Montgomery county commissioners met this morning at 9am for their regular weekly meeting in Independence. The highlight of the meeting was Trisha Purdon's update from Montgomery County Action Council (MCAC). First she requested to add $5,000 to hire personnel for small business development, a positive sign as new businesses are moving into the area.
The BIG news is about the Amazon building. Click here to listen to Purdon on the airwaves. It has a new tenant, Walmart - on a short-term basis to see if they like the site. Walmart is considering expanding and possibly fill the Amazon facility completely. Walmart is leasing 60,000 square feet of the nearly 1 million square feet of the Amazon building located at Coffeyville Industrial Park. It will initially be a six-month lease to give Walmart time to know if the facility works for them long-term.
Purdon thinks said the job numbers are not yet known, but they are anticipating jobs to be minimal as Walmart uses the space for the first six months for what is likely dry goods. A detailed press statement is expected later this week. Amazon has a new owner since the building foreclosed end of February, and the price of the building is down to $9M.
Furthermore, Purdon was in Washington D.C last week showcasing our county to businesses at the Select USA conference where one deal was done. Another company is specifically looking at Montgomery County. Also, Coffeyville's Reawakening project has been selected as one of four innovative ways for rural downtown revitalization, and they hope to take it to Caney, Cherryvale and others.
Finally, Purdon said she is meeting with the Census Bureau this week to coordinate for year 2020, aiming to count refinery people again. Last time the refinery brought over 5,000 people into the census, and if again, the county can better meet demands such as housing.
They heard from Coffeyville Recreation Commission member Davis Rains about the tobacco free parks policy, county appraiser Dianna Carter addressed the commission about decision to combine properties with same owner. Carter said commercial properties have been appraised at a total of $7M more than last year. Two job openings for field appraiser are now open, as Mr. Long took a position with with Anderson County.
Public Works Coordinator Jim Wright got unanimous approval for a culvert replacement at CR 4300 and also to purchase tires for $5,660 from their lowest bidder, Ashcraft Tire Company. Wright gave an update on the Tucker Corner project at CR 3900 and CR 3400, and met with commissioners privately in executive session about he acquisition of real property.
Class LTD's Scott Thompson presented their 2020 budget, requested at least the same $48,000 amount for 2020 as received this year for developmental disability services. Thompson said its difficult to cover costs, as Medicaid is the main source of funds, and then supplemented by the county. He credited legislators such as Jim Kelly for increasing funds 1.5%. Currently, 58 people are on the waiting list for services with 76 total served including 61 adults and 15 children.
Finally, commissioners presented 2018 Service Awards to ten county employees as follows:
- Kenneth Fecke, Community Corrections - 10 years
- Crystal House, Dept of Corrections - 10 years
- Eric Thiessen, Dept of Corrections - 10 years
- Robert Foulk, Sheriff's Office - 10 years
- Patricia Coffey, County Clerk office - 10 years
- Duane Powell, Juvenile Services - 10 years
- Rona Kustanborter, Dept of Corrections - 25 years
- Scott Barnhart, Environmental Health & Zoning - 25 years
- Charlotte Schmidt, County Clerk - 25 years
- Richard George, Sheriff's Office - 30 years of service
Congratulations!
Thank you all for your service to our county.
