**This is a condensed version of the Banner County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes. These minutes are not the official approved version. 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, July 11, 2023 at 8:45 a.m. in the courtroom of the Banner County Courthouse.
Notice of the meeting was published in the Western Nebraska Observer. 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 July 10, 2023.
Chairperson Darnall called the meeting to order at 8:47 a.m. Roll call showed Darnall and Anderson present. Gifford arrived at 9:00 a.m. Also present: County Clerk Katie West; County Treasurer Kathy Natale; Sheriff Zane Hopkins; Road Superintendent Tom Neal and Weed Superintendent Tim Grubbs.
Chairperson Darnall stated that the open meetings act is posted in the back of this courtroom by the entrance.
Anderson said prayer.
Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Agenda: The agenda for meeting was examined. Motion by Anderson to approve agenda. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Anderson yes; Darnall yes; Gifford absent. Motion carried.
Minutes from June 20, 2023 and June 26, 2023 meetings were examined. Motion by Anderson to approve the minutes from June 20, 2023 with corrections and the June 26, 2023 minutes approved as presented. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Anderson yes; Darnall yes; Gifford absent. Motion carried.
Correspondence: Anderson reported Kit Jones of Banner County received a letter from the Army Corps of Engineers for pricing on a 7 - year easement at $161.00 per acre. Anderson questioned if anyone had any complaints regarding that pricing.
Public Comments: None
Reports:
Highway Superintendent: Tom Neal reported one of the motor graders should be operational later in the week, after being in for repairs at Murphy Tractor. Another motor grader needed the engine control module and fuel line replaced, it will be operational soon. Tome was asked by landowners on County Road 34 about installing an auto gate 3/4 of a mile west of highway 71 on county road 34. A 20 - foot auto gate is approximately $13,000.00 to build and install. Anderson questioned the placement of 20 - foot auto gates on 30 - foot road. Landowners pay for the installation and the county is responsible for cleaning and maintaining auto gates. The auto gate on road 34 will be put on the next agenda. A road department employee slid into a private building delivering custom material. Anderson questioned if Banner County had the resources at this time to commit to custom work for Banner County residents. The crew has been working on cleaning out the ditches on county road 73.
Sheriff Hopkins: Sheriff Hopkins reported he made 42 traffic stops, 39 calls for service, 3 arrests, and served 5 papers for the quarter.
County Attorney: Mark Kovarik reported he has been busy with the increase in traffic matters and court cases.
County Treasurer: Kathy Natale reported internet changes have caused a slow start to the month. Kathy would like to begin on the budget. Darnall stated we have a budget workshop coming up. Issues with new printers continue and Bytes may need to come out to fix the issues. August should be busy; tax collections will be at their highest again.
County Clerk: Katie West reported that the Courthouse had to close several days early due to internet outages. Katie has started on the budget and has it printed, but needs guidance on who to give the reports to. Katie will speak with Candace Meredith this week to set up a meeting and get questions answered.
County Assessor: Kacy Krakow absent.
County Surveyor: Carl Gilbert absent.
Weed Superintendent: Tim Grubbs reported he will be sending out letters for weeds that have not been sprayed. County road 36 is a concern with weeds.
Commissioner Committee Reports:
Gifford; Panhandle Area Development District (PAD); Office of Human Development (OHD); Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD) met - nothing to report. Marie Parker was elected Chairperson of the PPHD. She dos not live in Banner County, and is no longer involved with Banner County School. Gifford wanted to update the public as it may time to find a Banner County nurse to take Marie’s place sometime in the future.
Anderson: Office of Aging - nothing to report. Region 1 Behavioral Health - meeting was cancelled this month. Region 1 Behavioral Health staff has been working from home. Several other counties have had issues with the Region 1 Behavioral Health office being closed. Anderson stated the Region 1 Behavioral Health is not a private entity, and the building should be open.
Darnall: Region 22 Emergency Management - next meeting is July 20, 2023. Darnall stated she toured the Kimball County Transit. It was impressive and busy. Darnall is still unsure about the donation aspect, if Banner County residents are aware of this service and will utilize it, it could be good for the County. Darnall also toured the new Kimball County Hospital. It is impressive and will have specialty clinics. The hospital is planning to open in Spring of 2024.
Items of business before the board:
Banner Capital Bank: Letter received from Banner Capital Bank stated they would match .005% interest on Banner County monies up to December 2023. Darnall and Anderson stated the goal is to make more money for Banner County. Anderson stated he feels the County should stay with NPAIT and revisit the interest rates with Banner Capital Bank in 6 months. Gifford advised that the funds can be split between Banner Capital and NPAIT as has been done in the past. No action taken.
Two - Week Payroll: Darnall stated that after speaking to most of the county road employees, the majority does not want the payroll to change. Anderson does not want employees to estimate hours. Kovarik stated the date of pay can be changed, because it is not statute. Statute only refers to elected Officials; it is a provision in the Personnel Policy Handbook. West stated dates of pay for health insurance can be changed, but it would be a lot of work if it were a two - week payroll. Darnall suggested changing the pay date to the 5th working day of the month. Tabled until July 18, 2023. A two - week payroll is no longer being considered.
Closed Session: Anderson moved to go into closed session at 10:55 a.m. for the stated purpose of the evaluating the job performance of road department personnel to include Chairperson Robin Darnall, Member Robert Gifford, Vice Chairman Laif Anderson, and County Attorney Mark Kovarik. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried. Chairperson Darnall restated the subject matter of Anderson’s motion and the Board convened in closed session. Anderson made a motion to come out of closed session at 11:55 a.m. with no action taken. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried
Discussion was held with the Road Superintendent regarding expectations from the Road Department and Road Superintendent. The Board would like the Road Superintendent to give more direction to the road department employees and increase the department’s operating efficiency.
The following claims for June 20, 2023 were audited. Motion by Gifford to approve claims and warrants drawn on respective funds, with the exception of claim #2307061 and claim #02307053 to Blue Cross Blue Shield, and warrants ordered drawn on respective funds. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Gifford yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
CLAIMS
General: Aflac $292.82 insurance; Blue Cross Blue Shield $7199.05 health insurance; Banner Capital Bank $2183.35 HSA account; VSP $184.95 vision insurance; Aging Office of Western Nebraska $514.00 yearly fees; Banner County District Court $36.00 court fees; Bytes $3013.00 data processing; Culligan $32.50 water; Double L Cafe $630.00 catering jury meal; Eakes $372.76 office supplies; GIS Works $7929.00 fees & subscriptions; Ideal Linen $121.75 janitorial supplies; MCI $69.91 fax; North Platte NRD $42.92 water; Personnel Concepts $226.72 posters; Staples $858.76 furniture, printer, supplies; Western Nebraska Observer $381.86 advertising; Wiznerd $260.00 data processing; Zelle Human Resources $8204.62 past due balance from previous contract; Home Depot $78.10 flagpole; Tim Grubbs $10,000.00 weed Superintendent contract.
Roads: First Concord $45.00 HRA account; Floyd’s Truck $24,387.73 parts & labor; Frank Parts $108.89 repair parts; Harmony Inn $369.00 lodging; Home Depot $35.54 shop supplies; Kimball Auto Parts $1,365.35 shop supplies & repair parts; Motor Fuels $25.00 late fee; Nebraska Machinery $103.20 shop supplies; North Platte NRD $33.72 water; PT Hose & Bearing $15.06 repairs; Steve’s Truck $50.00 repair parts; Verizon $233.20 GPS trackers; VSP $108.95 vision insurance; Banner Capital Bank $1,416.68 HSA account; Colonial Life $55.37 dental insurance; Blue Cross Blue Shield $9.480.40 health insurance; Aflac $635.09 insurance.
Sheriff: Tim Grubbs $183.60 radio repairs.
Adjournment: Motion by Gifford to adjourn meeting at 12:24 p.m. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Anderson yes; Darnall yes; Gifford yes. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 12:24 p.m.
The next meeting will be held July 18, 2023 at 5:30 p.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.
