July 17, 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 July 17, 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 July 17, 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.

 

During public/officials/boards comment time, the County Clerk informed the Commissioners of items involving her office, including an election that she will have to conduct for the City of Milford on September 11, 2007.

 

Also, Joe Yocum informed the Commissioners about staffing in his office and also an incident involving a dangerous animal and the process in which he handles animal control.

 

Moved by Koci and seconded Minchow to approve the minutes of July 10, 2007.

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

 

Marilyn Hladky, Susan Blomenberg & Nola Sutherland, members of the Courthouse Anniversary Committee made their last report to the Commissioners and submitted the last of their account monies to the Treasurer.  The Commissioners commended them on a job well done.

 

Commissioner’s Report:

Commissioner Miller had no report.

 

Commissioner Stuhr had no report.

 

Commissioner Minchow reported on the successful tire-recycling event the past weekend.  Those helping were the area high school FFA Chapters, Ray Naber, Lisa Bennett and Bill Hartman.

 

Commissioner Koci reported she attended the Keystone Pipeline meeting the evening before.

 

Commissioner Ruzicka had no report.

 

Russ Daehling, Seward County Highway Superintendent was present to submit documents for the Commissioners’ consideration in regard to the Cordova Road project.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Stuhr to authorize the Chairman to sign the contractor’s estimate and approve payment for the 1st installment toward the contract with payment to come out of the Special Road Fund.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to approve the right of way request from Windstream between Section 20 and 21 of Township 11 North, Range 2 East of the 6th pm

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to approve the right of way request from Windstream between Section 23 and 24 of Township 10 North, Range 3 East of the 6th p.m.

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

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Minchow to approve the County Clerk Fee Report for June 2007 in the amount of $49,575.75

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Koci to authorize the Chairman to sign the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality Disposal Fee Rebate Form.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to adopt Resolution #2573 in regard to accepting the Treasurer’s Semi-Annual Report for 2007.

RESOLUTION #2573  SEWARD COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

                                                         

WHEREAS: THE SEWARD COUNTY TREASURER HAS SUBMITTED THE SEMI ANNUAL

REPORT SHOWING BEGINNING BALANCES, COLLECTIONS, DISBURSEMENTS, AND ENDING

BALANCES FOR ALL OF THE FUNDS OF THE COUNTY AS PER STATE LAW.

 

THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT IT IS NOTED THE REPORT FOR THE PERIOD

OF TIME COVERING  01/01/2007 TO 06/30/2007 WAS SUBMITTED, AND THIS BOARD

DECLINES COMMENT UNTIL AUDITED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR.

Moved by: Minchow

Seconded by: Miller

Roll Call Vote:

Ayes: Ron Minchow, Darrell Miller, Mary Koci, Scott Stuhr,                  

Joseph J. Ruzicka, Chairperson of the Board

Adopted this 17th day of July 2007.

Attest: Sherry Schweitzer, Seward County Clerk

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

 

 Members of the Seward Citizens on the Pipeline Committee were present to discuss their concerns over the proposed TransCanada Keystone Pipeline placement in Seward County.  They gave the Commissioners information on an alternate route they have proposed.  Speaking for the group was Jon Kruse.  Carl Weimer, Director of the National Pipeline Safety Trust was also present to inform the Commissioners about his experience with underground pipelines.  Richard Zwick, Neal Hentzen, and Arnold Luebbe spoke about their reservations with the pipeline, such as location along the Ogallala Aquifer, depth of the pipeline, future crop problems and the care of the land.  Minimum federal requirements for a pipeline company were also discussed.

 

No action on the fuel option was taken at this time.

 

Terry Meier of the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) was present to give the annual report for SENDD and their request for funding.

 

The Board of Commissioners recessed at 10:27 a.m.

 

July 17, 2007

Seward County Board of Equalization

State of Nebraska)

County of Seward) ss.

 

The Seward County Board of Equalization convened on July 17, 2007 at 10:27 a.m.

Present:

 

 

 

Chairman:

Members:

County Clerk:

County Assessor:

Scott Stuhr

Darrell Miller, Ron Minchow, Mary Koci, Joe Ruzicka

Sherry Schweitzer

Marilyn Hladky

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to approve the minutes of July 10, 2007.

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

 

The first valuation protest hearing is for John Kozisek.  He was present to give his written reasons for requesting a reduction in his valuation.  County Assessor Marilyn Hladky gave her information for arriving at the proposed valuation.

 

The next hearing was for David F. Stave and Jane M. Gustafson who were present for their valuation protest hearing.  Hladky gave information for the valuation her office has proposed.

 

The next hearing was for Heartland Park.  A representative from Cline, Williams & Wright Attorneys was present to give information on their valuation protest.  Hladky gave information for her calculations for the proposed valuation of the real estate in protest.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Ruzicka to adjourn at 11:01 a.m. upon call of the Chairman.

Affirmative vote: Minchow, Ruzicka, Miller, 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 Commissioners reconvened at 11:14 a.m.

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Stuhr to appoint Ann Hall to the Lincoln Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council.

Affirmative vote: Koci, Stuhr, Minchow, Miller

Abstain:  Ruzicka                                                                        Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to go into Executive Session at 11:13 a.m.

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

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Minchow to go out of Executive Session at 11:30 a.m.

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

 

The Chairman re-stated the reasons for going into Executive Session, which was insurance, and pending litigation.

 

The Commissioners discussed the office space of the County Commissioners room.  The County Clerk had asked the Commissioners to reconsider relocating the County Commissioners room and leave it in its current location.  The County Clerk’s Office uses the Commissioners Room almost on a daily basis and had provided the Commissioners with reasons and suggested plans for moving offices into the former Road Department. The Commissioners felt that their plan as approved in last week’s meeting would stand.

 

Known items on the agenda for July 24, 2007 are as follows:

  9:00 a.m.

Convene and announce Open Meetings Law

Pledge of Allegiance

Discuss/Action - Approve minutes of July 17, 2007

Discuss/Action - Claims

Discuss/Action - GA Case(s)

 

  9:45 a.m.

Discuss/Action – Fuel Option

 

  9:45 a.m.

Board of Equalization - Convene and announce open meetings

Discuss/Action – Approve minutes of July 17, 2007

Discuss/Action – Decisions on Valuation Protest Hearings

Discuss/Action – Auth. Assessor to send out Co Board Notice of Valuation changes

 

 

Other Business Matters to Address When Time Allows

Discuss/Action – Public/Officials/Boards

Commissioners Reports

Right of Way Request(s):

Discuss/Action – Res. – Emer.Man. Designation/Disaster Relief

Discuss/Action – Pay for reserves to cover injured deputy shifts

Discuss/Action – Personal Time Issues

Discuss/Action – Storage/Office Space

Discuss/Action – Budget meetings with officials

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Minchow to adjourn at 12:00 p.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Minchow, Koci, Miller, Ruzicka                             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 24th day of July 2007.

         

________________________

Clerk

________________________

Chairman