HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

OCTOBER 25, 2007

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open an public session on the 25th day of October 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 17^th day of October 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.

Vice-Chairman Sack called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Roll Call: Lauren Scarborough, AYE; Rance Lierman, AYE; Gary Rasmussen, AYE; Bill Sack, AYE; Larry Seifert, ABSENT. Also present is County Clerk Marge Palmberg. Chairman Seifert had stated at the last meeting he would be out of the state so Commissioner Sack would chair this meeting. Vice-Chairman Sack 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

Dan Fredrick was present to visit with the Board regarding some road information. He stated they have been some fill work by the bridge at Page Road and 18^th Avenue plus working with the County Surveyor in finding a section corner.

He stated to the Board that the copy machine they had discussed at the last meeting is under contract for another year and a half. He will get the Clerk’s office a copy of the contract for the record that is sent to the State Auditor.

County Burial

An application was received for a county burial from Peters Funeral Home and a letter from Livingston-Sondermann requesting reconsideration of an application for a county burial that was denied at the last meeting. After much discussion, motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to approve both applications. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Loup Basin RC&D

The Board had received a notice from Loup Basin RC& D regarding a dues notice. The county had paid $25.00 in April for dues. Also discussed was the representatives for the Board.

Howard County Hospital

Attorney Barbara Wroblewski, Hospital Administrator Art Frable and Hospital Trustee Bill Greenway were present to meet with the Board regarding the purchase of some property. A title company needed the minutes where the Board approved the purchase of the Geraldine Hill property. Attorney Wroblewski presented a resolution for County Attorney Dave Schroeder to review for this property. After some discussion, motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to approve the resolution as presented approving the hospital to purchase the Hill property. Resolution No. 2007-17 is on file in the Clerk’s office. The document will also be entered into the numerical records in the book room. Roll Call: All Ayes.

E911 Center

Sheriff Harold Schenck met with the Board to give them an update on the new 911 Center. He stated that they will begin installing the new equipment on October 29^th and it will take approximately two weeks. Training for the dispatchers will begin around November 12^th. He asked about the grant money which has not been received as of yet and he understood it must be requested. The Board understood that this had already been done and we had just not received it yet. This will be checked into.

Planning and Zoning

Zoning Adminstrator Franz Trumler met with the Board to review with them the fee changes for the different classes of feedlots. He wanted the Board’s input of this.

County Attorney Applications

Discussion was held on the County Attorney applications received. As of this date the Board has received resumes from five attorneys and two calls stating their interest. The Board discussed meeting to review the applications between themselves before conducting interviews with the applicants.

Courthouse Cornerstone

The Board received a proposal for repair of the cornerstone of the courthouse from Pedersen Restoration of Geneva. Motion was made by Lierman and second by Scarborough to approve the repair in the amount of $475.00. Roll Call: All Ayes. The Clerk will contact Steve Pedersen regarding this and also ask him to check the foundation of the courthouse over when he repairs the cornerstone.

Crime Commission Claim

Chief Deputy Gerald Schenck had a claim in the amount of $36 for Tim McConnell for attending a class for the DAVY program which he wanted the Board to see would be submitted for payment.

Consent Agenda

Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to approve the payroll claims as submitted in the amount of $150,892.70 for payment. Roll Call: All Ayes. The following claims were audited and checks drawn on their regular funds:

PAYROLL CLAIMS

General Salary 64,111.42

Road Salary 31,090.43

Weed Salary 2,586.08

Communications Salary 10,487.57

Federal W/H 8,159.70

State W/H 3,066.23

BCBS Insurance 27,819.54

FICA/Medicare 16,518.12

Retirement 12,178.73

NE Child Support Center 144.00

Minutes

The Board reviewed the minutes of the last meeting and wanted some changes made to the content before they are entered into the permanent record. . Commissioner Rasmussen wanted it noted that the Board wishes to rescind the appointments made and leave the appointments of Errol Wells as the representative to the Loup Basin RC& D Council and Marion Bahensky as the alternate. He stated they thought these representatives had requested leave of the Council and since this is not the case, to let it stand as they were appointed because they do a very good job in their representation of our county.

Chairman Seifert asked that the minutes reflect that he did not approve payment of claim #07100071 to Deputy Assessor Stoddard because he did not think that after she charged the county $12.69 and $15.49 for meals on two different occasions at Skeeter Barnes and Whiskey Creek in Kearney, that several hours later she needed to charge ice cream sundaes from McDonalds and Dairy Queen after the meals to the county also. He felt the claims for the sundaes should be denied and she pay for the sundaes.

Commissioner Scarborough stated the minutes noted he did not agree to pay for claim #07100063 in the amount of $19.00 but there was no clarification as to what department and what the claim was for. He wanted it notated that he voted to deny payment of the claim as it was for the dry cleaning of Sheriff Schenck’s uniform and he still contends that as the county does purchase his uniforms, we should not have to pay for the cleaning of them.

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack that these changes be entered into the minutes for the permanent record. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Planning and Zoning

Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler met with the Board again on the fee changes. Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Rasmussen that the fees for feed lot conditional use permits for Class I through IV remain the same but add Class V for $7500. Roll Call: All Ayes.

Commissioner Scarborough gave a brief report to the Board regarding the audit of Mid Plains Behavioral Services as he serves on the Board. He wanted the Board to know that they scheduled another audit but they felt all was in order as they had an audit prior to the CEO resigning.

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Lierman and second by Scarborough to adjourn the meeting at 11:17 am. The next regular meeting of the County Board will be November 8, 2007 in the boardroom at the Howard County Courthouse.

Dated this 25^th day of October 2007.

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Bill Sack, Vice-Chairman

ATTEST:

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Marge Palmberg, County Clerk