The Greenwood County Commission met on Monday, April 14 where they discussed routine business.
The annual payment for Genasys, the mass notification system utilized in the county, was presented and approved. It was noted that the annual payment, $2,677, was approximately half the fee of the former CodeRed service. Greenwood County Alerts is used to communicate public safety topics including severe weather, evacuations, local emergency notifications, etc. All residents are encouraged to sign up for alerts at https://greenwoodks.genasys. com/portal/en. During the registration process, you can choose the types of alerts you receive and how to receive them, including landline phone, cell phone, text/SMS message and email.
During the registration process, you have the ability to customize the order you wish to receive alerts. To receive targeted messages by location, it is encouraged to add your home address when registering. You can add multiple addresses, for example a home address and work address. The information entered into the system is for the purposes of communicating emergency and official county/city information only. Neither Genasys nor Greenwood County will share or sell your information.
Greenwood County Road and Bridge Supervisor Allen Greenwood gave his report, sharing a design from County Contracted Engineer Michael Marris regarding the bridge on K Road going into Piedmont. The commission approved the removal of the bridge on 60th Street, between HH and GG roads. The bridge previously failed and the commission is hopeful that the rock base will suffice in the future.
Various concerns were shared with Greenwood on various roads and bridges within the county.
Commissioner Preston Evenson shared he had been contacted by Larry Stuber, who asked about utilizing the curve at 90th Street and Q Road. The commission recently approved the removal of the curve at that intersection. It was noted that the hope was to use the area to store haybales; however, concerns were shared due to site lines being impacted as well as people still utilizing the curve if the gravel wasn’t removed and/or a fence was not built.
After conducting a 90day evaluation, Appraiser Shawna Griffitts presented a pay rate change for Alyssa Bankson. The commission approved the increase, moving Bankson from $14.50 per hour to $15.74 per hour. The commission also reviewed a new hire for the Greenwood County Clerk’s Office, as Ashley Nichols was hired at $15 per hour with a pay raise pending after a 60-90 evaluation.
Dr. Caron Daugherty, with Flint Hills Technical College, shared the updated strategic plan of FHTC with the commission, as well as reviewing various programs offered at the college.
After reiterating the redundant nature of the health department conducting sanitary inspections for school buildings within Greenwood County, the commission approved Charter Resolution 202536, which will opt the county health officer from doing additional inspections for school districts within Greenwood County.
Greenwood County Health Nurse Jayme Lewis also shared that residents should be vigilant with tick prevention as a Coffey County had reported 12 positive cases of Alpha-gal syndrome, the red meat food allergy, in the last three months.
The commission approved for Greenwood County Sheriff to move forward with purchasing sheriff deputy cameras. It was noted that funds were earmarked to be used from SAM.gov; however, commission noted that those funds may no longer be available. It was shared that Sheriff Heath Samuels had relayed that if it was too late, funds were still within the budget to cover the expense.
The commission approved the March 31 and April 7 meeting minutes as presented. They also approved the special payables for April 14, totaling $1,954.29; regular payables for April 18, totaling $292,713.45; and payroll for April 18, totaling $168,363.55.
Commissioner Ron Mast shared that Otter Creek Township had reached out asking for their blessing regarding various matters in Piedmont. Mast first shared that the township currently owns the 1.02 acre lot where the school playground is. The township would like to sign that property over to the Piedmont Community Recreation Commission. County Counselor Paul Dean noted that it would be a township decision, however, directed them to read KSA 80-109 as the statute requires a 45-day protest period be allowed after a legal notice has been run. The statute also references the sale and/or disposal of property for taxing entities. Mast also asked fellow commissioners their thoughts regarding the four street lights the township currently pays for in Piedmont. The township is planning to discontinue that service and save the $80 monthly fee. The commission was fine with the township no longer providing this service and noted other unincorporated cities that do not have street lights within the county.
The county held three executive sessions, all pertaining to legal matters and included Dean, Levi Vinson and Greenwood. The first was for 15 minutes regarding the cattle guards in Pleasant Grove Township. The second was for 10 minutes regarding the Greenwood/Elk county line and the final was for 5 minutes regarding a case recently being filed in Greenwood County court. The matter referenced the Rader/Garner road dispute.
The next meeting for the Greenwood County Commission is Monday, April 21, at 9 a.m.
