**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 on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the Banner County Courthouse.
Notice of the meeting was published in the Western Nebraska Observer. A copy of proof of publication is on file in the office of the Banner County Clerk. Meeting notices posted in Harrisburg, Nebraska at: Post Office, Banner County School, and the Banner County Courthouse.
The agenda for the meeting was kept current and was available during the regular business hours at the office of the Banner County Clerk. A copy was emailed to each board member on Friday, December 18, 2023.
Meeting called to order at 5:32 p.m. Roll call showed all members present.
Lease led prayer.
Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Consent Agenda: The consent agenda items are routine, expected to require little or no discussion and expected to have unanimous Board support under one motion of approval. If a Board member wishes to discuss an item on the consent agenda in detail, the item may be removed from the consent agenda and discussed under the appropriate section of the agenda in detail. However, if discussion will only take a few minutes the discussion may occur during the “Consent Agenda” portion of the meeting.
Consent Agenda:
1. Approve agenda
2. Approve minutes of prior meeting
3. Approve claims
4. Correspondence
Motion by Anderson to approve consent agenda items to include agenda, minutes, and correspondence. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Public Comments: None
Reports:
Highway Superintendent: Pat Parsons reported Linda Gromet from LTAP (Local Technical Assistance Program) met with him and Chelsea Mossberg and explained items that need to be addressed. Parsons attended the NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) conference in Kearney. Parsons has been in contact with Wolff Ford with regards to purchasing a used pickup for the Road Department. One pickup at Wolff Ford was quoted at $16,000. Parsons will continue to gather informal bids for a used pickup.
Sheriff Hopkins: Zane Hopkins reported he has been working on the fourth quarter report. Hopkins plans to deliver the gifts from the Angel Tree on Thursday and Friday. Deputy Logan has been on duty from noon until 8:00 p.m. for several days and has been working 35 - 40 hours/week. Sheriff’s pickup has had electrical issues, but has been fixed by Tim Grubbs.
County Attorney: Mark Kovarik met with Attorney General on Monday with Sheriff Hopkins and discussed needs for Banner County.
County Treasurer: Kathy Natale reported real estate taxes and inheritance taxes are being collected. Natale will make a spreadsheet to show Commissioners the revenue. Natale has moved money to Money Market account and she is seeing good cash flow. Natale attended the NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) conference. Natale reported a large amount of delinquent taxes, she will be mailing letters on these. The tax sale will be in March 2024.
County Clerk: Katie West reported sending out election certifications. After January 5, 2024, candidates can apply to run for an elected office, thus have their name on the ballot.
County Assessor: Kacy Krakow reported attending the NACO conference in Kearney where she attended a class about safety in the field. Krakow stated she is looking into getting jackets that will identify her and her assistants when assessing property. Lease asked how centrally assessed property works? Krakow stated the State sends out values to the counties, this tells the Assessors what the tax percentage is for centrally assessed property.
County Surveyor: absent.
Commissioner Committee Reports:
Darnall: Darnall reported attended the NACO conference as well, she attended classes, and enjoyed meeting Commissioners and other Officials from different counties. The next Region 22 Emergency Management meeting will be in January.
Anderson: Anderson also attended the NACO conference in Kearney and enjoyed attending classes. Office of Aging and Region 1 Behavioral Health meetings were cancelled.
Lease: Lease recently accepted to represent Banner County for Office of Human Development (OHD); Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD); and Panhandle Area Development District (PADD), but has not had the opportunity to attend any of those meetings. Lease also attended the NACO conference in Kearney. Lease attended a meeting in Scottsbluff and discussed the Wind and Solar Energy Contract for Scottsbluff county. Lease will get more information on how it will affect Banner County’s four miles Stegall Road. Lease is anticipating a lot of truck traffic for at least sixty days once the project begins. Lease stated Scottsbluff county has not yet approved the solar project agreement. The solar project is expected to start late 2024 and take approximately 9 - 11 months to complete.
Items of business before the board:
Surplus Office Equipment: Clerk West stated that all electronic surplus property has been taken to Bytes and Eakes. Motion by Anderson to open sealed bids on surplus items. There are no sealed bids. Anderson withdrew motion.
Pritchard & Abbott Contract: Assessor Krakow presented Commissioners with contract from Pritchard and Abbott. Motion by Lease to accept contract, authorizing Chairperson to sign. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Auditor Search: Clerk West reported needing a County Auditor for 2024. West received a list of Auditors used by other counties. Kovarik mentioned needing a bid from the auditors. West will send bid requests to Auditors on the list within a 120 mile radius.
Void Checks: Clerk West stated six checks need voided. Checks were duplicates and clerical errors. Motion by Anderson to void check numbers: 02311132; 02307165; 02307177; 02309098; 02204042; and 02311147. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Stop Sign Program: Pat Parsons stated there are three revisions to the contract. The three revisions were clerical errors and needed initialed by the Chairperson. Motion by Lease to accept the three revisions, authorizing the Chairperson to initial. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Internet: Clerk West stated she talked with Bytes about backup internet. Bytes recommended a backup internet service for the courthouse. Internet is hard to install in Banner County due to location and equipment requirements. StarLink is $2500 for initial installment, $250/month for commercial set up with no contract. Lease suggested a grant for fiber optics. Motion by Anderson to use StarLink as a secondary internet provider pending approval from the State requirements, and cyber security. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Approval of Grant Applications for Juvenile Services: Attorney Kovarik stated Scottsbluff County does Banner County Juvenile Diversion Program. Motion by Lease to accept the 2025 Community - Based Juvenile Services Aid, authorizing Chairperson to sign. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Website/WizNerds: Darnall spoke with Nathan Rogers with Wiznerds, the new website is 2 - 3 months from launching. Rogers suggested changing payment plan to monthly with Squarespace, so when the new website is completed, the County is not tied to a yearly contract. Wiznerds is asking for a contract to be signed, Banner County paying $2500.00 now and the remaining $2500 when the website is up and running. Motion by Lease to approve the contract, authorizing the Chairperson to sign. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Discuss/Act/Approve Claims: Motion by Anderson to approve the following claims. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Adjournment:
General: Banner County Court $50.00 - county court costs; Bytes $2,184.23 - data processing; CenturyLink $492.35 - phone; DAS $150.00 - data processing; Ellison, Kovarik, & Truman $2,146.92 - attorney fees; High West Energy $472.95 - electricity; Level 3 Communications $771.47 - internet; Marriott Hotel $375.00 - training; Multi - County Information & Programming Services $1,711.66 - data processing; Nebraska Assoc. County Officials $450.00 - dues; Pack Rat $45.00 - trash; Scottsbluff Co. Treasurer $25.00 - postage; Western Nebraska Observer $817.76 - advertising.
Roads: Vistabeam $67.90 - internet (shop); Red Barn $459.00 - parts & labor; PT Hose & Bearing $220.08 - repairs; Peetz Co-op $966.24 - propane; Pack Rat $160.00 - trash; Kimball Auto Parts $4,180.80 - shop supplies & parts; Home Depot $268.88 - building repairs; High West Energy $315.00 - lights; Contractor Materials $117.00 - tools; CenturyLink $85.58 - phone; Bytes $300.00 - computer; AT & T $46.67 - cell phone; Amazon $245.50 - parts; Ace $36.11 - supplies.
Sheriff: Amazon $67.04 - office supplies; CenturyLink $80.98 - phone; DAS $22.00 - dues; Motorola Solutions $348.00 - body camera.
Adjournment: Motion by Anderson to adjourn meeting at 8:23 p.m. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
The next regular meeting will be held January 4, 2024 8:45 a.m. or at the call of the Clerk. An agenda of the matters to be considered at such date and time is kept continually current and is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Banner County Clerk in the Courthouse in Harrisburg.