HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

JULY 26, 2007

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open an public session on the 26th day of June, 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 18th day of July 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.    Commissioner Rasmussen called and stated he would be a little late.  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.

 

Executive Session

Chairman Seifert made the motion and second by Lierman to go into executive session at 8:40 am with the County Board present for the purpose of discussing personnel.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, ABSENT; Seifert, AYE.

 

Motion was made by Chairman Seifert to come out executive session at 9:25 am with no action taken.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, AYE.  Commissioner Rasmussen was present at 8:50 am.

 

Kroeger Subdivision

Motion was made by Sack and second by Lierman to open the public hearing for the Kroeger Subdivision at 9:32 am.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler presented the plat and stated this would be a single lot subdivision which was requested by the financial institution for loan purposes.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to close the public hearing at 9:36.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to approve the Kroeger Subdivision as presented.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

Franz discussed the single lot subdivisions with the Board.  He requested permission from the Board to change the guidelines that the single lots subdivisions have to follow.  He would like to see there be only one hearing for the Planning and Zoning Commission and one hearing for the County Board.  It would make the process for single lot subs a quicker process than we have now.  He also discussed the pricing of subdivisions but no action was taken.

 

Budget Meeting with Officials

The Commissioners had requested that the officials and department heads meet with them for the budget review.  Surveyor Tim Aitken and Extension Agent Scott Brady had called and stated they would not be able to make the meeting.  Present were Treasurer Connie Nickel, Assessor Deloris Heminger, Clerk Marge Palmberg, Sheriff Harold Schenck, Clerk Magistrate Marsha Anderson, Hwy Supt Jay Meyer, Weed Supt Dan Fredrick, Attorney Dave Schroeder and Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler.  Chairman Seifert related the following to those in attendance:  “For several years the Howard County budget has been out of control.  Our expenditures exceed our revenues by approximately one million dollars this year which is unacceptable.  He and the Board have been working very diligently to put together a budget we can live with.  He stated that these are the steps we have to take to get a balanced budget:

                       

                        1.         Less spending

                        2.         Decrease the county employee work force

                        3.         Generate new revenues without raising taxes

 

Chairman Seifert stated that the last one is the hardest to achieve which leaves us with only the other two options.  The county has depended on inheritance tax and cash reserves for the day to day operation of running the county and over the years we have spent down the reserves and inheritance funds to a critical level.  The Board has cut budgets in every department but we still need to reduce the spending by $75,305 more.”  Chairman Seifert then handed out individual department budgets to those officials and department heads and asked each to go back to their office and see if they could reduce any line items.

 

County Zoning Regulation

Carl Christensen met with the Commissioners to discuss with them a zoning regulation.  He is in the process of selling off a tract of land and he does not feel that he should be required to go through the subdivision process. County Attorney Dave Schroeder said that several of Mr. Christensen’s concerns will need to go through the Planning and Zoning Commission and he may also want to consult an attorney.   No action was taken.

 

Semi-Tractor Bid

Bids were opened at 10:00 am for the semi-tractor that had been advertised.  The following bids were received:

 

            Farwell Truck and Leasing  1996 Internat’l 9400 Day Cab                                  $11,800

            NE Truck Center                  2001 Sterling  AT9500                                   23,169

            NE Truck Center                  2001 Freightliner FLD12064ST                     30,357

            NE Truck Center                  2000 Freightliner FLD11264ST                     24,829

            Sahling Kenworth                 2001 Kenworth Day Cab T800                      25,725

            Sahling Kenworth                 1995 Peterbilt Day Cab 377                           17,500

            Hansen International            2001 Internat’l 9100 Day 9100 Cab               25,500

 

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Scarborough to table the bids.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Excavator Bids

Hwy Supt Jay Meyer related to the Board the uses the road department has for an excavator and had a list of the jobs they have done with the one they are renting.  The bid opening was advertised at 10:15 am.  The following bids were opened:

 

            NE Caterpillar                       2005 315CL Hydraulic                                $119,328

            Murphy Tractor                    2003 JD 160CLC                                              92,850

            Midland                                  2006 Case CX160                                           112,422

            Midland                                  2003 Case CX210                                             92,922

            Midland                                  2004 Case CX160                                           113,000

 

Motion was made by Sack and second by Scarborough to table the bids.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Belly Dump Trailer

The following bids were opened as advertised at 10:30 am:

 

            Grand Island Trailer            20’ King Pin Tri-Axle                                  $42,945

            Murphy Tractor                    New Trail King 3 Axle                                   40,185

                                                            with Aero Crank-N-Go add                             1,960

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Scarborough to table the bids.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

The Board thanked the company representatives that were present and stated they would contact them at a later date.

 

Budget Discussion continued

The Commissioners asked the Sheriff, Assessor and the Hwy Supt to meet with them again to discuss their department budgets with them.  They stated that they had come to the decision to reduce the county work force by three employees.  They are eliminating the secretary position in the road department; eliminate the GIS position in the Assessor’s office and a dispatcher position in the Communications Department effective September 1, 2007.

 

After more discussion, motion was made by Seifert and second by Scarborough to eliminate county paid family health insurance coverage for elected and appointed officials, no overtime, implement a hiring freeze, and no major equipment purchases unless authorized by the Board and the reduction of three county employees.  The Board had frozen salary increases at a previous meeting for county employees. The health insurance benefit would be effective 2009 for two elected commissioners and effective in 2011 for the remainder of the elected and appointed officials.  They will receive the single health insurance coverage benefit as the rest of the employees.  The Board stated this will be a very substantial savings and felt it only fair that everyone receive the same benefit.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, NAY; Seifert, AYE.  Motion carried.  Commissioner Rasmussen stated he voted nay due to the fact that this will mean that two commissioners will be on a different scale than the other three commissioners for insurance coverage for two years.

 

The officials and department heads did have some line items that they could reduce so the final figure short is $56.494.  The figures were available for all the officials to see as Chairman Seifert had put the county budget on a power point presentation.  The Board has opted not to use the inheritance tax money so we will use reserve money.  These final figures were given to the accountant so that the budget may be completed.

 

Extension Office

Cheryl Tickner, Extension agent, met with the Board to go over their budget.  She stated that a new computer was needed as the one they have is 8 years old.  She also explained how the office works in conjunction with the University of Nebraska.  The Board thanked Cheryl as they were not aware of several things she had stated.  Discussion was had on the clerical position in the Extension office but no action taken. 

 

The Board recessed for lunch at 12:36 pm.

 

The Board reconvened at 1:52 pm.  Commissioner Rasmussen stated that Assessor Deloris Heminger had asked him about the possibility of having her employee do half time with the Zoning office and half time with the Assessor.  Commissioner Scarborough stated he was not agreeable with that suggestion.  Chairman Seifert asked for a motion regarding the Assessor’s suggestion.  No action was taken due to a lack of a motion.

 

Discussion was held regarding the part-time position in the Clerk’s office as this was brought to the attention of the Board.  No action was taken.

 

Road secretary Jackie Mayberry met with the Board.  The discussed with her the elimination of the clerical position and what a tough decision it was for them to make but they were up against the tax levy lid and had to make some difficult decisions.  The Board stated this would be effective September 1, 2007.  They very much appreciated her service to the county.  Jackie stated they were in the process of getting the LEOP book done and she had hoped to see it through completion.  She stated she would work on this project for $10.00 per hour after September 1st and the Board was agreeable to this.

 

Mail

Correspondence was received from the Crime Commission, a letter from Region III regarding their budget request and a report from DEQ.

 

Consent Agenda

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack to approve payroll claims in the amount of $159,051 and the minutes of the previous meeting as submitted by the Clerk.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.

 

                                                       Payroll Claims

 

                                    General Salary                         65,967.27

                                    Road Salary                            33,483.57

                                    Weed Salary                              2,626.48

                                    Civil Defense Salary                    262.48

                                    Communications Salary          10,754.53

                                    Federal W/H                             8,814.63

                                    State W/H                                 3,264.22

                                    BCBS Ins                                30,005.46

                                    FICA/Medicare                       17,266.22

                                    Retirement                              12,716.11

                                    NE Child Support                        144.00                   

           

 

County Board Mileage

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to suspend travel mileage within the county for the County Commissioners and to pay only for travel outside the county.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  Several of the board members stated they have not turned in any mileage within the county but Chairman Seifert stated we needed to make it official with a motion and have it entered into the permanent minutes of the Board.

 

 

 

Assessor’s Office

Assessor Deloris Heminger asked again to visit with the Board as she stated she had a suggestion that may help with the budget.  Her suggestion was that the Assessor’s office would take over the Planning and Zoning office and have it housed in her office.  The Board stated that this had been brought to their attention earlier and they felt this was not a feasible solution and thought it best that these two offices be kept separate.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to adjourn the meeting at 3:37 pm.  Roll Call: All Ayes. Motion carried.  The next regular meeting of the county board will be August 9th in the boardroom at the county courthouse.

 

Dated this 26th day of July 2007.

 

Larry Seifert, Chairman

 

ATTEST:

 

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk