Minutes, June 10, 2013

 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

June 10, 2013

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 10^th day of June at the Ellsworth County Courthouse. 

 

                                                            Members Present:

                                                            Albert W. Oller, 1^st District Commissioner

                                                            Kermit Rush, 2^nd District Commissioner

                                                            Terry L. Kueser, 3^rd District Commissioner

                                   

                                                                                                           

OPENING BUSINESS:

 

Chairman Rush called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Agenda with an addition. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of June 3, 2013.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

No one was present for the Public Forum.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Roderic Rees, EMS Director, reported that the remounted ambulance would be ready next week and they would have to drive to Iowa to pick it up.  They will probably do so on Monday of next week.   The Commissioners authorized the use of the debit card for gasoline, lodging and meals for the trip.  The ambulance located in Wilson is in the shop for repairs.  At the present time, they have three good ambulances and one marginal one.  Mr. Rees reminded the Commissioner of the EMS Regional meeting to be held at our EMS building on the 11^th.

 

Ginny Boots, Lavel Heitschmidt, Nancy Bircher, Pam Westerman and Garnell Hanson, representing the Ellsworth County Council on Aging, presented their budget request for 2014 of
$27,000, an increase of $4,000 or 17%.  They also reported they are selling the big bus as they were not able to get enough interest in trips to pay for the extra cost of having the bus. 

 

Edward Behnke, a Thomas Township resident, asked the Commissioner to close a portion of Ave Y which is on the county line.  He had a letter from Victoria Township, Rice County, who is responsible for maintenance of the road saying that they had not maintained the road in the past and do not intend to maintain it in the future as they believe it is a private drive.  According to the law any road vacation on a county line has to be agreed to by both counties and since it is a township road, also by both townships.  Mr. Behnke has an appointment with the Rice County Commissioners next week.  The Commissioners will follow up on his request after his visit with Rice County.

 

Judge Mike Keeley, Administrator John Isern and Peggy Svaty, Clerk of the District Court, presented their budget request for 2014 of $78,000, the same as last year.  Joe Shepack, County Attorney, also attended the meeting and they discussed the recent law that allows concealed weapons to be carried into the Courthouse unless certain measures are taken.  Since Judge Keeley felt the law will probably be changed, he suggested that the county might want to take the steps to exempt themselves from it, as provided in the law, for one year and then see what the legislature does.  Judge Keeley also addressed the expense for counties to handle sexual predator cases.  The last one was over $13,000.  Since the legislature sometimes allows funds for reimbursement of these costs, he suggested that Mr. Shepack file for a reimbursement for the last case.  He also noted that our child in need of care cases were up substantially this year from last year.

 

Ronda Kasiska, Health Supervisor, reported she had been offered a $2,500 scholarship for leadership training.  The county would have to contribute $500 plus the expense of going to Nebraska for three classes.  She has a grant that would help defray the county's expense.  The Commissioners felt this was an excellent opportunity and if she was able to attend, they would support her decision.

 

Janet Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk, presented her County Clerk and Election budgets for 2014.  The Election budget is $51,500, an increase of $18,325.  This is due to the fact that 2014 is a State wide primary and general election.  The County Clerk budget request was $97,485, an increase of $11,855.  The only increase is in the salary line item as a third person will be hired to get the staffing back where it was in 2010. 

 

The Clerk reminded the Commissioners that the contract with Russell County for a shared Emergency Management Director expired on May 31, 2013.  She has visited with the Director, and he will visit with the Russell County Commissioners and they will get back to them.  The fee for June has been paid.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

 

There were no old business items.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the donation of sick leave as requested.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 12:05 p.m.

 

 

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Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk