May 10, 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. Woodruff 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 Hewgley to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on May 3, 2021. 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 treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Motion by Bruns, seconded by Woodruff to approve the claims for payment as presented. Commissioner Woodruff expressed concern about incomplete construction documents from TreanorHL and had consulted with the County Attorney’s Office concerning this matter. There is a claim for TreanorHL in this batch but it needs to be paid as this payment does not include any of the services for the construction documents.

Commissioner Hewgley abstained on the TreanorHL claim only as he has a conflict of interest on this claim only. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the application submitted by GL Concepts for a wedding reception on May 22, 2021 at Lincoln County Fairgrounds. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

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

Motion by Bruns, seconded by Woodruff to approve the 3 tier rate plan for the Ameritas dental program beginning July 1, 2021, as we had a 3 tier plan with Blue Cross Blue Shield, our previous provider. 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 Appraiser, Charity Farley appeared as well as County Treasurer, Shelli Franzen.

Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Henry to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on May 3, 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.

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the Confession of Judgment regarding the case of First National Bank of Omaha, Appellant, vs. Lincoln County Board of Equalization, Appellee, Case No. 20C-0129, which is before the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission as follows: Land – $369,600; Buildings – $3,838,670 for a Total of $4,208,270. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns, and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nay, none.

County Treasurer, Shelli Franzen, reported she had initially denied the first application for North Platte Baptist Church and sent it back as the pastor’s name was on the title application and the title has to be in the church name only. Also, until recently it also had a personalized plate which is not allowed. A second title application was submitted in the churches name only. It is optional for the County Treasurer to make a recommendation. This application has no recommendation as she did not feel comfortable.

Kristi Smith, who is the financial secretary for North Platte Baptist Church appeared. This vehicle is used for church trips and camps. They get the pastor a new vehicle every couple of years. The pastor does have his own personal vehicle. The title application was changed and is now in the churches name only and the personalized plates are no longer on the vehicle.

Commissioner Bruns asked where the vehicle was garaged.

Smith replied that it is housed where he lives, as the church owns the residence.

Commissioner Hewgley asked about the mileage on the 2019 truck that was traded.

Smith stated there was approximately 47,000 miles on the 2019 truck that was traded.

Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Henry to approve the Motor Vehicle tax exemption application as submitted by the County Treasurer for North Platte Baptist Church as it used by the pastor for transportation for church travel. This is based on the testimony of the financial secretary representing the church which would qualify them for the exemption. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

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

Judy Clark, Lincoln County Planning Director, reported that planning staff had no objection to the application by Glenn and Alice Chase.

Commissioner Weems questioned if the ingress and egress would be off Highway 83.

Clark responded that the ingress and egress would be off of Skyline Drive.

Commissioner Hewgley stated that it appears part of the lot is over the lot line.

Clark said she would let them know and see if it can be addressed.

Motion by Bruns, seconded by Henry to approve an application by Glenn and Alice Chase for Chase 2nd Administrative Subdivision located at 1151 E Skyline Drive in an R-2 Urban Density Residential District on property described as Lot 3 Valley View Heights Subdivision, Lincoln County, Nebraska. 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 sign a Nebraska Office of Highway Safety mini grant for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office for alcohol enforcement in the amount of $22,680 to run from June 16, 2021 to June 27, 2021 during NebraskaLand Days. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Motion by Bruns, seconded by Henry to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2021-16 to annually recognize employee contributions to Lincoln County in the amount of up to $50 per person. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Motion by Bruns, seconded by Woodruff to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign the franchise renewal agreement with Spectrum Mid-America, LLC locally known as Charter Communications. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Motion by Henry, seconded by Hewgley to approve and adopt Resolution 2021-17 concerning regulations in connection to cable television franchise. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Ann Dimmitt of the North Platte Trails Network Committee and Brent Berklund, engineer for TC Engineering appeared to discuss the requests of the North Platte Trail Network. The goal of this proposal is to tie the two trails together. Brent told board members that this portion will be without NE Game and Parks grant money and will be personally funded. The committee has talked to every single adjacent land owner. The community meetings have been good and all the concerns have been worked out. The community is supportive of the project. The committee will pay for the crosswalk signage.

Carla O’Dell, Lincoln County Highway Supt., commented that she had no issues assisting with the project and feels it will be a nice addition to the network.

Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Henry to approve the request of North Platte Trail Network to allow them to construct a trail in the county right-of-way on West State Farm Road. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Henry, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.

Commissioner Weems stated this does impact the road superintendent’s salary and federal audit. It appears that the federal audit will happen due to the CARES funds.

O’Dell commented that this portion of trail should not require a lot of time.

Berklund stated without the grant funds it will require less time.

Eric Seacrest, of the Mid Nebraska Community Foundation, reported all the money will be raised and in place before the project starts.

Motion by Bruns, seconded by Woodruff to approve the request of North Platte Trail Network for Lincoln County to be the governmental entity to sponsor the construction of the trail. 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 11:22 A.M.

Advance notice and the agenda for the May 10, 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 May 7, 2021; and was also emailed to the media on May 7, 2021.

The agenda for the meetings to be held on Monday, May 17, 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