NOTICE OF MEETINGS
December 9, 2008
NOTICE
IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Otoe County Board of Commissioners will convene as the
Board of Equalization at 8:15 a.m. on December 9, 2008. The Otoe
County Board of Commissioners will convene in regular session at 8:30 A.M. on
December 9, 2008. Both meetings will be held in the
AGENDA FOR THE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION MEETING
8:15
a.m. – Open meeting, Roll Call, Accept Agenda
Jacqueline
Smith,
Motor vehicles
*****************************************************************************************************************************
AGENDA OF THE
REGULAR MEETING
meeting, Audit and Sign payroll and regular claims
Grant fund
a) Soft
Match Project C006631645 – Resolution and other required documents
b) Soft
Match Project C006622030 – Resolution and other required documents
c) Report
of closed bridges
d) Miscellaneous
10:00 a.m. – Open Bids
for Patrol Vehicles
10:15 a.m. – Roy
Schneider, Duff Home Administrator: Discussion and/or action RE: Updated
elevator system
10:30 a.m. – Region V
Representatives: Recognition of Services for Commissioner Schroder
Other business matters to address
when time allows:
Discussion
and/or action RE: Redrawing Commissioner District Boundary Lines
Discussion and/or action RE:
Specifications for Liability Insurance Bidding
Discussion and/or action RE: SENDD
Survey: Economic Stimulus Package/Public Works
Projects
Jackie Smith,
Dave Partsch,
Co Attorney: Discussion and/or action RE: Corrective Commissioners’ Deed
Miscellaneous Correspondence and
other matters that may come before the Board
Janene Bennett
The
Individuals requiring physical or sensory
accommodations, including interpreter service, Braille, large print or recorded
materials, please contact Janene Bennett,
December 9, 2008
The Otoe County Board of Commissioners convened in regular session at
8:30 a.m. on December 9, 2008 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 the
The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Schroder.
Answering present at roll call were Commissioner Schroder
and Commissioner Kreifels.
Due to the recall of Commissioner Haverty, (who
was the presiding Chairman) Commissioner Kreifels made a motion, seconded by
Commissioner Schroder to appoint Commissioner Schroder as Acting Chairman for the December meetings.
There being no further discussion, Commissioner Schroder
called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Schroder
and Kreifels. Nay - none. Motion
carried.
Chairman Schroder 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 Schroder made a motion, seconded
by Commissioner Kreifels to accept the agenda as posted. There being no
discussion, Chairman Schroder called for a vote.
Voting aye were Commissioners Kreifels and Schroder.
Nay - none. Motion carried.
Commissioner Schroder made a motion, seconded
by Commissioner Kreifels to accept the minutes from the previous meeting as
mailed to them as each member was furnished with a copy of same. There being no
discussion, Chairman Schroder called for a vote.
Voting aye were Commissioners Schroder and Kreifels.
Nay - none. Motion carried.
Commissioner Schroder made a motion, seconded
by Commissioner Kreifels to audit and sign payroll claims and regular claims unless
otherwise noted. There being no further discussion, Chairman Schroder called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners
Kreifels and Schroder. Nay - none. Motion carried.
Two claims were held out for questioning during the time allotted for road
issues.
Other business matters were addressed.
Jackie Smith,
The
Recently, SENDD (Southeast Nebraska Development District) notified
counties that the Federal Government is considering funding of Public Works Economic
Stimulus Projects. If Congress passes this legislation, counties need to be
prepared by having road projects “ready to go”. SENDD is requesting that each
county complete a 2009 Economic Stimulus Package Prospective Project Survey,
listing possible public works projects and identifying them according to
priority. Commissioner Schroder noted that there are
14 bridge projects that have been submitted as federal aid projects that would
qualify to receive stimulus funding. Commissioner Schroder
made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels to direct the County Highway
Superintendent to complete and submit the stimulus survey, listing all possible
public works projects. There being no further discussion, Commissioner Schroder called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners
Kreifels and Schroder, Nay – none. Motion carried.
The survey must be returned to SENDD by December 31, 2009.
Gregg Goebel,
Steffensmeier presented Resolutions and Certificates of Compliance for
two Soft Match projects that have been completed. Bridge Project #C006631645 involved
the removal of an old bridge west of H-54 and replacing it with metal culverts.
The total project cost was $27,765.37; 80% of that amount will be applied to
Soft Match Credit. Commissioner Schroder made a
motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels to adopt Resolution 2008-58
authorizing the Chairman and Highway Superintendent to sign a Certification of
Compliance for Bridge Project #C006631645. There being no further discussion,
Chairman Schroder called for a vote. Voting aye were
Commissioners Schroder and Kreifels. Nay – none.
Motion carried. Subsequently Commissioner Schroder
made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Kreifels to approve the Certification
of Compliance for Project #C006631645 allowing the County to receive Soft Match
Credit in the amount of $22,212.00. There being no further discussion, Chairman
Schroder called for a vote. Voting aye were Commissioners Kreifels and Schroder. Nay – none. Motion carried.
Bridge Project #C006622030 involved the removal of a bridge on
Steffensmeier said he would like to establish rates with local contractors
for various machine hire services, such as the use of a backhoe, motor grader,
skid loader, etc. After working with the FEMA agent this summer, he felt the
FEMA rates were much lower than the customary local rates, thus lessening the
amount the County will receive as reimbursement. He said establishing rates at
the beginning of each year will enable the County to charge FEMA projects out at
a higher rate resulting in more money for the County. He would like to have
rates established by March before the construction season begins.
Steffensmeier gave an updated bridge report:
1) In addition to the 23 bridges that were reported as “closed” at the
last meeting, he has closed Bridge #24535 1 mile west and south of
2) The footing of the south abutment of Bridge #23520 located 1 mile
west and 1 mile north of Otoe is undermined. The bridge has a 6 ton rating. He
did not close the bridge, but said it needs to be repaired or replaced since it
is located on a well traveled road.
3) He considers Bridge #13315 located south of I-32 and Bridge #32035 east
of J-32 to be unsafe, but he didn’t close them yet.
4) Bridge #02715 south of L & M on Road 26 is not as bad; it just
needs additional piling.
Steffensmeier asked the Board to help determine if any of these bridges
should be closed. He mentioned that an
electronic traffic counter can be purchased for about $400 to $500. Commissioner
Kreifels asked Steffensmeier to provide this type of information in writing – a
report that includes the bridge identification number, its location, a detail
of its condition/problem, what he proposes for a solution and a cost estimate
for its repair or replacement.
Commissioner Kreifels questioned Steffensmeier about a claim made payable
to Kreifels Conservation and Excavating regarding machine hire and labor for
three separate bridge projects. She asked that he identify the FEMA project
costs so that the Clerk’s office can code the claim accordingly. He said the
amount charged to the Douglas West and Unadilla Southeast projects are FEMA
reimbursable. Commissioner Schroder asked
Steffensmeier why he did not sign the Nebraska Truck and Equipment claim. He
replied that he did not know why the purchase was made or who authorized it.
Commissioner Kreifels said that she was contacted by Foreman Pohlman regarding an accident that occurred when a rock
truck driver caught his bumper on a post. She approved the purchase of a new
bumper because Steffensmeier was gone at the time the accident occurred. The insurance
company paid most of the cost, leaving the County a balance of $130.00.
At 10:00 a.m. bids were opened and publicly read for the purchase of two
new patrol vehicles. Vendors submitting bids were:
Vendor Description Base Amount Trade-in value
Kastens Ford 2009 Ford F150 Crew cab pickup $25,150 $6,000 for 2000 Chev
Pkup
Larson Motors 2009
Ford F150 Crew Cab pickup $25,629 $2500 for 2000 Chev pkup
$5000 for 2002 Chev pkup
Larson Motors
2009 Chev 1500 Crew Cab pickup
$29,849 $2500 for 2000 Chev
pkup
$5000
for 2000 Chev pkup
Larson Motors
2009 Dodge
$5000 for 2002 Chev
pkup
Sheriff Gress asked for time to review and
compare the bids; then he will return later with a recommendation.
At 10:12 a.m. Chairman Schroder called for short
recess.
Roy Schneider, Duff Nursing Home Administrator, came before the Board to
discuss the condition of the elevator currently being used at the nursing home.
The elevator was installed in the early 70’s. Since then, he has replaced the hydraulic
pump; but all other parts are original. He cannot get a maintenance contract
because it is too old. A new elevator would cost about $75,000. However, it
would take another $50,000 to bring the building up to code for a total of
$125,000. He was told they would have to operate without an elevator for at
least 6-8 weeks. Therefore, he preferred that the installation and construction
would take place in the summertime so that they could move residents from floor
to floor by using the outdoor ramp. He said this was an early budget request
for next fiscal year.
Schneider said that he had worked out a verbal agreement with former
Commissioner Haverty whereby the nursing home’s
maintenance man would perform grounds maintenance for the adjoining DHHS
building to include lawn care and snow removal. They agreed upon a fee of $200
per month year round. Commissioners Schroder and
Kreifels felt the fee was reasonable, however,
Dave Merrill, Region V Director, and several other Region V personnel
came today to present retiring Commissioner Schroder
with a tool bag (made by the clients) filled with useful household items.
Merrill said the gift was in appreciation for the time and service Commissioner
Schroder contributed to Region V over the years. He
served on the Executive Board for over a decade. Merrill said he not only attended
meetings, but was present at their social events as well. Linda Plager and Leon Schiermeyer also
expressed their appreciation for his support.
Dave Partsch,
The
Sheriff Gress returned to the meeting to make
a recommendation for purchasing two new patrol vehicles. Upon review of the
bids submitted, he recommended the purchase of two Ford pickups from Kastens Ford - One for $19,150 (which included a $6000
trade in value for a 2000 Chevrolet pickup) and the second one for $25,150
(price without a trade-in). The 2002
pickup could be transferred to the maintenance department for use by Mr.
Sedersten or any other county employee. Sedersten had asked the Board at a
previous meeting to consider keeping one of the Sheriff’s old pickups so that
he would have a vehicle for hauling equipment and other items. In the past, he
has used his personal pickup and charged the County mileage. He said the County
could sell the black Crown Vic next spring at the
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 Schroder declared this meeting adjourned at 10:55 a.m. The
next regular meeting will be held December 23, 2008.
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 9th day of December 2008.
Janene Bennett