**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.**

BANNER COUNTY

COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS

The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session, in the courtroom of the Banner County Courthouse on January 5, 2023. This is in accordance with the adjournment of the December 20, 2022 meeting and notice published in the Scotts Bluff Star Herald; posting notices in Harrisburg, NE, at the post office, Banner County School, Clerk’s office, and on the front window of the Banner County Courthouse. Proof of publication is on file in the office of the County Clerk and is made a part of the proceedings by reference.

The agenda for the meeting was kept current and was available during the regular business hours at the office of the County Clerk. A copy was emailed to each board member on January 3, 2023.

Robert Gifford called meeting to order on January 5, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Present on roll call was: Vice Chairman - Robert Gifford; Member - Laif Anderson; Member - Robin Darnall; County Clerk - Katie West; County Attorney - Mark Kovarik; Treasurer - Kathy Natale; Highway Superintendent - Tom Neal; and Sheriff Zane Hopkins.

Pledge of Allegiance.

Open Meetings Act is posted at the back of the courtroom by the door.

Agenda was reviewed. Motion by Darnall to amend the agenda - send resolutions to Banner Capitol Bank vs. minutes for signature cards. Resolutions for Sherriff Hopkins; Katie West; Robin Darnall; and Laif Anderson. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.

No minutes of December 20, 2022 meeting were available to incoming Clerk Katie West. Approval of minutes tabled until January 17, 2023.

Correspondence - None

Claims - tabled until end of this meeting.

ITEMS OF BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD:

Reorganization of Banner County Commissioners: Anderson nominated Darnall for Chairperson. Second by Gifford. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried. Gifford nominated Anderson for Vice Chairperson. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Set meeting dates and times for 2023: Discussion. Anderson suggested keeping one meeting in the morning and moving one to evening. Gifford moved to have meetings first and third Tuesdays at 8:45 am. Second by Darnall. Discussion. Roll call vote: Anderson no; Gifford yes; Darnall no. Motion failed. Motion made by Darnall to have the first Tuesday of the month at 8:45 am and the third Tuesday at 5:30 pm. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Anderson yes; Gifford no; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Set method of reasonable advance notice of meetings: Motion by Gifford to post notice of meetings at the Banner County School, post office, Courthouse, and Banner Capitol Bank. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Anderson yes; Gifford yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Designate official county newspaper: Darnall compared difference in subscription cost of Western Nebraska Observer (Kimball) and Star Herald. Western Nebraska Observer is approximately $47/year, compared to Star Herald at approximately $400/year. Gifford expressed the meeting dates and times need to be into the paper on time. Discussion. Motion made by Anderson to make Western Nebraska Observer the official paper for Banner County. Second by Gifford. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 03: Appoint depository bank and invest funds: Gifford moved to keep Banner Capitol Bank as the depository bank. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 01: Authorize Banner County Treasurer, Kathy Natale to invest Banner County funds. Natale was sworn in on January 5, 2023 as Banner County Treasurer. Motion by Anderson to authorize Kathy Natale as Treasurer to invest funds in Banner Capitol Bank. Second by Gifford. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 09: Authorize Banner County Clerk, Banner County Commissioner Chairperson, and Banner County Commissioner Vice Chairman for signatory approval and access to Banner County accounts at Banner Capitol Bank. Katie West was sworn in as Banner County Clerk, Robin Darnall and Laif Anderson as Commissioners on January 5, 2023. Motion by Anderson to approve Resolution 23 - 09 to include: Chairperson Darnall; Vice Chairman Anderson; and Clerk Katie West. Second by Gifford. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Set holidays observed in 2023: Motion by Gifford to approve the same holidays as last year and add any to match the State of Nebraska. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 02: Set interest rate on registered warrants. Previous resolutions had two different interest rates. Darnall questioned .05% or .5%. Tabled until January 17, 2023 meeting.
Set indigent burial cost limit: Motion by Gifford to keep the same amount as last year ($1500). Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Agenda re - organization: Discussion. Motion by Gifford to move Committee Reports to beginning of meeting, and move claims more towards the end of the meeting. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Website host and Facebook access: Darnall inquired with WizNerds to improve the website. New webiste is about $5,000 and re - organizing current website would be about $2500. $30 - $40/month to maintain website. Motion by Gifford to have Darnall and Kathy Natale be administrators of the Banner County website and Facebook page. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Credit card authorization: Sharon Sandberg’s name has been removed. Credit cards are available in the Road Dept., Sheriff Hopkins, and Clerk’s office. Cards are to be used for gas, meals, hotel rooms, and supply/parts purchased on internet. No alcohol purchases. Anderson suggested using gas cards for fuel purchases to save money.
Travel expense protocol: Gas & food at trainings is reimbursed. Hotels are direct bill. No alcohol.
Travel accommodations for NACO newly - elected Commissioner training January 14, 2023 in Kearney. Anderson and Darnall plan to attend.
Display case: Sharon Sandberg addressed the board. Sharon owns the display case and is going to donate it to the Banner County Museum. She has not moved the display case due to weather, but hopes to next week.
Janitorial salary: Cindy Jean Stover requested a raise last summer from $440/mth to $525/mth. Darnall suggested a raise to $550/month with a deep clean of the courthouse once per year. This would be approximately $25/hr. Anderson felt this was a fair wage. Gifford suggested $500/month. Gifford confirmed Stover is an employee, but does not get benefits. Motion by Darnall to direct Mark Kovarik to draw up a contract for Cindy Jean Stover, for a wage of $550/mth with a once a year deep clean. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Gifford no; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 07: Appoint Highway Superintendent. Motion by Gifford to keep Tom Neal as Highway Superintendent. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 08: Appoint Weed Superintendent. Motion by Gifford to hire Steve Baird as Weed Superintendent. Darnall suggested tabling this and put an ad out for applications. Gifford mentioned that certification training is in February, based on previous years, they had no one apply for the Weed Superintendent position. Gifford reported current weed superintendent is road superintendent for Scottsbluff county, and can only spray on the weekends, weather permitting. Right - of ways are first priority, then all roads are sprayed twice per year. Gifford mentioned the contract is for $50,000 plus chemicals for rights of way for 5 months. County is required, by law, to hire a Weed Superintendent by April 1 of each year. Tabled until January 17, 2023.
Recess 1:42 pm. Meeting convened at 2:03 pm.
Sherriff’s office credit card: Resolved.
Void check #02210020: Paid twice. Motion by Gifford to void check #02210029. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 04: Tabled until January 17, 2023 due to clerical errors.
Resolution 23 - 10: Authorize Banner County Sheriff, K. Zane Hopkins signatory approval and access to Sheriff’s account(s) at Banner Capitol Bank. K. Zane Hopkins was sworn is as Banner County Sheriff on January 5, 2023. Motion by Anderson to approve Resolution 23 - 10. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 05: Authorization/re - authorization of petty cash funds. Motion by Gifford to approve Resolution 23 - 05, correcting names to current Commissioners - clerical error. Second by Darnall. Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Resolution 23 - 06: Excess funds. Motion by Darnall to approve Resolution 23 - 06. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Anderson yes; Darnall yes. Motion carried.
Committee Reports:
1. Highway Superintendent: Tom Neal - Moving snow and trying to keep things running. Some roads have blown shut due to the wind.
2. Weed Superintendent: Steve Baird - Absent
3. County Attorney: Mark Kovarik - Speeding still an issue, even when roads are not good. Please be careful.
4. County Treasurer: Kathy Natale - Has gotten all signed into the system and is able to do taxes.
5. County Clerk: Katie West - Not been able to access the system as of yet. No transition with previous clerk. Working through what needs to be done.
6. Sheriff Hopkins: Finishing the transition and working on quotes for new equipment, but is a long process.
7. County Surveyor: Carl Gilbert - Absent
8. Emergency Management: No report.

Public Comments: Deborah Genz: Commented that herself and the people are happy with the newly elected officials and is very impressed with how smooth everything went today.

GENERAL CLAIMS:

AT & T Mobility - Phone - $149.96

Banner County Court - DC Cost - $17.00

Blue Cross Blue Shield - Health Insurance - $13,567.26

Brandt Court Reporting Services - DC Cost - $622.45

Candlewood Suites (Kearney) - Lodging - $239.90

CenturyLink - Phone - $171.18

DAS State Accounting - Data Processing - $105.28

Detectachem - Law Enforcement Supplies - $191.61

First Concord Benefits Group - Health Insurance Fund - $4007.50

Galls, Inc. - Law Enforcement Supplies - $36.71

Ideal/Bluffs Facility Solutions - Janitorial - $95.07