Commissioners approve property purchase, equipment purchase and several administrative resolutions

Montgomery County commissioners voted to buy a commercial building in Independence, approved communications equipment for a county fire department, and adopted multiple administrative resolutions during their regular meeting.

The board approved the purchase of the Red Bud building at 211 W. Myrtle in Independence for $250,000. Meeting discussion said the cost will be reimbursed through JJA (Juvenile Justice Administration). The motion was made and seconded and the board voted to approve the purchase.

Separately, the board approved a purchase of radio equipment and pagers from Action Communications to update county fire department communications. The quoted estimate read aloud at the meeting was $9,250.25. The presenter said the equipment must be purchased from Action Communications because that vendor controls the towers and programming/licensing keys.

On administrative matters, commissioners voted to amend an earlier resolution (No. 24174) that transferred funds from the solid waste fund to the risk management fund. Staff said an additional $49,100 was discovered in the account after the original transfer amount was calculated; the amendment will permit transferring the newly discovered balance so the fund can be closed. Final printed copies of the amended resolution were not available at the meeting.

The board also voted to rescind Resolution 06-213 and adopt a replacement clarifying separate extra-compensation arrangements for the county treasurer (guided by KSA 8-145 as cited at the meeting) and the county clerk (separately set by the commission for duties as county election officer). Meeting materials and discussion stated the change is intended to separate who receives what additional pay and by what authority.

The board adopted the county’s Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) roster for the year, which county staff will forward to the state. The list includes local emergency-response contacts such as fire chiefs and emergency-management staff; presenters noted occasional name changes when chiefs or representatives change.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - Purchase of 211 W. Myrtle, Independence — motion approved; buyer amount listed $250,000; reimbursement noted from JJA. (Recorded votes: Commissioner Beaver — yes; Commissioner Cordray — yes.) - Radio/pager purchase from Action Communications — motion approved; amount read as $9,250.25. (Recorded votes: Commissioner Beaver — yes; Commissioner Cordray — yes.) - Amendment to Resolution 24174 (solid waste fund transfer) — motion approved; required to transfer an additional $49,100 found in account. (Recorded votes: Commissioner Beaver — yes; Commissioner Cordray — yes.) - Rescind Resolution 06-213 / adopt replacement on extra compensation for clerk/treasurer — motion approved. (Recorded votes: Commissioner Beaver — yes; Commissioner Cordray — yes.) - Adopt LEPC roster — motion approved. (Recorded votes: Commissioner Beaver — yes; Commissioner Cordray — yes.)

The meeting record shows motions and seconds for each item and recorded affirmative votes from at least two named commissioners; the final signed documents and clerk’s printouts were expected to be completed following the meeting.

Background and next steps: County staff said they will supply finalized resolution paperwork for signature and file the LEPC roster with state emergency officials. The juvenile-services property purchase paperwork was signed at the meeting; county staff said further administrative steps will follow to secure JJA reimbursement.

Ending: Commissioners closed the business portion of the meeting after the votes and moved to a work session.