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 December 8, 2009, 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                                       December 8, 2009

 

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

                   meeting; Audit and Sign payroll claims; Audit and sign regular claims

 

8:35 a.m. – Janis Riege, Clerk of District Court: Discussion and/or action RE: Microfilmed files

 

8:45 a.m. – Safety Committee Report; Discussion and/or action RE: AED replacement

 

8:50 a.m. – Discussion and/or action regarding road and bridge matters:

1)       Douglas Shop Construction

2)       FEMA Projects

3)       Syracuse Rock Truck                 

4)      Miscellaneous

 

Discussion and/or action RE: Resolution to set elected official salaries for 2011 thru 2014

 

 

 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

 

 

Upon adjournment, Board Members will inspect the Courthouse and/or Road Shops

 

                                                                                                                        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.

 

December 8, 2009

 

The Otoe County Board of Commissioners convened in regular session at 8:30 a.m. on December 8, 2009 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 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 Kreifels 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 Lade 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.  

 

Commissioner Freshman    made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels    to audit and sign payroll claims. 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.

 

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 Kreifels, Freshman, Lade and Crook; 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.

 

Janis Riege, District Court Clerk, came before the board to discuss the storage of files in the basement storage room.  She said that after the files are microfilmed and put on discs, there is no reason to keep them.  She feels the files can be destroyed to save space.   The oldest ones, pre-territory, will be sent to the state historical society.  Commissioner Crook made a motion and seconded by Commissioner Lade to destroy records that have been microfilmed but not the records being sent to the state. There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote.   Voting aye were Commissioners Crook, Kreifels, Freshman, Lade and Nelsen.  Nay – none.  Motion carried.

 

Safety Committee report and discussion regarding Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) replacement:  Commissioner Lade said the old ones are obsolete and cannot be repaired.  He suggested they get estimates on new ones for the jail as soon as possible.  Gregg Goebel and Steve Lade will check on the possibility of getting grant money for the purchase. The cost to purchase a new AED would be $1,095.00 with a 7-year lifetime warranty plus batteries.   Dave Partsch, County Attorney, suggested checking on funding with the Nebraska City Community Foundation. Mr. Partsch said the N C Community Foundation was interested in replacing batteries and maintenance on some machines.  The cost of replacing batteries for 1 year is $199 and $399 for 2 years.

 

Gregg Goebel took a survey of county employees for a CPR/first aid class.  About 35% expressed interest in taking the class.

 

Commissioner Lade suggested canceling the roads department post office box and have all the mail sent to the Clerk’s box.  That would save the county $45 per year.

 

Jackie Smith, County Treasurer, requested the release of pledged securities with Arbor Bank, Nebraska City, in the aggregate amount of $2,388,973.87 and replacing them with four other securities in the aggregate amount of $2,465,000.00.  Commissioner Kreifels made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Freshman to adopt Resolution 2009-72 approving said transactions.  There being no further discussion, Chairman Nelsen called for a vote.  Voting aye were Commissioners Nelsen, Lade, Kreifels, Crook and Freshman.  Nay – none.  Motion carried.

 

Road and bridge matters: Commissioner Lade said they had lumber for the Douglas Shop, but due to the weather they would not be able to put it on now.  He suggested putting some gravel around the building so it can be used this winter.  Commissioner Freshman had two proposals for electrical work.  One proposal was from Schneider Electric & Refrigeration, Inc. in the amount of $3533 and one from Alan Wusk Electric for $4990.  Commissioner Freshman recommended using Schneider Electric.  Lynn Denniston suggested getting a port-a-potty for a few months until the shop is done.  The Syracuse rock truck has 600,000 miles on it and needs many repairs.  It was recommended to get an estimate on a new truck and carry the discussion over to the next meeting. It was noted that Jon Brinkman passed the RC class and is now certified.  (RC stands for Responsible Charge.)

 

There was a discussion regarding the resolution to set elected officials salaries.  Sheriff Jim Gress made comparisons to salaries of other law enforcement officers.   Jackie Smith said the treasurer’s office has increased responsibilities since title work was moved to their office.  Janis Riege stated that the District Court Clerk is paid less than other offices.  Jan Reed, Register of Deeds, said her salary has always been the lowest paid in the courthouse.  Commissioner Nelsen said the law states that salaries have to be equalized.  Commissioner Lade noted that salaries in Otoe County have been lower than the minimum recommended for county employees in similar sized counties for several years.  Commissioner Crook stated that they have tried to be completely objective about setting the salaries. Commissioner Kreifels added that all positions are important.  Commissioner Freshman said they are trying to get the elected officials to the salary levels they deserve.  Commissioner Lade made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Freshman to adopt Resolution 2009-71 setting the salaries of elected officials, their deputies and the budget making authority that includes the modifications discussed and approved by Board action above.  Voting – Commissioners Freshman, Crook, Nelsen, Lade and Kreifels, aye.  Nay – none.  Motion carried.  A copy of said resolution is attached and shall become a part of the official minutes.

 

Chairman Nelsen stated that the courthouse is closing at 2:00 pm today for a snow emergency and the courthouse will remain closed Wednesday, reopening at 8:00 am Thursday morning. 

 

At 9:25 a.m. Chairman Nelsen called for a 10 minute recess.  At 9:35 a.m. the meeting resumed with all members being duly noted as present.

 

Mark Mainelli has been working on the FEMA projects. He has sorted them by what needs to be done and color-coded the map accordingly.  Debris needs to be removed first. The NEMA people have been working with him to get the projects going.   Large removals of debris will be lumped together; then they will get contractors to bid on the removal.   Contractors want to work out the details of removal with the landowners and not have the county be in the middle.  Commissioner Lade knows someone with a portable chipper that could grind up some of the brush to get rid of it and he will get a price for that. Lynn Denniston explained the snow map and where they are sending the extra blades that they have on pickups for the snow removal.

    

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 10:05 am. The next regular meeting will be held on December 22, 2009.  

 

I, Susan Tomlyn, Administrative Assistant to the 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 8th day of December 2009.

 

 

 

 

Susan Tomlyn

Administrative Assistant to the County Clerk