Lyon County Commissioners heard Thursday morning that Neosho Rapids city officials have requested a special election next month to decide whether the city’s natural gas company should be sold to Kansas Gas Utility Co., doing business as Black Hills Energy.
County Clerk Tammy Vopat said that the city gas operation cannot be sold without majority approval of Neosho Rapids voters.
Vopat said Black Hills Energy will pay $64,664 for the business.
The city of Neosho Rapids passed an ordinance authorizing the sale, which prompted the need for the special election, she said.
Neosho Rapids will pay for the cost of the ballots and their legal publications.
“They won’t pay for our wages,” Vopat said.
The election will be at the Neosho Rapids community center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 21.
The canvass of results will be on April 24.
Commissioners also heard the county could be eligible for funds related to foreclosures through two state programs.
Commissioner Teresa Walters reported that ECKAN officials told her there may be about $285,000 available to use in foreclosures in Lyon County.
Sam Seeley, Zoning/Flood Plain manager, said that the state’s Department of Commerce’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program has grants available for 20 counties that have been designated as qualified to receive funds.
“What we need to do is we need to have an action plan in place for this money,” Seeley told the commission.
The money can be administered by the county or, at the county’s option, by a city.
Commission Chairman Scott Briggs said he understood that the county needed to notify the state by Wednesday whether it intended to apply for the funds.
Seeley left the meeting to have the letter of interest drawn up and returned to the commission for signatures immediately.
Commissioners and department heads discussed needs for and problems with the county’s varied types of computer systems.
Controller Dan Slater said that the state of Kansas wants counties to use Windows-based server applications that are not yet readily available.
“But we don’t want to be first,” Slater said, before describing other counties that have attempted the changeover and spent considerable sums for upgrades and repairs.
Several systems are used, depending upon department and requirements for functions, and some of them cannot communicate with each other.
Sheriff Gary Eichorn said law enforcement coming in for training often experience problems accessing the Internet. He said it is not unusual for an outside trainer to not be able to access materials quickly for their training sessions.
“Then you’ve got 20 people sitting around waiting for technology to catch up,” Eichorn said.
County Treasurer Dora Hartig suggested that commissioners initiate a line item specifically for computer needs and budget for them. The encumbered money would not be available for use in other areas should budget shortfalls or emergencies occur.
The commission will discuss the topic and related suggestions and needs at a later meeting.
In other action, commissioners:
F Approved a grant application for $581,180 from the Flint Hills Community Health Center to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The application is for the same amount as the previous year.
F Approved paying a $10,070.23 invoice submitted late by Kansas Gas Service and Seminole Energy Service.
F Approved listing a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice for sale on Purple Wave and replacing it with a Chevy Blazer that will be bought from the state for $1,700. The Blazer will replace the Caprice as primarily an errand vehicle for the Road and Bridge Department. The purchase is contingent on the Caprice’s being listed on Purple Wave.
F Decided not to tour the Douglas County consolidated dispatch operation because there currently are no plans to consolidate county and city dispatch centers.
The commission met in executive sessions to discuss legal matters and/or personnel; they took no actions when they returned to open session.