February 1, 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. Hewgley offered prayer. Weems called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.
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.
Motion by Bruns, seconded by Henry to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on January 25, 2021. 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 treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to authorize the Chairman to sign a contract with Weathercraft for the Lincoln County Courthouse Annex Roofing Project. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff 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 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 appeared.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on January 25, 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
No certificates of correction or refund submitted by the County Assessor.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:17 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Presentation by Lee Davies, Architect, on plans for the 2nd & 3rd floor courthouse restroom remodel project. He presented several design options for each floor.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to proceed with Option #2 on the 2nd floor and Option #3 on the 3rd floor courthouse restroom remodel project. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to set February 22, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. for the One & Six Year Road Plan presentation. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Chairman Weems reported a local person had reached out to a board member with projections that were less than a 1% interest rate concerning the possible 2016 bond redemption.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the Underwriting Engagement and Disclosure Letter with D.A. Davidson & Co. for General Obligation Refunding Bonds Series 2021.
Commissioner Woodruff questioned if there would be any advantage to the county to do business with a local vendor.
Paul Greiger of D.A. Davidson, replied that when they market the bonds they expect to work with our local banks. Local banks get priority, but D.A. Davidson does work with all banks in the State of Nebraska.
Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to adopt Resolution No. 2021-04 authorizing the early redemption of the County’s General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2016. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to adopt Resolution No. 2021-05 authorizing the issuance by the County of its General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2021, in the principal amount not to exceed $3,600,000, for the purpose of refinancing the County’s General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2016, in order to achieve interest cost savings, and related matters. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to go into closed session at 10:11 A.M. regarding deployment of security personnel or devices, and to protect attorney client privilege, which is clearly necessary to protect the public interest. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Chairman Weems restated the motion for the closed session.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Woodruff to go into open session at 11:09 A.M. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to adopt Resolution No. 2021-06 rescinding the Lincoln County Security Committee. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
County Board discussed salaries for appointed department heads.
Commissioner Woodruff stated they have earned and deserve as much compensation as appropriate but feels the board needs to be cognizant of the economic situation we are in right now.
Commissioner Hewgley commented on all four appointed positions. He had looked at the data collected in the counties in our array and it appears that we are mid-point in most of these cases.
Commissioner Henry felt all of the people in the appointed positions did a good job and certainly deserve the COLA adjustment but he was not sure about merit increases.
Commissioner Bruns told board members that a COLA adjustment is necessary. The issue he had with merit increases is what those would be based on. He agreed with COLA adjustments and possible merit in future years.
Commissioner Woodruff concurred with the COLA adjustment as he is conscious of the current economic situation.
Commissioner Bruns stated that after looking at the other counties in our array, and there health insurance benefits for all employees, he would like to give this topic future consideration.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Bruns to approve a 1.5% COLA for all four department heads for 2021 effective January 16, 2021:
Noxious Weed Supt. $20.71 per hour
Veterans Service Officer $26.03 per hour
County Highway Supt. $59,958.08/ $4996.51 per pay period
Region 51 Emergency Management Director $55,520/ $4626.68 per pay period
Upon roll call vote Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Hewgley voted “nay”. Motion carried.
Hear concerns from Elected Officials, Department Heads and their representative.
Approved the following claims as presented for payment:
General Fund:
Ace Hrdwr su 5.38
Adms & Swnsn se 1052.29
Amzn Cpitl Srv su 59.94
Bg Rd Twng & Rcvry se 161.00
Blck Hlls Stg Ln se 659.50
BLR se 499.00
Brlltt Dgan Trshynsk se 11245.65
Cptl Bsnss Systms rt 498.00
Chrtr Bsnss su 124.97
Clk dst crt Assc se 50.00
Clk Dst Crt se 423.00
Cmmrcl Invstmnt Srv rt 375.00
Cnsoldtd Mngment Cmpny se 59.23
Cntrl Fnce rt 3727.08
Dpt Jstc Adm Cllg Arts se 1295.00
Dve Rsc Intrntnal su 221.63
Dr Scrb & Mr ex 111.98
Dugn su 1380.90
Eakes su 1437.76
Excl Scrn Prnt ex 194.60
Frfld inn& sts ldg 288.00
Fstnl su 129.99
Frst Ntnl Bnk se 1186.90
Frst Cncrd Bnfts ins 150.00
G4S Scye Sltns cont 1437.12
Hntns Lck & alrm se 187.14
Intrntnl Fltr Manfctrng su 805.87
Lncln cnty Jal Ptty csh se 13.95
Lndmr Lw Off cont 9429.33
Lwmn’s At Rpr se 672.91
Mrla Hns ex 151.88
Myr Crtv Prnt se 228.17
MI6 Pzz su 51.50
Mncpl Lght & Wtr se 5997.22
NACO su 178.00
NE Lw Enfrcmnt Trng se 492.00
NE Sfty & Fr Eqp cont 651.00
NE Scrtry St su 30.00
Np Tlgrph se 436.80
Nrthwstrn Engy se 227.20
O’kf Elvtr Co ex 277.66
Pnn Emblm Co ex 15.60
Pplr str cr wsh su 64.25
RR Dnnlly su 59.55
St Louis Unv se 175.00
Svrs Auto Cr su 109.74
Linc Cnty Shrff PC su 120.74
Stpls su 60.76
Stv Maly se 750.00
Smmt Fd Svc se 4048.74
Tl Stssr mi 27.44
The Chng Cmpy se 52.50
Thms Rutrs –Wst se 377.00
Tryr Entrprs eq 403.10
US Bnk su 357.67
Unv NE Mdcal Cnter se 1250.00
US cllr se 878.23
Vrzn Wrlss se 425.21
Wtrsprts Unlmtd eq 1429.18
Road Fund:
Bmgrs se 230.41
Dwsn Pblc Pwr Dst se 113.02
Gynn Mchn & Stl se 264.83
Hntn Lck & Alrm se 425.00
Klly Spply Cmpny se 29.26
MCCk Pblc Pwr Dst se 225.20
Mntzr Oil se 3829.10
Mdlnd Occptnl Mdcn su 265.00
Mncpl lght & wtr se 589.02
NACO se 13.00
Nrthwsrn Enrgy se 284.53
Lodging Fund:
Cllgan su 86.16
Lmr Cmpny se 833.33
Mncpl Lght Wtr su 296.67
Nnntn se 146.63
NE Tvl Asso se 60.00
NP Tlgrph su 18.92
Prst X se 40.00
Rlbl Rffng su 125.00
Stv Mly se 2643.33
P&M:
Eakes se 326.11
Slf Fnd Ins:
Frst Cncrd Bnfts ins 1066.00
Co Drg Lw Enfrcmnt:
Sthrn Plce Inst se 1295.00
Jvnl Fclty:
Brlltt dgn Trshysk se 1784.65
The meeting was adjourned at 11:35 A.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the February 1, 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 29, 2021; and was also emailed to the media on January 29, 2021.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on Monday, February 8, 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
