Commission closes 4-H building until decision made on heating
- Charlene Sims, Journal staff
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 hours ago
By Charlene Sims, Journal staff
MOUND CITY – On Monday, Feb. 2, Linn County Commission Chair Alison Hamilton asked Public Works Director Jesse Walton if he had gotten with the county counselor to see if if the county was required to hold ownership of a 4-H building after he told the commissioners that the two heating units at the 4-H building needed to be repaired or replaced.
Walton said that he had discussed it with County Counselor Jacklyn Paletta but no determination had been made. He said when he looked it up on Google, it said that the states are not requiring counties to provide a building for the 4-H but he had not gotten back with Paletta to further discuss that.
Walton told the Hamilton and Commissioner Jim Johnson (Commissioner Jason Hightower was absent) that he had talked with Abbie Powell, the acting District Director of the Marais des Cygnes Extension District in Linn County, and she said she would be happy to come in and visit about the building with everyone.
Hamilton said that she thought before having a discussion with Powell that it would be helpful to confirm that Linn County has to 100% own the building.
Paleltta said that part (owning the building) is not required by statute but it is the other nuances that she was still looking into.
According to the county's GIS /Mapping Department map, the entire fairigrounds, except for a couple of county roads, is owned by the Linn County Fair Association. There is no indication that the 4-H Building, or the adjacent American Legion building, is owned separately.
According to Walton, about four to five years ago, the heat exchangers and a few other components in those were replaced. He said those have now gone out again.
Walton told the commissioners that there were high carbon monoxide levels in the building last week after the heaters were turned on. They had been shut own while new siding was installed. With those levels, he said, it was unsafe for anybody to be in that building.
Johnson asked who checked the carbon monoxide level? Walton said it was Jason Webber, who works on the county’s heating and cooling systems.
Walton said that he had contacted Webber because the units would not continue running after being started up. Webber looked at the units, which sit outside the building, and cleaned them. After they ran for a while, Webber went inside with his carbon monoxide tester and showed that the CO level was very high.
Walton gave the commissioners the amounts that Webber had quoted to him for replacing the heat exchangers, inducer motor, rollout switch, and control board needed to be replaced in each heater for a cost of $4,987 each, totaling $9,974. Walton said that Webber had given him a price to replace those units – $18,985 a unit for a total of $37,970.
Johnson asked if Fire Chief Randy Hegwald had a tester and could test for carbon monoxide. Walton said that Hegwald did have a tester.
Johnson said he would just like to double check it himself to see where it was at. Hamilton agreed.
Hamilton said if the county owns that building she felt like they should have a carbon monoxide alarm in there.
Johnson asked if the units could be turned on so Hegwald could check the carbon monoxide level. Walton said that the units would not stay running due to the components that need to be replaced.
Walton said that the units could be turned on and Hegwald could go in there but the first initial fire-up in there will be high.
Hamilton said she thought that further discussion is needed about the maintenance of the building, if we are owning it, especially if there are issues that are a safety concern.
Hamilton said, “Especially if we are having issues, that’s a safety concern for me. Especially if we are renting it out to the public for money,”
Johnson asked if it had been determined where the rental money goes to. Walton said that Powell told him that all income received from the rental of the building goes to the county treasurer.
Walton added that neither Extension Service or 4-H received any of the funds. He said that the building was cleaned monthly by the county 4-H leaders, but on some occasions Powell has found someone to come in after big events and clean it.
Paletta told the commissioners, “The state statute does not require the county to own a building, but what we’re looking into is what, if any, documents, contracts, agreements, memorandums of understanding exist between the county and the fair board because to what extent have you otherwise obligated the county, previous government, whatever in that regard.
“And so it’s those contracts that we are looking into to see what voluntary, I guess, agreements or contracts you have made. Statutorily no, the county does not have to own the 4-H building, but we need to find contracts, memorandums of agreements, whatever writings might exist that prior Linn County government entered into with the fair board.”
Hamilton said, “I think that there’s a disconnect between maintenance, scheduling …”
Walton said that the Extension office did all the scheduling on that, the county does nothing.
Walton continued, “So this building is still scheduled out this week, this weekend, next weekend, so I need an answer hopefully today of what we’re going to do with these heating units out there so I can let her know that we need to cancel the next few events, or hey, we’re going to have it fixed by this day.”
Hamilton answered, “I would personally be leaning toward cancelling. I think that they rent it for $75 and this is a $40,000 fix.”
Johnson agreed that the rental be cancelled until the commissioners figure out what we’re going to do.
Hamilton suggested that all scheduling be cancelled until further notice.
After conferring with the attorney about the time it might take to find information, the commissioners decided that everything for two weeks should be cancelled.
Hamilton brought up other concerns such as the kitchen, the grill and the fryers, the venting, all being closed. She said she was not aware that all of that was happening. Hamilton pointed out events that would have to be relocated like the 4-H Leadership Council meetings that were held there every month, the dog club, and just a lot of other things that are going on.
Hamilton made a motion that the county suspend all rental event space at the 4-H building until Feb. 17.
Walton suggested that since no decision was being made on fixing the units until at least Feb. 17, the commission might want to extend the suspension further.
Paletta clarified that even if something was decided on Feb. 17, nothing would happen instantly.
“I think you all need to assess what, if any, additional risks exists by not fixing any heat, pipes bursting, etc.,” said Paletta.
“I’m okay with keeping it the 17th. They’re going to know we’re talking about it and to be careful,” said Hamilton.
Johnson said to just pass it on to them that this could be long term until we get things fixed.
For the meeting on Feb. 17, Johnson asked to know what expenses have been on the 4-H building for the last few years. Walton answered $40,000 a year for the last three years. He also asked for the income for the last three years.
It will be discussed again on Feb. 17.
In other business, the commissioners:
Reappointed Hal Aggers to a full three-year term on the planning and zoning board running from July 25, 2025 to July 25, 2028.
Learned from Walton that he would be putting bids out for mowing county properties this week. Hamilton asked if bids for mowing were always put out in February because she had just received a message about that and she wanted to publicly state that. Walton said that was when they had been put out in the past.
Heard from Walton he would be putting fuel bids out by the end of the month.
Learned from Walton that the jail walk through for the demolition bidders would be Tuesday, Feb. 3, at 2 p.m.
Learned from Walton that he was going to request from the land surveyor and the engineer an as-built survey on what the county already has buried at the landfill in order to see how much room is left out there.
Approved repairing a dump truck transmission at the Pleasanton shop for $12,170. The bid was sent out to two truck companies and only one responded.
Approved going into an agreement with Cook, Flatt, and Strobel Engineers regarding the County Road 1095 Project.
Postponed discussion and decision on park cabin bid until all three commissioners are present.
Went into executive session for five minutes for attorney-client privilege for anticipation of litigation with the two commissioners, attorney, clerk and Walton. No action was taken.
Heard public comment from rural Mound City resident Mike White about the Anderson County Roads being better after snow because of the type of surface they had that was not chip and seal.
Approved paying an invoice from Tri-Ko of $11,647 for a portion of the $49,385 that was budgeted for them.
Postponed approval of $3,839 to Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission (SEKRPC) for annual membership dues. Both Hamilton and Johnson asked what they would get out of this. County Clerk Chasity Ware said she was not sure, she had just received this.
Discussed committees that commissioners were appointed to and meetings they attended where they were not voting members.
Went into executive session for five minutes for information security with Ware, Paletta and the two commissioners. No action was taken.
Went into executive session for five minutes for attorney-client privilege about pending litigation with Ware, Paletta, and the two commissioners. No action was taken.
Went into executive session for five minutes for information security with Ware, Paletta, the two commissioners and Information Technology Director Chris Martin. No action was taken.
Went into executive session for five minutes for attorney-client privilege with Ware, Paletta, and the two commissioners about pending litigation. No action was taken.
Went into executive session for five minute with Ware, Paletta, and the two commissioners for non-elected personnel job performance. No action was taken.
Postponed discussion and decision about the handbook unit Feb. 9 when all three commissioners are present.