Board of Commissioners Meeting

**This is a condensed version of the Banner County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes. These minutes are not the official/approved version. A draft/unapproved copy of the Banner County Board of Commissioner meeting minutes is available for public viewing 10 days post meeting date at the Banner County Clerk’s office. For a complete and/or approved version of the Banner County Board of Commissioner meeting minutes, please contact Katie West, Banner County Clerk, during regular business hours.**

Commissioners Proceedings

The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 8:45 a.m. in the courtroom of the Banner County Courthouse.

Notice of the meeting was published in the Western Nebraska Observer. A copy of proof of publication is on file in the office of the Banner County Clerk. Meeting notices posted in Harrisburg, Nebraska at: Post Office, Banner County School, and the Banner County Courthouse.

The agenda for the meeting was kept current and was available during the regular business hours at the office of the Banner County Clerk.  A copy was emailed to each board member on Monday, April 1, 2024.

1. Chairperson Darnall called meeting called to order at 8:45 a.m.
2. Clerk West took roll call, showing all Board members present.
3. Chairperson Darnall announced a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the back of the courtroom by the entrance.
4. Lease led prayer.
5. Pledge of Allegiance was said.
6. Consent Agenda:
   • Approval of Agenda: Motion by Lease to approve agenda. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Adopt March 22,2024 Special Meeting Minutes: Motion by Anderson to adopt March 22, 2024 special meeting minutes. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Correspondence: None
   • Claims: Motion by Anderson to approve claims. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes.
     • General: Bytes $2,204.00 - internet security; Election Systems & Software $826.25 - ballots; Hometown Leasing $138.64 - copier; Home Depot $163.69 - shop bathroom repairs; Jean Bauer $150.00 - training; Menards $130.18 - shop bathroom repairs; Multi-County Information and Programming Services (MIPS) $1,628.66 - data processing; Column Software $161.31 - election advertising; Zultys $636.60 - telephone; Vision Service Plan $209.02 - vision insurance; Colonial Life $205.06 - dental insurance; Banner Capital Bank $4,131.70 - health savings accounts; Argus Dental $218.84 - dental insurance; Aflac $364.51 - benefits; Aptive $11,153.69 - health insurance.
     • Sheriff: A T & T $182.92 - cell phones; Scottsbluff Screen Printing $128.00 - uniforms; US Bank $348.04 - supplies, meals, and fuel.
     • Road: A T & T $46.39 - cell phone; Butler $225.71 - parts; Contractor Materials $154.30 - repairs; Motor Fuels Division $18.00 - quarterly fuel tax; Power Plan $21,319.86 - parts and labor; US Bank $22.00 - subscriptions; Vision Service Plan $123.12 - vision insurance; Colonial Life $84.85 - dental insurance; Banner Capital Bank $1,875.02 - health savings accounts; Aflac $542.99 - benefits; First Concord $15.00 - health reimbursement arrangements; Aptive $6,920.66 - health.
7. Public Comments: Daniel Taggert, Groundskeeper, discussed with Board about removing rocks, dead trees/bushes and planting new grass, trees, and replacing rocks with mulch. Natale mentioned NRD (Natural Resources District) has given county free trees in the past. Lease mentioned the building and grounds committee could help with planning this. Darnall and Anderson mentioned considering the budget. Darnall asked Taggert to get quotes together and present to the board.
8. Reports:
   • Highway Department: Jim Milner reported crews are graveling and filling flaws on roads 18 and 28. Crews will be starting to clean bridges.
   • Weed Department: Weed Superintendent Grubbs reported he just returned from training in Kearney. Grubbs received the year - end report from the State. Banner County received a passing score. Chairperson signed acknowledging the report was presented to the Board for review. Grubbs discussed last year spraying three hundred plus acres last year with an airplane, paid for with a grant from the State through the PRIDE (Panhandle Research Integration for Discovery Education) program. This total was just under $10,000.00. Grubbs mentioned if Banner County is going to force control landowners for noxious weeds this year, there would need to be money in the budget to carry the expenses until expenses are paid by the landowner.
   • Sheriff: Sheriff Hopkins reported fifty-five contacts, forty-five summons, ten warnings, and one felony arrest for March. Working on end of quarter numbers, as far as traffic for the quarter two hundred fifty-nine contacts, two hundred thirty-five citations, twenty-four warnings, and logged fifteen calls for service. Hopkins reported construction has started again on highway 88 east yesterday. Construction is resurfacing the bridges, speed limits are reduced and there are two stop lights on the bridges, which are single lane.
   • County Attorney: Kovarik reported county court tomorrow. Working on background information on the auto guards, more information by May. Found copies of past contracts, lastest resolution, etc. regarding the auto guards.
   • County Treasurer: Natale reported attending the District NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) meeting in Bridgeport. Working on get ACH (Automatic Clearing House) set up for the County. Natale is hoping to have the ACH available for disbursements, which will result in less checks to write. Natale is starting to collecting taxes for first half of 2023.
   • County Clerk: West reported primary election May 14, 2024. By State law, all voters will be required to have a photo identification to vote. West has started getting deeds for the Corps of Engineers for easements. West reported working on balancing, closed out year-end, reports may not have accurate numbers due to not being balanced. West is working with MIPS (Multi-County Information and Planning Services) to correct this.
   • County Assessor: Krakow reported abstracts were submitted on time. Krakow is required to submit comments to the state liaison for the Reports and Opinions. State liaison informed Krakow that the State is suggesting an increase. Process is the State makes a recommendation, the Reports and Opinions is published. Krakow will know what percentage the State is suggesting either on April 5th or 7th. It then goes to TERC (Tax Equalization and Review Commission) for a final decision. The Banner County hearing is April 22, 2024 in Lincoln. Krakow will get a ZOOM invite for this hearing. State liaison will be present at the hearing, Sara (Property Tax Administrator) will do the majority of the talking. If TERC has any questions for Krakow, it will go to a show cause hearing on a later date. TERC’s decision will be final. Krakow reported the last tax increase to residential properties was in 2020.
   • County Surveyor: Carl Gilbert absent. Anderson reported talking to Gilbert, and he will be attending the next Commissioner meeting.
   • Commissioners:
     • Don Lease: Lease stated he went to traffic incident management training. No committee meetings were held.
     • Robin Darnall: Darnall stated she attended the NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) Panhandle District meeting in Bridgeport, as did Lease and Anderson. Discussions with other county Commissioners was beneficial.
     • Laif Anderson: Anderson reported having a conflict with both the Region I Behavioral Health and Office of Aging meetings this month.
9. Items of Business Before the Board:
   • Murphy Equipment Presentation: Travis Fix presented the Board with quotes for maintainers for the County. Quotes included lease agreements, purchasing agreements, and repairing current equipment. Fix explained a five-year lease agreement option, which included warranties and buy back plan. Fix also discussed rental options. Fix also discussed a re-life option, current machine repair and upgrade.
   • Exit Interviews: Commissioners discussed implementing exit interviews for employees. This would be optional for employees exiting Banner County employment. Darnall created an exit interview form for the road and weed employees. Darnall will send a copy to Clerk West to implement in the future.
   • Budget: Darnall would like to have a budget workshop to get a start on the budget. Commissioners will meet May 8, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for a budget workshop at the Courthouse.
   • Groundskeeper Position Wages: Kovarik stated that minimum wage is $12.00/hr as of January 1, 2024. Previous wages set by the Board for groundskeeper, Daniel Taggert are not sufficient. Motion by Lease to hire Daniel Taggert as groundskeeper at $12.00/hr, capped at 45 hours/mth. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Approval and Authorization of Public Service Complaint: Lease presented a formal complaint to the State Public Service Commission for unreliable internet service to the Courthouse. Clerk West mentioned talking to Candace Meredith at NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials). Candace said the Board can call her and be placed on a list for Broadband. Motion by Anderson to authorize Chairperson to sign and send complaint to State Public Service Commission. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Road Department: Anderson mentioned, with Jim Milner’s resignation, the County will not have a Road Foreman after April 12, 2024. Anderson recommended appointing an interim Road Foreman at the meeting on April 16, 2024. With Pat Parson’s resignation as Road Superintendent and Jim MIlner’s Road Foreman resignation, authority falls to Shop Foreman, Tim Grubbs. Discussion on road department positions. Grubbs and Milner mentioned there are no major projects active at this time. Discussion on one year report. Darnall will prepare the one year report.
10. Adjournment: Motion by Anderson to adjourn at 10:34 a.m. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.

The next regular meeting will be held April 16, 2024 at 4:45 p.m. or at the call of the Clerk. An 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, Nebraska.