Minutes, December 22, 2015

 

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

                                                                                 

MINUTES

 

DECEMBER 22, 2014

 

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 22^nd of December 2014 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 Kueser called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.

 

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

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve the Minutes of December 15, 2014.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

No one was present for the Public Forum.

 

APPOINTMENTS:

 

Gary Wacker, Robert Wacker, Justin Wacker, Todd Wacker, representing High Plains Sand, and approximately 15 employees met with the Commissioners to discuss recent signage put up on roads they use for hauling materials and the purchase policy of the Road & Bridge Department.   Recent signs have gone up on road used by their business stating those roads are not a "haul route".  Gary Wacker stated that the recent signs prohibited them from hauling their produced material to their plant location and that he considered that "selective enforcement" on county roads and was not legal.  He also asked if any other sand haulers had routes that they had to follow.  He requested that the signs be removed in ten days.  The other item he wanted to address was the county's purchase of road sand.  He gave the Commissioners figures showing how much it cost the county to buy material out of the county in comparison with their product.  The cost of the material is the same, the quality is the same, but the cost of hauling in fuel and man hours makes the out of county purchases more costly.  Chairman Kueser asked Mr. Wacker to come up with the routes they would like to have designated, whether empty or fully loaded, and they would consider those options in formulating new haul routes.

 

Jim Warta, Wally Schwerdtfeger, Michael Homeier, Delbert Duryee and Lawrence Choitz, met to discuss the taxes on windtowers.  Mr. Warta explained that the taxpayers who have towers are now being charged a commercial rate on the towers and they have to ask and wait for reimbursement from the owners.  Why can't the windfarm corporations be billed instead of the landowners?  The Commissioners explained that was the way it was first proposed, however, because of the leases with the windfarms, the tax had to be levied on landowners and then reimbursed.  The other question raised by Mr. Warta was the difference in the value on the windtowers between Lincoln County and Ellsworth County.  The Commissioner will make an appointment with our Appraiser, Mr. Miller and get back to them.

 

Rick Nondorf, Road & Bridge Supervisor, discussed the haul routes previously discussed that morning by High Plains Sand.  The routes were established over 20 years and he has no problem with them being changed to accommodate their business.  Chairman Kueser explained that he had asked them to come back to him with the routes they would like to use and when he gets the information, they will meet and discuss them.  Mr. Nondorf stated that the state has four bridges in Ellsworth County on their fractured and critical list and are asking that those four be closed down.  The first bridge is in Carneiro Township and is the one that they discussed last week that he has received a grant to replace.  The second one is in Black Wolf township near the Schwerdtferger residence and it is on the 80/20 program for replacement probably in 2016.  The third on is near the Claussen Bridge and their bridge department can do it.  The fourth was the Claussen Bridge and it is under construction at the present time.  He has asked Kirkham Michael to look at the state information and consult with the state to see what could be done to the bridges in order to keep them open until they can be replaced.

 

Jon Halbgewachs, Josh Beckman & Wayne Scritchfield, Kirkham Michael & Associates stopped in to thank the Commissioners for their business in the past year.  While in the meeting, the Commissioners discussed the four bridges that the state wanted closed and if anything could be done to the bridges to keep them open until they can be replaced.  Mr. Beckman replied that he had looked over the information Mr. Nondorf had given to them and the state had said that removing some of the gravel from the bridge and maybe new signage could keep the bridges open until they could be replaced.  They will discuss each of the bridges with the same and get back to Mr. Nondorf.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Commissioner Rush moved to approve Cereal Malt Beverage Licenses for D&S Convenience Shop, LLC and Smoky Hill Trading Post.  Commissioner Oller seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to appoint Bradly Kratzer as Clerk of Thomas Township.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

Commissioner Oller moved to approve Abatements 305, 310 & 311 in the amount of $3,826.96.  Commissioner Rush seconded the motion.  Motion carried 3-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT:

 

Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 12:15 p.m.

 

 

__________________________________

Janet L. Andrews

Ellsworth County Clerk