May 22, 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 22, 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 22, 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 Minchow to approve the minutes of May 15, 2007 and May 17, 2007.

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

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Minchow to go into Executive Session at 9:04 a.m. to discuss General Assistance Case #1368, it being necessary to protect the reputation of the individual(s).

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

 

Moved by Minchow and seconded by Miller to go out of Executive Session at 9:08 a.m.

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

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Koci to approve GA Case #1368 in the amount of $1100 for a burial.

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

 

Commissioner Reports:

Commissioner Miller had no report.

 

Commissioner Stuhr reported he attended the work session with the Planning and Zoning Board.  He also reported that he rode with a Sheriff’s deputy in their patrol car the past week and investigated the idea of using the evidence building to house building and grounds equipment.

 

Commissioner Minchow reported he also attended the work session meeting with the Planning and Zoning meeting. 

 

Commissioner Koci also attended the work session with the Planning and Zoning Board.

 

Commissioner Ruzicka attended a SENDD meeting during the past week.  He also gave an outline concerning space and costs and budgeting for additional space & staff.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to authorize the Chairman to sign the Engineering agreement for Construction engineering services for Project BRS-30305 (2) Beaver Crossing SE between Section 16 and 17 of Township 9 North, Range 2 East of the 6th p.m.

 

Amended by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to add at the end of the previous motion “based on the County Attorney’s approval.”

Affirmative vote on the amendment only:

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

 

Voting on the motion as amended:

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

 

Russ Daehling, Seward County Highway Superintendent visited with the Board about payment for the Cordova North Bridge Rehab Costs.  He suggested using the Special Road Fund, which is a sinking fund and has approximately $235,000 in it and which was planned to be spent on the Cordova Road Project.  This request would expend the money in preparation for the project, rather that the project itself.   He stated that he would budget in future years for the actual project.

 

Carla Ketner, owner of Chapters Bookstore is requesting permission to use the courthouse lawn for an activity for the Harry Potter book release party on July 20, 2007 from approximately 6 pm to midnight.  There were liability concerns.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Koci to approve the right of way request from Windstream between sections 14 and 23 of Township 11 North, Range 3 East of the 6th p.m.

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

 

Gary Petersen, Seward County Emergency Manager presented a grant document for the Commissioners’ consideration.

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to authorize the Chairman to sign the Homeland Security Grant reallocation award.

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

 

Roger Gamble of RG Investments made a presentation to the Board involving the Fuel Option the Board purchased several months ago.  He gave the Board a number of options and an outlook, in his opinion, of what may be coming up in the future.

 

Sherry Schweitzer, Seward County Clerk informed the Board about meetings with Mid-American Benefits and Colonial Life Insurance Company.

 

Commissioner Stuhr led discussion on the EPC (Emergency Protective Custody) Policy with Region V.  He gave information on when a person is taken into EPC.  He stated that sometimes, hospitals that care for a person in EPC have billed counties for large sums of money and Region V wants to help with the situation.    Wendy Elston, Seward County Attorney spoke on the issue.  She stated she has been working on updating the General Assistance Plan and that the process should be included in that new document.

 

During discussion on the appointed official’s graph, Commissioner Koci said there are some appointed officials that have never had an evaluation.  Commissioner Minchow stated that formal and informal evaluations have been given in previous years.  He stated that for several years, there has been work done on salaries and salary graphs and each year, there seems to be some progress, although not all work on the subject is done.  Evaluations will be conducted in the next couple of weeks and Commissioners will again discuss the subject on June 5, 2007.

 

During Storage/Office Space discussion, it was noted that the office space on the 2nd floor of the courthouse, formerly occupied by the Road/Zoning/Veterans Offices was being cleaned up. Commissioner Minchow said that the CASA Office and the Pre-Trial Diversion Offices would be going into the vacated office, thereby creating some storage area in the courthouse.  Locked storage and communication involving surplus equipment for storage was also mentioned. Commissioner Miller stated that he would rather see storage space being utilized at the newly leased area on the west edge of Seward rather that at the courthouse.  Jeff Baker, Seward County Veteran’s Service Officer stated he wanted to keep the newly leased area looking nice and did not want the area full of storage boxes.  The item will be on the agenda again next week.

 

Moved by Miller and seconded by Minchow to authorize the chairman to sign the contract documents with JMN Construction for Cordova North Bridge Rehabs.

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

 

Known items on the agenda for May 29, 2007 are as follows:

9:00 a.m.

Convene and announce Open Meetings Law

Pledge of Allegiance

Discuss/Action - Approve minutes of May 22, 2007

Discuss/Action – Approve claims for May 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

Right of Way Request(s):

Discuss/Action – Committee for storage, staff and budgeting support

Discuss/Action – Region V Emergency Protective Custody Contract

Discuss/Action – County Cell Phones

Discuss/Action – Storage/Office Space

 

Moved by Stuhr and seconded by Miller to adjourn at 11:00 a.m.

Affirmative vote: Stuhr, Miller, Koci, Minchow, 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 29th day of May 2007.

         

________________________

Clerk

________________________

Chairman