March 28, 2011
North Platte, Nebraska
Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners Joe Hewgley, Duane Deterding, County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell, Deputy County Attorney, Joe Wright and Board Assistant, Tammy White. Commissioner Roethemeyer was absent. Chairman Deterding opened the meeting at 9:05 A.M. and then offered prayer.
Chairman Deterding 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 Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioner’s meeting held on March 21, 2011. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to receive and order filed the treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to approve the substitution of securities by NebraskaLand National Bank as pledged to the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:15 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Equalization convened.
Chairman Deterding announced the Open Meeting Act with amendments is posted for public review and the county board will comply with the open meeting requirements.
Julie Stenger, Lincoln County Assessor, was present.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to approve minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization held on March 21, 2011. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
No certificates of correction or refund were submitted.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:16 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Kendra Leonhardt & Nancy Oates of Family Skill Building made a presentation to the county board concerning a Juvenile Diversion Program. Lincoln County Attorney, Rebecca Harling was also present.
There would be no cost to the county for this program. The program is an effective alternative to a juvenile court proceeding. Parents are involved in the program along with the child. There were 40 kids in the program when Boys & Girls Home was discontinued and these kids were flushed back into the court system. The program usually lasts from 3 to 6 months and they have to sign a program contract. They can withdraw at anytime but it will go back to the county attorney’s office to decide if they will file charges.
Harling said she liked this program because it was more forward thinking, especially with uncontrollable children, and she also likes the parental component as it makes the parent more involved with accountability and follow up on the child.
Commissioner Hewgley asked if there were other people interested in providing this service.
Harling replied that she knew of this business and one other individual. Family Skill Building is a much broader program and is more involved. They also have access to more people to aid in the process.
Commissioner Hewgley questioned Leonhardt’s past experience with juvenile diversion.
Leonhardt responded that she had no diversion experience but has 10 years as a mental health practitioner and will have support staff that has experience.
Commissioner Hewgley wondered if Oates involvement would be full time.
Oates stated that she will be a part time employee. She already has a full time job but was asked to help recreate this program and will help with program development, training, etc. after business hours.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding upon the recommendation of the Lincoln County Attorney, to contract with Family Skills Building LLC to provide a Juvenile Diversion Program for Lincoln County. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
Harling also briefly discussed developing a Triage Team as part of the Juvenile Diversion Program. Law enforcement is working behind the scenes in the middle of the night trying to deal with placement and transportation issues and losing man hours on the street. Family Skill Building is requesting funding in the amount of $10,000 to support a triage team.
Commissioner Hewgley questioned what would happen if the former facility opened up.
Nancy Oates commented that the Triage Team would be there to access if the child could go home or would need to be placed in a facility. It would keep the best interests of the child and family in the fore front.
Harling answered that the county would still have to pay for placement and it is going to take awhile to replace the 50 bed facility we lost.
A public hearing was opened at 10:10 A.M. to discuss amendment to File No. AM11-001 Article XXVII “R-P” Community Plan District, Section 27.7 Yard Regulations of Lincoln County’s Zoning Regulations amending 27.7 (1)(a) to read as follows:
Words with lines drawn under them will be added.
27.7 (1)(a) There shall be a front yard having a depth of not less than 25 feet or in direct conformity with the majority of similar buildings on the same street in the same block.
Planning Administrator, Judy Clark, read the review comments from the Planning Commissioner and reported that the Planning Commission recommended approval of the amendment.
Bob Peterson questioned how this amendment would affect new buildings.
Commissioner Hewgley replied that it would only affect new buildings in isolated areas of the county.
The public hearing was closed at 10:15 A.M.
Commissioner Hewgley commented that he had a potential conflict of interest concerning this item and suggested carrying it over to next week.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to continue this matter until next week. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
Discussed action on the Planning Commission’s recommendation to adopt the Lincoln County Comprehensive Housing Study 2010 as an official county document in order to allow the county to use the information gathered in the study.
Nancy Striebel, Executive Director of Lincoln County Community Development Corporation, was in the audience and also stated that they would like the study to be an official county document.
Commissioner Hewgley asked why Sutherland and Hershey did not participate.
Striebel responded that Sutherland is conducting their own study and she did not know why Hershey did not participate.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to adopt the Lincoln County Comprehensive Housing Study 2010 as an official county document. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
Maureen Gier appeared by phone to discuss the tort claim filed for vehicle damage. They were stopped for speeding and cooperated completely with the officer. The officer asked if he could search the vehicle and they approved the search. When they stopped to get gas they noticed scratches on the car from the K-9. She called the officer the next day and was told to contact the county board concerning alleged damages. She stated the K-9 was not restrained by officer. She had submitted her tort claim with three estimates for the damages.
Commissioner Hewgley asked about the third estimate and if she had physically taken the car in for the estimate.
Gier replied yes.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to acknowledge receipt of the tort claim filed by Maureen Gier for vehicle damage. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
The following bids were received for Lincoln County Department of Roads micro-surfacing for 2011:
Monarch Oil $499,895.00 Ballou Const. $442,200.00 Sta-Bilt Const. $499,400.00
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Deterding to accept the low bid of Ballou Construction in the amount of $442,200 with a start day of May 20, 2011 and an end date of June 30, 2011. Upon roll call vote Hewgley and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none. Roethemeyer absent.
County Board discussed the vacancy in the Lincoln County Noxious Weed Superintendent’s position.
Commissioner Hewgley commented that he wished there was better process than a public format or hiring certain positions. He reported that Todd Boller had declined the conditional offer for employment offered to him last week. He stated that he was concerned about making an offer of employment to someone who has long learning curve ahead.
Darold Miller, Noxious Weed Board Chairman, agreed with Hewgley as there is no time to train or organize before spraying season.
Hewgley asked if the full time weed department employees had the proper endorsements.
Miller responded yes and stated he would encourage an in house promotion to buy us more time.
County Board took no action on appointing an individual to fill the Lincoln County Noxious Weed Superintendent’s position.
Troy Fryman and Dave Wunder of Tyler Tech made a presentation of the Orion Application which is a new assessing application for the County Assessor. The State of Nebraska is supporting this new application and will pay the licensing fee. A proposal was presented in the amount of $77,890.00.
County Assessor, Julie Stenger, gave the board projected figures on how she could pay for the application over two budget years.
County Board conducted a quarterly jail inspection of the existing Lincoln County Jail facility.
Approved the following claims presented for payment:
The meeting was adjourned at 1:12 P.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the March 28, 2011 board meetings were sent to members of the county board, county attorney and all others requesting the same. Notice was posted in the Lincoln County Courthouse, City Hall and on the county website.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on April 4, 2011 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 Commissioner’s Room at 9:15 A.M.
Rebecca J. Rossell
Lincoln County Clerk
