HOWARD COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MINUTES

 

July 10, 2008

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners acting as the County Board of Equalization was convened in open and public session on the 10th day of July, 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 2nd day of July 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 Robert Sivick, County Clerk Marge Palmberg and County 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 Sack and second by Scarborough to approve the agenda.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Tax Corrections

Assessor Deloris Heminger had the changes after abstract for the Board to approve.  These changes will amount to $196,780.00.  Motion was made by Sack and second by Lierman to approve the adjustments.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, AYE; Scarborough ABSTAIN.  Commissioner Scarborough abstained as he was listed on the abstract. 

 

Homestead Exemptions

The Assessor presented 6 names of property owners who had submitted their homestead exemption too late for her to approve.  She stated when this occurs; it is up to the County Board to approve.  The names are as follows:

 

                        Ted and Pat Lukasiewicz

                        Esther Tuma

                        Al and Betty Roepker

                        Maurus & Delores Eiberger

                        Jeanette Novakowski

                        Phyllis Stepanek

 

Mrs. Stepanek was present for this discussion.  Motion was made by Scarborough and second by Lierman to approve the six late exemptions.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, AYE.

 

River Property Ownership

Assessor Heminger also discussed with the Board riverfront ownership property.  She had been contacted by a property owner stating that the river has eroded leaving him with fewer acres.  She stated that this will probably become an issue with more people as the river moves and we should consider what we are going to do.  Commissioner Lierman stated that perhaps we should do this per incident.  No action or decision was made.

 

Motion was made by Lierman and second by Sack to close the Board of Equalization meeting at 9:00 am and open the Commissioner meeting.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Dated this 10th day of July 2008.

 

Larry Seifert, Chairman

Howard County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk

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HOWARD COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MINUTES

 

JULY 10, 2008

 

 

 

A meeting of the Howard County Board of Commissioners was convened in open and public session on the 10th day of July 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 10th day of July 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 9:00 a.m.  Roll Call:  Bill Sack, AYE; Lauren Scarborough, AYE; Rance Lierman, AYE; Gary Rasmussen, AYE; Larry Seifert, AYE.    Also present are 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.

 

Road Discussion

Hwy Supt Jay Meyer met with the Board to give them an update of the flood damage.  He stated they continue to repair the roads.

 

Commissioner Sack stated he was contacted by a fair board member in regards to the wash area for the livestock and would it be possible for the county to do some back hoe work as it is plugged.  After some discussion, motion was made by Sack and second by Lierman that the road department will do some backhoe work in the livestock wash area.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Tax Discussion

Arnold and Grace Kyhn met with the Board regarding irrigated taxes on property that have not been on the tax rolls for several years.  Mr. Kyhn stated that he opposed the Board’s decision at their May 27th meeting where they made the decision not to go back to the property owners and have them pay back taxes.  He feels the county has lost revenue plus he has paid his taxes and he feels other owners should have to pay theirs.  Commissioners Scarborough and Lierman stated that they would jump at the chance to make all property owners pay back taxes but the problem is to make certain that it is done evenly and fairly and they felt this may be an impossible task.  They stated that at the time they thought it should be done but do not know how to do it as it may cost more in time and money.  This will be placed on the next agenda.

 

Emergency Management

Jackie Mayberry met with the Board to let them know that the LEOP book is almost completed and we should receive the grant money for the new Communications Center soon.

 

Public Comment

Zoning Administrator Franz Trumler asked to speak to the Board.  He stated his concerns with fellow employees discussing his salary and feels this is not proper procedure.  The Board stated to him that they make the decisions not anyone else.  They commended Franz on the job he is doing.

 

Mail

The Board received a letter of agreement from Region 3 regarding the responsibilities and costs for Emergency Protective Custody and the new billing procedure beginning July 1, 2008.  Motion was made by Lierman and second by Rasmussen for the Chairman and County Attorney to sign the two agreements. Roll Call: All Ayes.  The Clerk will send the agreements back to Region 3; they will sign and return a completed form back to the county.

 

The Board received the paperwork from Contryman & Associates for the county audit.  They did agree to do the next two years at the same price as last year’s audit which was $8500.  Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack approving the audit.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Political Subdivisions

Chairman Seifert read a letter that was prepared to go out to the local political subdivision requesting they keep their asking the same as last year due to budget restraints.  Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to send the letter.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Consent Agenda

Motion was made by Rasmussen and second by Sack to approve the consent agenda consisting of the claims in the amount of $215,771.43 and the minutes of the last meeting and reports were entered into the record that were received from the Clerk, District Court and the Treasurer.  Roll Call: Sack, AYE; Scarborough, AYE with the exception of claim number 08070063 in the amount of $47.80 for the dry-cleaning of the Sheriff’s uniforms; Lierman, AYE; Rasmussen, AYE; Seifert, AYE.

 

Executive Session

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to go into executive session at 10:10 for the purpose of discussing personnel with just the County Board present.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to come out of executive session at 10:55 am with no action taken.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Budget Session

All officials and department heads were asked to meet with the Commissioners regarding the county budget.  It was stated that two of the board members had met with the accountant and we need to get more county revenue or reduce expenditures by approximately 1 million dollars.

Present for this meeting were people from the offices of the Treasurer, Assessor, County Court, Clerk, Planning & Zoning, Extension, County Attorney, Road, Sheriff, and Emergency Management.

 

 

 

 

Executive Session

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Sack to go into executive session at 11:46 am with the County Board, Sheriff, Attorney and Clerk present for the purpose of discussing personnel.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

Motion was made by Seifert and second by Lierman to come out of executive session at 11:55 am with no action taken.  Roll Call: All Ayes.

 

The Board recessed for lunch at 12:00 noon.

 

The Board reconvened to discuss several budget options.  This will be placed on the next agenda. 

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, motion was made by Scarborough and second by Sack to adjourn the meeting at 1:34 pm.  Roll Call: All Ayes.  The next regular meeting of the Howard County Commissioners will be July 31, 2008 at 8:30 am.

 

Dated this 10th day of July 2008.

 

Larry Seifert, Chairman

Howard County Board of Commissioners

 

ATTEST:

 

 

Marge Palmberg

Howard County Clerk