To be officially published by the Rustler Sentinel

PROCEEDINGS OF THE DODGE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

 

            Regular meeting of the Dodge County Board of Supervisors was called to order by Chairman Missel at 9:00 A.M. on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in the Board Room of the Courthouse, Fremont, Nebraska with the following members present:  Saalfeld, Weddle, Strand, Vaughan, George, Beam and Missel.  Absent:  None.  Prior to roll call, Chairman Missel announced the meeting to be an open public meeting and that the current open meeting laws were posted on the wall and available for anyone’s review.

 

The Board unanimously declared the meeting legally convened.

 

The Board unanimously approved the agenda as printed and received and placed on file minutes of Fremont Health Board of Trustees Operating Board meeting of March 26, 2018 and financial statement for month ending March 2018, correspondence from NDEQ (Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality) regarding a Notice of Application received from Maple Creek Poultry, LLC Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation located in the SW ¼ of the NW ¼ of Section 36, Township 19N, Range 5E, Certificates of Insurance for Lux Sand & Gravel and Webster Township and Utility Installation Agreement with Omaha Public Power District to install electric line at County Road 3 & 4 and County Road P, S ¼ Section 16, Township 18 N, Range 5E.

 

The Board unanimously approved the minutes of the May 9, 2018 meeting as printed.

 

At 9:04 A.M., the Board recessed as a Board of Supervisors and convened as a

Board of Corrections.  Chairman Missel dispensed with roll all members being present.

 

            Under any items of discussion, Supervisor Saalfeld commented on an article in the Omaha World Herald on May 20th that outlined alleged lawsuits, due to inmates denied medical treatment from Correct Care Solutions listing Dodge County as one of those counties.  Supervisor George, Chairman of the Jail Committee, commented Dodge County has no connections whatsoever with Correct Care Solutions, but did not rule out Saunders County may be using the company.  Supervisor Beam commented on the process of moving the controls of the doors and videos back over to Dodge County, with a targeted date of July 1st.

 

      At 9:14 A.M., Chairman Missel adjourned the Board as a Board of Corrections until Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 9:05 A.M.

 

            Immediately thereafter, the Board reconvened as a Board of Supervisors.  Chairman Missel dispensed with roll all members being present.

 

            The Board unanimously approved the wage and hour claims as submitted in the amount of $191,465.95.

 

            The Board unanimously approved the financial claims as submitted in the amount of $564,268.38.

 

            Committee Reports – Chairman Missel reported on continued meetings regarding the potential new radio system for Dodge County.  A new updated proposal has been received from Motorola and the committee will be meeting Thursday to review the proposal with Consultant Rey Freeman of RFCC, LLC.  Supervisor Strand reported on the Parking Project in front of the courthouse.  Chairman Missel reminded Supervisors of the upcoming County Board workshop to be held June 6th in Kearney.

 

At 9:10 A.M., a Public Hearing was held to consider amending the 2017-2018 County Budget for a shortage in the Indigent Fund.  General Assistance Administrator Fred Mytty explained there was approximately 6% left in the fund as of April 30th showing increases in general assistance and burials doubling compared to last year.   With no testimony given for or against the amendment, Chairman Missel closed the hearing.  The Board unanimously passed a motion to amend the 2017-2018 County Budget by increasing the Indigent Fund by $30,000 and instructing the County Treasurer to transfer the same amount, $30,000, from the Inheritance Tax Fund to the Indigent Fund by June 30, 2018.

 

The Board unanimously received a Special Designated License Application of Mamat and Papad Enterprises of 1155 South Broad, Fremont, Nebraska to serve and sell alcoholic beverages for a class reunion at the Fremont Group Lodge located at 4349 West Statelake Road, Fremont, Nebraska on June 23, 2018 from 8:00 a.m. ‘til 1:00 a.m. and passed a motion recommending approval of the license to the State Liquor Commission.

 

Dave Boschult, Regional Inspector of Nebraska Department of Agriculture, presented his 1997 2017 Annual Report of the Noxious Weed Program in Dodge, Nebraska.  He presented a handout that showed Larry Klahn’s overall performance as Weed Superintendent for Dodge County ranking him above the average in the region scoring 3,330 points out of a possible 3,400.  He commented Dodge County’s biggest challenge with noxious weeds were river weeds.

 

            Weed Superintendent Klahn explained why a new revised Interlocal Agreement to create the Lower Platte Weed Management Area, A Separate Legal Entity was being considered.  He explained that in 2003, there was an agreement with just the counties, in 2007 an agreement included the NRD’s to fight phragmites and now the proposed new agreement is back to where it originated in 2003, removing the NRD’s.  With the RC&D’s no longer existing, the new agreement calls for Lancaster County to be the keeper of the funds.   The Board unanimously passed a motion to approve and authorize the proper signatures on the revised Interlocal Agreement as presented.

 

            Next, the Board reviewed and discussed correspondence requesting funding from Lower Platte North NRD on Amendment No. 3 of Inter-local Cooperation Act Agreement Fremont GI Study Transition of Section 205 Feasibility Study for Nonstructural Planning.  Chairman Missel explained the amendment would allow FEMA and Federal support for owners of property to receive funding to do such things as raising their foundations of their homes or filling their basements.  The Board, by a 6 to 1 vote, with Vaughan dissenting, passed a motion to approve and authorize the Chairman to sign Amendment No. 3 to the Inter-local Cooperation Act Agreement Fremont GI Study Transition to Section 205 Feasibility Study for Nonstructural Planning.  Dodge County’s portion of the $350,000 study is 10.85%, ($37,975). 

 

            The Board unanimously acknowledged the ending of the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with Burt and Washington Counties for Region 5/6 Emergency Management, due to the expiration of the agreement.  A letter will be written informing Burt and Washington Counties of Dodge County’s action.

 

      Next, the Board discussed the creation of a new position of Dodge County Emergency Manager.  After meeting with Sheriff Hespen and reviewing information submitted by Mr. Pook, County Attorney Glass supported the creation of the new position.  The new position is being considered, due to the retirement of Region 5/6 Director Bill Pook, effective June 30, 2018.  According to current law, the county is required to engage in a new region or create their own position.  Director Pook explained the training regions prove to be unsupportable for Region 5/6 with the other two counties of Burt and Washington going their separate way.  The Board unanimously, with George abstaining, passed a motion to move forward with the creation of a new position of Dodge County Emergency Manager and instructed Supervisors Beam and Vaughan to work with Director Pook to finalize the documents for advertising and distributing to fill the position.  Director Bill Pook was praised by many of the Supervisors and County Attorney Glass for his service to the county and his willingness to provide his expertise to fill the position prior to departure.

 

The Board unanimously passed a motion reappointing Allen Rolf, Gene Ruzicka and Adam Taylor to the Dodge County Planning Commission to 3-year terms, which expire May 31, 2021.

 

The Board unanimously passed a motion to reject all bids received at the April 25, 2018 meeting for a used Tandem Axle Chassis Cab.

 

The Board unanimously approved the request of Highway Superintendent Huppert to advertise for bids for a Used Tandem Axle Chassis & Cab to be opened on June 18, 2018 @ 11:00 A.M. in the Dodge County Highway Department Office.

 

Highway Superintendent Huppert updated the County Board on road and bridge projects.

 

At 10:22 A.M., the Board recessed as a Board of Supervisors and convened as a Board of Equalization.  Chairman Missel dispensed with roll all members being present.

 

The Board unanimously approved tax roll correction #4893.

 

The Board unanimously approved and authorized the proper signatures on agreements with referees for the upcoming 2018 protest season with Scott Brettmann and Alan Brewer.

 

At 10:30 A.M., Chairman Missel recessed the Board as a Board of Equalization, reconvened the Board as a Board of Supervisors and then called for a short recess.

 

At 10:37 A.M., the Board reconvened as a Board of Supervisors.  Chairman Missel dispensed with roll all members being present.

 

For the next half hour, the County Board listened to a presentation from Domina Law Group on opioid litigation.  Prior to beginning, Attorney Dave Domina presented a handout which included their law firm’s proposal for professional services on the specific matter of claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors.  He explained the claims are against 27 companies who did not follow federal law requirements regarding documentation of records on these drugs, comparing this process like banks having to balance their funds.  Over three dozen executives of these companies are currently in federal prisons for not balancing opioid manufacturing and distributing and their companies have paid enormous fines.  Attorney Domina explained all entities of government would be competing for their share of losses, United States, states, counties, cities and Indian tribes.  He explained how important it was for the county to act on this now, rather than later, because the Statute of Limitations applies to these claims.  His figures showed Dodge County’s possible share of these claims to be $465 per person a year.  Their law firm has filed claims for Knox County and four Indian tribes in Nebraska.  Attorney Domina presented County Attorney Glass a copy of the Knox County claim for his review.  Brian Jorde was also present representing Domina Law Group.

 

At 11:06 A.M., Chairman Missel adjourned the Board as a Board of Supervisors until Wednesday, June 6, 2018 at 9:00 A.M.

 

Immediately thereafter, the Board reconvened as a Board of Equalization.  Chairman Missel dispensed with roll all members being present.

 

At 11:07 A.M., the Board unanimously passed a motion to go into closed session to discuss TERC (Tax Equalization & Review Commission) appeals.

 

At 11:17 A.M., the Board unanimously passed a motion to go back into open session from the discussion of the appeals.  No action was taken on any of the claims as a result of the closed session.

 

      At 11:18 A.M., Chairman Missel adjourned the Board as a Board of Equalization until 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 6, 2018.

 

                                                                                          Fred Mytty

                                                                                          Dodge County Clerk