February 22, 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. Bruns 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 Henry, seconded by Bruns to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on February 16, 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, 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 Bruns, seconded by Woodruff to receive and order filed the fee report submitted by the County Sheriff. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Henry to authorize the Chairman to sign Change Order No. 3 for the Lincoln County Detention Center addition and remodel project. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:20 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 Woodruff, seconded by Bruns to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on February 16, 2021. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Bruns to 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 Bruns to approve the waiver for late filing of permissive exemption applications, Form 451, for Keep North Platte/Lincoln County Beautiful and Boys Town. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:29 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Woodruff to approve the purchase of a copier for District 11 Probation Office in the amount of $7492.00 from Capital Business Systems. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Carla O’Dell, Lincoln County Highway Supt., presented the 2021 One & Six Year Road Plan.
Commissioner Henry asked about the Prairie Trace road overlay project in conjunction with the construction schedule of the Sutherland North River Bridge project.
O”Dell stated she needed more information from the Corp on the bridge but she wants to go ahead and at least bid the Prairie Trace road overlay to get a bid price locked in.
Commissioner Woodruff, who sits on the Road Committee, reported they had discussed breaking Prairie Trace road overlay into two projects, but decided it would be more cost effective to do the entire project due to the distance from the asphalt plant.
Commissioner Henry then asked if the hill that needs to be cut down on the Dairy Road Project is on the county road right-of-way.
O’Dell confirmed that it is on county road right-of-way.
The public hearing to receive comments on the One & Six Year Road Plan was opened at 10:19 A.M.
Michael Cook complimented the Highway Supt. and County Sheriff on the work they have done on Eugene Avenue. A project for Eugene Avenue is on the Six Year Plan, but this will not address the current problems: pavement is breaking up, narrow width of the road, it is now an arterial feeder with a high traffic count, possible liability to the county and he is not sure the City of North Platte will annex this area.
Lonnie Oltmanns, who lives on Sandhills Road, was happy to see that there is a project on the list for this road. He asked about the classification of the road according to Board of Public Roads, 39-2113 (4). He also reported sight plain challenges and the difficulty in getting vehicles to their home. Emergency response vehicles cannot get to their home.
Commissioner Hewgley stated that some counties do no maintenance on the sandhill roads.
Tory Copeland, thanked them for the work on North River Road. He is glad to see the Sutherland North River Bridge project on the One Year Plan. He expressed concern about the heavy traffic North River Road will have with asphalt trucks. He encouraged them to consider an interlocal agreement with McPherson County on Prairie Trace Road that extends over the county line. He reported he will encourage the Village of Sutherland to also work on their portion of Prairie Trace Road and cited the importance of crack sealing. He asked about marking county roads so you would know when you leave one county and enter into another county. He encouraged training for road personnel.
Jim Copeland questioned if the Sutherland North River Bridge would be relocated.
O’Dell replied that as of right now it appears that it will be 50 to 100 feet off the current bridge.
He asked if they would fill in the pot holes on the old bridge.
O’Dell responded that they had been filling in holes, but they break up as fast as they fill them in.
Jim asked if there was a road maintenance schedule.
O’Dell stated there is a schedule but other “hot spots” come up that need to be taken care of.
Commissioner Weems commented that schedules often get re-arranged.
Eric Seacrest commented that the wellbeing of the county all depends on safe roads. He was excited to see the Sutherland North River Bridge on the One Year Plan. He was glad to see that the small wooden bridges are being replaced.
O’Dell reported that the county is getting close to having all the small wooden bridges replaced.
Seacrest also interjected that he feels that Eugene Avenue is a safety hazard.
The public hearing was closed at 10:53 A.M.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Woodruff to adopt the One & Six Year Road Plan as presented. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Henry, seconded by Bruns to set March 15, 2021 at 9:30 A.M. to receive bids for a tractor for the Lincoln County Department of Roads. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Bruns to set March 15, 2021 at 9:40 A.M. to receive bids for a single flex-wing mower for the Lincoln County Department of Roads. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
A public hearing was opened at 10:58 A.M. regarding the appointments of Roric Paulman and Marilyn McGahan to Lincoln County Hospital Authority No. 1, Board of Trustees, to serve six year terms to expire in September, 2027.
No comments were received.
The public hearing was closed at 11:00 A.M.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Woodruff to adopt Resolution No. 2021-08 appointing Roric Paulman and Marilyn McGahan to Lincoln County Hospital Authority No.1, Board of Trustees, to serve six year terms to expire in September, 2027. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Hear concerns from Elected Officials, Department Heads and their representative.
Approved the following claims as presented for payment:
The meeting was adjourned at 11:20 A.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the February 22, 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 February 19, 2021; and was also emailed to the media on February 19, 2021.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on Monday, March 1, 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
