The Greenwood County Commission held a brief routine business meeting on Monday, Feb. 9, during which they primarily discussed the pending pay scale and EMS concerns.
Commissioner Judd Everitt informed the commission that he had received concerns from an employee regarding the availability of a ventilator and medications for the EMS department. Everitt asked EMS Director Brian Mongeau to address the concerns during the commission’s weekly meeting.
Mongeau stated that EMS does have a ventilator, noting that while it is an older model, it remains fully functional. He added that he is interested in upgrading the equipment, but the last time he reviewed pricing, a new ventilator cost approximately $22,000. Mongeau said he recently learned that a ventilator may be available for purchase locally and is working to gather additional details.
He explained that EMS crews are able to manually ventilate patients at any time, though a mechanical ventilator allows staff to remain hands-free. The county’s ventilator is typically assigned to the transfer truck, as that is when it is most often needed. Mongeau also noted that a nearby unit could provide a ventilator if necessary, with a service director offering to rendezvous should a situation warrant it.
Regarding medications, Mongeau said that different EMS services utilize different medication options. When a staff member suggested changes, Mongeau asked them to submit a proposed list of medications so he could review it and ensure compatibility with medications already carried on the units. As of Monday, Mongeau said he had not yet received the list for review.
It was also noted that the EMS department is accepting applications for a full-time EMT, AEMT or Paramedic, as a full-time employee had turned in a resignation and planned to move to a part-time position.
Commissioner Everitt also asked for an update on the pending pay scale. Emergency Management Director Levi Vinson stated that the hourly employee pay scale is essentially complete; however, the pay scale for salaried employees is still in progress. Sheriff Heath Samuels noted that another meeting among department heads is needed before the pay scales are presented to the commission, as he has concerns he would like to address.
Sheriff Samuels also presented the commission with a proposed evaluation form for merit raises for department heads. The evaluation criteria include finance, personnel management, public service, and leadership. Samuels explained that the form was modeled after an evaluation method currently used by another county.
Vinson added that elected officials’ salaries present unique challenges, as other counties do not typically use pay scales for department heads. Additionally, base salary ranges from entry to maximum tiers are not readily available, since many counties base salaries on the length of term.
Commissioner Preston Evenson stated that he hopes the commission will not become directly involved in employee raises and would prefer to leave those decisions to department head discretion. Sheriff Samuels responded that implementing the pay scale correctly would allow the commission to maintain a more “hands-off” approach in the future.
Commissioner Roy Ballard stated, “We have been running in the black since I have been here, and I hope to continue that.” He added that while he would like to provide raises, the county must continue to operate as a business, noting that raises cannot be given unless sufficient funds are available.
Sheriff Samuels also addressed property taxes, stating that many constituents are unaware that although property taxes have increased, Greenwood County remains out of compliance with state requirements. He explained that the state has mandated increased property valuations to bring the county into compliance. Samuels noted that if the county were compliant, the overall budget would be higher. He also recommended exploring additional revenue sources and referenced the recreational tax as a potential option.
A brief discussion was held regarding a recent bridge improvement after a constituent had approached Commissioner Evenson to add additional work to the bridge. However, commissioners noted that they felt the work completed was sufficient.
A five-minute executive session was held for personnel matters, with County Counselor Paul Dean. No subject was provided. Per the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) a governing body must provide a justification and the subjects to be discussed within the motion to go into executive session. The justification is the specific reason for closing the meeting based on authorized exemptions (e.g., personnel matters, attorney-client privilege, negotiations); where the subject is a description of the topics to be discussed must be included, while still protecting privacy interests. No action was taken after returning to open session.
Commissioner Everitt suggested that commissioners each work with specific departments to ensure communication. He also noted that it would assist with meetings, as at least one commissioner would know what was happening within that specific department. He noted that this would also allow him to discuss with other commissioners before the meeting.
Although discussion with other members is legal, it can be tricky with the KOMA, as serial communications (like “calling trees” or email chains) among a majority of members regarding public business are considered illegal meetings if they are used to reach agreements outside of public view. Serial meetings occur when a majority of members interactively discuss public business through a series of conversations, emails, or text messages. Each violation could result in fines for those serving on the specific boards (i.e.: city council, school board, county commission) up to a $500 per person and training requirements.
The Feb. 2 meeting minutes and the Feb. 9 special payables, totaling $10,624.66, were approved as presented.
Following the meeting, the commissioners held a Eureka Township board meeting.
The next meeting of the Greenwood County Commission is slated for Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 9 a.m., as the courthouse will be closed on Monday, Feb. 16, in observance of Presidents Day.
