Minutes, March 12, 2007

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MARCH 12, 2007

MINUTES

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 12^th day of March, 2007 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

1. 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 March 5, 2007. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

George Place was present during the Public Forum and voiced his support of the proposed windfarm for Ellsworth County.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Paula Schneider, Ellsworth County Treasurer, presented the Commissioners with a letter of resignation effective March 31, 2007. She is retiring after 34 years as an employee of Ellsworth County. She explained the Democrat party would be meeting and making the selection as to who will succeed her and then the Governor will have to approve it. The Commissioners thanked Mrs. Schneider for her many years of service and wished her well in her retirement.

Technology Committee members, Roberta Waymaster, Robert Fitzgerald, Deb Habiger and Geneva Schneider, met with the Commissioners about how the website was to be maintained by the Webmaster, Robert Fitzgerald. At the request of Mr. Fitzgerald, Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 9:35 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. The Commissioners returned to open session at 9:45 a.m. and Commissioner Kueser moved to extend the executive session until 9:50 a.m. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. The Commissioner returned to open session at 9:50 a.m. No action was taken. Since Mr. Fitzgerald is an employee of the EMS Department, the Commissioners asked the County Clerk to set up an appointment with Shelly Maze, EMS Director, for next Monday.

Steve Donley entered the meeting at approximately 10:00 a.m.

A telephone conference was held at 10:30 a.m. with TradeWind Energy, Inc. representatives, Matthew Gilhousen, Vice President, Robert Freeman, CEO, and Darren Neil, Attorney. County Attorney, Joe Shepack, was also included in the telephone conference. In question were the road and pilot agreements sent to TradeWinds for their approval. Items discussed were the escrow account, commencement of the project clause and the county repairing any damaged roads versus TradeWinds subcontracting the repairs. The changes discussed will be made and forwarded back to the Commissioners and County Attorney, Joe Shepack, for examination.

3. OLD BUSINESS ITEMS:

The road and pilot agreements were discussed in the telephone conference.

4. NEW BUSINESS ITEMS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve Resolution 07R03, A Resolution Establishing A Setback Requirement For Structures Exceeding 150 Feet. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to proclaim March as National Nutrition Month. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. As requested, Commissioner Rush will help the Senior Center deliver meals that day to help honor the occasion.

Commissioner Kueser moved to appoint Eric Bohl as Clerk of Sherman Township. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve Abatements 2006, 71 & 73 in the amount of $341.94. Commissioner Rush seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

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

 

 

_______________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk

 

 

 

Minutes, March 5, 2007

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING

MINUTES

MARCH 5, 2007

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 5^th of March 2007 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

1. OPENING BUSINESS:

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

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Agenda as corrected. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of February 26, 2007. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

James Warta was present for the Public Form and discussed the resolution passed requiring a 500ft setback on structures over 100ft. Commissioner explained that they intended to rescind that resolution and lower the setback and raise the height to 150ft.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Kenny Bernard, Emergency Management Director, reported he is still looking for a generator for the Courthouse. After checking with the Sheriff's office, he was told their generator was working well so he is only looking for one for the Courthouse. The Sheriff has a portable one that was bought with grant funds that they are not using it, so he is going to take it for the Incident Command Unit. The command unit is getting radios installed and also a remote mike system. He is going to check on the cost of internet for the unit. The LEPC meetings have been changed to the third Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m. The meeting this month will be on the 22^nd of March. Mr. Bernard will also check on the cost of making the Courthouse wireless.

Sheriff Tracy Ploutz presented a purchase order for a 2004 Crown Victoria for their approval. The Commissioners signed the purchase order. Upon the request of Sheriff Ploutz, Commissioner Kueser moved to go into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel from 9:50 a.m. until 10:10 a.m. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. The Commissioner returned to open session at 10:10 a.m. No action was taken.

The Commissioner met with County Attorney, Joe Shepack, to discuss the road agreement, pilot agreement with TradeWind Energy, Inc. and Resolution 07R02. They review the Lincoln County Pilot Agreement and instructed Mr. Shepack to draw up a similar agreement for Ellsworth County. The pilot agreement and the road agreement will be forwarded to TradeWind Energy, Inc. for their approval. The Commissioners reviewed Resolution 07R02, A Resolution Establishing A Setback Requirement for Structures Exceeding 100 Feet, and asked the County Attorney to change the height to 150 feet and the setback to 300 feet.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

Resolution 07R02 was discussed with Mr. Shepack during his appointment with the Commissioners.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve Abatements 2006, 55-67 in the amount of $2,065.82. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the February payroll in the amount of $157,780.86. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the February accounts payable in the amount of $220,283.66. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to accept the resignation of Tammy Stefek as Clear Creek Township Treasurer and appoint Lynn Brock as Treasurer of Clear Creek Township. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moed to accept the resignation of Lester Pflughoeft, Sherman Township Clerk. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Chairman Rush adjourned the meeting at 11:25 p.m.

 

___________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk

Minutes, February 26, 2007

ELLSWORTH COUNTY COMMISSION MINUTES

MINUTES

FEBRUARY 26, 2007

The Board of Ellsworth County Commissioners convened this 26^th day of February 2007 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

1. OPENING BUSINESS:

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

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Agenda as printed. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve the Minutes of February 20, 2007. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

No one was present for the Public Forum.

2. APPOINTMENTS:

Roger Pearson, ECMC Administrator, discussed the informational meeting they had on EMS charges. He reported he had six individuals who were interested in the two board vacancies in July and that he is advertising an informational meeting for any others in the county that might be interested. The ECMC Board will then present a list of recommendations for appointments and hopefully the new board members can be appointed on April 2. In his financial report, Mr. Pearson reported a loss of $23,00 for the month and a year-to-date loss of over $500,000. However, they have filed an interim cost report with Medicare and should be receiving an adjustment that would wipe out the loss.

Sheriff Ploutz reviewed the contract with Contact One before he signed it and found the cost is higher than reported. The cost is $69,180 making the total wireless project $20,070 over the $125,000 grant we are receiving. He is continuing with the project in total and will make up the additional cost from the wireless funds and his budget. Sheriff Ploutz presented his strip search policy, which has been approved by our liability insurance carrier for approval. Commissioner Kueser moved to accept the new Strip Search For Pretrial Detainees With Provisions Regarding Body Cavity Searches as presented. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0. Deputy Bill Salyers attended the NCK Homeland Security Regional Council meeting last week but was told that he no longer had voting privileges as they had received a letter from the Ellsworth County LEPC assigning the voting rights to officers of the LEPC. Sheriff Ploutz explained that Mr. Salyers had committed to being the representative and if he were unable to attend the meeting, he would be in attendance. Since the By-laws of the organization state that the appointment to the council would be made by the governing body, Commissioner Rush moved to appoint Bill Saylers as Ellsworth County's representative with Sheriff Tracy Ploutz as the alternate on the NCK Homeland Security Regional Council with full voting privileges. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

A Department Head meeting was held at 10:30 a.m. with all departments in attendance. Chairman Rush left the meeting at 10:35 a.m. due the death of his mother. Vice-Chairman Kueser chaired the remaining meeting. Items discussed were ADA, evaluations, web page, telephone service for the Courthouse and incentives. All were reminded that reasonable accommodations need to be made for all employees who because of illnesses or disabilities can no longer perform duties as expected. Also, it would be good to check with the County ADA Coordinators to help provide those reasonable accommodations within the framework of our ADA policy. The consensus of the group was that the evaluations were fine and they did not wish to change the form. It was decided to have someone from the Technology Committee to our next meeting to help us understand how our web page can be improved. In consideration of a new telephone system for the Courthouse, Paula Schneider, Janice Sneath and Marie Ranker volunteered to work on the project with the County Clerk. Sheriff Ploutz spoke to the issue of incentive pay for elected officials. The Commissioners will discuss this further when Chairman Rush is available and before the next evaluation period.

Peggy Svaty, Clerk of the District Court, informed the Commissioners of SB203 that would do away with Count bonding. In doing so, bond money would not be coming back to the county from the Court system. She has contacted our Senator, Jay Emler and the County Clerk, in the Commissioner's behalf, has also contacted him. However, it passed on a 38-0 vote in the Senate and now goes to the House. She urged them to contact our State Representative, Josh Svaty.

3. OLD BUSINESS:

Action and discussion on Resolution 07R02, A Resolution Establishing A Setback Requirement For Structures Exceeding 100 Feet, was tabled until next week.

4. NEW BUSINESS:

Commissioner Kueser moved to approve membership in the Amazing 100-Mile Tourism Coalition in the amount of $100. Commissioner Oller seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Oller moved to approve Abatement 2006, 49 & 51 in the amount of $140.06. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

Commissioner Rush moved to accept the 2006 Inventory as provided by the County Clerk. Commissioner Kueser seconded the motion. Motion carried 3-0.

5. ADJOURNMENT:

Vice Chairman Kueser adjourned the meeting at 11:45 a.m.

 

__________________________________________

Janet L. Andrews, Ellsworth County Clerk