There are problems with the roof at 410 N. State St., 911 Director Angela Murphy told commissioners Tuesday. The southeast corner of the roof has been leaking into the electrical system of the building, affecting lighting. Commissioners approved emergency repair work.
Most of the $181,000 AT&T bill associated with upgrading communication equipment at the 911 center will be reimbursed through a 2010 Kansas Wireless Enhanced 911 grant issued by the Governor’s Grants Program, Murphy said. The county will pay $12,200 of the total.
The work was mandated through Phase II of the upgrade “whether we relocated or not,” Murphy said. “When we updated our 911 system, we had to update our computer system,” Murphy said. “We didn’t have a choice in the matter.”
AT&T also will reimburse the county $25,890 annually for tower fees, Murphy said. Currently, the fees are paid out of the 911 fund.
Murphy informed commissioners that tests have proven the capabilities of the new system to locate mobile phone users.
“Being able to see the exact location of a cell phone — we’ve never had that before,” she said.
The next technological update, NG-911, will allow the center to accept text and picture messages from mobile devices.
A contract with R&S Digital Service, Inc. was pre-approved by commissioners pending review by County Counselor Alan Weber.
The contract, for Geographic Information System mapping, is for a lower cost than originally approved.
Commissioners agreed with Weber that all subcontractors working on remodeling the building at 412 N. State St. into a county ambulance barn need to sign off on the contract.
Weber reminded commissioners that a performance bond was required when the job was advertised. A fine of $100 a day would be assesssed if work isn’t done on schedule, he said.
The county ambulance stationed in Humboldt will be out of commission for the week while a rear seal is repaired, said Allen County Emergency Medical Services Director Jason Nelson. Another ambulance has a broken windshield, he told commissioners.
Ambulance runs are averaging 22 more for the first four months of the year than the same date last year, he said.
Commissioners went into executive session to discuss a paramedic who has given notice to leave.
Nelson mentioned that Governor Mark Parkinson signed Monday Senate Bill 262 which will require EMS personnel to have 200 hours of training over the course of two years.
Under the new law, Nelson can receive training off site, then pass that knowledge on to staff through training within the county.
The additional training — or lack thereof — will impact pay scales, Nelson noted.
A COOLING tower on top of the county courthouse is rusting and needs to be replaced — but not quite yet, commissioners decided.
The item will be budgeted for next year. Until then, the unit, placed on the roof in April, 1963, should last the season. It had an expected life of 25 years. Replacement cost will be about $47,000.
Noise and pollution levels are being checked at the Allen County quarry by the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
“We want to keep our people safe out there,” said Public Works Director Bill King. “If something is wrong, we want to fix it.”
The check is done at least annually by MSHA, King said.A Federal Aviation Administration 95/5 grant is pending for about $500,000 of apron work at Allen County Airport. Commissioners will open bids but take no action until the funding is finalized, King said. Flashing cross arms will be added later in the year to a railroad crossing at Utah and 59 Highway, King said. The project, a joint venture of Kansas Department of Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad, will add a barrier to what is now a busy — but unguarded — crossing.
“People don’t realize it, but about every 15 to 20 minutes there’s a train on that track,” King said.
The county will work with SAFEBASE to plant flowers or trees around the courthouse square.
The only bid received for interest on the county’s idle funds was for a rate of .60 percent for 183 days, County Treasurer Sharon Utley said. The county receives .70 percent interest on funds in its checking account, she noted.
The rate offered was the lowest in three years.
Bill Hough was approved as Allen County noxious weed director. He was also appointed to Kansas Department of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Weed Control as county weed supervisor.
Commissioners will meet May 13 with the Association of County Commissioners and Highway Officials of Southeast Kansas in Chanute.
