Meeting Minutes and Proceedings Statements

Present were Chairman Loren Paul, Commissioners Bruce Messersmith and James Krotz, Clerk Sindy Coburn and Treasurer Renee Thies.

Acting as the Board of Equalization (BOE), the Commissioners considered, and approved Correction Sheets presented by Assessor Tina Skinner regarding state required changes to the Homestead Exemptions of Frances Walton and Robert Kenning.
  Consultant Susan Lore joined the Assessor to report on new valuations being prepared for all county properties.  

Generations in Volunteer Efforts (GIVE) Director Jeannette Graber reported to the Board of Commissioners (BOC) on the recent GIVE Board meeting and presented a Position Description for use in the search for her successor as she plans to retire on May 1. Applications and Position Description are available from the County Clerk.

Treasurer Renee Thies informed the BOC that the copier and the fax machine in her office were obsolete and due for replacement. She requested that the equipment be declared “Surplus” by the BOC so that it could be removed by the office supply company. The BOC approved the request and declared the equipment surplus. Thies reported that the results of the recent tax-sale were very satisfactory for 85 of the parcels involved.

Road Superintendent Tom Kuester reported that one of the contractors who presented quotes for gravel hauling had been dropped from consideration and that the remaining two met the proposal requirements. The Commissioners voted to accept the lowest quote of 11.9 cents per ton/mile from Todd Sherburn Trucking. 
   Kuester reported that rising ground water levels in the Pleasant Point area, south and east of Gordon, were again threatening roads we have been struggling to save for more than a year. He also reported that a $44,000 FEMA disaster relief grant for a project in that area had been denied because the road had not been damaged, just submerged. There are a number of other, pending flood related FEMA grants for road damage about which Kuester is more or less optimistic.   
   Truck traffic on, and resulting damage to county roads is especially heavy this spring because so much crop could not be hauled at all last year. 
   Kuester informed the Board that the Road Department has two pieces of equipment so obsolete that he wants to sell them auction while they still have some trade value. They are; a 1990 Ford 9000 truck and 1979 John Deere 644B loader. The BOE declared the equipment “surplus” and authorized Kuester to sell the two items at auction. 

The BOC congratulated Weed Superintended for her recent honor as “Superintendent of the Year for Nebraska” with this resolution:
   Whereas The Nebraska Weed Control Association has awarded to Kristi Paul the honor of “Superintendent of the Year for the State of Nebraska for 2019”, the Sheridan County Board of Commissioners is pleased to extend to her their sincere congratulations and hereby enters upon the minutes of the Board their affirmation of the NWCA honor. Ms. Paul is now a three-time recipient of this honor and will soon be retiring after many years of service to Sheridan County and the State. The Commissioners will review applications for her successor on March 17. Applications and Position Descriptions are available from the County Clerk.  

Sheriff Brewer reported on two repair projects in the jail; resurfacing of the showers and the installation of a sump pump. The Sheriff also discussed with and asked the support of the BOE for a five-year pay-as-you-go replacement plan to replace the Departments seven Tasers. The current units are obsolete and the one-time cost to replace all of them could pose budget problems for his department. The Commissioners expressed their support for the program.

Building Superintendent Jeff Davis reported that demolition and re-construction of the steps and ramp at the south entrance of the courthouse is scheduled to begin next week.

Marie Nelson, 4-H Assistant for Sheridan County presented her regular report on the abundant activities of and growing participation in the 4-H program in the County. Citizens will find an impressive list of activities by following the link on the County webpage to the North Panhandle 4-H page.

Assessor Tina Skinner and Janelle Heuton of gWorks (by telephone) met with the BOC for a final review of the proposed gWorks project. The BOC authorized the contract which will engage the services of gWorks to remediate parcel layer discrepancies and land layer discrepancies between the County’s two database programs. The cost of the 3-year contract for services is $26,000/year for the first two years and $22,279 the third year; roughly the amount already budgeted for vacant staff position in the Assessors office that will now not be filled. The BOC approved the contract and authorized the Chairman to sign.

The BOC considered and approved requests from Rudy Stanko for the subdivision of two rural parcels of less than 10 acres each in S31, T33, R41.

The next scheduled meeting of the Commissioners will be Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 a.m.

Written by James Krotz
Posted by Jack Andersen

The Sheridan County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:15 A.M. in the Commissioners Office, Courthouse. Krotz and Paul present. Messersmith excused. Paul stated that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. 

Krotz made a motion to accept the agenda. Paul seconded the motion. All voted aye. 

Krotz made a motion to approve the minutes of 2-18-2020. Paul seconded the motion. All voted aye. 

The board reviewed a subdivision application request for Jeffrey and Kerry Butler on land in Section 29 Township 33 Range 41. Krotz made a motion to approve Resolution 2020-4 authorizing a subdivision of land for Butler. Paul seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

Road Superintendent Tom Kuester met with the board to open three quotes for gravel hauling. Charlie Younkin, Brad Younkin and Todd Sherburn were also present. Berg Trucking LLC-Edgemont 13.9 cents/ton mile; Stockmens Service & Supply-Rushville 1 5 cents/ton mile; Todd Sherburn Trucking-Rushville 11.9 cents/ton mile. Kuester informed the group that he anticipates 4 1/2 miles with an option to haul more. The board tabled a decision until March 10 when they have a full board. 
  Kuester informed the board that he visited with Hein Construction of Fairbury about filing the cracks in the asphalt on the Bean Road. They are done for this year but would be interested for next fall. The cost is .48 cents per foot at this time. Kuester will have to count the cracks to get a better estimate on costs. Kuester stated that maybe that area should consider forming a Road District. 

Deputy Everette Langford present the board a proposal for pest control from Bud’s Pest Control. We have had problems with Olson’s Pest Control not wanting to go into the jail. The board felt it was good idea to use a local company to do the job. 
   Jeff Davis was asked to get in touch with Olson’s to terminate their service. 

Davis informed the board that he will have to install a new heater in the Hay Springs shop soon. 

Janelle from G-works called in with an updated statement of work for cleaning up the discrepancies in parcel and land use for the Assessor’s Office. Assessor Skinner was present and agreed to the statement of services that has been laid out in the plan. The board will make a decision on the proposal on March 10.

Jeremy from MANNA visited with the board about IT progress.

Adjourn: 11:40 A.M.Attest:
Sindy L. Coburn, Clerk
Loren L. Paul, Chairman
Posted by Jack Andersen

The Sheridan County Board of Equalization met in regular session at 9 A.M. in the Commissioners Office, Courthouse. Krotz and Paul present. Messersmith excused. Paul stated that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. 

Krotz made a motion to accept the agenda and approve the minutes of 2-18-2020. Paul seconded the motion. All voted aye.

Adjourn: 9:10 A.M. 
Attest:Sindy L. Coburn, Clerk
Loren L. Paul, Chairman
Posted by Jack Andersen