met with the commission at 9:30 a.m. Amber discussed the Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program and how it could benefit the county. Atchison County can qualify for up to a 15% grant on eligible projects. Clerk Taylor will work to provide a list of equipment or other needs that could qualify and forward five years of budget history as required.

A conference call was placed at 10:30 a.m. with the commissioners, Clerk Taylor, Emergency Management Director/Flood Plain Coordinator Rhonda Wiley, Dan Pfeifer and BNSF regarding Flood Plain Permit #2019-002. Present on the call were: Ryan Hammons, HDR, Inc.; Dan Pfeifer, HDR Water Resource Engineer; Mark Scheafer, HDR Bridge Engineer; Dava Katala, General Director of Construction and Permitting for BNSF; and Nathen Loftice, Director of Planning-Permitting & Sustainability for BNSF.

Ms. Katala gave an overview of the project and stated that they had visited with the Corps of Engineers and members of the Atchison County Levee District, where the Corps had given them approval to get up and running as soon as possible. Clerk Taylor reported that their calls were with members of the levee district who do not report to the commission, so no one from the county was involved on those calls.

Permit #2019-002 was submitted on September 6, 2019, to replace the existing BNSF MP 124.21 Napier Bridge with a new bridge structure in the same location as the existing bridge. Permit #2019-003 is for temporary culverts and a shoofly detour in order to restore service to the track as well as facilitate repairs to the bridge. Ms. Katala stated that the shoofly will be removed upon completion of the project.

Presiding Commissioner Livengood stated that the commission has not approved the permits because BNSF has refused to provide the county with needed flood plain permits for all other changes made to the line in Atchison County. New tubes have been added to the entire length of the structure in Atchison County and the line has been elevated at least two feet. Ms. Katala stated that those are not considered structure changes by FEMA and a permit is not required. Commissioner Livengood stated that is not the documentation that the county has received. The county has been told that according to the Atchison County Flood Plain Ordinance they are required to provide a permit and the county will not let BNSF non-compliance be a reason for Atchison County citizens being unable to obtain flood plain insurance.

Ms. Katala agreed and felt maybe their issue was with FEMA giving two different answers and not with the county. She requested that Flood Plain Coordinator Wiley forward all the documentation from FEMA and wanted to speak with the individual who told the county they were required to have permits. Mrs. Wiley agreed to send the documentation but requested the call be a conference call with FEMA so the county and BNSF were hearing the same information. Ms. Katala agreed and stated that the fastest way to move forward would be to just provide the permits requested.

Presiding Commissioner Livengood agreed and stated that it is not the desire of the county to slow down the rebuilding of the rail, as one of the county’s largest businesses relies on the rail, but is the duty of county to make sure we are in compliance with FEMA and the Flood Plain Ordinance.

Ms. Katala will contact Flood Plain Coordinator Wiley to set up a conference call with FEMA or submit the required permits.

There being no further business, the commission adjourned.

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The Commission met Tuesday, November 5. Present were: Presiding Commissioner Curtis Livengood, South District Commissioner Richard Burke, North District Commissioner Jim Quimby, and Susette Taylor, Clerk of the Commission.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved. Bills were reviewed and approved.

Monthly reports were reviewed and approved.

Larry Gibson with Group Benefit Services gave a presentation on services they offer. Clerk Taylor and the commission felt a feasibility study in late April would be a good tool to use in assisting with looking into health care and benefit options.

The employee benefit fair was held at the Velma Houts Building with benefit representatives present to visit with the employees for their open enrollment.

The commission made a site visit to Gavilon Grain to see how their recovery status is going. They hope to reopen by the first of the year.

There being no further business, the commission adjourned.