LARNED — The Pawnee County Commission met at 9 a.m. May 14 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.
• John Settle, Pawnee County attorney, visited about the Pawnee Valley Community Hospital Foundation and the hospital.
• Ruth Searight, Pawnee County clerk, informed commissioners that the additional monies needed for the two 140 road graders has been encumbered in the general fund.
• Darold Bussard, Pawnee County custodian, informed commissioners he would be gone for two weeks. He made arrangements with Carl Miller to move the courthouse lawn. Miller will not charge for mowing and trimming.
Commissioners discussed the Security System, and the need to find the CD or Disc.
Commissioners were able to tell Bussard the times that the courthouse doors need to be open for Santa Fe Trail Days (Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
9:15 a.m. — Leon Sanders, Camp Pawnee caretaker, discussed the new tables, games and bicycles.  
Commissioners asked Sanders what duties he would like to     continue performing, and any new tasks he would take on. Sanders said he would like to continue with the cleaning lodge, mowing, and cleaning bathrooms one time per week. He said he would inventory games, and pick up RV monies.
Commissioners discussed signage, and a couple of items that needed to be changed.
9:45 a.m. — Amy Harter, Pawnee County Fair Board, gave updates on previous county fairs, and some changes for the 2012 Pawnee County Fair.  
She discussed the budget, and informed the commissioners that they appreciate the $10,000 that they have given them in years past, and would appreciate if they would continue with the $10,000 per year.
Commissioners discussed the rental charges for the Haas Building, and the Fair Board will take a look to see if there are any needed adjustments.
• Donna Preisner, Pawnee County Extension Agent; Extension board members, Jason Murray, Galen Hewson, Bob Frisbie and Chelsea Cunningham were present.  
Preisner presented the Four Areas of Extension, and past, current and future plans and projects. She discussed the past few budgets and the county appropriations. She presented and discussed the proposed 2013 budget and appropriation request.
• Commissioners read and approved minutes of May 7, 2012.
10:40 a.m. — Kurt Demel, Pawnee County highway administrator, gave updates on work at Camp Pawnee. He gave updates on work for the townships.
He discussed some equipment that Edwards County will borrow.
Demel discussed a 140 Grader that Larned Township owns.
He discussed encumbrances for R & B, Solid Waste and Public Bus.
11:35 a.m. — Rod Wheaton, Pawnee County solid waste supervisor, discussed the Larned State Hospital contract that is to be renewed July 1, 2012.
Commissioners approved the proposal that Wheaton had drawn up.
11:50 a.m. — Ken Price, Garfield, discussed a road that has been a problem for a number of years, and some work that was completed by the road and bridge department.
• Commissioners signed change orders 2011-57 and 58.
• Commissioners approved and signed checks for payables.
• Commissioners discussed the county clerk’s request for pay increase. The county clerk did not accept their offer.
• Commissioners discussed the meeting scheduled with HaysMed for May 29, for their monthly updates, and asked the county clerk to see if it could be rescheduled for 3 p.m. May 29.
• Commissioners sorted through the mail. They noted the first approved ROZ student was approved.
1:15 p.m. — The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting will resume.
2 p.m. — The commissioners reconvened.  The chair was informed that HaysMed thought the meeting from May 29 had been rescheduled for May 14.  
Pelton called for a special meeting to hear the HaysMed updates.
Pelton and Haas were present.  Bowman arrived a little late.
John Settle, Pawnee County attorney; Matt Heyn, Pawnee Valley Hospital administrator; and Shae Veach, regional vice-president, HaysMed, were present.
Heyn gave an operations report. He informed commissioners of an auxiliary meeting May 15 at Glory Be.
Heyn discussed the trend to more outpatients, and there is not the need for more inpatient rooms.
Veach reviewed the financials for April, 2012, and informed the commissioners they would be presenting the fiscal year 2013 budget.
They discussed charity and bad debt.
They decided to put the ultrasound on temporary hold.
They discussed and requested approval for a GlideScope AVL for $17,245. Commissioners approved the request.
3:05 p.m. — The meeting was adjourned. The next meeting was scheduled May 21.