April 25, 2022
North Platte, Nebraska
Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners Joe Hewgley, Kent Weems, Micaela Wuehler, Chris Bruns, Jerry Woodruff and County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell. Weems offered prayer. Bruns called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.
Chairman Bruns 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 Wuehler, seconded by Woodruff to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on April 18, 2022. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Weems, seconded by Woodruff to receive and order filed the treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Wuehler to receive and order filed the fee report submitted by the Register of Deeds for $28,038.20. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, 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 Bruns 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 along with Deputy County Treasurer, Sheri Newton.
Motion by Weems, seconded by Wuehler to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on April 18, 2022. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
No certificates of correction or refund submitted by the County Assessor.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Hewgley to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application as submitted by American Red Cross and recommended for approval by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Weems, seconded by Wuehler to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application as submitted by American Red Cross and recommended for approval by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Wuehler, seconded by Hewgley to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application as submitted by Bethel Evangelical Free Church and recommended for approval by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Woodruff to deny the tax exemption application on real property submitted by Our Redeemer Lutheran Church on real property as the property is vacant.
Commissioner Bruns asked the County Assessor what the process is for reviewing tax exemption status on real property.
County Assessor, Julie Stenger, responded they must file a long application every four years and that is more intensive.
Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization adjourned at 9:30 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Lisa Citta from the Lincoln County Ag Society and Lynn Johnson of Chief Construction gave the County Board an update on the Linco Ag & Education Center Building project.
The building will be 90,000 square feet with an estimated cost of $11,200,000. They hope to have it completed by the fall of 2023.
The Ag Society is going to raise as much money as possible with donations and grants. They are hoping to raise $6,000,000 of the total. They are looking to the county for the $6,000,000.
Commissioner Hewgley stated that fundraising has always been an issue. He questioned why the estimated cost had went from 4 million to almost 12 million on this project.
Citta and Johnson replied that it was mostly due to inflation.
Commissioner Bruns told them there was funding that was just approved in the legislature and they might look at this to see if they would qualify.
Commissioner Wuehler asked if it was difficult to find grant writers.
Citta responded that is was difficult to find one with experience and connections.
The special designated liquor permit submitted by Bid Red Liquor for a fundraiser to be held at the Lincoln County Fairgrounds on May 21, 2022 was pulled at the applicant’s request.
Mike Boden of NACO Benefit Services gave a brief presentation on employee benefit services software through TBX Employee Benefits LLC. There would be no cost to the county to participate. The program is funded by three new voluntary programs that will be part of the system for employees if they wish to sign up. There will be six pilot counties for this project.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Weems to approve Lincoln County being a pilot county for the TBX Benefit Services software. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Weems, seconded by Wuehler to authorize the Chairman to sign the client services agreement and scope of services document with TBX Benefit Services. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Mike Boden of NACO Benefit Services also gave an update on Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance renewal and rates for the upcoming fiscal year. The health insurance rates for Lincoln County will increase by 17.14%.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Woodruff to authorize the Chairman to sign the State Grant Award, Sub-Awards and Special Conditions for the Community Based Juvenile Services Aid Grant (23-CB-0518 for Community Connections). Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Brandon Myers. Executive Director of Region 51 Emergency Management gave his quarterly report for the quarter ending on March 31, 2022.
Discussion was held concerning updating the Lincoln County Seal.
Chairman Bruns stated he would just like to see the county seal refreshed with no major changes. Hershey Public School students are working on a wooden seal for the Commissioners Room. He would like to see a vector image that would clean up the lines on President Lincoln and add 1866 to the seal when the county was formed.
Motion by Weems, seconded by Woodruff to clean up and enhance the existing county seal as adopted by resolution and to add the year of origin of the county, which is 1866. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Wuehler to close the Lincoln County Courthouse to the public on June 22, 2022 for the 100 Year Celebration in preparation for the event.
Further discussion was held following the motion.
Commissioner Weems questioned why the courthouse could not be open to the public in the morning of that day.
Commissioner Bruns stated there would be ample advance notice to the public that the courthouse would be closed that day.
Commissioner Hewgley requested the 100 Year Committee to discuss the logistics of setting up for the event and prepare a schedule.
Upon roll call vote Woodruff, Wuehler and Bruns voted “aye”. Hewgley and Weems voted “nay”. Motion carried.
The 100 Year Celebration committee updated the County Board on the activities planned and estimated costs for the Lincoln County Courthouse 100 Year Celebration.
The two streets adjacent to the courthouse (Dewey and 3rd Street) will be closed that morning and this event will require volunteers to run all the activities as well as assist in setting up and tearing down.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Hewgley to authorize the Chairman to sign various vendor contracts for the Lincoln County Courthouse 100 Year Celebration. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Hear concerns from Elected Officials, Department Heads or their representative.
Meet with elected officials and department heads at noon.
Approved the following claims as presented for payment:
General:
AT&T cont 469.61
Ace Hrdwr su 17.09
Amxn Cptal Srvc su 52.41
Amrcn Lgn Pst rt 75.00
Brrckmn & Bzt se 1406.10
Bdt Wstrn Pls rt 100.00
Bg Rd Twng & Rcvry se 212.00
Brlltt Dgn Trshynsk se 2180.83
Clvry Bptst Chrch rt 75.00
Cptl Bsnss Systm rt 188.49
Csh Wa Dstrbtng se 344.00
Chvs Shw se 9739.93
Chrsty Byr reb 10.57
Cty NP Snttn se 28.08
Clk Dist Crt se 534.00
Cst To Cst Cmptr su 62.00
Chgn Trnsfr & Strg se 205.49
Clfr Wd Lyn&Wd se 7272.99
Cmmrcl Invsrmnt Srvs rt 62.07
Cllgn se 50.95
Das St Accntng contr 813.06
Das st Accntng rt 3727.08
Dndy Cnty Trsr se 1395.84
Eakes su 762.61
ECCA Cntrl se 50.00
ES & S se 8126.38
Elltts Atmtiv Srvs se 495.88
Fdrl spply USA su 1145.04
Frst Bptst chrch rt 75.00
GvCnnctn Inc se 2542.00
Grce Cmmnty Chrch rt 75.00
Grt Plns Cmmunctn se 659.68
Hrbr Lghts rt 100.00
HHS se 180.00
Htchcok Cnty Trsr se 1395.69
J Cissell reb 8.13
Macgill Dscnt Mdcal se 660.08
Mdsn Ntnal Lf ins 376.22
Mnrds su 344.94
Mntzr Oil su 165.90
Mssh Lthrn chrch rt 150.00
Mthdst Chrch rt 125.00
Untd Mthst chrch rt 75.00
Md-Plns Cmmunty Cllge se 425.00
Mi6 Pzz su 35.94
Mrlnd Ent LLC se 827.50
MLW se 454.84
NACO reg 400.00
NE Instut Frnsc Scnc se 2000.00
Nrflk Rgnl Ctr se 465.00
NP Plc Dept contr 21000.00
NWE se 295.45
Odn Clnl Chpl se 1050.00
Ptny Bws Rsv acc se 15000.00
Prprty Assmnt Dvsn se 615.00
Rdwd Txclgy Lab se 327.38
Slvtn Army rt 75.00
Sndhlls RC&D dues 100.00
Shwn Wllms Co su 200.26
ShI Intntnal Crp su 819.80
Snells re 180.00
Stpl Cdt Pn se 1764.76
Smmt Fd Srvc cntr 11099.71
T Fox se 194.60
Trnst Wrks se 390.00
Vlly Chrstn Chrch rt 75.00
Vrzn Wrlss cntr 447.40
Vro Wrlss se 184.26
Vllg Brdy rt 100.00
Wllc Anrcn Lgn Pst rt 75.00
Whtl Scrn Prnt grnt 723.00
Wnspply su 28.55
County Rd:
AT&T se 98.35
Lvl LLC su 7043.20
Mdsn Natl Lf ins 68.94
Mrnds su 89.70
Ttn Mchnry se 752.25
Lodging:
Mdson Natl Lf ins 9.00
Juvenile Fac:
Brulltt Dgn Trshynski Bllw se 20.00
Self-Funded Ins:
Frst Cncrd Bnfts grp ins 9610.04
Building Fund:
Schmmr se 1900.00
The meeting was adjourned at 12:37 P.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the April 25, 2022 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 April 22, 2022; and was also emailed to the media on April 22, 2022.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on Monday, May 2, 2022 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
