May 15, 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 May 15, 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 May 15, 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 Miller and seconded by Stuhr to approve the minutes of May 8, 2007 and May 10, 2007.

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

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Miller to deny General Assistance Cases # 1366 and #1367 due to applicants being over income guidelines.

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

 

Commissioner Reports:

Commissioner Ruzicka had no report.

 

Commissioner Koci attended an Economic Development meeting, a TransCanada Keystone Pipeline meeting and the Commissioner Meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board for a work session on the updating of the comprehensive plan.

 

Commissioner Minchow had no report

 

Commissioner Stuhr attended the Commissioner meeting on the Comprehensive Plan, a NACO sponsored County Board of Equalization Seminar and a Region V meeting this past week.

 

Commissioner Miller also attended the Commissioner meeting on the Comprehensive Plan and also the TransCanada Keystone Pipeline meeting.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Stuhr to authorize the Highway Superintendent to advertise for gravel bids with the opening to be on June 5, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.

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

 

During discussion with Russ Daehling, Seward County Highway Supt., the Board received information about finances involved for the Northeast Detour Route Bypass.  Daehling stated that if the engineering costs for this project come out of his budget, then he will have used almost all his budget for this project alone.  Also present was Dan Berlowitz, Seward City Administrator, since the City of Seward will have an interest in this bypass during an upgrade to Highway 15 going through Seward in the near future.  Berlowitz stated that during the Highway 15 upgrade, the Seward City streets are not able to handle the heavy traffic including truck traffic on adjacent streets.  The State has not committed much financial help with the project. It was suggested that a meeting with the State Road Dept., Senator Adams and the County and City officials be scheduled to show the State Road Dept. that this bypass is a necessary project and see if more financial help can be obtained.

 

Steve Rogge of Pleasant Dale was present and showed a video in regard to Holdrege Road between 182nd and 210th Road.  He stated there is a safety problem with the road and showed the video to the Board showing the hills in the road and the traffic concerns.

 

 

Daehling then presented a title sheet for approval.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to authorize the Chairman to sign the title sheet for Project BRO-7080 (26) in J Precinct between section 17 and 18.

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

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to approve the right of way request from Windstream between sections 29 and 32 of Township 10 North, Range 4 East of the 6th p.m.

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

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to approve the right of way requests from Windstream between Sections 19 and 30 of Township 9 North, Range 2 and also between Section 19, Township 9 North, Range 2 and Section 24 Township 9 North, Range 1 and also between Section 25, Township 9 North, Range 1 and Section 30, Township 9 North, Range 2 all East of the 6th p.m.

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

 

The Commissioners then continued discussion on the Holdrege Road issue brought forth by Steve Rogge.  They decided that the road is somewhat of a hazard and asked the Road Dept. to help with the issue by widening the road by Rogge’s lane into his residence and working with the area near his mailbox on top of the hill.

 

Mike Koci, Maintenance Supervisor for the courthouse appeared before the Board supplying information on cost for renting a unit for maintenance equipment since he has to move his equipment out of the jail due to a State Fire Marshall’s report. He also gave information for an alternate plan of using an area in the Evidence Building near the East door, which he felt would be more cost efficient.  The Commissioners told him to talk to the County Sheriff to okay it with him and if so, pursue that plan.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Stuhr to accept the County Clerk’s Fee Report for April 2007 in the amount of $22,832.00.

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

 

The Commissioner then discussed the courthouse quote given from Karr Tuckpointing Co for tuckpointing the courthouse.

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Koci to authorize the maintenance supervisor to contact Karr Tuckpointing Company and have them come and do a tuckpointing project for $36,888.00.

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

 

The Board of Commissioners is recessed at 10:00 a.m.

 

May 15, 2007

Seward County Board of Equalization

State of Nebraska)

County of Seward) ss.

 

The Seward County Board of Equalization met on May 15, 2007 at 10:00 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 Ruzicka and seconded by Koci to approve the minutes of May 8, 2007.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to open the public hearing on the permissive tax exemptions at 10:01 a.m.

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

 

The notice of public hearing was published in the Seward Independent as required by law.

 

Marilyn Hladky gave a description of those who requested an exemption and her recommendation(s) for granting (or not granting) the exemptions.

 

During the hearing, Mel Varner, representing Concordia Foundation supplied the Board with pictures and other information supporting their request for a tax exemption.

 

Moved by Ruzicka and seconded by Miller to close the public hearing at 10:10 a.m.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Ruzicka to approve the exemption for Concordia Foundation, Inc., Parcel # 800079388 for Lots 4 & 5, Block E, College View Addition, Seward, NE.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded Koci to approve the exemption request from Concordia Foundation Inc., Parcel # 800079345 for Lot 1, Block E, College View Addition, Seward, NE.

Motion Carried. Minchow, Koci, Ruzicka, Miller, Stuhr                      Motion Carried.

 

Moved by Koci and seconded by Minchow to approve the exemption request from First Presbyterian Church, Parcel # 800089154 for # Lot 14 & 15, Kroeger’s Replat Wood Subdiv. Seward, NE.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Ruzicka to approve the tax exemption request from Sacred Heart Catholic Church for Lot 15, Block 7, Pioneer Townsite Add., Beaver Crossing, NE.

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Ruzicka to deny the tax exemption request from Midwest District Missionary Church for a 1.01 Acre tract in # NW ¼ NW ¼ of Section 11, Township 9 North, Range 3 East of the 6th p.m., due to based on inspection, the property is not yet in condition to be used for what the church stated they will be using it for.

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

 

Moved by Ruzicka and seconded by Miller to adjourn at 10:15 a.m. upon call of the Chairman.

Affirmative vote: Ruzicka, Miller, Koci, Minchow, 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 10:30 a.m.

 

Commissioner Minchow led discussion on the Appointed Official Salary Graph recommendation.  He had given the other Commissioners a recommendation last week and brought more information to them now.  Commissioner Stuhr stated that he felt that all employees should get the Annual Market Adjustment.  Minchow’s recommendations ranged from 2.3% to 10.7%.  Discussion on how the recommendations were arrived at was held.  Commissioner Minchow said that appointed officials are more or less running a small business by submitting a budget and adhering it.  He stated that job performance also plays a part.  Commissioner Minchow stated that he had evaluated his employees with whom he is a liaison too, but he could not speak for all Commissioners.  After lengthy discussion, it was decided to put the item on the agenda for next week for additional consideration.

 

During the budget recommendations item on the agenda, Sherry Schweitzer, Seward County Clerk and Budget Making Authority, asked the Commissioners for several changes in the process for submitting budgets by the various offices.  It was decided to allow offices up until June 6, 2007 to submit their budgets and related paperwork.  She also asked the Commissioners to communicate with the various offices when making final budget decisions.

 

 

During the Storage/Office Space issue, Commissioner Minchow stated that the vacant office area in the courthouse which was formerly the Road/Veteran’s/Zoning Office will be cleaned and a decision will be made later concerning who will occupy the vacant space.  It was asked that all officials be informed of the Commissioners plans.  A suggestion was to have someone who specializes in space/organization take a look at the courthouse space/office issue. The CASA Office has the most need for office space change at this time, along with moving the maintenance office back to its original location and remove the temporary office in the south corridor.  The item will be on next week’s agenda again.

 

Known items on the agenda for May 22, 2007 are as follows:

  9:00 a.m.

Convene and announce Open Meetings Law

Pledge of Allegiance

Discuss/Action - Approve minutes of May 15, 2007

Discuss/Action - GA Case(s)

 

  9:45 a.m.

Discuss/Action – Fuel Option

 

 

Other Business Matters to Address When Time Allows

Discuss/Action – Public/Officials/Boards

Commissioners Reports

Discuss/Action – Utilize Special Road Fund for Cordova for Bridge Rehab Cost

Right of Way Request(s):

Discuss/Action – EPC Policy with Region V

Discuss/Action – Appointed Officials Salary Graph

Discuss/Action – Storage/Office Space

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to adjourn at 11:30 a.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Koci, Minchow, 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 22nd day of May 2007.

         

________________________

Clerk

________________________

Chairman