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 October 9, 2007, 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                                       October 9, 2007

 

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

              meeting, Audit and Sign payroll and regular claims

 

8:45 a.m. – Dave Schmitz: Discussion and/or action RE: A & N Rohlfs Subdivision located in the N ½ of the

                        NE ¼ S23-T8-R10 as requested by Arlin and Ninajean Rohlfs

 

 9:00 a.m. – Discussion and/or action RE: Road and Bridge matters

a)      Discussion and/or action RE: Safety meeting issues

b)      Discussion and/or action RE: Land trade with Midwest Co-op located at Otoe Road Shop

c)      Miscellaneous

 

10:00 a.m. – Jim Gress, Sheriff - Open Bids for Patrol Vehicles

 

10:15 a.m. – Vanessa Sherman, PUFF: Annual report of Juvenile Diversion programs

 

10:30 a.m. – Pat Haverty, RCEDC: Quarterly Report;

                         Discussion and/or action RE: Notice and Acknowledgment of Assignment Lease Agreement

                         regarding bonds for Diversified Foods and Seasonings Inc

 

10:45 a.m. – Ray Umbarger, Mayor of Syracuse: Discussion and/or action RE: Interlocal Agreement between

                          The City of Syracuse and the Otoe County Sheriff Department whereby the Sheriff’s 

                           Department will provide law enforcement services for the City of Syracuse                                      

 

 

 

       Other business matters to address when time allows:

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

           County Assessor: Discussion and/or action RE: Tax list correction(s)

           Marv Pesek, GA Administrator: Discussion and/or action RE: General Assistance Applications/Cases

           Miscellaneous Correspondence and other matters that may come before the Board

 

 

                                                                                                            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.

 

 

 

 

OCTOBER 9, 2007

 

The Otoe County Board of Commissioners convened in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on October 9, 2007 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. Advance notice of this meeting was published in the Nebraska City News Press and Syracuse Journal Democrat, announced on the local radio station KNCY and posted in 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 the Chairman of the Board Joy W Schroder.  Answering present at roll call were Commissioner Schroder, Commissioner Thummel and Commissioner Haverty. None absent.

 

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

 

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

 

Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel to audit and sign payroll claims and regular claims as presented, unless otherwise noted. Voting – Commissioners Haverty, aye; Schroder, aye; Thummel, aye. Motion carried.

 

Chairman Schroder informed the pubic 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 while present in the meeting room.

 

Dave Schmitz, Surveyor, furnished a plat map for A & N Rohlfs Subdivision located in the N ½ of the NE ¼ S23-T8-R10 two miles south of Unadilla.  Commissioner Thummel made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Haverty to authorize Chairman Schroder to sign the plat map for A & N Rohlfs Subdivision as requested by owners Arlin and Ninajean Rohlfs. Voting -- Commissioners Schroder, aye; Thummel, aye; Haverty, aye. Motion carried.

 

The resolution to amend zoning regulations has not yet been prepared.

 

Schmitz said he surveyed the property where the new County Road Shop will be built in the Village of Otoe. The survey plat showed what the County owns, what the County needs to acquire before the new shop is built and what portion the County is going to convey to the Farmer’s Co-op. The Co-op has agreed to swap land with the County.  A copy of the Survey Map was given to the County Attorney, Dave Partsch, to review; then prepare documents for the land transactions.

 

Glen Steffensmeier, Highway Superintendent, reported that the Safety Committee has recommended that the County require the road employees to wear steel toed shoes while working.   Steffensmeier suggested an allowance for the shoes.  Road and Bridge Foremen Wally Pohlman & Lynn Denniston said if some employees are required to wear them, then all road and bridge employees should be required to wear them.  Steffensmeier suggested that the County pay for the cost of the initial pair of shoes up to $100. After that, the County could issue $100 per year as a replacement allowance for new shoes.  If the shoes get damaged before the year is up, they must bring the shoes to the Highway Superintendent for his approval to get a new pair.  Commissioner Haverty said the County should pay for the shoes no matter what the price is.  Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel to require County road employees to wear steel toed shoes as a safety measure, effective January 1, 2008; the shoes will be purchased by the County and replaced on an as needed basis; to get the shoes replaced, employees must bring the shoes to the County Highway Superintendent for him to examine and approve the purchase of a new pair at the County’s expense.  Voting - Commissioners Thummel, aye; Haverty, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried.

 

Steffensmeier requested adding a jake brake to the 2008 Wise Mack truck that was ordered last month.  If it is not too late and it can be installed at the factory, it will cost $1,500.00. If the brake is installed later, it will cost about $2,000.00.  Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel to have a jake brake installed in the newly purchased truck.  Voting - Commissioners Haverty, aye; Schroder, aye; Thummel, aye. Motion carried.

 

Steffensmeier stated that County Road C by Woodland Hills would not be overlaid this year since it is getting too late in the season. He will schedule it for next spring.

 

As an update from the previous meeting, Steffensmeier reported that he priced a grass seeder at some other places, but didn’t find one that was less than the quoted price from Keim’s Implement in Syracuse. Therefore, he ordered the seeder from Keim’s.

 

Dave Partsch, County Attorney, introduced his newly appointed Deputy, Tim Noerlinger.

 

Other business matters were addressed.

 

County Assessor, Andrea Walters, presented one tax list correction for approval: Fern F Short had been approved for homestead exemption; therefore, there are no taxes due. Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel, to approve the tax list correction for Fern Short.  Voting - Commissioners Schroder, aye; Thummel, aye; Haverty, aye.

 

Jackie Smith, Treasurer, requested the addition of a pledged security with Arbor Bank, aka Otoe County Bank, Nebraska City, in the amount of $600,000.00.  Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel, to approve Resolution 2007-33, approving said transaction.  Voting - Commissioners Thummel, aye; Haverty, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel, to approve a tax refund to Deborah Fox in the amount of $276.36 as the result of a property card error. Voting - Commissioners Haverty aye; Schroder, aye; Thummel, aye. Motion carried.

 

Marv Pesek, General Assistance Administrator, was unable to attend today’s meeting; therefore, there were no applications or cases presented for discussion.

 

At 10:00 a.m. bids were publicly opened and read for the purchase of two new patrol vehicles. Sheriff Jim Gress, said the only vendor to submit bids was Larson Motors, but offered four options: 1) a 2008 Ford Crown Vic Police Interceptor - $23,486; 2) a 2008 Dodge Durango - $27,000; 3) a 2008 F150 Super Crew $26,400; 4) a 2008 Ford Expedition - $26,620. A trade-in allowance for a 2001 Crown Vic was listed as $500.  The Commissioners requested that he take the bids back to his office to look them over and return in about an hour with his recommendation. 

 

Vanessa Sherman, Juvenile Diversion Coordinator, gave her annual report of the Juvenile Diversion program.  Each Commissioner was furnished with a 17 page detailed report including the program philosophy, mission, objectives, services and outcomes. She stated that 83% of the people who have completed the program have not re-offended.  It is a 6 week program.

 

Pat Haverty, Executive Director for the River Country Economic Development Corporation, came before the Board to give his quarterly report. In July RCEDC hosted the Southeast Nebraska Regional Economic Development Summit. It is their goal to initiate a “move back” campaign to entice inventors and entrepreneurs to locate their businesses in Nebraska. RCEDC has assisted Diversified Foods and Seasonings Inc in setting up a new business at the former Arnie’s Bagelicious facility. A Lease Agreement was signed in September between the Diversified Foods (Lessee), the Bondholder, VFS Financing Inc and the County of Otoe (Lessor). Today, he presented a “Notice and Acknowledgement of Assignment” whereby the lease payments have been assigned to GE Government Finance. Commissioner Thummel made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Haverty to authorize the Chairman to sign the Notice and Acknowledgment of Assignment on behalf of the County. Voting - Schroeder, aye; Thummel, aye; Haverty aye. Motion carried.

 

Sheriff Jim Gress returned to the meeting with his recommendations for the purchase of two patrol vehicles: The 2008 Crown Vic in the amount of $23,486 and the 2008 Expedition for $26,620.  Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel, to purchase both vehicles without trading in the 2001 Crown Vic. Voting - Commissioners Thummel, aye; Haverty, aye; Schroder, aye. Motion carried. The old car will be kept for other county employees to drive while conducting county business.

 

Ray Umbarger, Mayor of Syracuse, and Alan Britton, City Councilman, came before the Board to request that the County enter into an Interlocal Agreement whereby the County’s Sheriff Department will provide law enforcement within the city limits of Syracuse. In consideration of the services rendered, the City shall pay the County $160,000 per year. The term of the agreement is three years, with the option to renegotiate by giving notice on or before April 1, 2010. County Attorney, Dave Partsch said he saw no problem with the sheriff’s office providing law enforcement.  He had a question regarding a clause in their bylaws requiring someone from the Department to attend their monthly Council meetings.  Mr. Umbarger said they would be welcome to attend, but not required to do so.  Commissioner Schroder voiced concerns about needing more law enforcement coverage on the west end of the county and he thought that this would help resolve that problem.  Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel, to sign and enter into an interlocal agreement with the City of Syracuse whereby the County agrees to provide law enforcement services within he corporate limits of Syracuse for an annual fee of $160,000.  Voting - Haverty, aye; Schroder, aye; Thummel, aye. Motion carried.

 

There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, and since all items on the agenda have been disposed of, Commissioner Haverty made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Thummel to declare this meeting adjourned, until the next one, which will be on October 23rd, 2007.

 

I, Susan Tomlyn, Administrative Assistant to the 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 the County Seal this 9th day of October 2007.

 

 

 

Susan Tomlyn

Administrative Assistant to the Otoe County Clerk