Auditor examining clerk's office records following change in post

MOUND CITY – On Monday, Dec. 1, the Linn County Commissioners, county counselor Jacklyn Paletta, and newly appointed County Clerk Chasity Ware met with auditor Rodney Burns for 15 minutes in executive session. Commission Chair Jim Johnson said that there was no action from the executive session.

Later in a phone call with Ware about the meeting with the auditor, she said that it was just standard procedure to have an auditor look over the county’s books before a new county clerk took over office.

However, no audit was done of the county’s financial records when longtime county clerk David Lamb left and Danielle Souza took over that position last February.

In other business, the commissioners (with Commissioner Alison Hamilton attending by Zoom):

Learned from Ware that the RenoDry company representatives had visited last week and left a report about the dehumidifying machine that was installed in the courthousel basement. She said that they were extremely pleased with the progress that the machine had done so far. “The (relative humidity) numbers were really high and it has sucked out a lot of moisture,” Ware said. “Numerous employees had shared that they had noticed a major difference in feeling better and not having near the mold smell and the air quality was much better. They (RenoDry representatives) will be back in two years for the three-year timeframe update. However, if we had any questions or concerns, they will come back.” Hightower asked Ware if she had numbers. Ware will send them the documents from RenoDry.

Discussed who was in charge of the airport at this time. Ware said she had been told that as county clerk she was. The commissioners said they did not remember that happening. However, commissioners agreed that Ware could move forward on getting the airport tax exempt.

Were reminded that the county employee Christmas dinner was being held on Friday, Dec. 5, at noon.

Ware verified that all three commissioners and she were registered for the Kansas
Association of Counties (KAC) conference for the dates of Dec. 9 through 11.

Designated Ware as Linn County’s designated agent to the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS).

Went into executive session for 10 minutes with Fire Chief Randy Hegwald , the three commissioners and Ware for Hegwald’s annual employee evaluation.

Went into executive session for 10 minutes with all three commissioners, Ware, and Linn County Health Department Director Amanda Snyder for her yearly evaluation.

Discussed having Ware prepare the two-step raise paperwork for the five department heads. Commissioner Jason Hightower explained that is what was done in the past and he wanted to make sure it was done by next week.

Learned from Public Works Administrator Jesse Walton that he had received the last invoice from Dave Sutter for the courthouse roof and he had turned it into the insurance company. He said that the area around the courthouse was being tidied up. Commissioners also learned from Walton that he had asked Sutter to get his invoices ready for the 4H Building and the south road shop building. Johnson asked if the road shop building had been completed and Walton said it hadn’t been but he wanted to get the invoices completed so they could be turned in and processed.

Learned from Walton that he was going to sign and send back the paperwork to Cornerstone so they can go ahead and do work on the perimeter berm at the landfill. The cost is $3,800 and will come out of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Learned from Walton that they had been sent some paperwork from Planning and Zoning Director Jenny Cummings with information about what was happening at the lakes.