August 6, 2018

North Platte, Nebraska

 

Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners Duane Deterding, Bill Henry, Joe Hewgley and County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell.  Hewgley offered prayer. Deterding called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.

 

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 Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on July 30, 2018. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to receive and order filed the treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the Visitors Bureau Advisory Board recommendation to appoint Thomas Wolfgang to replace Charlie Burwick on the NP/LC Visitors Bureau Advisory Board. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to receive and order filed the fee report submitted by the County Clerk. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the 2018-2019 Region II Human Services interlocal participation document. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve the reappointment of Brad Stickelman, Chuck Boden and Marlene Flaming to the Lincoln County Planning Commission. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve the reappointment of Ron Roberts, Harry Haythorn and Paul R. Wolfe (alternate) to the Lincoln County Board of Adjustment. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding 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 Deterding 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, Julie Stenger appeared as well as County Treasurer, Sue Fleck.

 

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on July 30, 2018. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the certificates of correction or refund submitted by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application submitted by Mission Life Inc. as recommended by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application submitted by Great Plains Health as recommended by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the notice of valuation change numbered 2018-013 as submitted by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Discussion was held concerning tax exemption applications submitted by Great Plains Health as shown below. Tom Legel, CFO of Great Plains Health was present as well as County Assessor, Julie Stenger.

 

Commissioner Hewgley:    Great Plains Health has been exempt for a number of years but the offices for physicians, specialists, etc. have not been exempt.  Is this a correct?

 

Tom Legel:    That is correct. It is a changing landscape in health care.  New doctors coming in do not want to have a private practice.  They want to be part of a health care system.

 

Commissioner Hewgley: There are doctors that don’t want to be part of the health care system. He questioned if those that are part of the health care system should be a burden on the taxpayers.

 

Tom Legel:    He reported they also work with independent doctors as well as those that are part of the hospital.

 

Deputy County Attorney, Joe Wright:       Questioned if they served those without insurance and are they aware financial assistance is available.

 

Tom Legel:    Yes.  They sent letters out to current patients who might qualify and they have updated the information on the website.

 

Joe Wright:    Will signage also be posted at the doctor’s office, etc. about financial assistance?

 

Tom Legel:    It will be posted as they move forward.

 

Commissioner Deterding:  Are the doctor’s staying in their own buildings?

 

Tom Legel:    Yes.  We supply office space.  If Great Plains Health owns the property the hospital pays all the operating expenses.  If Great Plains Health owns the building we will probably ask for exemptions in the future.

 

Julie Stenger:           She noticed the new billing system breaks down the fees into building fees and professional fees.

 

Tom Legel:    Due to Medicare rules the billings must be broken down this way.

 

Joe Wright:    How well known is the charitable application?

 

Tom Legel:    Not sure.  The hospital makes it known to the public.

 

Commissioner Hewgley:    Questioned the County Assessor if she was treating these applications differently than others we have done in the past.

 

Julie Stenger:           By Nebraska state statute hospitals are done differently.

 

Joe Wright:    Is it correct that Great Plains Health has 100% control of the space as owners of the building?  There is old law from 1922 that still applies to hospitals.

 

Tom Legel:    The property has to be in 250 yards of the hospital property to be part of the hospital.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve a partial exemption for Great Plains Health on Parcel ID # 0023695.10 of 48% with the penalty for late filing as recommended by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the exemption for Great Plains Health on Parcel ID # 0010801.10 with the penalty for late filing as recommended by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the exemption for Great Plains Health on Parcel ID # 0011583.42 with the penalty for late filing as recommended by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

The Lincoln County Board of Equalization recessed at 10:02 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.

 

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve and appoint Commissioner Hewgley to negotiate on behalf of “The county of Lincoln” and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners a contract with William J. Troshynski, attorney at law, whereby Mr. Troshynski would provide legal services in guardianship and conservatorship matters for indigent individuals found by the court to be entitled to representation. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Presentation by the City of North Platte (City) regarding proposed Interlocal Agreement with The county of Lincoln in regards to creating a separate legal entity relating to public infrastructure projects in the City coming from an additional one half of one percent (0.5%) sales tax increase, subject to the one half of one percent (0.5%) sales tax increase being approved by the electors of the City of North Platte at the November, 2018 general election. Mayor, Dwight Livingston, City Attorney, Doug Stack and City Manager, Jim Hawks appeared.

 

An interlocal agreement with the County is required by statute to increase city sales tax and to be placed on the ballot in November, 2018.

 

They are asking the voters to approve the additional percentage for a 10 year period. They are estimating it will generate 2.5 million dollars a year in revenue.  By working together they hope to address some issues that would involve both the city and the county.

 

Commissioner Hewgley asked for a modification to the wording concerning a quorum for the Committee that has to be formed to make it a three member quorum.

 

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2018-15 to enter The county of Lincoln into an Interlocal Agreement with the City of North Platte (City) in regards to creating a separate legal entity relating to public infrastructure projects in the City coming from an additional one half of one percent (0.5%) sales tax increase, subject to the one half of one percent (0.5%) sales tax increase being approved by the electors of the City of North Platte at the November, 2018 general election. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”.  Nays, none.

 

Recess as the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners at 10:36 A.M. and reconvene as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization.

 

A Change of Status Report by County Assessor, Julie Stenger, concerning Nebraska Cooperative Republican Platte Enhancement Project (N-CORPE) was discussed.

 

Adjourn as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization at 10:46 A.M. and reconvene as the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.

Approved the following claims as presented for payment:

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 A.M.

 

Advance notice and the agenda for the August 6, 2018 board meetings were sent to the county board and all others requesting the same. Advance public notice (includes agenda) of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting and the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting was posted at the Lincoln County Courthouse, City Hall and the Lincoln County website on August 3, 2018; and was also emailed to the media on August 3, 2018.

 

 

The agenda for the meetings to be held on Monday, August 13, 2018 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 at the Lincoln County Courthouse in the Commissioners Room at 9:00 A.M.  The regular meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Equalization will be at the Lincoln County Courthouse in the Commissioners Room at 9:15 A.M.

 

 

Rebecca J. Rossell

Lincoln County Clerk