HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

AUGUST 17, 2006

 

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open an public session on the 17th day of August 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 9th day of August 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 8:30 a.m.  Roll Call: Jim Watson, AYE; Bill Sack, AYE; Larry Seifert, AYE; Gary Rasmussen, AYE; Philip Bader, AYE.  Also present is County Clerk Marge Palmberg.   Chairman Bader 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.

 

Road Discussion

Road foreman Don Wilson was present to meet with the Board.  He stated that the Big Slough project has been completed and also mentioned to them the illness of a county road employee.  The Board then discussed the possibility of hiring one more road employee.  This will be addressed at a later date.

 

Highway Supt Jay Meyer met with the Board to discuss the bridge report he received from the State.  He stated that the State inspected two bridges in the county as part of their “core safety program and reported that a 60’ truss bridge west of Cushing did not meet their standards.  They requested a plan of action to be submitted to them regarding this bridge as to whether the county will close the bridge, fix it or post it with or without restrictions.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Watson to approve the resolution.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  Resolution No. 2006-14 is on file in the Clerk’s office.  Jay will check into how to correct the report.

 

Road secretary Jackie Mayberry met with the Board to present an electrical permit and a pipe permit for Ron Woitazewski on 9th Avenue.  Motion was made by Watson and second by Sack to approve the two permits.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

Jackie also had a permit for electric cable for Stoltenberg Inc.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to approve this permit at 3rd and Hardy.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Jackie also discussed a laptop computer.  Commissioner Seifert will look into this for her as the Board feels we should be able to purchase one for less than the invoice she had.

 

 

County Audit

Randy Tonniges met with the Board to answer any questions they may have.  He had done the audit for this past fiscal year.  The Board had given him a contract for one year.  After some discussion, motion was made by Seifert and second by Rasmussen to approve Tonniges & Associates for another year.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.  Mr. Tonniges will send a contract for the Board to sign.

 

Budget Discussion

Terry Galloway, representing Shonsey & Associates, met with the Board regarding the county budget and wanted to review some numbers with them.  Discussion was had on transferring some money from the Inheritance Fund to keep the tax rate lower.  This will addressed again when all the figures are in to see how we stand.  As the Board will review more budgets later, they asked Terry to meet with them at the August 31st meeting.

 

Bushhousen Paunch Manure Permit

Brad Bushhousen and Leo Robison met with the Commissioners to discuss the paunch manure permit that was approved by the Board at a previous meeting.  Mr. Bushhousen is requesting his permit be amended to start earlier that the October 1, 2006 dates.  This will be placed on the agenda for September 14th for public hearing. Also discussed was the road situation.  They Board stated they would work with them.

 

Planning & Zoning

P & Z Administrator Franz Trumler met with the Board to discuss affidavits for multiple subdivisions.   

 

Windmill Feed Yard

The Board addressed the Windmill Feed Yard conditional use permit.  A public hearing was held at the last meeting with many citizens present.  Chairman Bader stated that the public comment portion was closed but he would take any comments from a board member.  Commissioner Watson stated that as it stood today he could not approve this as it does not meet the set back regulations. Attorney Steve Mossman, representing Jim Olsen, stated they wanted to make a proposal and referred to state statute which gives the County Board some power to amend this.  County Attorney Dave Schroeder stated he had visited with Attorney Mossman several times and recommended the Board go into closed session for the purpose of discussing litigation. Motion was made by Sack and second by Watson to go into closed session at 10:34 am to discuss litigation with the County Board and County Attorney.  Roll Call: All ayes.

 

Motion was made by Sack and second by Watson to come out of closed session at 11:06 am with no decision made.  Roll Call: All Ayes. 

 

Chairman Bader stated that he would make the motion to remand the conditional use permit for Windmill Feed yard application back to the Planning and Zoning Commission and they would issue a statement of fact to the Board of their recommendation.  This motion was seconded by Seifert.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

 

 

Reports

The Board entered into the record they received the Treasurer Miscellaneous report, the Sheriff’s reports and the District Court report.

 

Drug Law Enforcement

Motion was made by Sack and second by Seifert to approve the recommendation of County Attorney Dave Schroeder to name Chief Steven Studnicka with the St. Paul Police Department, County Sheriff Harold Schenck and State Patrolman Patrick Benson to sit on the Howard County Drug Law Enforcement Fund Board for a term of two years.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  Resolution 2006-15 is on file in the County Clerk’s office.

 

Alternative Fuel Resource

LeRoy Jons and Errol Wells met with the Board to discuss the alternative fuel resources for the fifteen county regions.   Mr. Jons presented a resolution to the Board for their approval.  After much discussion, motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Seifert to approve this resolution.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  Resolution No. 2006-16 is on file in the Clerk’s office.

 

County Surveyor

Howard County Surveyor Tim Aitken met with the Board to ask about some right of way information by a bridge west of Nysted.  County Attorney Schroeder helped with this matter.  Tim also discussed the filing cabinets from the previous surveyor Al Dearmont.  The Board felt this would be an asset to the county surveyor’s office.

 

Mail – Reserve Officer

The Board received and reviewed correspondence from the Public Service Commission, a letter from Lee Jacobsen regarding Road 34-S.  They also received a letter from Sheriff Schenck requesting approval of the Board to have Kimberly Pedersen appointed as a reserve office for Howard County.  Motion was made by Watson and second by Sack to effect.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  They also received from Sheriff Schenck an addendum from the Thurston County Sheriff’s department asking for the Board to approve and sign this.  It stated they were increasing their prisoner board cost to $50.00 per day effective October 1, 2006.  Motion was made by Bader and second by Watson to approve this.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Claims

The claims were reviewed.  Motion was made by Bader and second by Seifert to approve all claims with the exception of Charlie’s Station, OMB, Orkin and Office Max.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

Motion was made by Bader and second by Watson to approve the payment of Charlie’s Station in the amount of $669.17.  Roll Call: Bader, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSTAIN; Seifert, AYE; Sack, AYE; Watson, AYE.  Rasmussen abstained as he is owner of the business.  The claims were audited and warrants drawn on their regular funds.  The claims will be shown at the end of the minutes.

 

The Board recessed at 12:10 pm for lunch.

 

The Board convened at 1:20 pm for a budget work session.  They went over the budgets for the Surveyor and Assessor with Tim Aitken, Neal Dethlefs, and Connie Nickel present.  The Clerk will complete and send to the accountant for review.  For the most part, the Board approved the budgets of each department as submitted.  They will meet with the accountant at the next meeting to see how the numbers will work or if some changes will have to be made.

 

 

Minutes

Motion was made by Watson and second by Seifert to approve the minutes from the last meeting as submitted by the County Clerk.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

 

Road 34-S

Discussion was held on Road 34-S but no decision was made.  The Board received a letter from Lee Jacobsen stating that he has objection to the road being opened and that he would put a fence down the middle of the road.

 

 

Commissioner Sack was excused at 4:15 pm for an appointment but will return.

 

 

Political Subdivision Requests

The requests were received from the political subdivisions and reviewed by the Board.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Watson to accept the requests by these entities.  Roll Call: 4 Ayes. 1 Absent. Motion carried.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Watson and second by Rasmussen to adjourn the meeting at 4:40 pm.  Roll Call: 4 Ayes, 1 Absent.  Motion carried.  The next regular meeting of the County Board will be on August 31, 2006 at 8:30 am.

 

Dated this 17th day of August 2006.

 

 

           

                                                            ________________________________________

                                                            Philip G. Bader, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

 

______________________________________

Marge Palmberg, Howard County Clerk