July 5, 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 Woodruff, seconded by Weems to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on June 27, 2022. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Weems 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 Wuehler, seconded by Weems to authorize the Chairman to DocuSign the agreement with AllPaid to allow the County Clerk’s Office to accept electronic payments. 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 an understanding of audit services with the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. 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 County Clerk for $1038.00. 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 Hewgley, seconded by Wuehler to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on June 27, 2022. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Weems 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, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Wuehler, seconded by Weems to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application submitted by Bethel Evangelical Free Church as 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 Weems to approve the motor vehicle tax exemption application submitted by First Baptist Church of Maxwell as recommended for approval by the County Treasurer. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization recessed at 9:19 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened.
Discussion was held on Resolution 2022-13 donating an amount not to exceed $4,600,000 to the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation for the limited purpose of purchasing property located at 18610 Highway 30, Hershey,
Nebraska to be used as a part of the Hershey Industrial Rail Park.
After further communication with Nebraska Dept. of Economic Development, the county was informed that the county cannot purchase the Greenbrier facility with ARPA funds. It must be purchased by the applicant, which is the North Platte Area Chamber and Development Corporation.
The county has three options: 1) take no action, 2) not allow the dollars to go to match funding, or 3) allow the Chamber to purchase the property and lease it back to the county.
Gary Person, Executive Chamber Director, and two board members Brandon Jones and Bill Troshynski appeared to reassure the county they would be willing to do a long-term lease with the county on the property. The purchasing of Greenbrier would spring forward the Rail Park project using the ARPA money as the matching dollars.
Deputy County Attorney, Tyler Volkmer, reported that he has sent a letter to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development asking for a legal opinion on several questions. Currently, per DED, they are stating that the money must be a donation.
Several options could be a long-term lease of the property back from the Chamber or to purchase the property back from the Chamber for nominal value.
Commissioner Weems asked if it will create any issues if they wait a week to decide.
Person replied that Greenbrier has been fantastic to work with on the project, but there is always some risk. He stated that the Chamber would do right by the county.
Person reported that the Chamber has the documents for an exclusive right to negotiate with Greenbrier for a cost of $250,000 but it has not been signed. If the offer would not be accepted, the county could lose $125,000. If it does go forward, the $250,000 would go toward the purchase price. This agreement would be good until September 2022.
Commissioner Woodruff questioned if this had been discussed with Greenbrier.
Person commented that they have been keeping Greenbrier updated, but they were hopeful there might be a decision today.
Volkmer told board members that if they wanted to donate the $250,000, they could according to the way the resolution is written.
Commissioner Hewgley wondered why the exclusivity contract was not signed by the Chamber.
Person responded that the Chamber did not have the funding available.
Commissioner Woodruff questioned if the county could possibly lose $125,000.
Person replied in the affirmative.
Volkmer reminded board members that this would be a straight donation.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Weems to go into closed session at 9:52 A.M. to discuss strategy with respect to pending real estate purchase. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Chairman Bruns restated the motion for closed session.
Motion by Woodruff, seconded by Hewgley to go into open session at 10:12 A.M. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Weems, Wuehler, Bruns and Woodruff voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The preceding Resolution item was tabled.
Chairman Bruns appointed Commissioner Woodruff to Visit North Platte Board of Directors as a voting member.
Lonnie Folchert, Chief Probation Officer of District 11 Probation, appeared to discuss office space for his department. The main probation office is owned by the County, but additional office space is leased in the Evans building for the rest of his staff.
Commissioner Woodruff reported that the Building Committee had met with probation staff and the owners of the Evans Building to discuss issues that exist in the building.
He questioned if the office space was adequate for the department.
Folchert commented that as the case load has grown, they separated the adults and juveniles. He felt the best option in the Evans building would be lease the entire first floor. The HVAC issues have been persistent. Additional space would be nice so they wouldn’t have to double bunk probation officers in the same space. There are also issues with electrical, the elevator and parking.
Commissioner Woodruff stated that the county is in a dilemma as there are issues with the building and the probation office needs more office space and parking, but there is no option to purchase the building at this time.
Folchert told board members that some counties are housing DHHS and probation, as well as other related offices, in one location.
Commissioner Wuehler said there is a suite open on the second floor that might be an option. However, if the facility is not serving the purpose, she is reluctant to sign a 4-year lease. She had done some research on other possible options.
Commissioner Hewgley asked how important location to the courthouse was for the probation office.
Folchert replied that the state is moving toward E-filing. The main probation office is working great, but the leased space for the reporting office is not.
Commissioner Wuehler wondered about negotiating a short-term lease while other options are explored. The Building and Grounds committee, along with legal counsel, will continue working on possible solutions.
Hear concerns from Elected Officials, Department Heads, or their representative.
Approved the following claims as presented for payment:
General:
Adams Cnty EMA se 100.00
Al’s Twg se 440.50
Amazon Cptl su 11.99
A Willard reb 82.67
C Bazata se 400.00
B Aufdenkamp reb 106.73
A Bellew se 4612.24
Cptl Bsns Sys rt 667.58
Cptl One su 476.72
Cervelle Acdmc se 453.71
Charlie’s Plmbg se 101.65
Chrtr Comm su 109.98
C Shaw se 6131.30
Cty of NP se 17.50
Comfort Inn ldg 229.90
DAS St Acctg rt 3727.08
Dell se 3248.82
Eakes su 85.72
1st Concord ins 165.00
Garden Cnty Shr se 18.62
C Minshull rt 2987.00
Huebners se 339.60
J Rudolph se 1435.00
Lindemeier Lw se 9665.33
M Hall se 20.00
M McKeone se 7792.00
ML&W se 6391.96
NSA/POAN reg 650.00
Quadient Lsg se 299.94
Recgntn Unl su 102.80
Seevers se 115.17
Shrwn/Wms su 68.77
Snells se 1766.86
US Bnk se 1457.44
US Cell se 827.50
Verizon se 467.62
V Heidhardt mi 20.48
Whitetail ex 56.25
County Rds:
Cptl Bsns su 3.88
Consolidated se 609.19
Level LLC su 20603.14
ML&W se 456.50
V of Brady se 88.29
Lodging:
Visit NP ex 299000.00
Improvement Fund:
Visit NP ex 99.400
P&M Fund:
Eakes su 168.36
Self-Funded Ins:
First Concord ins 1355.00
Juvenile Fac:
A Bellew se 1213.24
June Payroll $872,367.63
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 11:01 AM and reconvened as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization.
Discussed and considered property valuation protests, Form 422’s.
Recessed as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization at 2:09 PM and reconvened as the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:10 P.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the July 5, 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 July 1, 2022; and was also emailed to the media on July 1, 2022.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on Monday, July 12, 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
