HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

JUNE 8, 2006

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open an public session on the 8th day of January 2006, in the Boardroom, Howard County Courthouse, St. Paul, Nebraska.

 

Notice of the meeting was given thereof by publication in the Phonograph-Herald on the 31st day of May 2006, 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 Bader called the meeting to order at 8:35 a.m. Roll Call: Jim Watson, AYE; Bill Sack, AYE; Larry Seifert, AYE; Gary Rasmussen, ABSENT; Philip Bader, AYE. Commissioner Rasmussen had called and stated he would be about 15 minutes late. Also present is County Clerk Marge Palmberg.

 

Road Discussion

Road secretary Jackie Mayberry met with the Board to discuss a low maintenance road in the southwest part of the county. No action was taken.

 

Commissioner Rasmussen is present at 8:45 am.

 

Weed Superintendent Dan Fredrick also visited with the Board in regard to some weed problems. The Board stated Dan must abide by the State guidelines and they would support him.

 

Commissioner Rasmussen also discussed with the Board a road issue brought to him by Galen Poss. After some discussion, it was decided to have Tagge Engineering do a study of the problem.

 

Road 34-S

Letters were sent to the three parties involved in the right-a-way. The Board will address this issue again when they are contacted by all parties.

 

Mail

Chairman Bader reviewed with the Board the following correspondence: a letter from Rod Wetovick regarding the County Attorney position; a letter from Sherman County stating they will stay with Region 26; a letter from the Crime Commission regarding reports for our juvenile grant fund; paperwork from the State Dept of Roads regarding bridge inspections and a pamphlet from Grand Island on their study of the homeless.

 

 

 

Child Support Agreement

Nebraska Health and Human Services had sent three copies of the Cooperative Agreement Enforcement/Clerk of the District Court to be signed. This agreement is to account for the work of the Clerk of the District Court as it relates to Child Support Enforcement to provide reimbursement to the County for the Clerk’s child support related work. Motion was made by Seifert and second by to have Chairman Bader signs the agreement which commences July 1, 2006 and terminates on June 30, 2011. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried. The Clerk will send two copies of this back to the State.

 

County Attorney Discussion

The County Board visited with Karin Noakes regarding the County Attorney position. Several of the Commissioners have been approached by attorney’s stating they were interested in the position. After some discussion, motion was made by Seifert and second by Rasmussen to contract with the Hall County Attorney’s office for a short term interim period until we appoint a County Attorney.

 

Public Hearing for Pauline Hemmer Permit

Motion was made by Sack and second by Watson to open the public hearing at 9:30 am for the Pauline Hemmer paunch manure permit. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried. Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler is present to relay to the Board the decision of the P & Z Commission. Concerned citizens Ralph Vogel and Don Shuda are also present. Mr. Vogel stated that he suggests that the company be given another chance as he feels Leo Robison will try to abide by the regulations. He also suggested that the Board appoint an arbitrary committee and have a test plot and see how it goes. Don Shuda stated that he spoke with a Max Boersen from Hall County and that he felt that Hall County would not allow it in Hall County and they have had no requests. He also would not like to see it get restarted again in Howard County. Zoning Administrator Trumler stated that the P & Z Commission denied this permit.

 

Public Hearing for Brad Bushhousen Permit

Motion was made by Sack and second by Watson to open the public hearing at 10:00 am for the Brad Bushhousen paunch manure permit. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Chairman Bader explained that they would keep the Hemmer hearing open as it concerned basically the same thing. Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler stated the Commission had recommended approval of this permit with a couple of stipulations. A lengthy discussion followed. Motion was made by Watson and second by Sack to close the public comment for both hearings at 10:20 am. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Discussion was had on changing the dates for the permits as they now run for 6 months and adding some stipulations.

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Watson to deny the Pauline Hemmer permit. Roll Call: Bader, NAY; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, AYE; Sack, AYE; Watson, AYE. Motion carried 4-1 to deny the permit.

Motion was made by Seifert to deny the Bushhousen permit as he feels we’ve had problems with Chamess Technologies previously such as applying paunch without a permit and not following the Planning and Zoning regulations. Hall County does not allow them to apply paunch for similar reasons. Hearing no second, the motion dies.

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack to approve the Bushhousen permit but change the dates to read from October 1 to November 15 and also follow the conditions of the P & Z Commission which are: planning and zoning will be notified at the beginning of application; they be informed as to the recommended application and the final amount applied; DEQ is also notified; they follow the route laid out for the trucks and they be responsible for some damage to the roads. Franz will contact DEQ and if there are any problems, the permit will be pulled by the zoning administrator. Roll Call: Bader, AYE; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, NAY; Sack, AYE; Watson, AYE. Motion carried 4-1.

 

Special Liquor Permit

Deb Moody dba Beer Barrel in St. Libory was requesting approval from the Board to have a special liquor permit for June 17th from 10:00 pm to 1:00 am. Motion was made by Bader and second by Sack to approve this permit. Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Midland Area on Aging

Administrator Dick Bauer representing the Midland Area on Aging and Donetta Nye with the St. Paul Senior Center met with the Commissioners for their funding request for this coming fiscal year. They are requesting the amount of $8561. Motion was made by Seifert and second by Watson to approve this budget request. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Cemetery Upkeep

Bonnie Clayton, Jerry Schenck, LaFern Mudloff and Elaine Swadley met with the Board to discuss the Spring Creek cemetery at Cushing. They are requesting help in removing some trees and gravel to the road. No action was taken.

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Gary Streeks, representing the BCBS county insurance, met with the Commissioners to discuss several changes to the plan and review their contract. The Board is considering changing to a higher deductible but will review this again before the first of the year. Gary also stated they have an optional life insurance through Fort Dearborn.

 

Noxious Weed Discussion

Weed Superintendent Dan Fredrick was present to meet with the Board regarding some noxious weeds in the county. The County Commissioners had requested by letter that Daniel Hurt meet with the. Dan had photos of some of Mr. Hurt’s property. The Board stated to Mr. Hurt they wanted to discuss the control of noxious weeds. Mr. Hurt reviewed with the Board his alternative method of weed control. It was decided that the State Weed Office will be contacted to request they meet with them and Mr. Hurt the latter part of July to review the area.

 

Claims

The Board reviewed the claims. Motion was made by Sack and second by Watson to approve the claim of Charlie’s Station in the amount of $576.86. Roll Call: Bader, AYE; Seifert, AYE; Sack, AYE; Watson, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSTAIN. Commissioner Rasmussen abstained as he is the owner of the station. Motion carried.

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Watson to approve the rest of the bills but they will review the Olsson statement. The claims were audited and warrants drawn on their regular fund. The claims will appear at the end of the minutes.

 

The Board opted to continue working through the lunch hour as they have an appointment at 1:00 pm and it is now past 12:30 pm and will take only a short break.

 

 

County Attorney Discussion

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack that we have a resolution which appoints the Hall County Attorney’s Office as interim until we find a permanent replacement. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

Motion was also made by Seifert and second by Watson to put an ad in the St. Paul paper and Grand Island Independent advertising for the County Attorney position. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

County Attorney Karin Noakes presented her resignation as Howard County Attorney as she has been appointed by Governor Heinemann as District Court Judge of the Eighth Judicial District. The Board accepted the resignation with regret but stated their appreciation for her work for the county and wished her well. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Appraiser Discussion

Darrel Stanard of Stanard Appraisal Services met with the Board to discuss doing the reappraisal for the county. No action was taken.

 

Board of Equalization

Motion was made by Sack and second by Rasmussen to convene as the County Board of Equalization at 1:55 pm to set the protest hearing dates for property valuation... Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried. Assessor Neal Dethlefs is also present. Motion was made by Watson and second by Sack to hold the hearings on the following dates. Roll Call: Bader, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSENT; Seifert, AYE; Sack, AYE; Watson, AYE. The dates are will be the afternoon of June 29, June 30 and July 6, 7, and 10,11,12,13.

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Watson to come out of Board of Equalization at 1:00 pm. Roll Call: Bader, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSENT; Seifert, AYE; Sack, AYE; Watson, AYE.

 

Windmill Feedlot

Peggy Griffin had requested to be on the agenda to discuss some sludge that was on her land. Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler and Jim Olsen are also present. After some discussion, Mr. Olsen stated he would help with the removal of this. No other action was taken.

 

Minutes

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Rasmussen to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as submitted by the County Clerk. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Reports

The County Board received and entered into the records the reports from the Treasurer, Sheriff and the District Court Clerk.

 

 

 

BCBS Insurance

The County Board stated they would leave the county health insurance as it is as most employees have probably met their deductible but will address the issue again on the November agenda.

 

 

Olsson Associates Consulting Engineers Claim

Motion was made by Watson and second by Rasmussen to approve payment of the claim for Olsson Associates in the amount of $6266. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried. The Chairman will send a letter to the county surveyor and ask that he meet with the Board at the next meeting.

 

Their being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Sack and second by Watson to adjourn the meeting at 3:03 pm. Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried. The next regular meeting of the County Commissioners will be June 29, 2006.

 

Dated this 8th day of June 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

                                                            _____________________________________

                                                            Philip G. Bader, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

 

 

_________________________________

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk