January 11, 2021
North Platte, Nebraska
Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners Joe Hewgley, Bill Henry, Kent Weems, Chris Bruns, Jerry Woodruff and County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell. Weems offered prayer. Henry called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.
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.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to appoint Commissioner Weems as the 2021 Chairman and Jerry Woodruff as Vice Chairman for the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Hewgley to approve minutes of Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting on January 4, 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to receive and order filed the treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Woodruff to appoint the North Platte Telegraph as the official paper to publish legal notices in 2021 for Lincoln County. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Bruns, seconded by Henry to set the mileage reimbursement rate at 56 cents per mile effective January 11, 2021 per the NE Dept. of Administrative Services. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Woodruff to receive and order filed the fee reports submitted by the County Clerk, Register of Deeds and Clerk of District Court. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to adopt Resolution No. 2021-01 authorizing the County Treasurer to invest county funds as allowed per NE State Statute for 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Bruns to approve and authorize the Chairman to enter into an agreement with Maximus to provide professional consulting services for indirect child support costs from December 1, 2020 to January 1, 2026. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nay, none.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Bruns to approve the reappointments of Tyrell Rousey, Stacy Kuhlman, Tina Golter and Sara Wiseman to the Lincoln/Logan/McPherson Counties Extension Board for three year terms. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Bruns, seconded by Henry to approve the appointment of Lana Webster, who is replacing Tim Vaughn, for the remainder of his term to the Lincoln/Logan/McPherson Counties Extension Board. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Woodruff to receive and order filed in the office of the Lincoln County Clerk, the audit report for Lincoln County, Nebraska ending June 30, 2020. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Notice of the 2020 audit report will be published in the Commissioners minutes in the North Platte, Telegraph on January, 16, 2021.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:21 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Equalization convened.
Chairman Weems 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 and County Treasurer, Shelli Franzen were present.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Bruns to appoint Commissioner Weems as Chairman and Commissioner Woodruff as Vice Chairman for the 2021 Lincoln County Board of Equalization. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye.” Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on January 4, 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Henry to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the certificates of correction or refund submitted by the County Assessor on personal property. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Woodruff to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application submitted by Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska as recommended for approval by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:33 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Bruns to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 VOCA grant application and related documents for submission to the Nebraska Crime Commission. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
A public hearing was opened at 9:35 A.M. concerning the proposed vacation of Sea Street located within Jeffrey Fjords Subdivision.
Richard Jr. & Kim Konyek, the petitioners requesting the vacation of Sea Street, gave a brief summary of the reason for the request.
Chairman Weems stated for the record that the County Board recognizes the petition and the report of the Highway Supt.
Commissioner Weems reported that he had personally looked at this area. He has no concern about the boat ramp. He does have concerns about setbacks for property owners and vacating a public right of way.
Commissioner Bruns asked about the photo presented at the hearing by Konyek’s showing an existing boat ramp.
Mr. Konyek replied this was in the application to Central Public Power District. He is proposing to put a structure on this area per the county planning requirements, which would go on the county tax rolls.
John and Jane Knippenberg stated they were not aware of this petition until told by other neighbors. If this area is vacated their concerns were the possible decrease in value of their property, elimination of the buffer zone between lots and their view being blocked. They were aware that the county owned the right of way when they purchased their property.
Commissioner Woodruff asked about the property line in the photo provided by Knippenbergs.
Mr. Knippenberg responded that it is the property line.
Commissioner Henry questioned why the center line would not be the dividing line of this area if the vacation were to occur.
Deputy County Attorney, Tyler Volkmer, told board members that if it is not specified in the petition that is correct. However, this petition specifies that it goes to Konyek’s. The County Board has the authority to determine if it will be vacated and how.
Carla O’Dell, County Highway Supt., gave a summary of her previous report which included issues with several encroachments and no shoulders.
Commissioner Bruns questioned if this area was to be vacated, would the county be taking away access to other properties.
O’Dell affirmed that was correct and that they would need easements.
Deputy County Attorney, Tyler Volkmer, informed board members that anything formal concerning this matter needs to be done by resolution at the next board meeting. He reiterated that the County Board has complete authority in abandoning the property and what happens to it.
Kim Konyek wanted to make sure the County Board understood they were only asking for small portion, not the whole area.
The public hearing was closed at 10:05 A.M.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to deny the request to vacate any portion of Sea Street and have legal counsel prepare a resolution for formal action at the next board meeting. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The County Board asked Carla O’Dell, County Highway Supt., to do some further research to see if there is a better alternative than what we are currently using before they set a date to accept bids for a tractor and mower.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Woodruff to set January 25, 2021 at 9:45 A.M. to receive RFP’s for the Lincoln County Detention Center food service. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Chairman Weems tabled the 2021 board and committee appointments to the next board meeting to allow for the other Commissioners input on where they are interested in serving.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Henry to approve the use of the D & N Event Center for the County Public Tax Sale to be held on March 1, 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Bruns to authorize the Chairman to sign Change Order #2 for the Lincoln County Detention Center addition and remodel project. Upon roll call vote Henry, Weems, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none. Hewgley abstained.
Hear concerns from Elected Officials, Department Heads and their representative.
Approved the following claims as presented for payment:
The meeting was adjourned at 12:06 P.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the January 11, 2021 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 8, 2021; and was also emailed to the media on January 8, 2021.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 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
