August 2, 2010
North Platte, Nebraska
Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners
Joe Hewgley, Duane Deterding, Willis Roethemeyer, Board Assistant, Tammy White
and County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell. Hewgley offered prayer. Chairman Hewgley
called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.
Chairman Hewgley announced the Open Meeting Act with amendments is posted for
public review and the County Board will comply with the open meeting requirements.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Deterding to approve the minutes regarding the
Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on July 26, 2010. Upon roll call
vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Deterding, seconded by Roethemeyer to receive and order filed the
treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted
“aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Deterding to reappoint Betty Sones, Linda
Hansen, Bob Mann and Roger Merritt to the Lincoln County Planning Commission for
three year terms. Upon roll call vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”.
Nays, none.
Deputy County Attorney, Joe Wright arrived at 9:05 A.M.
Motion by Deterding, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve the special designated
liquor permit submitted by Whiskey Creek Steak House to be held at the Creek Side
Event Center on August 20, 2010. Upon roll call vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and
Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:15 A.M. and the Lincoln
County Board of Equalization convened.
Chairman Hewgley announced the Open Meeting Act with amendments is posted for
public review and the County Board will comply with the open meeting requirements.
County Assessor, Mary Ann Long, Deputy County Assessor, Julie Stenger, Deputy
County Clerk, Terry Heessel, and County Assessor’s office appraisers: Henry Vogt,
Charity Farley and Angie Bargmann appeared.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Deterding to approve the minutes regarding the
Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on July 26, 2010. Upon roll call vote
Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Deterding to approve and authorize the chairman
to sign the certificates of correction and refund as submitted by the County Assessor.
Upon roll call vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Deterding to approve the exemption application
submitted by Pawnee Assisted Living as recommended for approval by the county
assessor. Upon roll call vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays,
none.
Motion by Deterding, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve notice of valuation changes
numbered 2010-328 thru 2010-331 as submitted by the county assessor. Upon roll call
vote Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Wayne Griffin appeared concerning his protest of denial of special valuation on real
property. He purchased the land 22 years ago and has had livestock on it until the last
three years. He just entered into a lease agreement for 2010 to run cattle.
Commissioner Hewgley asked the assessor if the decision to deny the application was
the use of the property as of January 1, 2010.
Long responded yes.
Commissioner Hewgley asked if there was a lease for hunting.
Griffin replied that there was no lease for hunting.
Motion by Roethemeyer after reviewing past history, maps and no hunting for a fee to
approve the special valuation applications, seconded by Deterding.
Commissioner Deterding commented that is was not used for incidental agriculture last
year so it should not be eligible for 2010 special valuation.
Griffin replied that it will rent for 2010.
Deputy County Assessor, Julie Stenger, again commented that it is there position that
as of January 1, 2010 there was not established use and that he could reapply next
year.
Griffin then related that the assessor’s office went out in June and if there would have
been cattle there in June it would have been approved so it really made no difference as
of January 1, 2010.
Upon roll call vote Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Deterding voted “nay”.
Motion carried.
Dennis and Kathy Conley appeared concerning their denial of special valuation on real
property. It is pasture with cattle running on it with a 3 acre pond. It has poor drainage
and they have used it for calving in the past.
Deterding asked if it was 24 acres.
Dennis replied yes.
Commissioner Hewgley asked how a home site was figured for this.
Assessor’s office personnel responded 3 acres for a farm site and 1 acre for a home
site.
Roethemeyer asked how long they had been running cattle.
Dennis answered about 20 years.
Commissioner Deterding asked the definition of incidental ag use.
Henry Vogt replied that there is livestock there but in small operations it is incidental.
Commissioner Roethemeyer stated in his opinion that the use had not changed over the
years.
Motion by Deterding, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve the application for special
valuation based on the information provided. Upon roll call vote Deterding,
Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Commissioner Hewgley commented for the record that the approval of the special
valuation applications were not a reflection on the work done by the assessor’s office.
Lewey Sukraw was present concerning his denial of special valuation on real property.
He reported that he had bought the land about 25 years ago and raised cattle. He now
raises goats. He does not lease it out and has not changed it.
Commissioner Roethemeyer asked how many acres in the parcel and if it was fenced
all the way around.
Sukraw replied 47 acres and he has panels that he moves periodically to rotate the
goats.
Commissioner Hewgley asked what he did with the goats.
Sukraw responded that he sold them. He keeps the nannies and sells the billy goats.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Deterding after looking at past history to approve
the special valuation as it is a different kind of ag use but it is ag. Upon roll call vote
Deterding, Roethemeyer and Hewgley voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 10:14 A.M. and the Lincoln
County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 10:15 A.M. and reconvened at
10:19 A.M.
Susan Maline, CPA, presented the 2010/2011 fiscal year preliminary budget for Lincoln
County. The General Fund requests are up. There has been an increase in expenses,
insurance increased, a jail building and grounds budget was added and the Jail and
Sheriff budgets had increases. The preliminary budget shows the county is over the lid
limit by 1.2 million dollars. The $500,000 to purchase right of way for the Birdwood
project cannot be excluded again this year.
Jerry Hitchcock reported to the Commissioners that he had conducted speed studies on
West State Farm Road, West Walker Road and South Buffalo Road due to the Buffalo
Bill South project by the city. There are currently multiple speed limits in these areas
and with the new Buffalo Bill intersection there will be changes. He made
recommendations to the board to set reasonable safe speed limits on these roads and
to eliminate confusion for drivers. The board agreed with his recommendations and will
establish these speed limits by resolution at the next board meeting.
Kirk Nichols (Construction Project Inspector/Owners Representative) and Carol Rouw of
Treanor Architects (appearing by phone) gave the board a construction update of the
Lincoln County Jail Project.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 10:54 A.M. and reconvened at
11:00 A.M.
Conducted a budget work session.
Approved the following claims presented for payment:
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners adjourned at 12:09 P.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the August 2, 2010 board meetings were sent to
members of the county board, county attorney and all others requesting the same.
Notice was posted at the Lincoln County Courthouse, City Hall and on the county
website.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on August 9, 2010 will be kept continually
current and open for inspection at the office of the Lincoln County Clerk. The regular
meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners will be held at the Lincoln
County Courthouse in the Commissioner’s Room at 9:00 A.M. The regular meeting of
the Lincoln County Board of Equalization will be held at the Lincoln County Courthouse
in the Commissioners Room at 9:15 A.M.
Rebecca J. Rossell
Lincoln County Clerk
