July 31, 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 31, 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 31, 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 Stuhr and seconded by Miller to approve the minutes of July 24, 2007.

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

 

During public discussion time, Dan Hansen stated that a former member of the Planning and Zoning Commission did not return the draft copy of the new Comp Plan and/or Zoning Regulations.  The Commissioners suggested that Hansen send a letter to the person advising him to return it.

 

Commissioner’s Reports:

Commissioner Miller reported he attended the E911 meeting.

 

Commissioner Stuhr had no report.

 

Commissioner Minchow had no report.

 

Commissioner Koci had no report.

 

Commissioner Ruzicka had some discussion concerning bridges and washboard conditions on roads.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to authorize the Chairman to sign the Utility Agreement with Seward County RPPD for Project C-80 (545) Staplehurst North between Sections 23 and 26 of Township 12 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

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

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Stuhr to authorize the Chairman to sign a Constitution change for the Seward County Extension Board.

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

 

Russ Daehling, Seward County Highway Superintendent led discussion on raising the fares for the public transit department.  The proposed changes are as follows:  transportation for someone within the City of Seward to Seward $2, other towns to the City of Seward $3, transportation to the Cities of Lincoln and York $5, Special Trip Days $7.  Crystal Lankford, Road Dept. administrative assistant spoke on the reasons for changing the fares.  She stated there has not been a raise in fare prices in many years and with the cost of gas, etc., there needs to possibly be some changes.  A pubic hearing is necessary to change the fares. The item will be put on the agenda for next week.

 

During storage/office space discussion, it was noted that the building currently being leased for the road department is being considered for sale.  On storage/office space in the courthouse, Commissioner Minchow said that if the previous Commissioner room is being divided, what changes need to be made yet.  Minchow stated that with the current plan as devised by Commissioner Miller, there would be two offices (the Highway Supt. and the Veteran’s Office) that would be used totally for storage and he had concerns using the former Highway Supt. office just for storage.  They discussed installing doors from the County Treasurer’s Office into the former Highway Supt. Office and into the storage room of the Road Dept.  There was discussion about the present 1st floor storage room and who would still be able to use that room as well as who would move their storage items up to the proposed 2nd floor.  County Clerk Sherry Schweitzer stated that she felt a different plan of allowing the CASA and Diversion Office in the former Road Dept. office and using the current Diversion Office for storage on the 1st floor would be most cost effective and solve problems that were currently being discussed. 

 

Cathy Calder and Garry Dittmar from the Village of Utica were present to talk to the Commissioners about drainage issues for the village.  They have met with several individuals and groups to help address the issue.  They are asking for help from the County to help clean out the ditches so that flooding does not continually occur.  The Village recently annexed additional property and wanted to let the Commissioners know of the current problem.  Daehling noted that there was a meeting planned in Utica on August 6, 2007 with results from a hydraulic study available and representatives from various agencies present to discuss the problem.

 

No action was taken on the fuel option.

 

Marilyn Hladky, Seward County Assessor was present to discuss her proposed plan of assessment. She had given the plan to the Commissioners previously for their consideration.

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Minchow to accept the Seward County Assessor’s 3 Year Plan of Assessment.

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

 

Chairman Ruzicka led discussion on the county logos/logbooks/policy item on the agenda.  Gary Petersen provided a suggested logo for his Emergency Management vehicle.  His suggestion would require some investigation with the Secretary of State since it was more complex and used Emergency Management type references.  Daehling said that his office needs to order new vehicle signs/stickers since he is out.  Ruzicka said all county vehicles should have a county sticker and would like to recommend having a policy on the item.  Logbooks of county vehicles were also discussed.  Logs for the different department vehicles were encouraged. 

 

Budget meetings were then held with various officials.

 

Joe Yocum, Seward County Sheriff met with the Board in regard to his budget request.

 

The Commissioners recessed at 10:50 a.m.

The Commissioners reconvened at 10:55 a.m.

 

Russ Daehling then met with the Board in regard to the Road Department budget, Highway Superintendent budget, Public Transit budget, and the County Surveyor budget.

 

The Commissioners recessed for lunch at 12:15 p.m.

The Commissioners reconvened at 1:17 p.m.

 

Commissioner Minchow is absent at 1:17 p.m.

 

Barb Liska was present to discuss the E911 budget again with the Commissioners.

 

Sherry Schweitzer, County Clerk discussed the following budgets with the Commissioners:  County Clerk, Election Commissioner, Abandoned Cemetery, Commissioners, Federal Grand 2500, Federal Grant 2501, Inheritance, Inheritance Tax Escrow, Misc. General, ROW Holding Fund, Sinking Fund for Equipment and Veteran's Aid Fund.

 

Known items on the agenda for August 7, 2007 are as follows:

  8:30 a.m.

Convene and announce Open Meetings Law

Pledge of Allegiance

Discuss/Action - Approve minutes of July 31, 2007

Discuss/Action – Public/Officials/Boards

Discuss/Action - GA Case(s)

 

  9:45 a.m.

Discuss/Action – Fuel Option

 

10:30 a.m.

Discuss/Action – Budget meeting for Aging Services – June Petersen & Kathy Ruzicka

 

Other Business Matters to Address When Time Allows

Commissioners Reports

Discuss/Action – Auth. the Highway Supt. to advertise for a public hearing for public transit fare raise

Discuss/Action – Utica Drainage Issue

Right of Way Request(s):

Discuss/Action – Lease status on Road/Zoning/Vet’s Building

Discuss/Action – Storage/Office Space

Discuss/Action – Vehicle Logos/logbooks/policy

Discuss/Action – RFP for Hall of Justice

Discuss/Action – Budget for 07-08

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Stuhr to adjourn t 4:45 p.m.

Affirmative vote: Koci, Stuhr, 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 7th day of August 2007.

         

________________________

Clerk

________________________

Chairman