HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MINUTES

 

MAY 8, 2008

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners acting as the County Board of Equalization was convened in open an public session on the 8th day of May 2008, in the Boardroom, Howard County Courthouse, St. Paul, Nebraska.

 

Notice of the meeting was given thereof by publication in the Phonograph-Herald on the 30th day of May 2008, 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 8:30 a.m.  Roll Call:  Bill Sack, AYE; Lauren Scarborough, AYE; Rance Lierman, AYE; Gary Rasmussen, AYE; Larry Seifert, AYE.    Also present is County Attorney Bob Sivick, County Clerk Marge Palmberg and Assessor Deloris Heminger.   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.

 

Agenda

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

 

Tax Corrections

Assessor Deloris Heminger had a listing for the Board to review and approve.  They are as follows:

 

            *   Donald Payne & Patricia Reilly              Accelerated tax on mobile home moved from                                                                                                county.

 

            *   Ronald McKowan                                                Accelerated tax on mobile home moved from

                                                                                    county.

 

            *   MSD Farms, Marlene Seims                   Corrected acres, add 8.69 acres

 

            *   Joe & Janet Moraczewski                                   House moved to Sherman County 2-1-08.

 

            *   Lyle & Dianne Hunkins                           Split combined parcels out per owner request.

 

            *   Lyle & Dianne Hunkins                           Split combined parcels out per owner request.

 

            *   County of Howard County                     Property purchase by hospital, permissive exemption.

 

            *   Ray D. Gibson                                          Mobile Home to be moved from county.

 

            *   Missouri Pacific Railroad Co.                 Parcel changed to centrally assessed for 2007.

 

            *   Bernard & Dana O’Hern                        Mobile Home to be moved from county.

 

            *   Robert & Sharon Schmidt                      Accelerated personal property sold 3-1-08.

 

Motion was made by Sack and second by Lierman to approve the tax corrections as submitted by the County Assessor.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Tax Discussion

Chairman Seifert asked the Assessor about some property that had not been valued correctly for several years.  It was determined that the county can back three years.   After much discussion, the Board asked the Assessor to get some numbers together on what the amount the county may have lost and this will be discussed at a later date.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Sack and second by Rasmussen to adjourn the Board of Equalization meeting at 8:52 am.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Dated this 8th day of May 2008.

 

Larry Seifert, Chairman

Howard County Board of Equalization

 

ATTEST:

 

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk

 

 

HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

MAY 8, 2008

 

 

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open and public session on the 8th day of May 2008, in the Boardroom, Howard County Courthouse, St. Paul, Nebraska.

 

Notice of the meeting was given thereof by publication in the Phonograph-Herald on the 30th day of April 2008 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, AYE; Larry Seifert, AYE.  Also present is County Attorney Bob Sivick and 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.

 

No Public Comment

 

Road Discussion

Hwy Supt Jay Meyer met with the Board to discuss further the road damage on Odell Road east of 2nd Avenue.  Jay and the County Attorney will work on this.

 

Stop Sign Resolutions

Jay presented two stop sign resolution for the Board’s approval.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to approve Resolution 2008-8 for a stop sign at 2nd Avenue & Naper Road to stop the north bound traffic and Resolution 2008-9 for a stop sign at 7th Avenue and Liberty Road to stop east bound traffic.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  The two resolutions are on file in the Clerk’s office.

 

Discussion was held on fuel prices for the county equipment.  Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to approve Jay to contract fuel and the amount at his discretion.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Jay stated that the graders use approximately 4000 gallon and the gravel trucks use approximately 2000 gallon per month.

 

Veteran’s Service Contract & Appointment

Veteran’s Administrator Don Shuda, Commander John VanWinkle and Committee members Alfred Novotny and Arnold Kyhn were also present to meet with the County Board regarding their budget and the reappointment of Larry Kiser.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Rasmussen to reappoint Larry Kiser for a 5 year term.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Discussion was held on the budget amount for the 2008-09 budgets.  This fiscal years budget amount was $26,180 and they are asking for an increase to $29,215.  Mr. Shuda related to the Board some statistics for Howard County and also the increase of Veteran population in our county.  The amount disbursed to Howard County Veterans is $1,596,000 and we are number two in the state based on population.  The Board realizes the importance of our county veterans but wanted to wait until they get more budget figures put together.  They thanked Don for a job well done and stated they appreciated all that he does.  This will be put on the May 27th agenda for more discussion.

 

NIRMA

Board member Jim Graves met with the Commissioners to give them an update on NIRMA.  The board members are visiting each county associated with NIRMA and presented a clock compliment of them.

 

Emergency Management

Randy Faaborg, Larry Wojtalewicz and Michelle Wojtalewicz met with the Board regarding the emergency manager position.  Much discussion followed as Commissioners Seifert and Sack had visited with Hall County and State Emergency Manager Larry Nedrow last Tuesday for approximately 4 hours.  They wanted to find out the status of our county plan what needed to be done to get us back into compliance. 

 

Discussion was held on naming the fire chiefs as deputy emergency directors.  They are:

 

            Al Spiehs – St. Libory                                    Randy Faaborg – Elba

            Terry Webb – Dannebrog                   Larry Wojtalewicz – Farwell

            Wayne Reimers – Boelus                    Ron Tubbs – St. Paul

 

It was decided to contact Jackie Mayberry and ask her to come to the meeting to visit with the Board.  Chairman Seifert called Jackie.

 

Veterans Service Contract

Vice-Chairman Sack, filling in for Chairman Seifert who was on a telephone conference call, spoke to the Board regarding the contact we have with Hall County Veterans Service and Don Shuda.  He stated the intention is to continue with this contract as Mr. Shuda does a great service to our county veterans so he would entertain a motion to continue contracting with Hall County.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to continue the contract as we have with Hall County with budget funds discussed at a later date.  Roll Call: 4 Ayes. Chairman Seifert was on a telephone call and not present at this discussion.

 

Emergency Management Services

Jackie Mayberry met with the Board to discuss the emergency manager position.  Jackie stated if she accepted the position she wanted $15.00 per hour.  There are some items that must be done by the first part of June in order for the county to receive grant money.  Chairman Seifert prepared the Resolution for the appointment of an emergency manager.   Resolution 2009-10 is on file in the Clerk’s office. Jackie will have her office in the back room of the Assessor’s office and left to check out the files she had on emergency manager at the road shop.

 

Region 3 Behavioral Services

Regional Administrator Beth Baxter met with the Board to go over the figures that the county will need to budget for.  Commissioner Sack is on the Region 3 Board and wanted the rest of the board members to hear and understand why the county share increased $5325.51 for this coming fiscal year.

Beth had all the figures she presented to the Board and the why especially with the EPC and Mental Health Board costs.

 

County Burial

The Board reviewed the county burial resolution they had approved at the last meeting.  Bill Greenway and Todd Peters were also present to go over the resolution with the Board.  Several changes will be made and this will be addressed again at the next meeting.

 

Special Liquor Permit

Deb Moody, representing the Beer Barrel Bar in St. Libory, met with the Board to request a special liquor permit for a beer garden on May 31st in St. Libory.  She had the paperwork filled out to go into the State Liquor Commission.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to approve the request.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Emergency Manager – continued

Chairman Seifert had prepared a resolution regarding the emergency management for the county.  This must be done so the county will not lose grant money and be able to apply for more.

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to accept the verbal resignation of Phil Bader as the county emergency manager.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to approve Jackie Mayberry as the Emergency Manager for Howard County and the county fire chiefs as deputy emergency managers.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Lierman that her salary be $28,000 per year.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Blue Cross Blue Shield

Gary Streeks, representing BCBS insurance, met with the Board to give them the new rates effective July 1, 2008 and to answer any concerns or questions they may have.  There is an increase of 8.2% with no increase on the dental insurance.  The subcontract will be arriving soon for the county clerk to complete.

 

The Board recessed for lunch at 12:05 pm.

 

Executive Session

Motion was made Sack and second by Scarborough to go into executive session at 1:14 pm for the purpose of discussing potential litigation with the County Board, County Attorney, County Sheriff and County Clerk present.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Commissioner Scarborough left the meeting at 1:40 pm as he had a dental appointment.

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to come out of executive session at 2:00 pm.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, AYE; Scarborough, ABSENT.

 

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to deny the claim of Leon Stanczyk in the amount of $704.00.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Consent Agenda

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Lierman to approve the consent agenda consisting of the claims in the amount of $l30,786.65 and the minutes of the 4-24-08 meeting.    The claims listing will appear at the end of the minutes. The reports of the County Clerk, District Court, County Sheriff and Treasurer were also entered into the permanent record.

 

Mail

The mail had a letter from Central NE Electric and a notice of the by-law changes for Midland Area on Aging.

 

Motion was made by Sack and second by Rasmussen to adjourn the meeting at 2:20 pm.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  The next meeting of the County Board will be May 27th.

 

Dated this 8th day of May 2008.

 

Larry Seifert, Chairman

Howard County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk