03-04-1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes--March 4, 1991 634 VOUCHERS APPROVED, With one exception Mr. Eckert reviewed the list of bills for this month. He said the Vector Control Director submitted a bill to pre-pay motel and air fare for a future conference in New Orleans. Mr. Montplaisir said the county does pre-pay motels and air fare for employees conducting county business if they can get a cheaper rate. Other bills which Mr. Eckert reviewed were for seven digital telephones at a cost of about $2,000 and a $1,300 armored shield for the Sheriff's Department. Mrs. Toussaint said the Commission has a policy for prior approval on out of state travel but the County Engineer's mileage bill includes a trip to Brainerd, MN which he did not request permission for. She also said the engineer charged mileage for driving to a national convention in Cincinnati, OH, and she wondered if it would have been cheaper to fly. She suggested withholding payment until the engineer gives an explanation of this. Mr. Montplaisir said the engineer cannot charge for mileage to the national convention in excess of what it would have cost to fly there. MOTION, passed Mr. Eckert moved and Mr. Wieland seconded to approve Vouchers No. 22,9§? through No. 23,816 with the exception of No. 23,671, to Don Richards, for further investigation. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. Mr. Risher asked for a cash flow report when bills are paid· Mr. Montplaisir said this is provided the week following approval of bills because of the date of closing books. HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Agreement and release of 1990 escrow funds Scott Kildahl, Model Project Coordinator, said he and the County Coordinator, Bonnie Johnson, were given an assignment to open dialogue between the County Commission and the Cass County Historical Society. He said they met individually with commissioners, and they met with the Historical Society board of directors and with a small group of members who are dissatisfied with current operations of Bonanzaville. Mr. Kildahl said the "Cass County Model" report recommended long-range planning at Bonanzaville and working out the differences between elected officers and the membership. Mr. Wieland said he appreciates the work that has been done and recognizes the need to move forward, but he expressed several concerns: 1) that borrowed funds were personally guaranteed; 2) new by-laws need to be adopted; 3) the blue ribbon panel wasn't comprised of people suggested by the Commission; 4) he wants to be involved in the survey work before someone is hired to do it; 5) some justification should be made to the public on recent salary increases in excess of 20% for Bonanzaville staff. Mr. Eckert asked if the county can designate where mill levy funds are to be spent by the Historical Society without doing this for other agencies receiving county mill levy funds. Mr. Montplaisir said the county is paying for specific items with mill levy funds given to the Fair Association. This may be difficult to do for other agencies, such as senior citizen groups, he said.