- No residents came forward during the 8:00 am open comment session.
At 8:30 am Commissioner Malecha called the meeting to order. Roll was called and all commissioners were present. The agenda for this meeting and the minutes of the February 27 meeting were unanimously approved
II. PUBLIC HEALTH/NURSING: Deb Purfeerst
A. Out of State Travel Request
A staff person has been awarded a $2500 stipend to attend a major conference on pubic health preparedness in Cleveland March 25-28. Acceptance was approved unanimously.
III. SOCIAL SERVICES: Megan Thomas
A. Approval of Guardianship Contract
Rice County manages guardianship for one person now. A second individual wants the county to appoint a guardian for them, and the person will pay. The county has shown a capacity to do well with guardianship services in complicated cases. The proposed fee of $280/mo covers the costs and is about average for such a fee. Approved unanimously.
B. Proclamation Recognizing Social Work Month
Thomas read a standard proclamation, here briefly paraphrased:
Whereas social workers help needy folks; help to secure equal rights for women, African Americans and people who are LGBTQIA2S+; work in many contexts; serve in the frontlines of crises; support mental health; have an 80% approval rating(!) among the public, etc. etc., Rice County recognizes March as National Social Work Month. This was unanimously approved.
IV. PARKS & FACILITIES DEPARTMENT: Matthew Verdick
Verdick’s request to advertise for Proposals on Design Services for the county highway Fuel Island Replacement Project already approved in the budget was unanimously approved.
V. ASSESSOR’S OFFICE: Joshua Schoen
ESRI Enterprise License Renewal
The ESRI software is used by many departments. This contract for $58,500 per year for 3 years includes a $3500 increase, but we knew about it and it’s in the budget already. This software gets about 1,000,000 hits/year. The renewal was unanimously approved.
VI. SHERIFF’S OFFICE: Jesse Thomas
A. Purchase of a Tex84 Intercept Whole Body Security Scanning System for the intake area of the new jail at a cost of $146,000. Presently all incoming inmates are strip-searched in varying degrees. This machine will minimize any need for strip searches and help intercept any contraband coming into the new jail. Unanimously approved.
B. Jail Services Agreement – Turnkey Corrections
This is a 4-year contract for vending machines in the jail. It offers a lower fee to Rice County for fewer services. Sheriff Thomas said prices on vended items are pretty comparable to Target. Rice County will receive 35% of revenues.
They work with a card account system. Money can be deposited for an inmate by cash or card. Lobby kiosks will be available for processing all cash and credit card deposits by non-inmates. Credit card deposits made online or at the lobby kiosk will require a convenience fee charge of $8.95 or 10%, whichever is greater. Cash deposits at the lobby kiosk will not require any fees. The detainee inside uses a card to spend money at the vending machines. Besides the vending machines, these cards can be used to purchase communications service. This was unanimously approved.
C. Agreement for Law Enforcement Services / City of Morristown
The Rice County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Morristown wish to enter into a 2-year Agreement for Law Enforcement, June 1, 2024 through May 31, 2026. Change contract to a new week by week one (?) $153,400 first year with 4% COLA. Unanimously approved.
VII. HIGHWAY: Dennis Luebbe
A. Award of Contract – Aggregate surfacing for portions of the 70 miles of county roads surfaced with aggregate. $500,000 had been budgeted, with 2 bidders responding, the lowest bid being $357,000 from Timm’s Trucking, who is planning to add more clay in gravel roads, hoping for a better ride. Using limestone would be 50% higher. County does not pay for calcium chloride for dust control, but an individual landowner can, which is best done early in the season. Unanimously approved.
B. Award of Contract – Bituminous Overlay- of portions of CSAH 38 (Cedar Lake Boulevard) from (Douglas Avenue) to (Dodd Road). This 6.5 mile project completes
the CSAH 38 corridor improvements programmed in the 10-year transportation improvement plan. The work is funded by the County’s 0.5% sales tax for transportation. Only one bid was received. The Department had budgeted $1,400,000 for this project. Request is to award contract # 2471 to the low responsible bidder, Crane Creek Asphalt, in the amount of $1,142,299 ( lower than the estimate). Unanimously approved.
VIII. ADMINISTRATION: Sara Folsted
A. Consent Agenda
1. Extra Time/ Over Time Report 02-23-2024
2. Payment of Bills
3. Personnel Appointments
Unanimously approved.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
