HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

MARCH 29, 2007

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open an public session on the 29th day of March, 2007, in the Boardroom, Howard County Courthouse, St. Paul, Nebraska.

 

Notice of the meeting was given thereof by publication in the Phonograph-Herald on the 21st day of March 2007, a proof of publication filed in the Clerk’s office.  Copies of the agenda were posted in the courthouse, the county web site, mailed to each Commissioner, and kept current and available to the public at the County Clerk’s office.

 

Notice of the meeting was given to the County Board and a receipt of their acknowledgment is also filed in the Clerk’s office.

 

Chairman Seifert called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.  Roll Call:  Bill Sack, AYE; Lauren Scarborough, AYE; Rance Lierman, AYE;  Gary Rasmussen, AYE; Larry Seifert, AYE.    Also present is County Clerk Marge Palmberg.   Chairman Seifert also stated to those in attendance that a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is available for review and indicated the location of such copy in the room where the meeting is being held.

 

Public Comment

Shaun Clinger was in attendance and wanted the Board to know that he has changed the subdivision he has been working with the Planning and Zoning Commission into 6 lots.  He presented a copy of the proposed plan to the Board.

 

Road Discussion

Dan Fredrick was present and had some pictures regarding the road on 23rd Avenue from Salem Road to Deadwood Trail.  It was decided to get the ok from the State Game and Parks Commission.

 

Road secretary Jackie Mayberry met with the Board to present the Edward Assendrop electrical cable permit in the NW ¼ of Section 3-13-9 on Cody Road.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to approve this permit.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Jackie also discussed the Homeland Security Grant Money.  She stated they will be going to an exercise in October in Platte County and wanted to know if they fire truck they will be taking could fuel up on the county shop.  Motion to approve this was made by Seifert and second by Scarborough.  Roll Call: Sack; AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE/ Rasmussen, ABSENT; Seifert, AYE. Motion carried.

 

Discussion was held on county vehicles going to work sites.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack that no county vehicle can be used to go to a work site as your getting to work is part of the job.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSENT; Seifert, AYE.

 

Gravel Bids

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to open the bid hearing at 9:00 am.  Roll Call: 4 AYES – 1 ABSENT.  Motion carried.

The gravel bids were opened by Chairman Seifert.  Present were representatives from several gravel companies.  Bids are as follows:

 

                                                                        Gravel                                                  Mud Rock

 

 

Central Sand and Gravel                             7.55 cubic yard                         11.50 cubic yard

PO Box 626

Columbus NE 68602

 

Hooker Bros Sand and Gravel                    4.40 per ton                                4.85 per ton

PO Box 5134

Grand Island NE 68802

 

Lilley Sand and Gravel                                 6.75 cubic yard                         12.00 cubic yard

11970 W. Platte River Dr

Prosser NE 68883

 

Tri-County Sand & Gravel                          5.95 cubic yard                         14.00 cubic yard

1497 Alexander Avenue

Elba NE 68835

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to approve and accept all bids that were opened.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSENT; Seifert, AYE.  Motion carried. Where the gravel is needed in the county depends on what location the gravel is hauled from. 

 

Motion was made by Sack and second by Lierman to close the bid process at 9:15 am.  Roll Call: 4 AYES – 1 ABSENT.

 

Commissioner Rasmussen was out of the board room on the telephone.

 

Consent Agenda

Treasurer Connie Nickel met with the Board regarding the tax sale report.  She told the Board that there were 11 bidders.

 

Parking Lot Proposals

Jackie Mayberry had placed a notice in the paper regarding the parking lot proposals.   The following were received:

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            Proposal One             Proposal Two        Proposal Three

 

 

Gary Smith Construction                 14,945.00                    27,400.00

2707 South North Road

Grand Island NE 68803

 

J.I.L. Asphalt Paving Co.                 15,800.00                    36,800.00

PO Box 2135

Grand Island NE 68802

 

L & L Concrete & Const                                                                                         57,928.00

PO Box 5805 

Grand Island NE 68802

 

K & K Construction                                                                                                 63,148.75

81150 Hwy 281

Greeley NE 68842

 

After some discussion as to whether we will do overlay or concrete, motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack to table the issue.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

County Attorney Schroeder suggested the board be more specific as to what they will want done.

 

Public Hearing – St. Libory Subdivision

Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to open the public hearing at 9:30 am for vacating the street in St. Libory.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Resident Bob Boehle was also present.  Jackie Mayberry had sent out letters to the homeowners in the area regarding the hearing date and the purpose.  The Board discussed with the County Attorney whether to vacate or close.  As there were no parties present to object to this hearing, motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to close the public hearing at 9:40 am.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

After more discussion, motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to vacate the road in lot 29 by Bob Boehle in St. Libory.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

Planning and Zoning

Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler met with the Board to discuss with them the building permits and the subdivision guidelines.  He also stated that he and Chairman Seifert had been asked to attend the Dannebrog Village Board meeting regarding the zoning for villages.  Also in attendance were the board members from Dannebrog and their village attorney, Jerry Janulewicz.

Terry Webb, Wayne Lauritsen, Kathy Connelly and Jessie Kiser were here representing the Dannebrog Village Board.  Questions and concerns were asked regarding the cost of getting a comprehensive plan and a regional planning and zoning board.  It was decided that Dannebrog would visit with the other villages and have a public meeting to discuss this further with them, the planning and zoning commission and the county board members.

 

 

Veterans Monument

Legion member Jim Sidel was here regarding the veteran’s monument on the courthouse lawn.  Jackie Mayberry had contacted NIRMA and had this added to the county insurance at a cost of $194 per year.

 

County Attorney Schroeder left the meeting at 11:00 am.

 

Rose Road

Bruce Raddatz, representing Tagge Engineering, met with the Board to give them an update on the Rose Road project.  He also had some profile sheets for the Board to look at.  No action was done and this will continue at a later date.

 

County Attorney Schroeder returned at 11:15 am.

 

Central Bio-Energy

Dennis Schultz and Mike Feeken met with the Board to give them an update on the ethanol plant project.

 

The Board recessed for lunch at 12:00 noon.

 

The County Board reconvened at 1:10 pm. 

 

Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to allow Bill, Gary and Jay to bid on used equipment at auctions with notification and limits.  Roll Call: All Ayes. 

 

Zoning Issues

Attorney Charles Campbell from York met with the Commissioners to discuss several zoning issues especially the Lake of the Woods as Howard County Attorney Dave Schroeder lives there and cannot give any legal advice to the Board regarding this.   Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to go into executive session at 1:21 pm with the County Board, County Attorney, County Clerk and Attorney Charles Campbell present.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to come out of executive session at 1:45 pm with no decision made.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Sack and second by Scarborough to go into executive session at 1:46 pm with the County Board, County Clerk, Attorney Charles Campbell and Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Rasmussen to come out of executive session at 2:35 pm with no action taken.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

 

Consent Agenda

Number (d) which is an alternate board member for the Midland Area on Aging was discussed and it was found that Bill Sack had been appointed as the alternate member when appointments were made in January at the reorganization meeting.

 

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack that the consent agenda be approved.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Payroll claims in the amount of $l53,602.26 were audited and checks drawn on their regular funds. 

 

                                                PAYROLL CLAIMS

 

                        General Salary                                     65,537.40

                         Road Salary                                       32,154.48

                        Weed Salary                                          2,443.42

                        Communications Salary                      10,563.60

                        Civil Defense Salary                                262.48

                        Federal W/H                                         8,716.41

                        State W/H                                             3,246.75

                        BCBS Insurance                                 27,947.98

                        FICA/Medicare                                   16,925.74

                        Retirement                                          12,654.77

                        Child Support Center                               144.00

 

 

The minutes of the previous meeting were also approved as submitted by the County Clerk.

 

Road Department Changes

Discussion was held on items for the road department that the Board would like done before Jay Meyer assumes the duty of full-time highway superintendent.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to adopt the changes in the road department.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  The list will sent out to all road department employees as the effective date is April 1, 2007.

 

Executive Session

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to go into executive session at 3:10 pm for the purpose of discussing personnel with the County Board and County Clerk present.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Scarborough to come out of executive session at 3:15 pm with no action taken.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

It was decided to change the April 26th meeting date to April 24th due to a conflict.  Notice will be made to the paper.

 

Budgets were discussed and Commissioner Scarborough stated that they could possibly have a night meeting to have a work session.  He would like to see the budget done earlier this year.  This will be discussed again at a board meeting as to what they will do.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to adjourn the meeting at 3:30 pm.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried. The next regular meeting of the Howard County Commissioners will be April 12th.

 

Dated this 29th day of March 2007.

 

 

_____________________________________

Larry Seifert, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_____________________________________

Marge Palmberg, County Clerk