NOTICE OF MEETING

NOTICE OF MEETING

Otoe County Courthouse

Nebraska City NE 68410

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Regular meeting of the Otoe County Commissioners of Otoe County, Nebraska, will be held at 8:30 A.M. on March 9, 2010 in the County Courtroom (108) of the Otoe County Courthouse at Nebraska City. The meeting will be open to the public. An agenda for such meeting is kept continuously current, and is available for public inspection at the office of the County Clerk at the Courthouse, but the agenda may be modified at such meetings to include items of an emergency nature only.

AGENDA OF THE NEXT MEETING March 9, 2010

8:30 a.m. -- Open Meeting, Call roll, Open Meetings Act posted; Accept agenda; Accept minutes from previous

meeting; Audit and sign regular claims

8:35 a.m. – Jan Reed: Safety Committee monthly report

8:40 a.m. – Janis Riege, Clerk of District Court: Discussion and/or action RE: Storage space/microfilming files

8:45 a.m. – Stephanie Schrader: NCAEDC quarterly report

8:50 a.m. – Bob Gray, NC Utilities - Discussion and/or action to approve application to apply sludge

8:55 a.m. - Gordon Anderson, Omaha – Discussion and/or action to approve application to apply sludge

9:00 a.m. – Discussion and/or action regarding road and bridge matters:

1) Resolution authorizing Chairman to sign 1 & 6 Year Plan forms

2) Resolution authorizing Chairman to sign a Project Program Agreement between the County and

NDOR regarding fracture critical bridge inspections

3) Discussion and/or action regarding rock truck replacement and/or leasing

4) Review employment applications for summer and full-time help (Executive Session)

5) FEMA reimbursement for winter storm declaration

6) Discussion and/or action RE: Spending for Road and Bridge projects

7) Miscellaneous

10:00 a.m. – Roundtable with all elected and appointed officials RE: Budget priorities in FY 2010-2011

Other business matters to address when time allows:

Jackie Smith, County Treasurer: Discussion and/or action RE: Pledged Security(s)

Miscellaneous Correspondence and other matters that may come before the Board

Janene Bennett, Otoe County Clerk

Minutes

March 9, 2010

The Otoe County Board of Commissioners convened in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on March 9, 2010 to audit and sign regular claims and to take care of such other matters as are on the agenda for this meeting. Advance notice of this meeting was published in the Nebraska City News Press and Syracuse Journal Democrat, announced on KNCY Radio Station and posted in at least three public places. This meeting was open to the Public, and the agenda was kept current, and is on file for public inspection at the office of the Otoe County Clerk during regular business hours.

The meeting was called to order by Chairman of the Board, Timothy Nelsen. Answering present at roll call were Commissioner Nelsen, Commissioner Lade, Commissioner Crook, Commissioner Kreifels and Commissioner Freshman.

Chairman Nelsen informed the public in attendance that a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted on the south wall of the Courtroom. Additional copies are available upon request. He asked that all attendees turn off their cell phones or set them to vibrate while present in the meeting room.

Commissioner Lade made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Crook to accept the agenda as posted. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Nelsen, Lade, Crook, Kreifels and Freshman. Nay – none. Motion carried.

Commissioner Kreifels made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Freshman to accept the minutes from the previous meeting and not have them read as each member was furnished with a copy of same. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Lade, Crook, Kreifels, Freshman and Nelsen. Nay – none. Motion carried.

Having reviewed the regular claims in advance of this meeting, Commissioner Crook made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels to approve payment of the regular claims. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Crook, Kreifels, Freshman, and Lade; Commissioner Nelsen approved payment of all claims except those claims submitted by the Public Defender’s Office to which he abstained. Nay – none. Motion carried.

Jan Reed gave the monthly Safety Committee Report. She said the committee is still reviewing and revising sections of the proposed County Safety Manual. Jail Administrator, Nick Shimmel, will submit a Motor Vehicle Accident Report form for review at their next meeting.

Jackie Smith, County Treasurer, requested the following changes in pledged securities: Release pledged securities with Arbor Bank, Nebraska City, in the aggregate amount of $795,000 and replace them with securities in the aggregate amount of $998,029.09. Add a pledged security with Farmers Bank, Nebraska City, in the amount of $200,000. Commissioner Kreifels made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Freshman to adopt Resolutions 2010-10 and 2010-11 approving said transactions. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Kreifels, Freshman, Nelsen, Lade and Crook. Nay – none. Motion carried.

The Clerk of the District Court prepared and submitted the February fee report in accordance with State Statute 33-106.02. Each Board Member was furnished with a written copy.

Dave Partsch, County Attorney, announced that he will acquire an “unpaid clerk” for the summer - a law student who will earn college credits by working for an attorney.

Janis Riege, Clerk of the District Court, came before the Board to report that the State Historical Society has agreed to take the old court files that have been microfilmed. This will save the County time and money by not shredding or storing them. In addition, the Society will take the outdated filing cabinets that cannot be used for any other type of files. Commissioner Crook made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels to declare the filing cabinets as surplus. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Freshman, Nelsen, Lade, Crook and Kreifels. Nay – none. Motion carried. Ms. Riege also noted that the small storage space in the basement (currently being used by the County Clerk) is large enough to use as a “holding” cell of the remaining old court files until they can be microfilmed. She suggested designating about $10,000 each year to have the old files microfilmed, estimating it will take about three years to get caught up. The County Clerk’s permanent records will be removed and stored in a locked room at the Road Department.

Stephanie Schrader, Executive Director of the Nebraska City Area Economic Development Corporation (NCAEDC), provided each Commissioner with a packet of information, including a power point presentation of the Alcan facility in Syracuse. They continue to work with the Syracuse Area Economic Development Corporation (SAEDC) to promote the facility by sending out the power point CD to consultants and potential buyers across the United States. They also work closely with the State Department of Economic Development who shares information about industries seeking to establish businesses in Nebraska.

In accordance with county zoning regulations, each year utility companies must submit an application to the County Board seeking permission to apply sludge to farm ground in the county. Bob Gray, representing the Nebraska City Utilities, said the sludge will be applied to the same farm ground as last year – that being land owned by John Voelker, Louise Conley, Otis Richardson and Jane Cory. Commissioner Crook made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lade to approve the application as submitted by the Nebraska City Utilities granting them permission to apply sludge to the farm ground specified above. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Nelsen, Lade, Crook, Kreifels and Freshman. Nay – none. Motion carried.

Gordon Andersen, representing the Omaha Public Works Department, said they have been applying sludge in Otoe County for the last 15 years. They have two waste treatment facilities, one located in south Omaha and another one in Papillion. Last year sludge was applied to ground farmed by Pat Gress, John Knabe, Bryan Murdoch and Kent McGinnis; the applied areas will remain the same this year. Commissioner Freshman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels to approve the applications for applying sludge in Otoe County as submitted by Omaha Public Works Department. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Lade, Crook, Kreifels, Freshman and Nelsen. Nay – none. Motion carried.

At 8:52 a.m. Chairman Nelsen called for a short recess. The meeting resumed at 9:00 a.m. with all members being duly noted as present.

Lead Supervisor, Lynn Denniston was available to discuss road and bridge matters.

Resolution for 1 & 6 Year Plan: Chairman Nelsen introduced Resolution 2010-9 authorizing the Chairman (in lieu of a Highway Superintendent) to sign all forms requiring a signature for the County’s One and Six Year Road Plan. Commissioner Freshman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Crook to sign Resolution 2010-9 authorizing Tim Nelsen as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners to sign all necessary documents required in the One and Six Year Road Plan. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Crook, Kreifels, Freshman, Nelsen and Lade. Nay – none. Motion carried.

Rock truck replacement: Lead Supervisor Denniston said the old truck has over 600,000 miles and needs over $20,000 worth of repairs to get it running. However, the trailer has been refurbished and in good condition. Estimated cost to purchase the tractor alone is $80,000 to $100,000. Commissioner Kreifels was concerned how the purchase would be funded. If it was purchased before the end of the fiscal year, it would have to be paid from the Inheritance Tax Fund. Otherwise, it will need to be budgeted for next fiscal year. Commissioner Lade made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Freshman to advertise for the purchase of a new semi-tractor; means of funding the purchase will be determined later. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Kreifels, Freshman, Nelsen, Lade and Crook. Nay – none. Motion carried.

FEMA reimbursement: Commissioners Freshman and Nelsen will attend a meeting this Thursday where NEMA and FEMA Officials will explain procedures for applying for public assistance to repair damages caused by severe winter storms December 22, 2009 through January 8, 2010. In the meantime, road employees have been instructed to take pictures and measure rut depth to calculate the amount of rock that will be needed to restore the roads.

Funding for road/bridge projects: Due to the heavy snow this winter, many roads are in poor condition and in need of rock. Chairman Nelsen noted there is only about $300,000 remaining in the budget to purchase rock. He suggested using $250,000 that was earmarked for bridge construction and transferring it into the rock line. Commissioner Crook asked how soon any FEMA money would be received. Mark Mainelli thought reimbursement could be received in June or July at the earliest. Board members agreed it would be better to delay some of the construction projects and use the money to bring the roads back to good driving condition. Commissioner Crook asked Denniston to identify the roads with the biggest snow drifts so they can determine ways to help prevent drifting in the future.

Discussion and/or action to adopt a resolution authorizing the Chairman to sign a Project Program Agreement between the County and the NDOR regarding fracture critical bridge inspections was tabled.

At 9:36 a.m. Commissioner Freshman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Crook to go into executive session to review employment applications, noting that closed session is necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of individual applicants. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Freshman, Nelsen, Lade, Crook and Kreifels. Nay – none. Motion carried.

Chairman Nelsen restated that the subject matter during this closed session will be limited to the review of employment applications only; closed session is necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of individual applicants. The County Clerk and Lead Supervisor, Lynn Denniston, were asked to remain in the room during closed session.

At 9:59 a.m. Commissioner Kreifels made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Lade to go back into regular session. Voting aye were Commissioners Nelsen, Lade, Crook, Kreifels and Freshman. Nay – none. Motion carried. Chairman Nelsen noted that Board Members will return to executive session later this morning to continue reviewing applications.

At 10:00 a.m. Chairman Nelsen facilitated a roundtable discussion with several elected officials and department heads. Those in attendance were Mike Ziskey, Public Defender; Lynn Denniston, Lead Road Supervisor; Gregg Goebel, Emergency Management Director; Janis Riege, Clerk of the District Court; Dave Partsch, County Attorney; Jim Gress, Sheriff; Mike Holland, Chief Deputy Sheriff; Dave Schmitz, County Surveyor; Jackie Smith, County Treasurer; Jan Reed, Register of Deeds; Therese Gruber, County Assessor, Christie Smallfoot, Deputy County Assessor; Becky Sturm, Computer Network Administrator; Willie Scheef, Candidate for 4^th Commissioner District and Dan Swanson from the Nebraska City News Press.

Each one was asked what his/her budget priorities were for the upcoming fiscal year. The following is a summary of suggested items:

Technology - update computer equipment and software, install programs that are compatible between offices; purchase/lease scanners for various offices.
Set aside money annually for microfilming
Furnish reliable vehicles for officials to use while performing county business
Continue to allow cost of living wage increase for employees
Provide allowances for continuing education of officials

Board members commended the officials for their efforts to stay within the adopted budget. Commissioner Crook commented that working with fiscally responsible personnel makes their job easier.

At 10:30 a.m. Chairman Nelsen called for a short recess. The meeting resumed at 10:43 a.m. with all members being duly noted as present.

At 10:43 a.m. Commissioner Lade made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Freshman to go back into executive session to continue reviewing employment applications, noting that closed session is necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of individual applicants. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Lade, Crook, Kreifels, Freshman and Nelsen. Nay – none. Motion carried.

At 11:16 a.m. Commissioner Freshman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Crook to return to regular session. Voting aye were Commissioners Crook, Kreifels, Freshman, Nelsen and Lade. Nay – none. Motion carried. No action was taken while in executive session.

Over 50 applications were received; 8 applicants will be called in for an interview.

There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, and since all items on the agenda have been disposed of, Chairman Nelsen declared this meeting adjourned at 11:17 a.m. The next regular meeting will be held on March 23, 2010.

I, Janene Bennett, County Clerk of Otoe County, do hereby certify that the above minutes were taken by me, and are true and correct to the best of my knowledge, and I therefore set my hand and affix the county seal this 9^th day of March 2010.

Janene Bennett

Otoe County Clerk

Press Report

The Otoe County Board of Commissioners convened in regular session on Tuesday, March 09, 2010, at 8:30 a.m. in the County Courtroom (108) located in the Courthouse at Nebraska City. Minutes of the previous meetings were not read as each Board Member was furnished with copies of the same. Members present were Timothy Nelsen, Steven Lade, Carol Crook, Nicki Kreifels and Rick Freshman. The following motions were passed by majority vote: To approve the release of pledged securities with Arbor Bank, Nebraska City, in the aggregate amount of $795,000 and to replace them with securities in the aggregate amount of $998,029.09. To approve the addition of a pledged security with Farmers Bank in the amount of $200,000. To declare tri-fold filing cabinets as surplus. To approve applications submitted by NC Utilities and Omaha Public Works to apply sludge on farm ground located in Otoe County. To adopt Resolution 2010-9 authorizing the Chairman to sign all documents associated with the County’s 1 & 6 Yr Road Plan. To advertise for the purchase of a rock truck. To go into executive session to review employment applications for the road department. A complete account of the minutes may be seen in the County Clerk’s Office or visit our website at www.co.otoe.ne.us. The following claims were audited and allowed and the County Clerk was instructed to issue checks in payment of the same. COUNTY GENERAL FUND: Oscar Adams/bft $12.00; Alamar Uniforms/svc $219.87; Allied Refuse Services/svc $216.18; AMSAN/svc $1,244.56; Arbor Bank/svc $95.75; Arbor Valley Animal Clinic/svc $674.44; AS Central Finance/svc $704.00; Automated Systems Inc/svc $7,368.02; B & B Pump-N-Go Inc/sup $432.68; Howard Bebout/mileage/svc $27.00; Bill Behling/mileage/svc $16.50; Bill Me Later/svc $255.51; Cass County Sheriffs Office/svc $86.80; Citizens Printing Co/sup $115.00; City of Syracuse/svc $204.98; Comfort Inn & Suites Northeast/svc $177.00; Control Services Inc/svc $564.00; Carol Crook/reimb $57.33; David M Dettman, DDS/svc $215.00; Douglas County Treasurer/svc $250.00; Douglas Tire Inc/sup $702.54; Duffs Friendship Villa/svc $200.00; Edwards Chemicals/sup $603.62; Ronald Elliott/svc $1,950.00; First Concord/svc $2,223.79; First National Bank-Omaha/svc $9.90; Gregg Goebel/reimb $74.89; James M Gress, Sheriff/svc $995.10; Loreen Haupt/mileage/svc $34.00; Judy Combs Herzberg, RPR/svc $41.30; Daniel Hodges/mileage/svc $37.00; Johnnys Cycle/sup $26.75; Jones Automotive Inc/cap outlay $8,114.79; Janis Kinnison/bft $16.00; La Rue Distributing/sup $142.65; Lab Safety Supply/svc $52.00; Lancaster County Sheriff/svc $18.53; Larson Motors Inc/svc $213.46; Lawsoft Inc/svc $160.00; Lynn Peavey Co/sup $95.76; M O C I C/svc $150.00; Marcotte Insurance Agency Inc/svc $1,092.83; Shilah Martin/mileage $14.00; Mead Lumber Do-It-Best Inc/svc $23.98; Menards/svc $122.78; Mercers Hardware/sup $120.68; Merchants Credit Adjusters/svc $2,194.15; Microfilm Imaging Systems/svc $1,086,64; Midwest Tire & Repair & Towing/sup $42.71; Miller-Monroe-Farrell/svc $53.33; MIPS/Inc/svc $709.56; Modern Methods Inc/cap outlay $215.00; Mosers U-Save Pharmacy/sup $577.39; N C Utilities/svc $185.49; NACO/svc $250.00; Nebraska City Center for Children and Families/svc/rent $3,740.90; Nebraska City Professioanl Bldg/rent $500.00; Nebraska Crime Commission/svc $7.50; Nebraska Hazardous Materials Ass’n/svc $570.00; Timothy Noerrlinger/svc $100.00; O’Keefe Elevator Co Inc/svc $238.27; Office Depot Credit Plan/sup $5.92; Office Equipment Finance Services/cap outlay $100.00; Orschelns/svc $484.96; Doris Osbon/bft $17.00; P.U.F.F./svc $1,076.51; Paper Tiger/svc $46.00; David J Partsch/svc $700.00; Postmaster/svc $155.80; Sarah Effken Purcell/mileage $420.00; Quill Corporation/sup $144.95; Region V Systems/svc $550.00; Janis A Riege, Clerk of D C/svc $99.00; Sams Club/GECF/sup $1,492.35; Schmitz Land Surveying Inc/svc $2,072.62; Shell Fleet Plus/sup $273.90; Jacqueline Smith, Co Treasurer/svc $5,000.00; Solution One/svc $149.91; Southeast District County Officials Assoc/svc $180.00; Landis Engine Company Inc DBA Steves Snow Removal/svc $255.00; Bev Sweeney/bft $14.00; Syracuse Journal Democrat/svc $37.00; Terrys Family Foods/sup $27.27; Jean Thayer/bft $22.00; Time Warner Cable/svc $209.90; Town & Country Pharmacy/svc $193.36; Tri-State Office Products/sup $476.18; William Umland/mileage/svc $27.00; University of Nebraska-Lincoln/svc $20.00; UNL Is Communications Center/svc $41.95; Verizon Wireless/svc $49.22; John Voelker/svc $336.00; Charles Vogt/svc $55.00; Bill Walters & Son Shop Inc/svc $552.03; Richard Warner/mileage/svc $37.50; Watkins True Value/scv $193.02; Windstream/svc $225.22; Cheri Wirthele/mileage/svc $33.00; Wonder Wash/svc $37.50; Wood Family Fuel/sup $538.40; Stephen G Zimmers/mileage $184.50; Michael Ziskey/svc $545.00; ROAD & BRIDGE FUND: A-1 Locksmith LLC/svc $309.95; ACE – Metals/sup $15,112.25; Allied Refuse Services/svc $200.60; American Recycling & Sanitation Inc/svc $35.00; Jim Bassinger/bft $12.00; Big Rig Truck Accessories Inc/svc $239.69; Black Hills Energy/svc $311.78; Bohl Plumbing & Heating/svc $3.36; Brown Glass Co Inc/svc $317.63; Calvin Bruns/bft $13.00; Consolidated Rural Water Dist/svc $88.60; First Concord/bft $1,245.16; Leroy Hammers/bft $12.00; Meeske Ace Hardware/svc $209.95; Mercers Hardware/sup $65.78; Midwest Machine Inc/svc $87.30; Mullenax Auto Supply/sup $6.68; N C Utilities/svc $158.56; Nebraska Department of Roads/cap outlay $5,880.04; OPPD/svc $39.48; Orschelns/sup $1,794.96; Marvin Reick/rent $125.00; Rural Water District #3/svc $23.50; Syracuse Do It Best Hardware/sup $516.90; Syracuse Iron Works/svc $296.00; Syracuse Motor Supply/svc $368.89; Terrys Family Foods/sup $34.85; Thomson Oil Co/sup $93.05; Tri-State Office Products/sup $10.80; Truck Equipment Service Co Inc/svc $40.12; Village of Palmyra/svc $24.00; Watkins True Value/sup $79.78; Windstream/svc $72.82; DIVERSION PROGRAMS FUND: Software Unlimited Corporation/cap outlay $664.00; LOCAL GRANTS – SHERIFF FUND: Orschelns/svc $39.99; COUNTY BUILDINGS MAINTENANCE FUND: Security Equipment Inc/svc $384.00; 911 SURCHARGE FUND: City of Syracuse/svc $56.64 Grand Total $86,696.99 Signed by // Nicki Kreifels, 1^st District Commissioner, Rick Freshman, 2^nd District Commissioner, Carol Crook, 3^rd District Commissioner, Tim Nelsen, 4^th District Commissioner, Steven R. Lade, 5th District Commissioner. ATTEST: Janene Bennett, Otoe County Clerk

The County Board reserves the right to go into executive session when they deem it necessary.

Individuals requiring physical or sensory accommodations, including interpreter service, Braille, large print or recorded materials, please contact Janene Bennett, County Clerk, Otoe County Courthouse, P O Box 249, Nebraska City, NE 68410, (402) 873-9505), no later than 12:00 noon the day before the meeting.