Decisions ahead for commissioners

The Chase County Commissioners still have some decisions ahead of them even after clearing several items off their Feb. 28 agenda.
The board accepted a bid for one of two planned road projects.
A bid from Kokes Construction of Ord was accepted for replacing the Spring Creek bridge with 6-foot culverts. Highway Superintendent Toney Krajewski had expected the project to cost upwards of $80,000 but Kokes’ bid was $47,640.
Kokes Construction was the only official bid for the second project of rebuilding and reestablishing ditches south of Spring Creek on 347 Ave. Another bid was received late and left unopened.
Krajewski felt the bid of $158,469.20 was too high. With an expectation of the work costing up to $60,000, the commissioners rejected the offer and will rebid the project.
Krajewski also suggested the county do the work itself. The commissioners approved the purchase of a new road grader from NMC Cat during the meeting that could be used for the project and Krajewski said the county would need to rent or lease a self-propelled compactor, as well.
During his visit with the commissioners, Krajewski, a Keith County Commissioner, said weather early in the week “majorly” changed the roads and they should really pack well right now making it a good time to pull up shoulders and curbs and work them back to the middle.
Leanne Klein with Wauneta EMS and Deb Hayes with Imperial EMS continued discussions about increasing pay rates for the EMS crews.
The crews last received a raise in 2016. At that time the rate had been the same since 1998—65 cents per mile plus $15.
Wauneta EMS is currently paid 84 cents per loaded mile for each responding crew member plus $18 to be split among the crew. Imperial EMS doesn’t get mileage for in town runs, only the $18 to be split among the crew.
Suggested options included doubling the rate or paying for total miles rather than just loaded.
The board also considered raising the rates for EMS calls, which haven’t been changed since at least 2014.
The commissioners said they’re in favor of increasing EMS pay rates, but didn’t take action at the meeting.
A recent Tax Equalization and Review Committee decision was discussed.
Former Assessor Dotty Bartels appealed to TERC the Chase County Board of Equalization’s decision to lower the assessed value on 17 parcels. The TERC ruling came back in favor of Bartels which increases the assessed value of CREP acres in the county. If the BOE chooses not to appeal, the county will receive back taxes from the landowners.
The TERC ruling came through on Feb. 8 or 9, the board said, and TERC needs to know if an appeal will be filed in 30 days, leaving commissioners the possibility of a special meeting to make a decision.
The next regular meeting of the commissioners will be April 11 at 8 a.m.