Banner County Nebraska

BANNER COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS  PROCEEDINGS

The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in statutory session in the Commissioners’ room of the Banner County Courthouse on January 6, 2015.  This is in accordance with the adjournment of the December 16, 2014 meeting and notice published in the Scottsbluff Star Herald and posting notices in Harrisburg, NE at the Post Office, the Banner County School, the clerk’s office, and on the front window of the Banner County Courthouse.  Proof of publication is on file in the office of the County Clerk and is made a part of the proceedings by reference.

The agenda for the meeting was kept current and was available during the regular business hours at the office of the County Clerk.  A copy was mailed to each board member on January 2, 2015.  The agenda was not amended less than 24 hours prior to the meeting.

The chairman called the meeting to order at the hour of 8:46 a.m. with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.  Present on roll call were Chairman Robert J Gifford; Vice Chairman John-Robert Faden; Member Robert Post; Tom Neal, Highway Superintendent; Sharon Sandberg, Assessor; Carl Gilbert, and Lori Hostetler, Clerk. Also present at various times: Jim Zimmerman, Attorney; Toney Krajewski, Assistant Highway Superintendent, and Stan McKnight, Sheriff.

The chairman stated that the open meetings law is posted on the meeting room wall and that paper copies are available on the table by the door.

The agenda was examined and Faden moved to approve. Second by Post. Roll call vote: Gifford, yes; Post, yes; Faden, yes.

The minutes of the previous meeting had been supplied to each board member. Post moved to approve the minutes for December 16, 2014 and that the actions therein be ratified:  Second by Faden.  Roll call vote:  Post, yes; Faden, yes.

CORRESPONDENCE

Invitations to receptions honoring retiring officials Mike Marker and Doug Teaford.

CLAIMS

The following claims were audited, and Faden moved that the claims be approved, and warrants ordered drawn on the respective funds. Second by Post. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Faden, yes.

GENERAL FUND

ROAD FUND

ITEMS OF BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD

Item #1 – Reorganization – Post made a motion to leave the positions the same as last year. Second by Faden.   Roll call vote: Faden, yes; Gifford, yes. Post, yes.

Item #2 – Review and approval of weed superintendent annual report – Tabled.
 
Item #3 – Appoint Officials to various offices- Post made a motion to appoint Tom Neal as Highway Superintendent; Toney Krajewski as Assistant Highway Superintendent, and Richard McGowan as Weed Superintendent. Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Gifford, yes; Post, yes; Faden, yes.
Item #4 – Appoint representatives to serve on various boards and committees - Gifford made a motion to appoint representatives for 2015 as follows:
County Safety Director - Tom Neal
Aging Office of Western Nebraska – Robert Post
Panhandle Mental Health Board - Robert Post
Region One Office of Human Development and Panhandle Developmental Disabilities Services, Inc. - Robert Gifford
Public Health District - Robert Gifford
Emergency Management Board - Robert Gifford
Safety Committee - John-Robert Faden
NIRMA Contact Person - Lori Hostetler
Personnel Policy Committee - Robert Post; Sharon Sandberg; Tom Neal; Jerry Soule, and Donna McGowan
Panhandle R C & D – John-Robert Faden

Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Faden, yes; Gifford, yes.

Item #5 – Designate official County newspaper - Post made a motion to designate the Star Herald as the official County newspaper. Second by Faden.  Roll call vote: Post, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #6 –Appoint a depository bank – Faden made a motion to adopt the resolution designating the Banner Capital Bank as the depository bank. Second by Post.  Roll call vote: Faden, yes; Gifford, yes; Post, yes.

Item #7 – Set indigent burial cost limit - Post made a motion to set indigent burial cost limit at negotiable up to $1500. Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Gifford, yes; Post, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #8 - Set interest rate on registered warrants - Faden made a motion to adopt the resolution to set the interest rate on registered warrants at .5%. Second by Post. Roll call vote: Faden, yes; Post, yes; Gifford, yes.

Item #9 - Set method of reasonable advance notice for meetings - Post made a motion to set the method of reasonable advance notice as publishing in the county newspaper and posting in three public places: the Banner County Courthouse, Banner County School, and Banner County Post Office. Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Gifford, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #10 - Authorize Treasurer to invest county funds - Faden made a motion to adopt the resolution authorizing the treasurer to invest county funds in the Banner Capital Bank. Second by Post. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Gifford, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #11 - Set meeting dates for 2015 - Post made a motion to set the meeting dates for 2015 as the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8:45 a.m. Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Gifford, yes; Post, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #12 - Set holidays to be observed in 2015 – Gifford made a motion to set the holidays to be observed in 2015 as:
New Year’s Day – January 1st
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – January 19th
Presidents’ Day – February 16th
Good Friday – April 3rd without pay (optional)
Arbor Day – April 24th
Memorial Day – May 25th
Independence Day – July 3rd
Labor Day – September 7th
Columbus Day – October 12th
Veterans’ Day – November 11th
Thanksgiving – November 26th & November 27th
Christmas – December 24th & December 25th
New Year’s Day of 2016 – January 1st

Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Gifford, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #13 – Appoint Jessica Stauffer to Extension Board – Post made a motion to appoint Jessica Stauffer to the Banner County Extension Board. Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Faden, yes; Gifford, yes.

Item #14 – Set machine hire rates – Post made a motion to set the machine hire rates as follows:

Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Gifford, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #15 – Set rates for gravel, hardpan/dirt, and mileage – Faden made a motion set the rates for gravel, hardpan/dirt, and mileage as follows:

Second by Post. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Gifford, yes; Faden, yes.

Item #16 – Discussion and possible action on health insurance – After discussion, Post made a motion that due to the failure of CoOportunity Insurance Company, Banner County will move to Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. A decision will be made on the specific plan at the next meeting. Second by Faden. Roll call vote: Post, yes; Faden, yes; Gifford, yes.

REPORTS

HIGHWAY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
Tom Neal, Highway Superintendent reported that they are keeping busy clearing roads.

COUNTY SURVEYOR
Carl Gilbert, Surveyor Elect reported that he is preparing to set the corner for the northeast corner of the county.

COUNTY ATTORNEY
Jim Zimmerman reported that there will be not be a jury trial for the two littering cases. The accused will have to pay court costs and the cost for the cleanup.

COUNTY TREASURER REPORT
Lori Hostetler, Clerk presented the pledged collateral report and a notification from the bank of securities that have been added.

COUNTY CLERK REPORT
Lori Hostetler, County Clerk reported that Megan has begun work on the county’s future website and will be contacting everyone. She reminded that the swearing-in ceremony will be on Thursday, the 8th at 8:30 a.m.

No other reports.

Post made a motion to adjourn the meeting of the Banner County Board of Commissioners at 10:28 a.m.  Second by Faden.  Roll call vote: Post, yes; Gifford, yes; Faden, yes. The next meeting will be held in regular session on January 20, 2015 or at the call of the clerk.  A full agenda of the matters to be considered at such date and time is kept continually current and is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Banner County Clerk in the Courthouse in Harrisburg.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
BANNER COUNTY, NEBRASKA