The Burt County Board of Supervisors met May 14, 2014, pursuant to adjournment of their last meeting with the following members present: Clifford Morrow, Gerald Newill, David Schold, Perry Rogers, Matt Connealy, Greg Brummond and Gene Rollins.
The meeting opened at 9:00 A.M. upon motion by Rollins, seconded by Newill, all voting aye. Chairman Morrow informed the public that the Nebraska Open Meeting Act was posted on the wall.
Upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Connealy, the agenda was approved, all voting aye.
Visiting the Board were Peggy Smith, Mike Braniff, Joni Renshaw, Bob Pickell, Ralph Anderson and Abby Surber.
The County Clerk Report of Fees, the County Court Report of Fines, the District Court Fee Report and the Zoning Report for April were approved upon motion by Newill, seconded by Rollins, all voting aye.
The minutes of the last meeting were approved upon motion by Schold, seconded by Rogers, all voting aye.
Miscellaneous Receipts in the amount of $574,268.58 were approved upon motion by Schold, seconded by Rollins, all voting aye.
Highway Superintendent Peggy Smith opened bids for interest rates to finance the new motor graders. The following bids were presented:
Washington County Bank 3 years 2.29% 5 years 2.52%
First National Bank Northeast 3 years 2.50% 5 years 3.50%
Cat Financing 3 years 2.49%
Connealy moved to accept Washington County’s bid for 2.29% for 3 years. Newill seconded the motion, all voting aye.
Highway Superintendent Peggy Smith and Road Foreman Mike Braniff asked the Board if the road crew could go to their usual summer hours, which are 10-hour days Monday through Thursday. After discussing the pros and cons of the new work schedule, motion was made by Schold, seconded by Connealy, to allow the road crew to begin 10-hour days on May 19 continuing through November 1, 2014, with roll call vote as follows: Ayes – Schold, Connealy, Brummond and Morrow. Nays – Newill , Rogers and Rollins.
Smith reported that even though three people called in regard to purchasing the tool box and basket, she did not receive any bids. It will be put on Lee Valley’s next sale.
Proposal for asphalt patching by Western Engineering Co. in the amount of $43,885.00 on Pelican Point County Road GH, County Road K, and Oakland East and West was noted. Smith reported that they should be finished by the end of June. Smith also reported that Stabilt’s cost to fill cracks in county roads would run around $86,000.00.
Newill mentioned the safety concern that arises when corn is planted in the County’s right of way, and discussion followed.
Chairman Morrow signed the American Broadband contract that was approved at the April 29 Board Meeting.
Custodian Pete Ueding brought information to the Board concerning the new windows that he would like to see used to replace some of the existing windows in the Courthouse.
On motion by Rogers, seconded by Rollins, the Board voted to accept Fred Mytty’s proposal in the amount of $3,100.00 plus mileage to do the County’s budget for fiscal year 2014-2015, all voting aye.
Upon recommendation by Burt County Attorney Dan Smith, County Clerk Marge Shumake informed the Board that publishing costs would be increasing after she questioned the Plaindealer about charging nearly three times as much as the Oakland Independent and the Lyons Mirror-Sun to publish the Application for Early Voter’s Ballot. The Oakland Independent and the Lyons Mirror-Sun both charged $86.78 to publish the application, and the Plaindealer charged $248.00 to publish it. After a call from the Plaindealer, the Oakland Independent raised their rates on the sample ballots from $1,613.62 for both papers to $2,500.00 for both papers. The Plaindealer charged $1,021.00 to publish the sample ballots. The Oakland Independent now feels that their prices were too low and will be increasing for both papers.
Shumake informed the Board that there were 99 requests for ballots on May 8, and only 3 of the applications came from the papers. Since the Nebraska statute only requires that she publish in the legal paper, she will not be publishing this application in any paper other than the legal paper from now on. She will be reviewing all future ads to weigh the advantages of publishing some things in all 3 county newspapers against the cost.
Shumake asked the Board to consider implementing a new website for the County which would be much easier to use and would consequently be used by more offices. She would also be able to put more notices on the website as well as publishing in the legal paper. She brought a quote from MIPS for $450.00 to create the website and $55.00 a month to maintain it.
Upon motion by Rogers, seconded by Brummond, the Board approved hiring MIPS to create a new website for Burt County at an initial cost of $450.00 with a monthly maintenance fee of $55.00, all voting aye.
At 10:05 A.M. the Chairman opened the Board of Equalization hearing for a Permissive Exemption Application for the Burt County Museum. Museum representative Ralph Anderson, Jr. spoke, explaining why the Museum was asking for the exemption and that they intended to use the house on the property for storage. County Assessor Joni Renshaw recommended approval of the exemption application.
At 10:14 the Board went back into regular session. Connealy moved to approve the exemption and Rollins seconded the motion, all voting aye.
Renshaw commented on a letter from the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission, in which the Commission found that the levels of value of real property in Burt County for tax year 2014 satisfy the requirements of the Laws of the State of Nebraska.
County Sheriff Bob Pickell visited with the Board about the necessity of replacing the 911 system and the need to hire a consultant to assist in integrating all of the necessary components. Brummond moved to hire Stacen C. Gross as consultant with the new 911 system in our area at a cost of $1,500.00 to be taken out of the 911 Fund. Connealy seconded the motion, all voting aye.
Connealy reported on an insurance meeting that he had attended, and the Board discussed the alternatives to Burt County’s present health insurance. Upon motion by Connealy, seconded by Rollins, the Board decided to remain with the NACO plan through Blue Cross Blue Shield and to sign the 2014 NACO Coverage Election Form, all voting aye.
There being no further business to come before the Board at this time, the Board adjourned at 10:44 A.M. until 9:00 A.M. May 29, 2014.
ATTEST: MARJORIE R. SHUMAKE CLIFFORD L. MORROW, CHAIRMAN
BURT COUNTY CLERK BURT COUNTY BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS
These minutes are not part of the official record and are not yet approved and may be corrected. A copy of the approved official minutes is available to the public at the Clerk’s Office.
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