It was good news for Barton County commissioners Monday morning.
They heard a report from County Administrator Richard Boeckman on the successful outcome of a lawsuit filed by the county regarding damage to county bridge 234 south of Cheyenne Bottoms. It was damaged in the amount of $9,595 as a result of a vehicle accident in 2012.
At the time of the crash, Emergency Risk Manager Amy Miller made a claim against the vehicle’s driver to recoup the cost of repair. The driver’s insurance company originally agreed to pay but then reneged on the agreement, Boeckman said.
Since these efforts were not successful, the commission hired Allen Glendenning, Watkins Calcara, to bring suit against the driver.
Boeckman said the county won the suit and will receive the full amount. In addition, the driver’s insurance company will pay for all of the legal costs.
In other business Monday morning, the commission:
• Approved using funds in the Special Bridge Fund be used for initial payment for a project involving a bridge on the Russell County line.
The County Engineer Clark Rusco received the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program Kansas Department of Transportation Agreement for the replacement of the steel girders and deck for Bridge 300 located on the north section line of Section 2, Township 16 South, Range 11 West. Under the Agreement, the County is responsible for 10 percent of the actual cost of preliminary engineering, construction and construction contingency items, construction engineering, right of way and utility adjustments up to $133,333.33.
Should the construction and construction contingency and the construction engineering exceed $133,333.33, the county would be responsible for 100 percent of the overage. As this is a reimbursing grant, it is suggested that Barton County encumber the estimated project cost.
• At the request of District Coroner Dr. Edward Jones, the commission named deputy coroners. Deputies are appointed to terms running concurrent with the District Coroner. The commission also named special deputy coroners. Special deputies, appointed for one-year calendar terms, do not have the necessary credentials to be a deputy coroner, but generally have a medical background.
• Approved contracting with Estes Trash Service to haul trash for the county for $425 for 2015. The County Administrator’s Office requested proposals for trash hauling services for six county office buildings to include the Courthouse, Sheriff’s Office and Detention Facility, Health Department, Barton County Office Building, Road and Bridge and Noxious Weed. There are generally three pick-up dates per week for service year 2015. It is noted that the Sheriff’s Office has service Monday-Saturday.
• Approved a bid from Champion Service LLC for $3,978.60 to provide pest control services for the county for 2015. The county accepted bids from qualified vendors to provide monthly pest control and extermination services for Barton County-owned buildings, excluding the Sheriff’s Office and Detention Center.
• Approved a bid from Starbrite Cleaning for $1,000 per month to clean the Barton County Office Building, 1408 Kansas. Under the proposal, cleaning at the building starts after 5 p.m. each work day. Starbrite has the current cleaning agreement at that same price.
• Adopted the updated Barton County Landfill Household Hazardous Waste Program. Under the landfill’s Kansas Department of Health and Environment permit, Barton County is required to have an operations plan that describes the manner in which the Kansas statutes that apply to the Household Hazardous Waste Program are followed, said Phil Hathcock, solid waste manager.