Minutes from recent Bates County Commission meetings
Charles Rush, with Cooks Insurance, came in and talked to the Commission about United Healthcare and possibly Blue Cross Blue Sheild for them to consider when their Insurance Renewal takes place.
Jim stated that Elected Officials will be involved in the decision again this year.
July 13, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Judge Julie Highley came and discussed Gas Cards through the Opioid Board Funding Program with the Commission. She explained a system where they can offer MFA Gas Cards to individuals in the program that might need help with gas for their travel back and forth from work. They discussed the amount of $400.00 to be allotted towards these cards, each card totaling $25.00 apiece.
Trent liked the idea of it being an MFA card, as they can only spend it on gas and nothing else. John agreed and added that the amount of the cards, being $25 each, was a great idea.
Trent made a motion to approve the funding for the MFA Gas Cards. John seconded the motion. Jim started explaining that he wants to make sure this isn’t something that will be looked at every time an individual says they are having trouble going to work. He feels this needs to be closely monitored so it doesn't become more an expense, depleting the funds for something else. He then stated that he is on board to support people getting their life back together and likes that it is an MFA Card that can be spent at any MFA but on gas only.
John stated that he felt this was well thought out and said that he is all in with this.
All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
Alan Fay, with Higginbotham Insurance, sat with the Commission to touch base. Jim told him that they were still under contract with the counties’ current insurance and that the current broker they have can do the same that Higginbotham can do.
Alan spoke over personalized policies, saving a county 40% with 100% coverage, and encouraged the Commission to reach out midsummer to discuss something perfect for the county.
Jim then discussed a period where the Commission got a lot of backlash and were accused of purchasing the cheapest insurance. He said that when they were switching insurances, they had all elected officials present during the meeting and let them have input. He said there was a lot of good conversation and input, and they were able to agree on an insurance policy.
Alan then asked the Commission to consider them when their contract is up, to which Jim stated that they stick with a local broker because they are quick to respond and get the issue resolved quickly. Alan then told Jim that they work hard to respond to any concerns and are most likely to have it resolved by the end of that day.
Trent made a motion to accept the Cyber Liability renewal price with Travelers. John seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
The Commission discussed CART Funding which led John to make a motion to give $575 per mile. Trent seconded the motion. Jim voted no, as he feels the numbers do not match up to what they will be able to spend out of Road and Bridge for the remainder of the year. Jami asked if they had budgeted that much a mile, Jim thought not but found where they did budget $575.00 per mile but he still doesn’t think it will line out, as they have expenses for bridges coming out that were not budgeted. He told Jami the totals and how close they were, but Jami reminded him that they do have cash on hand that they can use as well to make up for anything. He stated he was aware of that but felt like more money was being spent versus coming in. He stated that it isn’t that he doesn’t want to give them money, he just wants them to do their jobs and not waste the money or rathole it somewhere else and start using it on the roads to make them drivable and fix the ditches.
Chad Anderson came in and met with the Commission to discuss some Personnel matters with one of his employees.
At 3:04 pm John made a motion to go into Closed Session to discuss the personnel matter. Trent seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
At 3:38 pm Trent made a motion to go back into open session. John seconded the motion. All were in favor. Motion carried. No opposition.
July 15, 2026 The Bates County Commission met with Presiding Commissioner Jim Wheatley, Northern Commissioner John Gray and Southern Commissioner Trent Nelson present.
Sydney Roberts; SEMA, Mark Mathies; Butler, Michael Wriston; Mayor of Hume, Jason Bennet; Butler Fire, Daniel Stewart; Bates County Deputy Surveyor, Jim Henry; Mayor of Butler/EMA all joined the Commission and spoke about Flood Plains.
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was presented to increase awareness of flooding and reduce the risk of losing life across the state, with the help of SEMA. FEMA has the funds to get an updated map so they are in the process of creating these maps for Bates County.
They also presented a website that the County can use to see the elevation levels when building things looking at the flood plain areas that might be affected.
Wade Chandler called the Commissions office and spoke with John and Trent, as Jim had not made it back from lunch yet. He discussed the standing of Mt. Pleasant Township and addressed concern for the people that are still on the Township Board. Some of the concerns included the lack of meeting minutes from the last two months of meetings, the board’s unwillingness to cooperate with the Highway Patrol in the Township investigation, and the lack of knowledge of their financial status of the Township.
Wade stated that he had attended a board meeting on the fourteenth of July and was disappointed with the progress of the township. In the fact that they had no meeting minutes or knowledge of the things they were asked to show, a group of people that reside in Mt. Pleasant Township have come together and will be requesting an Audit and a Sunshine Request to find out what is happening within this township to this day. He told the Commission about the audit and asked for their help, as they can make this easier on the individuals going to bat for their Township. John and Trent voiced their support, and John mentioned that he had a contact that he could reach out to from the State Auditor's Office and asked Wade who he was in contact with to be able learn information about the Highway Patrol's Investigation.
Wade mentioned that he washed his hands with the Township in March and had not been since and felt as if they were worse off in July than they were in March. He stated that the stealing must stop and he wants answers for the thousands of missing funds that are not accounted for.
Wade and two other individuals are set on putting their names on the Ballot and running once there is an audit in motion. Neither of these gentlemen want to run with the current line of members and would like to step in and get things lined out and the Township back on its feet.
Kacie Robey, Treasurer/Collector, and Carl Bettels, Assessor, came in and updated the Commission on their situation with Governmentor. Gene, the owner, is in the hospital so they were unable to close on the dates that they had originally planned and is still unsure when they will be able to get switched over to Ulrich Software.
Kacie stated that she is going to get with the lawyers, as this is the only way they can communicate with Gene to get anything done, to see how they should proceed from here. Since he is a one man show, Kacie is unsure of what to do from here and their licenses are up on July 17th, 2026. She said she will not be paying any fines or fees dealing with that, as this was not anyone’s fault, but she doesn’t want to get stuck with any charges especially since it was not the Counties fault that nothing was able to be switched before that date.
Kacie and Trent both hoped that Gene was okay and would be able to recover quickly.
With Trent absent, Jim made a motion to accept Spring Line Advisor, dealing with NextEra Solar. John seconded the motion. Two were in favor, one absent. Motion carried. No opposition.
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