By GAYLE WEBER

gweber@dailynews.net

Insurance premiums for the Ellis County Rural Fire Department property rose this year due to increased building valuations.

Rural Fire Chief Dick Klaus told commissioners Monday the valuation of fire stations in Victoria, Ellis and Hays rose more than $100,000 each from last year. Those increases contributed to a $988 jump in property insurance for the department.

"There's no way that building in Ellis is worth $241,483," Commission Chairman Perry Henman said. "I think it would be worth a look into."

The Ellis property rose from a $95,000 value a year ago.

Klaus said some of the increased property premiums could be attributed to the rising price of steel, but he still didn't agree with Insurance Planning's assessment of the buildings.

"The only way we can get it lowered is if we can find someone to come in and tell us what it would cost (to replace the buildings)," Klaus said.

Commissioners suggested checking with county appraiser Dean Denning to see what the appraised value of all three properties would be.

Klaus said the rise in value from $196,000 to $324,839 at the Victoria fire station was because of an addition built on the east side of the station. However, he didn't know why the value of the Hays station increased from $100,000 to $212,480.

Klaus said the county's contract with Insurance Planning expires next year, and he will bid it out at that time.

Premiums for the entire policy rose $2,202 to $11,207 this year.

In other business:

* The Ellis County Commission will meet in a special session at 8:30 a.m. Friday in Wichita.

The commission will convene at the law offices of Depew, Gillen, Rathbun and McInteer and meet in executive session to discuss the lawsuit against the county regarding Hays Wind LLC's proposed wind project southwest of Hays.

* Commissioners approved the recommended increase in rates for Ellis County EMS.

The rates, which now range from $375 to $750 depending on the type of service, will take effect March 1.

* Public Works Administrator Mike Graf reported the results of a traffic count on 240th Avenue to commissioners Monday.

Commissioner Glenn Diehl originally asked Graf to conduct the study after residents living along 240th Avenue south of Hays complained traffic was traveling too fast.

Graf said about 90 cars per day traveled the road that leads to Schoenchen. The average speed was about 65 miles per hour on the north end of the road and 55 miles per hour on the south end.

Peak speeds were recorded at 75 to 80 miles per hour.

Diehl said he would like to see a speed limit sign posted, especially on the north end near Antonino Road.

"Speed limit signs don't necessarily slow people down," Graf said. He said he would share the speed information with the sheriff's department if they wanted to step up enforcement in the area.

"If the sheriff wants to patrol that more frequently, I'd encourage him to do that," Diehl said.

* Commissioners decided not to enter into a service agreement with KONE Corp. for service on the courthouse elevator. Custodian Tom Weber said he doesn't use their services enough each year to justify spending more than $1,000 per year on the agreement.

* Commissioners discussed the projected decrease in oil valuations in Ellis County this year.

The oil price used for determining property valuation in 2007 is similar to this year, so Denning said he would expect the county to lose $30 million in valuations compared to a year ago.

The county also will lose close to $1 million in agriculture values, but Denning said real estate values continue to increase slightly.

"There will be some values go down. That's probably going to create more heartburn than if their values went up," Denning said.

* Ellis County still tops all counties in Kansas in oil production.

The county produced 3.1 million barrels of oil in 2007, according to the Kansas Geological Survey. Rooks County came in second with 1.9 million barrels produced.

Denning said one-third of Ellis County's oil production came from the Bemis-Shutts oil field.