By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission approved a three-year agreement with Clean-Rite of Hays to provide janitorial services at the county’s Emergency Services Building at Monday’s commission meeting.
The Buildings and Grounds department provides cleaning and janitorial services for all county buildings, but with the addition of the new county Health Department building on Canterbury, the commission approved to contract for janitorial services at one county building.
“We’re just adding buildings, but we don’t add staff,” said Commissioner Barb Wasinger while making the motion to approve the contract.
County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said Clean-Rite will only be responsible for cleaning the office space. EMS personnel will maintain the living quarters.
The first year of the contract is for $5,200 and it is subject to an annual renegotiation.
Under the agreement, Clean-Rite will also provide services for the offices at 601 Main and 2507 Canterbury if Building and Grounds is short-staffed for an additional $26 per hour.
In other business, the commission approved a contract with Roofmasters to repair the roof and add a slight pitch to the building at 2507 Canterbury.
That building — the future home of the county Health Department – suffered roof damage during a recent high-wind event. It was also determined that, because the roof is flat, water pools on the roof and a slight pitch should be added.
The county’s insurance through Kansas County Association Multiline Pool (KCAMP) will cover approximately 71 percent of the cost of the work, or $23,784.54. The remaining $9,715 will come from the Administrator Contingency account.
The commission was scheduled to discuss funding for an indoor youth training facility but moved the item to next week’s meeting.
The commission also read a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and another proclamation declaring April National County Government Month.
The commission also met in an executive session to discuss individual rates of pay for three employees. No action was taken.