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 special session on Tuesday, June 25, 2024 at 4:45 p.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, June 24, 2024.

1. Chairperson Darnall called meeting called to order at 4:49 p.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 Anderson to approve agenda, moving claims to after “Items of Business Before the Board”. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Adopt June 4, 2024 Minutes: Motion by Lease to adopt June 4, 2024 minutes as presented. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall no; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Correspondence: None.
   • Claims: Moved to after “Items of Business”.
7. Public Comments: None.
8. Items of Business Before the Board:
   • Aptive Healthcare: Nick Lease with Next Gen Insurance reviewed Banner County insurance policy. Nick Lease reviewed insurance expense and changes from the past year. Based on Banner County’s performance, rates increased. Nick Lease presented the Board with census changes to the insurance policy and proposed rates for 2024 - 2025. Nick Lease discussed with Board the benefits of moving Health Savings Account benefits to all Health Retirement Accounts. Currently Banner County employees have $6000 deductible max $7000 out of pocket for individuals. BC currently contributes $500 per employee into Health Savings Accounts (HSA). Employees are left with $4500 out of pocket expense, which employees are responsible for. The HSA is costing BC $65,000/year based on current census and structure of enrollment. Moving HSA to HRA will benefit the employees by paying $3500 towards a single deductible, saving the employee $1000. Discussion on quality healthcare and long term strategy. Nick Lease discussed the importance of compliance for Banner County. Nick Lease will meet with all county employees and officials on August 21, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. to answer questions and hear opinions on moving from HSA accounts to HRA accounts.
   • Nebraska Machinery: Tom Thompson presented the Board with options from Nebraska Machinery for new maintainer, rebuilt maintainer, and renting/leasing maintainer. Discussion on service contracts and warranties. Jay Dove and Tim Grubbs with BC Road Dept. discussed routine maintenance and newer computerized machines vs. older more basic machines, maintenance, and price differences. Motion by Anderson to rent a used 12M3 CAT machine for 30 days at $8,000 from Nebraska Machinery. Second by Lease. Further discussion to advertise for bids on a used maintainer that would meet the needs of Banner County. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Building Maintenance and Water Truck: West asked about Jim Milner providing maintenance work in the Courthouse. West also inquired about utilizing Milner to operate a water truck in fire emergency situations. Milner commented he is willing to be available to operate a water truck to assist in emergency fire situations. County employees may operate county vehicles. Discussion on CDL licensed employees being included in drug testing pool. Grubbs will investigate including Milner in the CDL license and drug testing pool. Anderson will check with NIRMA (Nebraska Intergovernmental Resource Management Association). Motion by Darnall to hire Jim Milner at $23/hour for Courthouse maintenance and repairs as needed. Discussion on thirty hour maximum for hourly employees. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Status Courthouse Glass Removal: West reported glass has been re - installed since June 14, 2024. Darnall asked about quotes? Lease reported the quote from Thompson Glass was approximately $10,000. Natale reported glass installation was initially approximately $6,000. Lease reported the glass currently installed cannot be cut or altered. Kovarik recommended getting informal bids. Board commented they would like to accommodate to Courthouse employees. Discussion on placing film on glass and/or windows to reduce glare and moving Treasurer glass back to. Board examined glass currently installed. No action taken.
   • Annual USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Wildlife Report: Board reviewed contract from USDA Wildlife. Discussion on service and BC tax payer utilization of service. Anderson reported cost for BC is approximately $30/animal for extermination in BC. Motion by Anderson to not approve the contract to USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Wildlife Aphis Services for $10,468.38/year. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Building and Grounds Discussion: No discussion. No action.
   • Road Department Discussion: Anderson would like this topic on agenda in future. Anderson suggested advertising for bids for road work, maintenance, and/or equipment rent on BC roads. Anderson will prep and place advertisement for this service. West inquired about accurate wages for road department employees. Darnall suggested researching back to when BC Commissioners set the road department wages. Darnall will research Commissioner minutes and find when road department wages were set by Commissioners. Discussion on bike race this weekend in BC.
   • Exhaust Fan Shop: Tim Grubbs reported company hired to install exhaust fan in shop will reimburse BC, as no work towards exhaust fan has been done. Motion by Anderson to re - advertise for informal bids on a shop fan. Second by Lease. Grubbs will work on ordering a shop fan. Anderson withdraws motion.
   • Ambulance Fee Schedule: Tim Grubbs presented the Billing Fee Schedule from Valley Ambulance for BC Ambulance. Discussion. Billing schedule does not affect taxpayers. This schedule sets the rates charged to Medicaid, insurance companies, and individuals. Motion by Anderson to approve Billing Fee Schedule from Valley Ambulance, authorizing Chairperson to sign. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Change July 16, 2024 Meeting Date: West stated there is tentatively a jury trial set on the same date as regular Commissioner meeting date of July 16, 2024. Tuesday, July 16, 2024 meeting date will be changed to Tuesday, July 23, 2024 at 4:45 p.m.
   • Banner County Public School Foundation: BC School is requesting $100 support for their school calendar. No action.
   • Audit (Dana Cole): West explained Kevin Sylvester with Dana Cole Auditors, asked BC to commit to an additional three or five year contract. Motion by Anderson to extend the contract with Dana Cole Auditor from one year (2024 - $18,000) to a five year contract increasing $500/year until 2028 ($20,000). Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
   • Update on Balancing: West presented a letter from Josi Morgan, who has been assisting BC Clerk’s office in balancing the county to the bank statements. Morgan will assist in moving BC forward in a positive direction once all the errors are corrected. West is planning to be balanced by the start of the new fiscal year and begin the new fiscal year on the right track. Lease quoted a portion of Morgan’s letter, “To be clear, there is no misappropriation of funds and all funds are accounted for. I have discovered several issues that will need further (later) corrections, including errors on federal and sate tax withholding reports, some of which go back several years. We will need to confirm the taxes due and payments made for those taxes before this process is complete in fact, several of the payments made in this time frame were from 2022 and prior years.” Complete letter from Josi Morgan can be found here.
   • Claims: Motion by Lease to pay claims, excluding claim #02406106 to Level 3 Communications $462.89 (credit balance). Second by Anderson. Roll call vote; Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
     • General: Amazon $125.91 - office supplies; Banner County Court $34.00 - county court costs; Bytes $2,253.00 - technology services; Crowne Plaza $839.70 - lodging; Eakes $201.17 - office supplies; Ellison, Kovarik, & Turman Law Firm $2,173.66 - attorney fees; Election Systems & Software $3,303.23 - election; High West Energy $485.95 - lights; Ideal Linen $126.64 - Janitorial Supplies; Integrated Pest Management Service $300.00 - pest control; Scottsbluff ROD $150.00 - training; Madelung Law $140.00 - county court fees; Menards $166.91 - building supplies; Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) $500.00 - conference fees; Kathy Natale $507.19 - mileage; Nextoner $90.00 - office supplies; Nebraska Intergovernmental Resource Management Association (NIRMA) $11,000.00 - county insurance; Nossaman Petitt Law $412.39 - county court costs; Personnel Concepts $633.76 - office supplies; Quadient $66.08 - postage; Ramada $321.00 - lodging; Scottsbluff Detention $2,790.00 - prisoner boarding; Scottsbluff Treasurer $50.00 - postage; US Bank $1,018.20 - office supplies; Katie West $188.27 - mileage; Westco $759.27 - fuel; Western Nebraska Observer $794.39 - advertising; Josi Morgan $2,500.00 - labor; Wiznerd $2,500.00 - website; Ace Hardware $21.58 - repair parts; Nebraska Weed Control Association $110.00 - certification tags; Sandberg Implement $306.46 - ramps; Westco $725.10 - parts; Western Nebraska Seed & Chemical $542.80 - chemical.
     • Sheriff: Department Administrative Services $22.00 - data processing; Kimball Auto Parts $143.82 - grease and oil; Midwest Radar $82.00 - certificate; Scottsbluff Communications $2,400.00 dispatch; US Bank $158.25 - office supplies; Westco $921.19 - fuel.
     • Roads: AT & T $46.35 - cell phone; Century Link $2.73 - telephone; Contractor Materials $295.00 - shop supplies; Frank Parts $8.61 - shop tools; High West Energy $297.00 - lights; Ideal Facility Solutions $462.99 - janitorial supplies; Kimball Auto Parts $953.76 - shop/repair parts; Legacy Coop $793.38 - grease and oil; Newman Signs $1,062.20 - sign posts; Pomps Tire $387.50 - tires; US Bank $22.00 - subscriptions; Verizon $233.10 - tracker; Vistabeam $87.95 - internet; Westco $23,508.00 - fuel; Nebraska Intergovernmental Resource Management Association (NIRMA) $28,508.00 - county insurance; Western Nebraska Observer $130.00 - advertisement.
9. Adjournment: Motion by Anderson to adjourn at 8:47 p.m. Second by Lease. Roll cal vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.

The next regular meeting will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2024 at 8:45 a.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.