November 5, 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. Deterding 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 October 29, 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 sign the response letter for the 2017/2018 audit concerning the Lincoln County Dive Team. 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.
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 October 29, 2018. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
No certificates of correction or refund submitted by the County Assessor.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption applications submitted by Bethel Evangelical Church and the Salvation Army as recommended for approval 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 applications submitted by the Salvation Army, West Central Health District and First Church of the Nazarene as recommended for approval by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:22 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Lisa Burke, North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau Executive Director presented the following:
The North Platte / Lincoln County Visitors Bureau began awarding Improvement Fund grants in 2006. Over the past twelve years, the Advisory Committee of the Visitors Bureau has awarded nearly $1.7 million in grants to expand the tourism offerings in Lincoln County. For the 2018 funding cycle, there was $150,000 available in grant funds.
The money that flows into the Improvement Fund of the North Platte / Lincoln County Visitors Bureau is generated entirely by a 2% lodging tax on overnight lodging purchased in Lincoln County. The history of this fund in Lincoln County begins in 2005 when the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners authorized a .25% Improvement Fund tax collection. In 2008 the County Commissioners voted to implement the full 2% Improvement Fund tax as outlined in the Visitor Development Act.
On October 24, 2018, the Advisory Committee of the Visitors Bureau reviewed the written applications and heard a twenty-minute presentation from each of the six organizations that submitted applications for Improvement Funds. The applications total $450,095 in requests for projects representing a total investment of $1,571,571 in improvements to area tourist, historical and recreational facilities.
Taking into account the history of the fund in Lincoln County, the Improvement Fund grant guidelines and the precedence set by ten years of previous recommendations and awards, the Advisory Committee of the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau makes the following funding recommendations to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
Jim Griffin representing the Lincoln County Historical Museum presented an Improvement Fund grant application in the amount of $13,833.75 for the replacement of the roof of the historic Platte Valley Barn with wood shingles to maintain the historical integrity of the building. The Lincoln County Historical Museum is truly a local treasure; proven by the fact that visitation has grown from 7,500 annually to more than 25,000 under the curatorship of Jim Griffin. Maintaining the condition and historical integrity of the artifacts, including the historical buildings, is an important part of attracting these visitors. The Advisory Committee recommends the award of $13,833.75 in Improvement Funds to the Lincoln County Historical Museum for the new roof on the Platte Valley barn.
Sara Morris representing the North Platte Community Playhouse presented an Improvement Fund grant application in the amount of $50,000 for additional restoration projects which include exterior tuck pointing and capstone cracks, and interior walls, stage and lighting. Recognizing the importance of having the latest technology in place to continue to host outstanding live productions that will attract both locals and visitors to North Platte, the Advisory Committee recommends the award of $30,440 in Improvement Funds to the North Platte Community Playhouse to cover the cost of RBGL stage lights and bars included in the estimate from Pressnall Lighting.
Mona Anderson representing Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful presented an Improvement Fund grant application in the amount of $80,080 for the development of a downtown park near the corner of 6th and Jeffers, including park benches and shelters, stone paving, stone columns and railing, trach receptacles, a water feature and signage. The North Platte / Lincoln County Visitors Bureau made a considerable investment in upgrading the appearance of downtown North Platte by awarding funding last year for façade improvements. To continue our previous investment in downtown North Platte, the Advisory Committee recommends the award of $5,000 in Improvement Funds to Keep North Platte and Lincoln County Beautiful to be earmarked specifically for the water feature of the downtown park.
Janet Mueller, Bill Melvin and Larry Hoatson representing the Sutherland Rodeo Committee presented an Improvement Fund grant application in the amount of $116,181.00 to fund building a 30’ x 60’ building to house ADA bathrooms and showers, meeting and concession facilities and putting in 30 RV hookups. Given the success of the Sutherland Rodeo, Inc. in hosting rodeos and attracting crowds for the past 81 years and the impressive plans for expanding the events hosted at the facility once the improvements included in the grant application are completed, the Advisory Committee recommends the award of $40,000 in Improvement Funds to Sutherland Rodeo, Inc. to be earmarked only for the construction of a 30’ x 60’ building to house ADA restrooms and showers and meeting and concession facilities.
Wava Best representing the Creativity Unlimited Arts Council presented an Improvement Fund grant application in the amount of $100,000 to complete the final renovation project of the 1913 federal building which includes the third floor. After reviewing recent awards to the Creativity Unlimited Arts Council for the renovation of the Prairie Arts Center, which total $219,000 since 2011, while recognizing the incredible accomplishments of the volunteers involved with the project and the importance of this facility to the tourism mix in North Platte, the Advisory Committee recommends no funding from the Improvement Fund during this grant cycle.
Tad Haneborg representing the D & N Event Center presented an Improvement Fund grant application in the amount of $90,000 for interior and exterior painting and sealing and new indoor lighting. With four new hotels slated to open within the next two years, the challenge of filling these additional rooms will only be met by developing additional events to draw out of town visitors. The D & N Event Center offers the best venue to host these types of events. The Advisory Committee recommends the award of $60,000 in Improvement Funds to the D & N Event Center for their interior and exterior lighting and sealing and replacement lighting project.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the 2018 grant funding requests as recommended by the North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau Advisory board. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The following bids were received for motor grader blades for the Lincoln County Department of Roads:
Murphy Tractor 7 ft 20 @ $1483
8 ft 220 @ $18,598
Total $20,081.80
Titan Machinery 7 ft 20 @ $96.73
8 ft 220 @ $109.54
Total $26,033.40
NMC 7 ft 20 @ $72.83
8 ft 220 @ $73.50
Total $17,625.66
Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to accept the low bid of NMC for a total of $17,625.66 for motor grader blades for the Lincoln County Department of Roads. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Henry and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Approved the following claims as presented for payment:
The meeting was adjourned at 10:08 A.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the November 5, 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 November 2, 2018; and was also emailed to the media on November 2, 2018.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on Tuesday, November 12, 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
