August 21, 2007

State of Nebraska)

County of Seward) ss.

 

A regular meeting of the Seward County Commissioners was convened in open and public session at 9:00 a.m. on August 21, 2007 in the Commissioner’s room at the Seward County Courthouse.  Notice of the meeting was posted on the Courthouse bulleting board and on the Commissioner’s room door.  The agenda for all meetings is kept continually current and is available for public inspection at the County Clerk’s Office during normal business hours.  The agenda is held open until one business day prior to the meeting for appearance before the Board.  The Board of Commissioners has the right to modify the agenda to include items of an emergency nature only at such public meeting.

 

The Seward County Board of Commissioners convened on August 21, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.

Present:

Chairman:

Members:

County Clerk:

Joe Ruzicka

Darrell Miller, Scott Stuhr, Ron Minchow, Mary Koci

Sherry Schweitzer

 

The Chairman noted that the public meeting information is posted as required by law and available for public distribution if requested.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Stuhr to approve the minutes of August 14, 2007.

Affirmative vote: Koci, Stuhr, Miller, Minchow, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

During public/officials/boards comment, Gary Petersen informed the Board about some Emergency Manager items. Dan Hansen, Seward County Zoning Administrator stated he had received the new zoning maps for Seward County and that he would be posting a permanent one in the Commissioner’s room soon.

 

Commissioners Reports:

Commissioner Miller attended the 911 Board meeting the previous week.

 

Commissioner Stuhr attended the 911 Board meeting the previous week.

 

Commissioner Minchow had no report.

 

Commissioner Koci stated she helped with the Aging Services potato bake held in Milford the past weekend.

 

Commissioner Ruzicka had no report.

 

Gary Petersen then visited with the Board about a point of contact for the Nebraska Dept. of Emergency Services.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Koci that in order to meet and maintain compliance requirements of the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), Gary Petersen, Seward County Emergency Manager is designated to serve as the single point of contact and principal coordinator for NIMS implementation within Seward County.  The position is responsible for coordination of all NIMS-related directives.  This includes dissemination, collection of information, monitoring, and reporting on compliance activities.

Affirmative vote: Miller, Koci, Stuhr, Minchow, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

During Office/Storage issue, Commissioner Minchow stated that he is waiting for a valuation on the property of the courthouse west annex and will report at the end of the meeting. The Commissioners then decided that the present office/storage space issue in the courthouse still needs to be addressed.  They stated that the County Clerk would get priority use of the former Commissioner’s room for her use for elections, marriage licenses, etc., and the remaining area that they do not need, would be used for storage.  The Veteran’s Service Officer’s former office would be used for storage and it was suggested the CASA Office be located in the former Highway Superintendent’s office.

 

 

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Koci to rescind the motion of July 10, 2007 in which the storage and office space of the courthouse was decided.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Koci, Stuhr

Voting no:  Miller, Ruzicka                                                           Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Stuhr to use the former Highway Superintendent’s office as the CASA office and that we authorize the custodian to go to each office, giving 2nd floor priority, then 3rd & 1st floor, then the courthouse west annex offices, to see who needs storage in the former Veteran’s Service Officer’s room and the former Commissioner’s room and also ask the courthouse offices to professionalize their areas.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Stuhr, Koci

Voting No:  Miller, Ruzicka                                                          Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to authorize the maintenance supervisor to move his present office into the present CASA Office area, after he has moved CASA office into the Highway Superintendent’s office, tentatively by the end of August, and thus eliminating his present office area which is in the hallway of the courthouse on the 1st floor.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Russ Daehling, Seward County Highway Superintendent was present to give information on several right of way requests submitted by Burlington Northern.  Danny Donlan of Reily Construction was also present to give information on the project.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Minchow to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern between section 25 Township11 North, Range 2 and section 30, Township11 North, Range 3 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Minchow, Koci, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern between sections 25 and 26 of Township 11 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Miller, Minchow, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern between sections 26 and 27 of Township 11 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Minchow to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern between sections 27 & 28 of Township 11 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Minchow, Miller, Koci, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Minchow to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern between sections 29 & 30 of Township 11 North, Range 3 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Minchow, Koci, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern through section 29 Township 11 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to approve the right of way request from Burlington Northern between sections 28 & 29 of Township 11 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Daehling then visited with the Board about sign vandalism.  He stated that the Road Department was having a lot of problems with the detour by Cordova.   Road Foremen Dave Pankoke and Darrell Carr stated that stakes have been driven over in the Cordova area.  They stated that new barricades are being drove over and stolen.  They said it has been happening all over the county and that it is costing the county in time and resources.  The Commissioners decided surveillance cameras would be an option.  They also suggested Crime Stoppers be advised of the crimes.

 

In another road related matter, Daehling said that he has been frustrated with the seed corn harvesting.  Daehling said that farmers should know when they will need driveway extensions and that they do not plan adequately.  He said that if the Road Department does not respond though, the farmers take their own equipment and try to make the driveways but do it inadequately.  The Commissioners stated that farmers who raise the seed corn might need to be brought in before the Board to alert them to the problems encountered by the Road Department extending the driveways and the farmers filling in the ditch.

 

No action was taken on the fuel option.

 

Dan Hansen, Seward County Zoning Administrator advised the Board that Burkey Farms and also Tim & Sid Burkey Farms submitted a plan to DEQ on a new swine development application.  The Commissioners will review the information and then discuss it on September 11, 2007.

 

The Commissioners then discussed the Keystone Pipeline Project.  Commissioner Minchow said that he was awaiting information on any changes to the pipeline route, since an alternate route had been suggested.  It was noted that the route the City of Seward suggested has other problems such as fiber optics, bridges and other City well fields.  At the present time, the Commissioners took no position on the Keystone Pipeline Project. 

 

The Commissioners then discussed the RFP for the Hall of Justice.  Terry Kamprath, Seward County Jail Administrator said an updated RFP had been given to the Commissioners with changes requested last week.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to approve the RFP for the Criminal Justice Center with changes to the document that indicate any submission needs to be submitted by 10:00 a.m. on October 9, 2007.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to accept the Sheriff’s fee and mileage report for June 2007 in the amount of $1,305.50 and $645.04.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Miller, Minchow, Koci, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Minchow to go into Executive Session at 10:37 a.m. to discuss a possible land purchase.

Affirmative vote: Miller, Minchow, Koci, Stuhr, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Minchow to go out of Executive Session at 10:55 a.m.

Affirmative vote: Miller, Stuhr, Minchow, Koci, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

The Chairman reiterated that the previous Executive Session was held to consider a possible land purchase.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to go into Executive Session at 10:55 a.m. to discuss personnel, it being necessary to protect the reputation of the individual(s).

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, Miller, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to go out of Executive Session at 11:19 am.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Miller, Stuhr, Koci, Ruzicka                             Motion Carried.

 

The Chairman reiterated that the previous Executive Session was held to consider personnel.

 

The vehicle logos/logbooks/policy item on the agenda was postponed, although Commissioner Miller said that he felt that the vehicles need to be washed.

 

The Commissioners recessed at 11:25 a.m.

The Commissioners reconvened at 11:29 a.m.

 

August 21, 2007

Seward County Board of Equalization

State of Nebraska)

County of Seward) ss.

 

The Seward County Board of Commissioners convened on August 21, 2007 at 11:29 a.m.

Present:

 

 

 

Chairman:

Members:

County Clerk:

County Assessor:

Scott Stuhr

Darrell Miller, Ron Minchow, Mary Koci, Joe Ruzicka

Sherry Schweitzer

Marilyn Hladky

The Chairman noted that the public meeting information is posted as required by law and available for public distribution if requested.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Koci to approve the minutes of August 14, 2007.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Koci, Miller, Ruzicka, Stuhr                             Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Koci to approve the Tax List Correction # 28-07RP.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Koci, Ruzicka, Stuhr

Voting No:  Miller                                                                       Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Minchow to adjourn upon call of the chair at 11:32 a.m.

Affirmative vote:  Miller, Minchow, Ruzicka, Koci, Stuhr                  Motion Carried.

 

State of Nebraska)

County of Seward) ss.

 

I, Sherry Schweitzer, the undersigned County Clerk of Seward County, Nebraska do hereby certify the foregoing minutes are true and are part of the official records of this office.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this              day of                                        2007.

         

________________________

Clerk

________________________

Chairman

 

The Board of Commissioners reconvened at 11:33 a.m.

 

The Board then discussed the 2007-2008 budget and made cuts to various budgets.

 

Chairman Ruzicka is absent at 12:45 p.m.

 

Known items on the agenda for August 28, 2007 are as follows:

  9:00 a.m.

Convene and announce Open Meetings Law

Pledge of Allegiance

Discuss/Action - Approve minutes of August 21, 2007

Discuss/Action – Claims for August 2007

Discuss/Action - GA Case(s)

 

  9:45 a.m.

Discuss/Action – Fuel Option

 

10:00 a.m.

Discuss/Action – Public Hearing to raise Public Transit fares

Discuss/Action – Resolution- On Public Transit fares

 

 

Other Business Matters to Address When Time Allows

Discuss/Action – Public/Officials/Boards

Commissioners Reports

Right of Way Request(s):

Discuss/Action – Storage/Office Space

Discuss/Action – Executive Session – Land Purchase

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Koci to adjourn at 1:37 p.m.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Koci, Stuhr, Miller                                Motion Carried.

 

State of Nebraska)

County of Seward) ss.

 

I, Sherry Schweitzer, the undersigned County Clerk of Seward County, Nebraska do hereby certify the foregoing minutes are true and are part of the official records of this office.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal this 28th day of August 2007.

         

________________________

Clerk

________________________

Chairman