County Board Proceedings

The Webster County Board of Commissioners met at 8:30 am on Tuesday, August 18th. The following Members were present for roll call: Jeff Ord, John Soucek, Roger Bohrer, Keith Buschow and Mary Delka. Motion was made by Bohrer, second by Buschow to approve the minutes of the August 4th, 2009 business meeting. All Members voted to approve the minutes. The Board reviewed a police contract with the City of Red Cloud. Motion was made by Buschow, second by Delka to approve of an Interlocal Agreement with the City of Red Cloud for the County Sheriff to provide police services at a city cost of $41,566.00 on the one-year agreement. All members voted in favor of the motion. On a non-agenda item, Robert Ligon of Inavale addressed the Board on the issue of two vehicles parked on the county street in Inavale. Sheriff Troy Schmitz met with the Board to review his budgets for the department and the jail. Clerk Knehans submitted information regarding personnel issues, complaints and possible litigation from a former county employee. Sheriff Schmitz and County Attorney McDole were present. At 10:35 am, motion was made by Buschow, second by Soucek to enter into executive session with Schmitz, McDole and Knehans. All Members voted in favor of the motion. At 11:10 am, the executive session concluded with a motion by Soucek, second by Buschow to return to open session. All Members voted for the motion and the regular meeting resumed with no action being taken from the executive session. Linda Grummert, Highway Superintendent, met with the Board. She discussed a recent incident involving a pedestrian falling off a bridge in Inavale. She reviewed a 2007 motorcycle accident on County Road T where a pipeline company had closed off an area of the road. Both incidents were reported to NIRMA. Grummert reviewed plans for tonnage signs to be placed on re-rated bridges. They held general discussion on roads, bridges, projects and bridge inspections. At 12:00 noon, Chairman Ord recessed the meeting for lunch. The business meeting resumed at 1:00 pm with all Members present. The Board worked on the 2009/2010 County Budget. Based on Officer requests, the budget has a tax requirement of 17% more than last year. Cuts were made to various funds, departments and reserves. Due to recent bridge closings and lower weight ratings on many bridges, no cuts could be made from the road/bridge fund. Due to the annual CPI, no pay raises would be given to any elected officials for the last half of 2009 and all of 2010. After all budget cuts were made today, the tax requirement was still considered to be too high, even though the anticipated tax levy may drop by two cents. Motion was made by Bohrer, second by Soucek to ask all department heads in the General Fund, Weed Fund and County Museum to attempt to lower their budget requests by five percent. There must be a minimum budget cut of two percent in each of the above named departments. Voting aye: Bohrer, Soucek, Delka and Ord. Voting nay: Buschow. The motion was approved. The following claims were approved for payment: Wages for 8 part-time and 36 salaried employees - $80,327.07 GENERAL FUND Amer Red Cross class $ 32.00, Ameritas Life Ins retiremt $ 3,890.38, Nebr DAS fees $ 149.25 B & L Service labor $ 236.25, Robert Beardslee maintnc $ 220.00, BlueCross BlueShld health $ 11,606.28, Blue Hill Leader publish $ 362.85, Brum’s Electric repair $ 292.40, Cash-Wa Distribut supply $ 160.96, Centec Cast Metal markers $ 600.74, Corporate Image supply $ 295.00, Co Assessors Assn dues $ 100.00, Discovercard repair $ 100.82, Social Security FICA $ 4,197.40, Election Systems supply $ 984.99, F & S Supply supply $ 231.07, Farmers Coop Assn fuel $ 1,108.33, Farmers Coop GW supply $ 698.94, First Concord fee $ 4.50, Fleet Services fuel $ 652.05, Fleetpride health $ 420.00, Great Plains Comm 18 phone $ 793.06, G.R. State Bank health $ 325.00, Randy Henning expense $ 33.94, Kenny’s Lumber repair $ 324.07, Lonnie, Knehans mileage $ 77.00, Lafayette Insur life $ 10.95, Maximus service $ 947.28, MB, Construction labor $ 360.00, Bryan S. McQuay counsel $ 440.15, Midland AAA funding $ 1,154.00, MIPS, Inc. supply $ 149.74, Quill Corp chair $ 110.93, Red Cloud Chief publish $ 384.25, Sam’s Club supply $ 110.73, Co Dental Fund premium $ 2,611.00, Share Corp supply $ 374.01, South Central PPD utility $ 24.80, Theobald Law Off counsel $ 1,235.00, US Postal Serv postage $ 1,000.00, W.C. Transportation handibus $ 1,156.58, Robert Willicott contract $ 700.00. ROAD FUND ACE/Eaton Metals culverts $ 6,313.64, Ameritas Life Ins retiremt $ 1,595.57, Anderson, Construct bridges $ 29,725.00, BlueCross BlueShld health $ 5,526.80, Blue Hill Leader publish $ 31.09, Country Corner fuel $ 156.04, Social Security FICA $ 1,803.95, Farmers Coop Assn fuel $ 5,851.13, Farmers Union Coop repair $ 5.14, Fleetpride repair $ 150.00, Great Plains Comm 3 phone $ 145.26, Island Supply/Weld supply $ 20.40, Kully Pipe/Steel bridges $ 2,353.96, Lang, Diesel repairs $ 262.52, Mike Mousel misc exp $ 85.00, Nebraska Machinery supply $ 27.01, Nebraska Tech/Tele long dist $ 33.74, Newman Traffc Sign signs $ 306.52, Quality Red D Mix concrete $ 1,068.00, R & M Disposal service $ 33.00, Road Builder Mach supply $ 641.79, Co, Dental Fund premium $ 874.00, South Central PPD utility $ 67.80, Speece-Lewis engineer $, 120.00, Univrsl Hydraulic repair $ 210.97, W.C. County Clerk title $ 10.00. VISITOR PROMOTION FUND Judy Coe dues $ 100.00, Danece Meyer tourism $ 250.00. COUNTY MEDICAL RELIEF Ameritas Life Ins retiremt $ 6.75, Social Security FICA $ 7.65, Health/Human Ser billing $ 354.00. NOXIOUS WEED FUND Ameritas Life Ins retiremt $ 51.56, BlueCross BlueShld health $ 552.68, Lynn Collison rental $ 200.00, Social Security FICA $ 58.44, Great Plains Comm phone $ 43.30, Co Dental Fund premium $ 31.00 . AMBULANCE FUND Bound Tree Med supply $ 115.05, Farmers Coop Assn fuel $ 116.11, Great Plains Comm phone $ 43.63, Linweld supply $ 141.25. Being no further business, Chairman Ord adjourned the meeting at 3:50 pm. The next regular business meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009. A current agenda and complete minutes are on file in the County Clerk’s Office. Dated this 18th day of August, 2009.