LARNED — The Pawnee County Commission met at 9 a.m. July 22 for a regular meeting at the Pawnee County Courthouse. The following are approved minutes submitted by Pawnee Commission clerk Ruth Searight.
Pawnee County commissioners Donna Pelton, chair; Kathy Bowman and John C. Haas were present.
• Commissioners sorted through the mail.
• After discussion regarding the 1996 Blazer, the commissioners approved taking the vehicle to Carr Auction to sell.
• Commissioners read and approved minutes of July 15, 2013.
• Commissioners approved setting the date and time to visit with the Burdett Seniors, as Monday, Aug. 5, 2013, at Noon for lunch, then have a meeting.
• Commissioners reviewed and worked on first draft of proposed 2014 budget.
• Tom Giessel, Public Building Commission chair, stopped by.
10:30 a.m. — Jenny Manry, via telephone, informed the commissioners that Larned Pride has received another grant from Golden Belt Foundation.
• Commissioners, via telephone, tried to call Dale Smith, Barber County Commissioner regarding the Lesser Prairie Chicken meeting.
• Mary Beth Herrmann, Pawnee County health department administrator, presented and commissioners discussed her proposed 2014 budget.
1:30 p.m. — Matt Heyn, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital administrator, Shae Veach, Vice-President HaysMed, Bill Overbey, CFO HaysMed, John Settle, County Attorney, and Tom Giessel,PBC Chair, and Pete Schartz, First State Bank.
Heyn gave updates on Nuclear Camera Room being completed by the third week in August.
He gave other updates the company picnic Aug. 2; Charity Gala in October; Chris Wittington, M.D. starting Sept. 16; dirt work for the new parking lot and heliport.
Kim Barnes joined the group.
Commissioners discussed the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital not needing the additional $800,000 for now, and Overbey and Heyn agreed to authorize transferring the monies back to Pawnee County.
Heyn discussed the mid levels in the ER, they are backed up by Doctors in Hays, either by phone or internet.
Commissioners discussed the following: MRI Service Agreement; Coventry and BCBS submitting exchange format; service clubs that meet and eat at the hospital; Rural Health Clinic; going back and visiting Advisory Board and Community Connection; and the third week in August will present the last Fiscal Year Audit.
Heyn presented and discussed the June Financials.
3:05 p.m. — Pete Schartz, Rita Kurtz and Kim Barnes, Pawnee County Economic Development Commission.  Gave financial update on PCEDC. A new director has been hired for the Larned Chamber of Commerce, and she will start in August. PCEDC will sign contract with the Chamber.
Pete Schartz,  Fort Larned Historical Society (Santa Fe Trail Center).  Presented and discussed Santa Fe Trail Center proposed 2014 budget.
3:50 p.m. — Kurt Demel, Pawnee County highway administrator, discussed moving the dirt at the hospital.
Commissioners approved and signed the Exchange Program, and the Pawnee County will have to pay approximately $115,000, and will then get it back in three weeks. Pawnee County’s share is $140,000, minus $115,000.
Demel informed commissioners that G&G demolition company gave road and bridge a demo hopper.
Commissioners discussed the Mark Ayesh and BGB delinquent tax that is still owing (as of 7-19-13), for 2006 through 2008.  
• Commissioners discussed the Sexual Predator indigent attorney fees Pawnee County is to be reimbursed by another county. Via phone, commissioners called Pawnee County Attorney John Settle, to see where he and Dennis Keenan were at on collecting the money.
4:50 p.m. —  The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting was scheduled at 9 a.m. July 29.