July 18, 2011
North Platte, Nebraska
Meeting of the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners. Present were Commissioners Joe Hewgley, Duane Deterding, Willis Roethemeyer, County Clerk, Rebecca Rossell, Deputy County Attorney, Joe Wright and Board Assistant, Tammy White. Deterding offered prayer. Chairman Deterding called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M.
Chairman Deterding 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 Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to add an emergency agenda item at 11:00 A.M. due to flooding at the new Lincoln County Detention Center by the fire sprinkler system and needs to be corrected immediately. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners meeting held on July 11, 2011. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to receive and order filed the treasurer’s receipts. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2011-24 establishing a $100 Petty Cash Fund for the Lincoln/McPherson County Extension Office. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to approve and authorize the chairman to sign a long term care insurance rider on the group’s disability plan. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to receive and order filed the fee report submitted by the County Clerk. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve the agreement with North Platte Public Schools for services as Lincoln County School Administrator. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to approve and authorize the chairman to sign an interlocal agreement for fuel services with the City of North Platte. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve and authorize the chairman to sign the NOHS Mini-Grant on selective enforcement in the amount of $8,500 for the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 9:18 A.M. and the Lincoln County Board of Equalization convened.
Chairman Deterding 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 Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve the minutes regarding the Lincoln County Board of Equalization meeting held on July 11, 2011. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to approve and authorize the chairman to sign the certificates of correction and refund as submitted by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Recessed at 9:23 A.M. as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization and reconvened as the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
A public hearing was opened at 9:30 A.M. to receive comments on the CDBG ED grant application for Greenbrier Rail Expansion Project.
CJ Poltack of West Central Nebraska Development District and 3 administrative employees of Greenbrier Rail Services were available to answer questions.
Poltack reported that Greenbrier Rail Services is establishing a plant near Hershey, NE to re-furbish rail sets for the Union Pacific Railroad. They will employ 30 full time positions. CDBG ED funds are being requested for working capital for the plant. Grant funds are being requested in the amount of $255,000 and Greenbrier Rail Services will supply capital in the amount of $23,550,000 for a total project cost of $23,805,000. This is basically a 0% loan and the jobs must be retained for a certain time period. They are not requesting any money from Lincoln County.
Commissioner Roethemeyer asked when production would start.
Bob Herigad of Greenbrier explained that they make 2 products. Refurbished wheel sets which will begin production in September, 2011 and new wheel sets which will begin production in January, 2012.
Bob Pederson questioned how long they had to maintain the jobs.
Poltack answered 24 months.
The public hearing was closed at 9:41 A.M.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to accept and approve Exhibit D – Statement of Assurances for the CDBG ED Greenbrier Rail Services Application and authorize the chairman to sign on behalf of Lincoln County. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to accept and approve the Environmental Review Record for the Greenbrier Rail Services Application and authorize the chairman to sign on behalf of Lincoln County. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve and adopt Resolution No. 2011-25 authorizing the Chairman to apply for the CDBG ED Greenbrier Rail Services grant funds. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to approve the CDBG ED Greenbrier Rail Services Application and authorize the chairman to sign on behalf of Lincoln County. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Update by John Blake, representative for U. S. Congressman, Adrian Smith.
Quarterly report by Jim Nitz, Emergency Management Director.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to declare items in the old Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Jail to be surplus property which is obsolete or unusable by the county. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to place the value of $500 or less on the surplus property located at the old Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Jail. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to authorize Jerome Kramer, Lincoln County Sheriff, to sell the surplus property as permitted under Neb. Rev. Statute 23-3115 (Reissue 2007). Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Motion by Hewgley, seconded by Roethemeyer to authorize the Chairman to sign the Community Connections Lincoln County 2011-2012 County Aid Juvenile Justice Grant and Sub Grant Special Conditions. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Recessed at 10:43 A.M. as the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners and reconvene as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization.
Deputy County Clerk, Terry Heessel and County Assessor, Julie Stenger was present.
Discussed and considered 20ll property valuation protests on real property numbered 279, 280 & 281. These protests contain special valuation requests changing the land from residential to agriculture. The actual legal descriptions, etc. can be found in the 2011 Lincoln County Board of Equalization property valuation protest minutes.
Motion by Roethemeyer, seconded by Hewgley to approve the notice of valuation changes numbered 2011-046 thru 2011-053 as submitted by the County Assessor. Upon roll call vote Hewgley, Roethemeyer and Deterding voted “aye”. Nays, none.
Recessed at 10:52 A.M. as the Lincoln County Board of Equalization and reconvened as the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners.
Dan Rowe of Treanor Architects was contacted by phone concerning a problem that happened over the weekend at the new Lincoln County Detention Center. An inmate allegedly tampered with a sprinkler head in the cell block which caused flooding.
Commissioner Hewgley asked what we could do to make this less likely to happen again and about an instant alarm to the control room.
Rowe will research possible solutions to address this issue.
Kirk Nichols also addressed the issue of the drains in the detention center not being able to keep up with the water flow.
Rowe asked about a reduction of retainage on a pay application he has in his office.
Commissioner Hewgley this issue will need to be discussed with Craig Dirrim, the county’s attorney for the construction issues.
County Court Judges, Kent Turnbull and Mike Piccolo and District Court Judge Rowlands appeared to discuss a possible space study for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors of the courthouse to look at space, security and storage issues in conjunction with the renovations suggested by the energy study done by the ME Group. They suggested a long range plan for the next 20 -30 years.
Commissioner Deterding asked if anyone used the law library anymore.
The judges responded that it is not really used.
Judge Rowlands commented about other counties that are developing security systems, such as a security system on the 1st floor with one access thru a secure point. He then stated that the 3rdfloor courtroom is historical but suggested the possibility of better utilization of the space. He also mentioned the possibility of moving the jury room and the court reporters.
Commissioner Deterding commented about the possible historical issues with the courthouse building.
Approved the following claims presented for payment:
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners recessed at 11:59 A.M.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners reconvened at 1:00 P.M. and then recessed immediately to go into the Lincoln County Board of Equalization.
Discussed and considered property valuation protests on real property.
The Lincoln County Board of Equalization recessed at 4:27 P.M.
The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners adjourned at 4:28 P.M.
Advance notice and the agenda for the July 18, 2011 board meetings were sent to members of the County Board, County Attorney and all others requesting the same. Notice was posted at the Lincoln County Courthouse, City Hall on the county website.
The agenda for the meetings to be held on July 25, 2011 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 held 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 held at the Lincoln County Courthouse in the Commissioners Room at 9:15 A.M.
Rebecca J. Rossell
Lincoln County Clerk
