The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on January 9, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Chairman Oswald opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Those in attendance were:

• Donald Oswald, Chairman
• Howard "Butch" Robertson, Commissioner Mike Lening, Commissioner
• Delisa Weeks, County Clerk
• Tina Adamson, County Administrator
• Members of the audience: Cindy McLoud, KCEDF Director

Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the December 28, 2023 minutes. Motion carried.

Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion carried.

Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended, with 1 addition in Old Business and 5 additions in New Business. Motion carried.

Cindy McLoud, Kiowa County Economic Foundation Director, provided a monthly report on grants and housing information. McLoud exited the meeting at 9:30 a.m.

Cobblestone Public Hearing: Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to move into the Public Hearing for the Cobblestone Inn and Suites at 10:01 a.m.  Delisa Weeks, County Clerk presented the new liquor license application for review. There was no one from the public in attendance. Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to adjourn the hearing and move back into the regular Commissioners meeting at 10:07 a.m. Motion carried.

Chairman, Donald Oswald moved to go into the reorganization meeting. Robertson seconded the motion. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Grants: Nothing to Report.

Landfill and Recycling Update: Landfill Foreman, Jeff Scranton has been working on different price quotes for equipment needed to operate the landfill. Scranton will be at the next meeting with further information.

Administrator Adamson also discussed as to whether the county would want to remain as a landfill or if there would be any interest becoming a transfer station. No decision was made at this time.

Planning and Zoning Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to set the date of February 13, 2024 for the Public Hearing for the Towner East Wind Project.

Courthouse: Adamson reported there is no heat in the east side of courthouse. Some of the offices are now operating with electric heaters. Plains Heating will be coming to repair this issue.

Chairman, Donald Oswald moved, to go into the reorganizational meeting. Robertson seconded the motion. Motion carried. The different board positions that were voted on will be held at the Administration Office for review.

Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to recess for lunch at 12:08 p.m. Motion carried.

The regular meeting reconvened at 1:05 p.m.

Dennis Pearson entered the meeting at 1:00 p.m. to provide a monthly report for the Department of Social Services. Pearson exited the meeting at 1:30 p.m.

Meetings and reports were reviewed and signed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Ronnie Farmer, Auditor for Kiowa County entered the meeting at 2:00 p.m. to review the 2022 Audit. Others that were present for the review were Diana Flory, County Treasurer and Dawna Peck, Finance Officer. After the review was completed, Mr. Farmer highly recommended that the County purchase a new bookkeeping system that would work with the Administrator office, the Treasurer's Office and the Assessor's Office. Treasurer Flory said this kind of program is very pricey and that her office and the Assessor's Office already have a program that is working. Discussion followed with no action taken.

Farmer also suggested the BOCC take into consideration of hiring another person for the position of Land Use. He said that Adamson is being spread very thin with all the duties that she has to do.

Time off Requests: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the one time off request. Motion carried.

Treasurer's Annual Report: These reports were signed by Chairman Oswald.

Legion Hall Insurance: Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve payment of the insurance for the Legion Hall without requiring reimbursement by VFW Post 125. Motion carried.

Cobblestone Liquor License: Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the Liquor License for Cobblestone Inn and Suites. Motion carried.

Employee: Discussion ensued over county employees being related and if this is even an option for a Supervisor to hire a relative. No decision was made at the time.

Wildlife Contract: Administrative Adamson discussed the wildlife contract from 2 years ago. She said Kiowa County did not participate in this program in 2023 due to APHIS's lack of staff to provide the service. She will gather more information and have it for review.

The next regular meeting will be held January 25, 2024 at 9:00 a.m.

With no further items to discuss, Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:38 p.m. Motion carried .

/s/Delisa L. Weeks

County Clerk

Donald Oswald

Chairman