HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

JUNE 18, 2007

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open an public session on the 18th day of June 25, 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 13th day of June 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 8:45 a.m.  Roll Call:  Bill Sack, AYE; Lauren Scarborough, AYE; Rance Lierman, AYE;  Gary Rasmussen, ABSENT; Larry Seifert, AYE.    Also present is County Clerk Marge Palmberg.  Commissioner Rasmussen had called and stated he would be about 15 minutes late.  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.

 

Road Discussion

Road secretary Jackie Mayberry presented an underground telephone permit requested by DA Trenching.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Seifert to approve this permit.  Roll Call: 4 Ayes 1 Absent.  She also had some information regarding used cell phones and had a check in the amount of $2315.89 from the Hospital for the work done on their parking lot.

 

Commissioner Rasmussen is present at 8:50 am.

 

Executive Session

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to go into executive session at 8:55 am with the County Board, County Attorney, County Clerk, Highway Superintendent and the Weed Superintendent for the purpose of discussing personnel.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

Road Secretary Jackie Mayberry was asked to attend the executive session several minutes later.

 

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to come out of executive session at 9:25 am with no action taken.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Road Discussion

Highway Superintendent Jay Meyer and John Deere salesman Frank Robinson met with the Board regarding the purchase of an excavator and a tractor.  After much discussion, motion was made by Scarborough and second by Seifert that Jay advertise for bids for the equipment and this will be placed on July 26th agenda.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  Jay and the Board discussed the bid specs for the equipment.  They decided that they would rent the excavator to see if it is feasible.  Motion was made by Lierman and second by Seifert to rent an excavator.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

Jay also had pictures of the road damage in the county from the rain which he shared with the Commissioners.

 

Lemburg Acres Subdivision Public Hearing

Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler presented to the Board the final plat for the Lemburg Acres.  Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to approve this subdivision.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Franz also discussed with the Board a complaint he had received regarding Bunker Hill Feedlot and some waste run off.

 

Midland Area on Aging

Executive Director Dick Bauer, Dianne Fowler and Donetta Nye met with the Board with their annual budget request.  They related information to the Board regarding the services with their request in the amount of $8703 for this fiscal year.  Mr. Bauer also introduced Dianne Fowler who will become the Executive Director as he is retiring.  Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to approve the budget funding for the 2007-08 fiscal year.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

County Audit

Proposals had been sent out and received from for the county audit from Tonniges & Associates; Contryman Associates; State Auditor’s office and Dana F. Cole & Company.  Treasurer Connie Nickel met with the Board and stated she had spoken with Deanne from the State Auditor’s office who stated that Tonniges & Associates are under review from the State of Nebraska. The County had contracted with Tonniges the last couple years.  She also felt we should have received our audit by now as she is in need of some information from them. The Board had received copies of all proposals at the previous meeting and had reviewed each one.  Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Lierman to go with Contryman Associates for one year.  Their proposal is in the amount of $8500.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  The Clerk will send a letter to them in regard to this.

 

Road Discussion

Commissioner Lierman stated that Gary Lemburg had stated that he has a scraper at his place which the county needs to pick and also inquired about the purchase of the fuel tank that the county has on his property.  He is interested in buying it if he can.  This will be checked into and placed on the next agenda.

 

County Burial

Paperwork has been received for a county burial that was done in Grand Island.  After much discussion, motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to deny the request.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.  The Board stated for the record that since the county has purchased approximately 10 lots for county burials at our local cemetery these should be used.

 

 

 

Consent Agenda

Motion was made by Sack and second by Seifert to accept the consent agenda and approve all items listed which include the claims in the amount of $164,717.23, minutes and reports from the Clerk, Treasurer and Sheriff departments.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Commissioner Rasmussen abstained on the claim from Charlie’s Station in the amount of $443.25 as he is the owner of the business.

 

Veteran’s Service Appointment

Veteran Service Officer Don Shuda had asked the Board for the appointment of Alfred Novotny on the Veteran’s Board.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Rasmussen to appoint Alfred Novotny to the County Veteran’s Service Board.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

The Board recessed for lunch at 11:55 am.

 

The Commissioners reconvened from lunch at 1:05 pm.  They went over more budgets especially the road department due to fuel and gravel increases.  They reviewed all departments again and made some changes. 

 

The Board reviewed wage increases in the different departments.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Seifert to approve a 3% increase for two clerical employees, one in the Clerk’s office and one in the Treasurer’s office.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion carried.

 

More discussion was held on the salary increases in the courthouse offices.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Seifert to place a freeze through July 2008 on all clerical wages unless they are approved by the Commissioners.  The Commissioners felt the freeze was warranted as they think there have been excessive wage increases of 10% or 12% for some employees and they stated this is completely out of line, therefore wage increases will now be approved by the Board.  The freeze will be for one year this time and will be reviewed then.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack to adjourn at 4:15 pm.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  The next regular meeting of the Board will be June 28, 2007.

 

Dated this 18th day of June 2007.

 

Larry Seifert, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk