Commissioners approve the Budget

The Jewell County Commissioners Brent Beck, Keith Roe, and Ed Duskie met Monday, Aug. 28. Carla Waugh, county clerk, was present for the meeting.

Waugh was present for the office head meeting and provided an update for her department. Those absent were Amanda Davis, register of deeds; Joel Elkins, general superintendent; Alexandria Pierce, county attorney; Cindy Becker, health administrator; Anna Porter, county appraiser; Don Jacobs, sheriff; Nora Rhoades, Post Rock Extension District director; Brenda Eakins, treasurer; Chris Petet, custodian; Shannon Meier, ambulance director; Travis Garst, solid waste director and Kevin Peroutek, noxious weed director, emergency preparedness director and 911 coordinator.

Waugh reported on the inspection from the Kansas Department of Labor.. She said her office has sent out confirmation mailings as a result of the National Change of Address file provided by the Secretary of State and the US Postal Service. She said the ballots have been received for the November election and she is preparing the required election publications.

Commissioners Roe and Duskie discussed inspecting a bridge in Vicksburg township.

Ed Duskie discussed culverts and roads he viewed as a result of complaints.

Brent Beck said he attended the juvenile detention center meeting with the next meeting being hosted by Jewell County on Wednesday, Sept. 20. He also attended the Jewell County Hospital Board meeting.

Kirby Fox, Lock It Technologies, said they provide IT services and security software. He reviewed a quote for services for the courthouse offices and sheriff’s office. The base package would provide windows patching, monitoring, MDR Managed Detection, vulnerability scanning and labor for $990 per month. The unlimited labor package includes unlimited labor with projects billed hourly at the current hourly rate as well as mileage for $1,320 per month. The one time on-boarding fee includes security deployment for Windows devices for a fee of $2,500. The commissioners said they wanted to table this matter until they could discuss with the department heads.

Joel Elkins, general superintendent, discussed the road by the bridge inspected in Vicksburg Township.

Chairman Beck opened the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing for the 2024 Budget to the public for comments at 10:00 a.m. No public comment. Commissioners passed Resolution 23-04, stating Now, Therefore, be it resolved by the Governing Body of The County of Jewell that The County of Jewell shall levy a property tax rate exceeding the Revenue Neutral Rate of 91.338 mills. Chairman Beck closed the Revenue Neutral Rate Hearing and then opened the 2024 Budget Hearing for public comment. No public comment. The commissioners approved the 2024 Budget as presented with a mill levy rate exceeding the revenue neutral rate of 91.338 mills. Commissioner Duskie stated he was proud that the commissioners worked on the budget beginning with a 6 mill increase and were able to shave 5 mills. It was noted that the increase is because of inflation and the cost of living. Linda Woerner said she knows Jewell County’s population has decreased but we all want the same services, and she appreciates the commissioners work. Those present for the revenue neutral rate hearing and budget hearing were James Nelson, Linda Woerner, Amy Arasmith, Roy W. Arasmith, and Sherry Koster. The budget hearing closed at 10:14 a.m.

Sherry Koster, Jewell County Conservation District, delivered an invitation for the conservation tour for each commissioner.