Leavenworth County’s special building department is now known as the buildings and grounds department.

The Leavenworth County Commission approved the name change as a policy decision during its meeting Thursday. John Forslund, deputy director of buildings and grounds, provided his first monthly report as the department’s director. 

“It more accurately describes what we do,” Forslund said of the name change.

Forslund said buildings and grounds will plow snow, mow grass, trim trees, purchase materials and manage contractors, as well as work on 11 different buildings.

The special building department was absorbed by the county’s public works department as part of the county’s reduction in force. Tim Goetz, former director of special building, resigned in early October.

During his report, Forslund also said that the old jail should either be torn down or renovated to provide storage room.

He recommended that buildings and grounds retain its Justice Center maintenance position. The position had 137 work orders in October, Forslund said. County Administrator Heather Morgan said she will provide commissioners with additional information about the position at a future meeting.

Commissioner Dean Oroke was absent during Thursday’s meeting.

In other business:

* TREE DEBRIS — County Counselor David Van Parys told commissioners that he is concerned with the county’s potential liability in regard to residents reclaiming tree debris at the Leavenworth County Transfer Station.

With informal policy, transfer station staff members have allowed county residents to reclaim tree debris for use as firewood. The tree debris, which is in unorganized piles, is from clearing storm debris, Van Parys said.

Morgan prepared a policy and procedures statement for removal of wood at the commission’s recommendation during Monday’s meeting. She said she also discussed the topic with Van Parys.

Van Parys said he contacted the loss prevention department at Employers Mutual Companies, the county’s liability insurance provider.

“Our carrier is very concerned about having unsupervised access to any part of the transfer station,” Van Parys said. “I concur with their analysis. I would be very cautious, and in fact very hesitant, to recommend that any informal policy that may be in place regarding the retrieval of tree debris to be used as firewood be either directly supervised or prohibited all together.”

Van Parys also said he is unsure about the effectiveness of liability waivers that county residents could sign.

“I’m not saying it can’t be done,” Van Parys said. “I’m saying it needs to be done in a fashion that we at least take affirmative steps to minimize the risk to the county and to the public.”

Jason Auvil, director of solid waste management, said he will contact other transfer stations about their policies and will provide the commission with an update next week.

* TRAILER — Auvil said solid waste staff members are inspecting trailers as they leave the transfer station. He said the staff also is working on details for inspection sheets.

“We’re going to definitely be keeping a log of all these deficiencies that we’re finding with the trailers, and Hamm’s will be notified of these deficiencies,” Auvil said. “That can help with communication and coordination with Hamm’s. We want safe trailers. They want to provide safe trailers.”

On Oct. 23, the Kansas Highway Patrol pulled over a Hamm Quarry semi-trailer truck filled with materials from the transfer station because of its significant overload and material leakage.

* TIRES — Commissioners approved to purchase four tires for the transfer station’s New Holland backhoe and one tire for the JCB backhoe and to have the six tires filled with foam. The commission accepted Cross Midwest Tire’s bid for $6,959.

* CLOSED DOORS — Commissioners, the county administrator and the county counselor met behind closed doors for five minutes regarding potential litigation.