SOLDIER TOWNSHIP BOARD MEETING 

The regular monthly board meeting of Soldier Township was called to order by Mike Mathes (presiding officer and Clerk) on December 5, 2023, at 12:15 p.m. Others present were Karl McNorton, (Trustee), Jerry Glasgow (Treasurer), Bob Oliva (Township Administrator / Road Superintendent), John Tipton (Co-Road Superintendent), Chad Lady (Fire Department Battalion Chief), Laurie Moody (Bookkeeper), and Lee Hendricks (Legal Counsel).

Guests in attendance were – Larkin Downing
Member Mathes made a motion to go into executive session under the non-elected personnel exception for discussion of non-elected personnel for 5 minutes, to include all Board members and the Administrator. Seconded by Member Glasgow. Motion passed with a 3-0 vote.
The Board returned to open session at 12:20 p.m. with no binding action having been taken.
Member McNorton made a motion to approve the check register and the minutes from the November 14, 2023 and November 20, 2023 board meetings, as presented. Member Glasgow seconded the motion. Motion passed with a 3-0 vote. There were no amendments or additions to the agenda.
Public comment and communication – none

General –

Mr. Oliva presented an update on the new maintenance building. The conditional use permit has been completed and received. The building permit will be issued after the KDHE permit clears.
Budgetary spending to date is at 78% for the year which will leave funds in excess of $100,000 to be available to transfer to special funds at the end of the year.
Resolutions were presented for the annual transfer of funds from General, Road, and Fire to special funds as of December 30, 2023. Member McNorton made a motion to adopt Resolutions 23-04, 23-05, 23-06, and 23-07 to transfer up to 25% of the total budget of General, Road, and Fire to the Special Fire Protection, Special Highway/Road Improvement, and Special Road Equipment funds. Member Glasgow seconded the motion. Motion passed by 3-0 vote.
Suggested annual end of year bonuses for all non-salaried employees were presented for consideration. After discussion, Member McNorton made a motion to approve bonuses as presented. Seconded by Member Glasgow. Motion passed by 3-0 vote.
Member McNorton made motion to appoint Chad Lady as Acting Fire Chief for the Fire Department for the duration of Chief Schmitt’s absence. Seconded by Member Mathes. Motion passed by 3-0 vote.

Fire –

Acting Chief Lady presented the Fire Report. The number of calls continues to surpass the number of calls received at the same time last year. The cyberattack on St. Francis created a

huge disruption in medical services. AMR response times have been delayed due to extended transport times to hospitals outside of Shawnee County. AMR has extended the nurse navigation program to first responders, but it is unknown how long it will be in place.
Employment offers have been extended for three paid-per-call firefighters.

Road –

Mr. Tipton presented the Road Report. In November, crack sealing has been completed and shoulder cracking repair has been addressed with hot mix asphalt, as weather permitted. The first snowstorm of the year yielded approximately 7.2 inches of snow. The road crew worked for about 13 hours clearing roadways, including some in Menoken Township, with no reported incidents.
The first entrance culvert on the minimum maintenance road at NW 86th Street has been installed.

Executive Session: Motion was made by Member Mathes to go into executive session for ten (10) minutes under the attorney/client privilege exception to discuss possible litigation to include the Board, the Administrator and Attorney. Seconded by Member McNorton. Motion passed with a 3-0 vote.
Executive session convened at 12:39 p.m. The Board returned to open session at 12:49 p.m. Member Mathes made motion to immediately return to executive session for fifteen (15) more minutes under the same exception with the same people present. Seconded by Member McNorton and passed with a 3-0 vote. The Board resumed executive session and returned to open session at 1:09 p.m. with no binding action having been taken. Member Mathes made a new motion to immediately return to executive session for five (5) minutes under the non-elected personnel exception, to discuss Fire personnel, to include the Board members, Lee Hendricks, Bob Oliva, and Chad Lady. Seconded by Member McNorton and passed with a 3-0 vote. The Board returned to executive session. At 1:14 p.m., the Board returned to open session with no binding action having been taken.
With no further business to come before the Board, Member Mathes made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Member McNorton seconded the motion and the motion passed with a 3-0 vote. The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.
The next regular monthly Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at 12:15p.m.
Approved :Signed Document Minutes – 12-5-23 – Signed