WEBSTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

 The Webster County Board of Commissioners met at 8:30am on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 for a regular business meeting at the Courthouse in Red Cloud. The following Board Members were present for roll call: Dan Shipman (District One), Trevor Karr (District Two), TJ Vance (District Three), Keith Buschow (District Four) and Gary Ratzlaff (District Five). The Board stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Chairman Buschow gave notice of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act Laws. Motion was made by Vance, seconded by Ratzlaff to approve the minutes of the March 3rd, 2020 meeting. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining. None. Motion carried. Motion was made by Shipman, seconded by Vance to pay all claims and payroll. Voting in Favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent: None. Abstaining: Ratzlaff. Motion carried. Chairman Keith Buschow reminded the Board of the Electronic Recycling Collection on April 15th from 8:00am to noon at in Blue Hill, Nebraska. At 8:35am, Paul Stoner met with the Board on Roads. He presented a Contract for payment due from Van Kirk for work already done on a Box Culvert they are working on for Chairman Buschow to sign. This claim will be submitted by the Road Department at a later time. Roads continue to be repaired when weather permits. The rain and snow continue to play havac with this ongoing process. Paul informed the Board he has ordered a lot of gravel to be placed all over the County. Paul also informed the Board they are continuing to deal with FEMA but feel they are making some progress on this matter for reimbursement costs to the County. At 9:00am, (not on the agenda) Ron Brumbaugh informed the Board he will probably be doing the floors at the Courthouse since there is a possibility the school will be closed and has ordered supplies for this. The Board approved. At 9:05am, Treasurer Knehans and Clerk Petsch presented Resolution 10-2020 for the Board to approve of transferring $30,000.00 from the General Fund to the Noxious Weed Fund. This being the last transfer of this fiscal year. Motion was made by Ratzlaff, seconded by Karr to approve of this transfer. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Voting no, absent or abstaining: None. Motion carried. Resolution 10-2020 was approved. Clerk Petsch presented a quote from Brad Purcell of Superior Fire Extinguisher Co. to check our Fire Extinguishers periodically and install if need new one on a regular basis. This was previously done by Leo Zadina and Brad has taken over his business. The Board approved of his Bid Proposal/Contract. Motion was made by Vance, seconded by Shipman to go ahead with Mr. Purcell taking over this job for the Courthouse. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Motion carried. Commissioner Ratzlaff informed the Board Bob Schulz will continue to do the windows wood repairing. At 9:20am, Treasurer Knehans met with the Board on Public Tax Sale Closing. She presented a Report for them to go over. There was $149,628.44 collected with taxes and fees with all taxes sold. Webster County has no delinquent taxes at this time. At 9:30am, Gene Horne met with the Board on going to a training in Omaha, Nebraska. He and Marlys Schmidt will be attending this 4 day training on new regulations on EMT/Ambulance protocol for rural communities as well as cities. The registration fee, etc is being paid by the Entity holding the training but lodging is not included in this. Gene asked the Board for approval to pay lodging/mileage fee for Marlys and him to attend. The Board approved of this and this expense will be taken out of the Ambulance Fund. He also discussed with the Board that the back-up ambulance will only be used for transport of Coronavirus patients if needed. They may also do ambulance transports for Guide Rock during this time of crisis. The Board approved of this as well. At 9:45am, Assessor Krueger met with the Board on a Tax Correction and Exemption Application. Motion was made by Shipman, seconded by Karr to go into Board of Equalization. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Motion carried. Assessor Krueger presented a Tax Correction for $199.80 due to the County from a taxpayer. Motion was made by Shipman, seconded by Vance to accept the Tax Correction. All members voted in favor. Motion carried. Sonja presented the Exemption Application discussed at previous meeting on a Dog Business in Cowles, Nebraska. Motion was made by Ratzlaff, seconded by Vance to approve of this exempt application. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance and Shipman. Voting no: Karr. Motion carried. Motion was made by Ratzlaff, seconded by Shipman to go out of Board of Equalization. Voting in favor: Buschow, Ratzlaff, Vance, Karr and Shipman. Motion carried. HVAC System is still being worked on. A couple of issues need to be taken care of before this project is completed. The sprinklers will be fixed when weather permits. At 10:00am, Attorney Sara Bockstadter met with the Board on the Autopsy Budget and the Windstream Damage Claim from CMR. Sara had sent this to the State of Nebraska that it was not sufficient for any action to be taken by Webster County at this time. Attorney Sara advised the Board not to do anything now. She advised Clerk Petsch to file this with NIRMA and go from there. Deputy Abbey Harig is taking care of this matter. At 10:45am, Attorney Sara discussed with the Board and several employees in the Courthouse about the Coronavirus issue. The Courthouse will remain open to the public for County Court and District Court (by appointment only). However, the Officials’ Offices will be closed to public traffic, but can do business by mail or phone. Public can call or mail in documents to be filed. The Board will have a Special Meeting and/or phone conference on March 31st to re-assess this situation. Claims totaling $287,564.70 and payroll totaling $139,462.21 are listed below: GENERAL: Ameritas Life Insurance Corp (Retire)-$6472.80; Black Hills Energy (Utility)-$85.04; Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Health/Life)-$17,705.93; Blue Hill Leader (Publish)-$810.40; Carmichael Construction, LLC (Contract)-$17,585.00; CEI Security (Repairs)-$5811.00; Central Nebr Cremation/Mortuary (Fees)-$1100.00; COMDATA Universal MasterCard (Fuel)- $83.33;Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)-$1629.85; DAS State Accounting/Central Finance (Fees)-$225.52; S.S. (Fica)-$7245.04; Eakes Office Solutions (Supply)-$140.53; First Concord Benefits Group (Fees)-$12.50; First Concord Benefits Group (Fees)-$186.0; Glenwood (Fee)-$10.00; Hometown Market (Supply)-$118.31; J&A Auto Supply (Supply)-$13.85; Kenny’s Lumber & Home Center (Supply)-$133.86; Madison National Life Ins Co, Inc (Health/Life)-$34.34; Midland Area Agency on Aging (Handibus)-$1271.35; Mips Inc (Support)-$2248.33; NE Assn of County Treasurers (Fee)-$100.00; NEB Instit of Forensic Sciences (Fees)-$4000.00; Nebraska Tech & Telecom, Inc (Phone)-$32.22; Pierce Electronics (Repairs)-$180.00; Sam’s Club (Supply)-$100.85; Self-Insured Dental Fund (Premiums)-$2954.00; Skalka & Baack Law Firm (Counsel)-$1126.45; Superior Publishing Company Inc (Supply)-$555.00; Theobald Law Office (Counsel)-$3276.40; Verizon Wireless (Phones)-$240.06; Webster Co Clerk District Court (Fee)-$207.00; Webster County Sheriff’s Dept (Fees)-$58.77; Webster County Treasurer (Transfer)-$30,000.00. ROAD/BRIDGE FUND: ACE/Eaton Metals (Culverts)- $5641.60; Ameritas Life Insurance Corp (Retire)-$2587.04; Black Hills Energy (Utility)-$119.09; Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Health/Life)- $9092.80; C&D Service Center (Repairs)-$261.28; CENCON of Kansas Utility Contractors (Gravel)-$826.76; Century Lumber Center (Supply)-$12.60; Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)-$1885.32; Country Corner (Fuel)-$319.35; S.S. (Fica)-$2959.18; First Concord Benefits Group (Fee)-$10.00; Glenwood Telecommunications (Phones)-$159.34; Village of Guide Rock (Utility)-$79.40; J&A Auto Supply (Repairs)-$224.92; Jim’s OK Tires (Repairs)-$207.00; LCL Truck Equipment, Inc (Repairs)-$49.00; Madison National Life Ins Co, Inc (Life/Health)-$6.15; Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc (Rental)-$2925.02; Mips, Inc (Support)-$108.98; Newman Signs, Inc (Signs)-$3316.12; Nebraska Machinery Company (Repairs)-$1170.47; Power Plan, Dept 77871 (Repairs)-$953.44; Self-Insured Dental Fund (Premiums)- $995.00; C. Ardell Talkington (Prior Service)-$99.00; Timm’s Service (Fuel)-$2979.45. MODERN RECORDS FUND: Mips, Inc (Support)- $112.00. SELF-INSURED DENTAL FUND: Sean M Daly, D.D.S. (Dental)-$1632.40; McCann-Carpenter Dental LLC (Dental)-$542.40; Webster County Dental Clinic (Dental)-$1935.60. NOXIOUS WEED FUND: Ameritas Life Insurance Corp (Retire)-$277.15; Cooperative Producers, Inc (Fuel)-$52.40; S.S. (Fica)-$314.10; Brian Pedersen (Expense)-$41.72. AMBULANCE FUND: Black Hills Energy (Utility)- $293.65; Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc (Rental)-$57.03; Platte Valley Comm of Hastings (Repairs)-$102.00. Total Payroll - $139,462.21. SALARIES FOR EMPLOYEES : (Monthly) 4 County Commissioners: $1854.00; 1 County Commissioner: $1255.00; 3 County Officials: $4,540.17; 1 County Official: $4,892.50; 1 County Official: $5,359.81; 1 Official Jailer: $400.00; 1 Chief Deputy Sheriff: $3,700.00; 4 Deputy Sheriffs: $3,450.00; 3 Deputy County Officials: $3,184.42; 5 County Official Clerks: $2,947.11; 1 Office Clerk: $2.329.18; 1 Chief Jailer: $3,150.00; 2 Dispatchers: $2,950.00; 1 Dispatcher: $2,530.00; 1 Dispatcher: $2,750.00; 1 Vet Ser Officer: $1,194.50; 1 Emergency Manager: $700.00; 1 Highway Supt Manager: $4,166.00; 5 Road Operators: $3,076.67; 1 Road Operators: $3,033.00; 3 Road Operators: $3,120.00; 1 Road Operator: $3,250.00; 1 Road Office Manager: $3,033.00; 1 Office Deputy: $18.37 an hour; 1 Office Clerk: $16.80 an hour; 1 Noxious Weed Supt: $2,998.67. Being no further business, Chairman Buschow adjourned the meeting at 12:15pm. The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 7th, 2020 at 8:30am. A current agenda and complete minutes are on file at the County Clerk’s Office and at www.co.webster.ne.us. Dated this 17th day of March, 2020 Webster County Board of Commissioners Attest: Louise Petsch Webster County Clerk P.S. Ron Sunday filed with Clerk Petsch an Emergency Management Notification on the Coronavirus Issue to be signed by the Board which was not on the agenda but Chairman Buschow and Clerk Petsch signed it at the end of the meeting and dated it March 17, 2020 and will keep it on file