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 o’clock a.m. on April 25, 2006, in the County Courtroom (108) of the Otoe County Courthouse.  The meeting will be open to the public.  An agenda for each 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                                          APRIL 25, 2006

 

         8:30 a.m. -- Open Meeting, call roll, accept agenda, accept minutes from  

                                previous meetings, audit and sign payroll claims and regular claims

          

         8:45 a.m.Public Hearings: Bennie Subd requested by Robert R and Janet A Bennie

                                                      Valley View 3rd Subd requested by Marvin and Vivian Bando

 

                                                                                                                                                                     

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

                                    1)   Discussion and/or action RE: Utility permits

                                    2)   Discussion and/or action RE: Pay increase for non-union road workers

                                    3)   Miscellaneous

 

         9:30 a.m. – Renovation Committee: Discussion and/or action RE: Window coverings

                                   

        10:00 a.m. – Steve Zimmers, Extension Education: Monthly report

 

        10:15 a.m. – Todd Drapal, Holmes Murphy: Presentation - Service Capabilities for Employee Benefits

                                                                                                            

                 Other business matters to address when time allows:   

                          Brandi Reimers, Assessor: Discussion and/or action RE: Tax list corrections

                          Discussion and/or action RE: Request for health insurance information & comparison quote

                          Marv Pesek - Executive session to review General Assistance cases and/or applications              

                         Miscellaneous Correspondence and other matters that may come before the Board

.

                                                                                                        Janene Bennett

                                                                                                        County Clerk        

 

April 25, 2006

 

The Otoe County Board of Commissioners convened in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on April 25, 2006 to audit and sign payroll claims and regular claims and to take care of such other matters as are on the agenda for this meeting.  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 the Chairman of the Board, Joy W Schroder. Answering present at roll call were Commissioner Schroder, Commissioner Stratker and Commissioner Giittinger. None absent.

 

Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to accept the agenda as posted. Voting -- Commissioners Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye. Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to accept the minutes from the previous meeting as mailed to them and not have them read. Voting – Commissioners Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schroder to audit and sign payroll claims and regular claims with the exception of that portion of the bill submitted by Nebraska Machinery for the repairs to Machine #58 in the amount of $7,839.58. Voting – Commissioners Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye; Commissioner Stratker, aye.  Motion carried. This amount is being disputed as to whether the repairs should be covered under warranty.

 

A public hearing was held for the purpose of hearing support or objections to the approval of a subdivision plat as requested by Robert and Janet Bennie. Representing himself, Mr. Bennie said he is in the process of remodeling the house where he has lived for the past several years. He is now purchasing a 4.09 acre parcel from his parents (where the house is located) resulting in the need to subdivide it from the rest of the property. Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to authorize Chairman Schroder to sign the plat map for Bennie Subdivision located in S18-T9-R14 as requested by Robert R and Janet A Bennie. Voting – Commissioners Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye. Motion carried.

 

A public hearing was held for the purpose of hearing support or objections to the approval of a subdivision plat as requested by Marvin and Vivian Bando. Dave Schmitz, Registered Surveyor, explained that the Bandos are preparing to sell the farm and wish to separate 7.08 acres where there is an existing farmstead. He said the buildings meet the offset requirements and the acreage is served by rural water. Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to authorize Chairman Schroder to sign the plat map for Valley View 3rd Subdivision located in the S ½ of the SE ¼ S10-T8-R13 as requested by Marvin and Vivian Bando with the stipulation that the rural water line is drawn on the map before it is filed in the Register of Deeds office. Voting – Commissioners Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried.

 

Foremen Wally Pohlman, Rich Kuenning and Lynn Denniston were available for road and bridge discussion.

 

Several applications were received from the Omaha Public Power District to occupy county right of way as they install utility lines. Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to approve said applications allowing occupancy of county road right-of-way in the following areas: To install a single phase overhead crossing in the NW Corner of S33-T8-R9; To install a single phase underground crossing in the E ¼ Corner S28-T8-R14; To install a single phase overhead crossing in the SE Corner S20-T7-R11 Voting – Commissioners Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye. Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Stratker noted that the non-union road employees did not receive a pay increase in July when the other non union employees were given a raise. George Forst, representing Local 251, said all benefits and wages are in status quo until a new contract is agreed upon; however this stipulation only applies to road employees who are a member of the Union or eligible to join the Union. The road and bridge foremen and secretary are not eligible to join the Union and therefore not bound by the status quo stipulation. Commissioner Stratker made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Giittinger to approve a pay increase of 20 cents per hour to the non-bargaining employees of the road department; said increase shall be retroactive to July 1, 2005. Voting- Commissioners Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye. Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Schroder said there have been some problems in his District with landowners who install driveway culverts improperly and create unsafe conditions. He felt there should be a county policy that would specify requirements when installing a culvert from private property onto a public roadway. There is an existing state statute that specifies installation within a certain number of feet from the center of a road, but the County still needs a policy defining other standards such as tube size and depth, and who should be is responsible for furnishing the tube and installing it. It was suggested that the County could create some type of a permit and charge a nominal fee in order to keep better control of the situation. The County Attorney said he will need to draw up a resolution to adopt such a policy.

 

Janis Riege, representing the Renovation Committee, came before the Board to give a committee report. She said she has received commitments from several charitable foundations that intend or have already donated money toward the renovation project at the Courthouse. She recently received $10,000 from the Kropp Foundation which is going to be applied toward the cost of window coverings. The Wirth Foundation has committed to cover the cost for restoring the stone flooring in the main corridor. She felt it would be nice to have a plaque displayed listing the names of donors making a contribution. The Board agreed and it was decided to categorize the donors in accordance to the amount of their contributions - a Bronze designation to those who contribute between $1,000 and $5,000; a Silver designation for contributions of $5,000 up to $10,000; and a Gold designation for those donating over $10,000.

 

She presented the Board with pictures of the window treatments selected by the Committee for the Courthouse. They have chosen translucent “techmatic” roller shades that can be easily drawn up and down. There are two styles of windows – some have a high arch, while others only have a slight curve.  The shades will be placed just below the arches/curves. The arches of the windows on the east, west and south sides will be covered with a pleated fanned out cloth covering to keep out the heat and sun light; however, the Committee didn’t feel it was necessary to incur the extra expense to install a covering on the arches of the north side. She received two bid proposals – one from Midwest Venetian Blinds, Lincoln, in the amount of $10,110.98 and the other one from Staack Furniture in Syracuse which was much higher.  The proposal excludes all the windows in the District Courtroom which is not having any renovation done at this time. The shades have a lifetime guarantee and are designed to deflect heat and sunlight. Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to approve purchase of the window coverings for 42 windows in the Courthouse. Voting – Commissioners Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye. Motion carried.

 

Ms. Riege said Jerry Berggren (the architect) had ordered 7 white vinyl shades from Midwest Venetian Blinds to temporarily cover the windows on the second floor. After the vendor installed 1 shade, she called the other members of the committee to look at it. All agreed the shade looked cheap; it was not the color, style or made of the material they had picked out. The vendor himself said he didn’t like the shades; he was just fulfilling the order of Mr. Berggren. The committee stopped him from installing the rest; however, he said he had $637.50 invested in time and materials. Commissioner Giittinger volunteered to write a letter to Mr. Berggren expressing the County’s opinion that the cost of the shades should be billed to Mr. Berggren since he was the one who ordered them without the Committee’s pre-approval.  

 

Rick Sedersten reminded the Board that installation of raceways in the County Courtroom was not included in the last change order. He also said the Judge would like to have something done with the speaker cords running across the room. Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to add installation of raceways and flush mounted connectors for the speaker system to RONCO’s scope of work being done in the County Courtroom. Voting – Commissioners Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye. Motion carried.

 

Steve Zimmers, Extension Educator, gave his monthly report. He was pleased to announce that the Otoe County Extension Office would be provided with an intern again this summer. The UNL student is specializing in nutrition so she will be working primarily with Sarah Purcell. He said Miss Nebraska, Kelly Kiser, will be visiting the Extension Office tomorrow between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Next week he will begin teaching alternative energy classes to the 4th grade students at the Syracuse Schools. In conjunction with the Arbor Day celebration, he will hand out white pine trees to the Syracuse students on Thursday.

 

Other business matters were addressed at this time.

 

Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to approve a tax list correction for OPPD, adding $249.99 to the tax roll. Voting – Commissioners Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried. The correction was necessary to make up the difference of their “in lieu of tax” payment after the 5% of sales gross revenue was calculated.

 

Correspondence was read from Norman Anderson, pastor of Calvary Church, requesting the Board’s permission to gather around the north steps of the Courthouse on May 4th, 2006, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. for a brief prayer service in observance of the National Day of Prayer. Commissioner Stratker made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Giittinger to grant him permission to conduct the prayer service on May 4th. Voting – Commissioners Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye. Motion carried.

 

Marv Pesek reported he had no general assistance issues for discussion.

 

Commissioner Stratker said many of the county employees are reluctant to provide information on the health insurance forms as requested by Dave LeGrand and Tom Farrell. He said the information is needed in order for them to give a firm quote for health insurance coverage. County Attorney, Jeff Funke said the Board cannot force employees to fill out the form by threatening them with a statement that the County won’t provide them with insurance if they don’t return the form. He said they could send a directive to each office holder requesting them to require their office personnel to return the forms, but to complete only as much of the information they feel comfortable in supplying. Commissioner Stratker made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Giittinger to request every office holder to ask their employees to fill out the information on the form and return it to County Clerk’s office by May 3rd.  Voting – Commissioners Schroder, aye; Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye. Motion carried. Mr. Funke will write and distribute the memo.

 

Todd Drapal, from Holmes Murphy and Associates, appeared before the Board to present the products and service capabilities his company has to offer regarding financial management of employee benefits. Their scope of services include gathering and presenting competitive market data, providing consultation for selecting health plans, reviewing contracts and negotiations, and assisting with problem resolutions. He said there are many legislative issues, such as FMLA, HIPPA, COBRA, and Medicare Part D that are complex, but must be understood in order to comply. All clients are given access to “MyWave” website where this type of information can be quickly and easily retrieved by the personnel department. They will be able to post messages and conduct surveys on various topics/benefits for comparison. It also provides statistical data and samples of official documents. As costs escalate, this service helps employers make financial decisions to select the best deal to fit their needs. Mr. Drapal said he also is an independent broker for acquiring health insurance. He may be paid on a commission basis (usually 2-3% of the premium cost) or through a negotiated consulting fee. Commissioner Giittinger made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Stratker to direct the County Clerk to release employee census data to Mr. Drapal so that he can use the information to put together a bid proposal for a health insurance plan. Voting – Commissioners Stratker, aye; Giittinger, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried. Mr. Drapal said he will provide the County Clerk with access to the “MyWave” website for a 30 day free trial.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, and since all items on the agenda have been disposed of, Joy W Schroder, Chairman of the Board, declared this meeting adjourned, until the next one, which will be on May 9, 2006.

 

I, Janene Bennett, County Clerk for 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 my seal this 25th day of April 2006.

 

 

Janene Bennett

Otoe County Clerk