January 13, 2020

North Platte, Nebraska

 

Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners Bill Henry, Kent Weems, Walt Johnson, Jerry Woodruff and County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell. Johnson offered prayer. Henry called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Commissioner Hewgley was absent.

 

Chairman Henry announced the Open Meeting Act with amendments is posted for public review and the county board will comply with the open meeting requirements.

 

Discussion was held concerning procedure used electing the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Chairman and Vice Chairman for 2020 at the January 6, 2020 meeting.

 

Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Weems to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on January 6, 2020. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

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

 

Motion by Weems, seconded by Johnson to appoint The North Platte Telegraph to publish legal notices in 2020 for The county of Lincoln, NE. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Woodruff to adopt Resolution No. 2020-01 authorizing the County Treasurer to invest funds for 2020. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Weems, seconded by Woodruff to approve setting the mileage rate at 57.5 cents per mile per the NE Dept. of Administrative Services effective 1-13-2020. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Weems, seconded by Johnson to receive and order filed the fee reports submitted by Clerk of District Court and Register of Deeds. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

County Treasurer, Shelli Franzen, appeared to discuss utilizing the former office space of the Treasurer for the Real Estate division again. The current space is crowded with 11 employees. Motor vehicle has been busy and Real Estate is not getting as much time as it needs. She feels this separation would make it easier for the public and allow herself and the Deputy County Treasurer to focus on the real estate side and other treasurer’s duties.

 

Commissioner Weems stated that this move was supposed to make the department more efficient by consolidating and cross training. He asked if cross training had been utilized.

 

Franzen replied that cross training had begun and they still plan to rotate employees so that cross training is still happening. The new motor vehicle program has taken a lot of time and they have been unable to fully train them on the real estate side.

 

Commissioner Weems questioned if they would have time to cross train if the departments are further segregated from each other. The rationale for consolidation made sense and he is struggling with why they would want to go back to two offices. He noted there had been some evolution in how things are routed and processed in the current location to make it flow smoother.

 

Franzen responded that during the busy times there is not room to do motor vehicle and real estate in the current space efficiently. They would still cross train employees. The

separation of the offices would allow herself and her deputy to focus on what needs to be done for real estate and other office duties. She feels the public would appreciate it being separated again.

 

Commissioner Woodruff reported that in the initial discussion for reversing the consolidation of the offices they discussed that cross training was beneficial and will continue to be beneficial, especially during the busy times. He also wants to see cross training continue.

 

Franzen assured the County Board that cross training will continue.

 

Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Johnson to authorize the County Treasurer to re-locate the Real Estate division back to the former office space.

 

Commissioner Weems commented that office space is at a premium in the courthouse and that he hopes this is the right and final move.

 

Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Woodruff to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the special designated liquor permit submitted by GL Concepts LLC (Good Life on the Bricks) for an event at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds on January 30, 2020 for Habitat for Humanity fundraiser. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Weems to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the special designated liquor permit submitted by GL Concepts LLC (Good Life on the Bricks) for an event at Harbor Lights on February 15, 2020 for BLET Flatrock Auxiliary #8 fundraiser. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Weems to adopt Resolution No. 2020-02 authorizing the Chairman to sign an annual agreement with North Platte Public Schools for school supt. services in the amount of $2000. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:36 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Equalization convened.

 

Chairman Henry 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.

 

Motion by Weems, seconded by Woodruff to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on January 6, 2020. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

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

 

The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:40 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.

 

Motion by Johnson to discuss and consider appointments for the following Department heads for 2020 separately: Noxious Weed Supt., Highway Supt., Emergency Management Director and Veterans Service Officer.

 

Motion died for lack a second.

 

Commissioner Weems commented he would also like the board to consider these appointments separately. Past protocol has been for these appointments to be a blanket motion. He feels there is disconnect between being evaluated in June and reappointed in January. Only the board members on the personnel committee have seen the evaluations. He would like to take a step back. Evaluations and salary adjustments are in line with a shorter time frame so they are relevant. He asked if there was anything in statute that sets a time line in making reappointments.

 

Deputy County Attorney, Joe Wright, replied these are yearly appointments.

 

Commissioner Weems responded that statute says “as is necessary”. He would like to see the process change and this is the only time he can see getting it changed. What has been the tradition of blanket appointments is not serving the evaluation process.

 

Commissioner Woodruff took part in the evaluation process of the appointed department heads. He suggested that the evaluations be made available to all five members of the County Board for review before appointments are made.

 

Wright suggested that these appointments be continued to a time certain date in the near future.

 

Commissioner Weems replied that would want to wrap these up in a week or two.

 

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Woodruff to continue Items #5 concerning the appointments for the following Department Head for 2020 until the next board meeting on January 21, 2020 as follows: Noxious Weed Supt., Highway Supt., Emergency Management Director and Veterans Service Officer. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Woodruff to continue Item #5 concerning setting the salaries for the following Department Heads for 2020 until the next board meeting on January 21, 2020 as follows: Noxious Weed Supt., Highway Supt., Emergency Management Director and Veterans Service Officer.

 

Commissioner Weems asked if the effective date of January 16, 2020 would have to be changed.

 

Commissioner Johnson stated the salaries could revert back to January 16th.

 

Deputy Wright commented that he thought that the January 16th date would be o.k. The salary is being set for the position not the person.

 

Motion was seconded by Weems. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Chairman Henry made the appointments to the following boards/committees for 2020 as follows:

 

Joe Hewgley-

  • Economic Development Task Force
  • North Platte Economic Development Corporation (DEVCO)
  • Region II Human Services
  • ADA Coordinator
  • Personnel Committee
  • Rules Committee
  • Law Enforcement/Judiciary Committee

 

Bill Henry –

  • West Central Development District
  • West Central District Health Board
  • Sandhills RC & D
  • County Roads Committee
  • Security Committee
  • Building and Grounds Committee

 

Kent Weems –

  • Drug Task Force
  • West Central Weed Management Area
  • Noxious Weeds Committee
  • Security Committee
  • Law Enforcement/Judiciary Committee

 

Walt Johnson –

  • North Platte Senior Center Advisory Committee
  • West Central Area on Aging
  • West Central Development District – Alternate
  • County Roads Committee
  • Safety Committee
  • County Extension/Ag Society Committee

 

Jerry Woodruff –

  • North Platte/Lincoln County Visitors Bureau Board
  • Home Health Agency
  • Personnel Committee
  • Rules Committee
  • Building and Grounds Committee

 

Appointee to receive drug testing reports – Joe Hewgley & Joe Wright

Fair Housing Representative – Rebecca J. Rossell

South Central Planning & Exercise Training Region (SCPETR) – Brandon Myers & Joanna Lemoine

Mid-Nebraska Community Services Inc. – Bob Peal

 

Motion by Weems, seconded by Johnson to declare the county’s scrap iron stored at

the Lincoln County Roads Department to be surplus personal property, which is

obsolete or unusable by the County. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson

and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Weems, seconded by Johnson to place the value on the surplus personal

property, scrap iron, at $70.00 per ton. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and

Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Weems to approve to authorize the Lincoln County

Highway Supt., Carla O’Dell, to sell the surplus personal property, scrap iron, to Alter

Metals for a minimum of $70.00 per ton, contingent on the total value of the surplus

personal property, scrap iron, being under $2,500. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry,

Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

Commissioner Weems reported that there are members of the West Central Weed

Management Area that do not benefit from being part of this group. The counties

located in the Sandhills would be a better fit with the Sandhills Weed Management

Area. Lincoln and Keith Counties would go with the Platte Valley Weed Management

Area. There is a consensus that the West Central Weed Management Area

should be dissolved.

 

Motion by Johnson, seconded by Woodruff to adopt Resolution No. 2020-03 to give Kent Weems, Lincoln County Commissioner appointed to the Governing Board of West Central Weed Management Area (WCWMA), authority to vote for the dissolution of WCWMA based on mutual consent of all parties or their representatives. Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Johnson and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley absent.

 

The special designated liquor permit submitted by Big Red Liquor for a fundraiser to be held at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds on January 30, 2020 for Rape and Domestic Abuse was pulled at the applicant’s request.

 

Hear concerns from Elected Officials, Department Heads and their representative.

 

Approved the following claims as presented for payment:

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11:28 A.M.

 

Advance notice and the agenda for the January 13, 2020 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 January 10, 2020; and was also emailed to the media on January 10, 2020.

 

The agenda for the meetings to be held on TUESDAY, January 21, 2020 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