Lancaster County
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
lancaster.ne.gov
STAFF MEETING AGENDA
Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners
County-City Building
Fourth Floor Conference Room
Thursday, August 21, 1997
8:30 a.m.
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF STAFF MEETING MINUTES OF AUGUST 14, 1997
2 ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
3 8:30am BOARD OF CORRECTIONS QUARTERLY MEETING
Mike Thurber, Corrections Director
4 9:30am PROPOSED SERVICE AREAS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Linda Thomsen and Jessie Rasmussen, HHS; Dave Merrill,
Region V Services; Jill Rubottom, Region V; Reba Schafer,
Aging; George Hanigan, CMHC; Dennis Banks, Attention
Center; Jack Mills, NACO; and Kit Boesch, Human Services
5 10:15am SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Justin Evertson, Morton Stelling and Steve Gaul,
Ecological Advisory Committee; Mike DeKalb, Planning
Department
6 CONSENT ITEMS
a. Microcomputer Request C#97234 from County Clerk for
$778.32 from Microcomputer Fund for WordPerfect
7.0 Upgrades
b. VISA Application for Attention Center
7 ACTION ITEMS
a. Centennial Certificate for Virgil Stallings
b. County Representative at SE District NACO Meeting
8 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Letter of Resignation from Doug Wassung from
Visitors Promotion Committee
9 PENDING
a. Establishment of Special Improvement District in
Princeton
b. South Street Campus
10 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Hudkins
b. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Tussing
c. Government Access & Information Committee - Steinman
11 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Thursday, August 21,
1997, at 1:15 p.m., at the County-City Building,
Fourth Floor Conference Room - Hudkins
b. Special Board of Health Meeting - Thursday, August
21, 1997, at 6:00 p.m., at 3140 "N" Street, #236
- Hudkins
c. Juvenile Justice Comprehensive Study Interviews -
Monday, August 25, 1997, at 3:00 p.m., at Hruska Law
Center, 2nd Floor - Steinman
d. Railroad Transportation Safety District -
Tuesday, August 26, 1997, at 8:30 a.m., at the County-
City Building, Council Chambers - All Commissioners
e. District Energy Corporation - Tuesday, August
26, 1997, at 12:00 p.m., at the Lincoln Electric
System Boardroom - Hudkins, Svoboda
f. CMHC Advisory Committee - Wednesday, August 27,
1997, at 12:00 p.m., at the Community Mental Health
Center, Basement Conference Room - Svoboda
g. Lancaster County Emergency Planning Committee
- Wednesday, August 27, 1997, at 1:00 p.m., at the
County-City Building, Emergency Operations Center
Hudkins
12 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS
a. Grand Opening Celebration for the Renovation of
Crossroads House - Monday, August 25, 1997, from
4:30-6:30 p.m., at 1000 "O" Street
b. United Way/CHAD Campaign Kickoff - Thursday,
September 4, 1997, at 12:00 p.m., at the Lincoln
Foundation Garden, 215 Centennial Mall South
c. County and Municipal Road and Street Program
Management and Reporting Requirements Workshop -
Wednesday, October 22, 1997, from 9:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m., at the Villager Motor Inn
13 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
14 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
15 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 1997
16 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
MINUTES
Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners
Fourth Floor Conference Room
County-city Building
Thursday, August 21, 1997
8:30 A.m.
Commissioners Present: Linda Steinman, Chair
Darlene Tussing
Larry Hudkins
Steve Svoboda
Commissioners Absent: Kathy Campbell
Others Present: Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer
Susan Starcher, County Clerk's Office
Ann Taylor, County Clerk's Office
AGENDA ITEM:
1 APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MINUTES OF
AUGUST 14, 1997
Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer, noted for
the record that the Board's reason for the Board's
reason for entering Executive Session during the August
14th meeting was for discussion of labor
negotiations, not Personnel policy.
MOTION: Tussing moved and Svoboda seconded
approval of the minutes with the correction
as noted. On call Tussing, Svoboda and
Steinman. Hudkins was absent from voting.
Motion carried.
Hudkins arrived.
2 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
a. Accessibility of Retirement Accounts on the Internet
b. Letter of Appreciation for Jennifer Lynne, Noxious Weed
Control Authority
c. Health Department Update
MOTION: Tussing moved and Svoboda seconded
approval of the additions to the agenda.
On call Tussing, Svoboda, Hudkins and
Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
3 BOARD OF CORRECTIONS QUARTERLY MEETING
Mike Thurber, Corrections Director, Brenda Fisher,
Corrections Specialist
(Separate Minutes)
4 PROPOSED SERVICE AREAS FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Linda Thomsen, Ann Hogan and Dennis
Loose, Health & Human Services; Dave Merrill,
Region V Services; Jill Rubottom, Region V; Reba
Schafer, Aging; George Hanigan, Community Mental
Health Center; Dennis Banks, Attention Center; and
Kit Boesch, Human Services
Steinman reported that the Board had received a letter
from Health and Human Services requesting that the
Board submit a plan for service area affiliation.
Steinman stated that the strict timetable noted in the
letter did not allow sufficient time for the Region V
Governing Board to meet and make recommendations to the
Board. She stated that it was also a very short time
table for the County Board to respond.
Dennis Loose, Chief Deputy Director for Health & Human
Services, stated that the issue of development of
common service area boundaries for management of state
operations occurred as a result of the merger of the
Departments on Aging, Health, Public Institutions,
Social Services and the Office of Juvenile Services in
the Department of Correctional Services into the
Department of Regulation and Licensure, Department of
Finance and Support and Department of Health and Human
Services. He stated that once the service areas for
management structure are established, Health and Human
Services will contract with the service providers,
regardless of whatever boundaries they exist within.
Loose noted that the service providers' governing
structures are determined by State Statute, and that
Health and Human Services is not an advocate or
proponent to any change.
Loose reported that a bill before the Legislature's
Health and Human Services Committee containing a
recommendation for service area boundaries failed to
advance. He stated that the Department of Health and
Human Services, with input from the Nebraska
Association of County Officials (NACO), decided to
proceed with the process for county input on boundaries
outlined in the bill.
Loose reported that Jessie Rasmussen, Health and Human
Services Director, plans to make a recommendation to
the Administration on the best set of boundaries for
State operations by the end of September. He stated
that a decision on the management structure within each
service area boundary is anticipated by January, 1998.
In response to a question from Kit Boesch, Human
Services Administrator, Loose stated that he did not
foresee the establishment of administrative service
area boundaries having an effect on the flow of funds
to service providers. He stated that if a major
program is in one service area and the service provider
was in a different district, there may be an effect on
where that money goes, but that the offices and funding
process would remain the same.
Boesch noted that many of the major service providers
are located within Lancaster County. She asked Loose,
if a duplicate service were to be offered in another
service area, would the flow of money for provision of
that service change?
Loose responded that the funding process would not be
any different than it currently is and that he assumed
that, in the scenario Boesch described, provision of
the service would be competitively sought after.
In response to a question from Jill Rubottom, Region V,
Loose stated that one administrator would be named for
each service area.
Steinman inquired whether contracted services would
remain the same.
Loose stated that was correct. He also noted that the
three Regional Centers, Beatrice State Developmental
Center, State Veterans' Homes and Youth Rehabilitation
and Treatment Centers in Geneva and Kearney were state-wide
services and would not be part of the management structure.
Reba Schafer, Lincoln Area Agency on Aging
Administrator, and Rubottom voiced concern regarding
the long term implications for providers, once
boundaries are established.
Rubottom also stated concern that boundaries were being
established by Administration, rather than the
Legislature, and suggested that it may have been more
beneficial to have brought counties together for
discussion and recommendations, rather than requesting
individual resolutions.
Steinman noted that Lancaster County has strong ties to
the local office and input in to how the services are
disbursed, even though it is managed by the State. She
also noted concern about the effect of the proposed
changes.
Boesch inquired as to whether Lancaster County, based
on its size, could become its own service area.
Loose stated that the Health and Human Services
Leadership Committee had recommended against
establishment of one county service areas, as every
county could then make the same request.
Steinman suggested that perhaps a population
stipulation could be made.
In response to a question from Boesch, Rubottom
reported that Douglas County wants to remain affiliated
with Region VI.
George Hanigan, Community Mental Health Center
Director, suggested that State schedule one meeting
with all the relevant agencies to discuss issues. He
also stated that the State should recognize areas where
programs are working and capitalize on it.
Loose distributed a handout titled Local Integrated
Health & Human Service Network (Exhibit B).
In response to a question from Boesch, Loose stated
that counties can not vote to exclude a county from
inclusion in a service area.
Boesch also expressed concern that one service area may
be required to accept more clients than it can provide
for or may have already minimal staff deployed to other
counties to meet their needs.
Loose said their was no intent to change the activity
or staffing in the Lancaster County office.
Dave Merrill, Region V Services, clarified that funding
will not be affected if a county elects to not respond
to the request for input.
Loose affirmed this.
Tussing noted concern with the wording of the State's
letter to service providers and the implication that
services would not continue to be provided unless
letters of consent were signed.
Rubottom noted that there appeared to be three main
issues of concern:
a. Boundary Issue
b. Making all Service Providers Employees of the
State
c. Combining Developmental Disabilities, Mental
Health and Aging into a "Super Board"
Boesch inquired, for clarification, whether signature
of a resolution with regards to the establishment of
service areas by the Board was necessary, or whether
the State was merely seeking input from the County
Board.
Rubottom stated that the sample resolution was designed
as a way for the State to get feedback from the
counties.
Boesch stated that rather than issuing a resolution,
the County Board could relay a collection of concerns
that this action is precedent setting in terms of risk
in the Legislature and long range implications.
Loose stated that would be acceptable.
Hanigan suggested that the County and the local Health
and Human Services office relay to the State what
partnerships currently exist and for what purpose they
are intended.
Steinman requested that Boesch and several other
providers present design a letter of response to Health
and Human Services by Tuesday, for the Board's
signature.
Boesch agreed to do so.
Loose distributed packets of materials related to the
provision and funding of health and human services
(Exhibit C).
5 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
Justin Evertson and Steve Gaul, Ecological Advisory
Committee; Mike DeKalb and Nicole Fleck-Tooze, Planning
Department
Justin Evertson, Ecological Advisory Committee Chair,
stated that it was important to begin to identify the
important issues in Lancaster County which can be
sustainability indicators of areas to improve and focus
on.
Mike DeKalb, Planning, stated that the Ecological
Advisory Committee would be seeking the Board's
acceptance of the sustainability report and approval of
it's dissemination to the public and other agencies.
Steve Gaul, Ecological Advisory Committee, stated that
the report, which is actually a series of reports,
evolved from it's original concept. He stated that the
intent was to gather in one place existing trend,
benchmark and historic data relevant to Lancaster
County and to identify some of the monitoring efforts
taking place.
Gaul stated that the report examines vegetation,
wildlife, soil, ground water, air resource,
recreational land use and solid waste and noted that
much of the data is complex. He noted that time
constraints prevented exploration of other relevant
topics.
Gaul defined "sustainability" as development which
meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their needs. He
stated that although the Ecological Advisory Committee
was concerned with assembling data that examined those
issues sources, data and needs change with time and
different interpretations of the data can be made.
Steinman inquired whether sustainability studies
conducted in other areas were performed by government
entities or volunteer groups.
Evertson stated that he was not aware of any other
studies of this type that were developed, implemented
and written by a volunteer committee, without paid
assistance.
DeKalb noted that comparisons were difficult as other
jurisdictions conducting sustainability studies
establish different benchmarks, levels of depth and
apply different resources for different purposes.
In response to a question from Steinman, DeKalb stated
that published copies of the report are available in
the Planning Department.
Board consensus to place acceptance of the
sustainability report on the agenda for the Tuesday,
September 2nd meeting.
DeKalb reported that the Ecological Advisory Committee
had set up a subcommittee and work with the City Parks
and Recreation Department in an initial study of
Wilderness Park, with future focus on the impact of
longer term development on the park. He noted that the
City Parks and Recreation Department would also act as
a mechanism in requesting grant money for the study.
Steinman inquired about the timetable for the study.
Gaul stated that the preliminary report was anticipated
within a year.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
a. Accessibility of Retirement Accounts on the
Internet
Eagan reported that information regarding
retirement accounts is now available on the
Internet. He suggested that the Board request
Information Services to investigate whether this
confidential information is secure. He also
recommended that the Board send a letter to
Department Directors and Elected Officials
requesting that they poll their employees to
determine whether this was a desired service.
Hudkins expressed concern that the retirement
account information could be accessed for the
purpose of commercial ventures.
b. Letter of Appreciation for Jennifer Lynne, Noxious
Weed Control Authority
Eagan reported that Russ Shultz, Noxious Weed
Control Authority Superintendent, had drafted a
letter for the Board recognizing Jennifer Lynne,
who is retiring from the Noxious Weed Control
Authority, for her years of service.
Board consensus to authorize the Chair to sign the
letter of recognition.
6 CONSENT ITEMS
c. Microcomputer Request C#97234 from the County
Clerk for $778.32 from the Microcomputer Fund for
WordPerfect 7.0 Upgrades
Eagan reported that the upgrade was necessary for
implementation of the Keyfile data management
system in the County Clerk's office.
b. VISA Credit Card Application for the Attention
Center
Steinman noted that the Board had previously
stated reservations about granting the VISA credit
card request for the Attention Center.
Eagan reported that he and Dave Kroeker, Budget
and Fiscal Officer, had met Mike Thurber,
Corrections Director, and Dennis Banks, Attention
Center Director, and were satisfied that a credit
card for Transport expenses would be useful.
Eagan stated that the credit card would have a
spending limit of $500.
MOTION: Tussing moved and Svoboda seconded
approval of the Consent Items.
On call Tussing, Svoboda, Hudkins
and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
7 ACTION ITEMS
a. Centennial Certificate for Virgil Stallings
Eagan reported that the certificate had been
signed by the Board and would be presented to
Virgil Stallings at a ceremony on Friday, August
22nd.
b. County Representative at the Southeast District
Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO)
Meeting
Tussing agreed to attend the Nebraska Association
of County Officials (NACO) Southeast
District Fall Meeting luncheon and extend a
welcome greeting to participants on behalf of the
Board.
8 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Letter of Resignation from Doug Wassung from the
Visitors Promotion Committee
Eagan reported that Doug Wassung had resigned from
the Visitors Promotion Committee, creating a
vacancy.
Hudkins suggested that the Board request a
recommendation from the Lincoln Lodging
Association with regards to filling the vacancy.
He noted that traditionally representation on the
Visitors Promotion Committee includes one member
each of a large and small lodging facility.
Steinman reported that a meeting to discuss the
concerns noted by Doug Wassung in his letter of
resignation was held, but that he had elected not
to attend.
9 PENDING
a. Establishment of Special Improvement District in
Princeton
b. South Street Campus
Steinman noted that the Board was still concerned
about the lack of a report from John Layman,
Appraiser, on St. Francis Chapel.
Eagan agreed to pursue the matter.
10 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Hudkins
Hudkins reported that discussion focused on
selection of colors, floor tile and coverings, the
floor surface in the escalator area and redesign
of the security checkpoint waiting area in the
Justice and Law Enforcement Center.
Hudkins also reported that problems caused by
humidity during construction had necessitated
implementation of the air conditioning in the new
County/City Building. He stated that the
estimated cost was $13,000, with the Public
Building Commission paying $3,000 and the
Contractor the remainder.
b. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Tussing
Tussing reported on adult and youth activities at
the Nature Center and the restructure of fees for
tennis sales to include tax collection.
Tussing also reported that the Antelope Valley
Nature Study group had been searching for
available land on which to locate retention ponds.
She stated that the City Parks and Recreation
Department had expressed concern regarding
maintenance when they learned that Lewis Ball
Diamond was one of the areas under consideration.
c. Government Access & Information Committee -
Steinman
Steinman reported that six computers from the
InterLinc Project had been offered for reuse by
the Parks and Recreation Department. Steinman
stated that two of the computers would be located
in the kiosk configuration in the new County/City
Building and that the remaining four had been
offered to human service agencies, possibly as
training tools.
Steinman also reported that Information Systems
was assisting the City Libraries in the
development of a Internet homepage.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
c. Health Department Update
Hudkins reported that the Board of Health will be
meeting at 6 p.m. to receive a report from the
consultant hired to evaluate the performance of
the Director and the plan of unification as the
Health Department moves under the direct
supervision of the City of Lincoln.
In response to a question from Steinman, Hudkins
stated that he felt the entire Board of Health
should be present to take any further action with
regards to the Director.
Hudkins also reported that Ed Wimes,
Administrative Assistant to the Mayor, will serve
as the Mayor's liaison to the Board of Health.
11 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Thursday, August
21, 1997, at 1:15 p.m., in the County-City
Building, Fourth Floor Conference Room - Hudkins
b. Special Board of Health Meeting - Thursday, August
21, 1997, at 6 p.m., at 3140 "N" Street, #236 -
Hudkins
c. Juvenile Justice Comprehensive Study Interviews -
Monday, August 25, 1997, at 3 p.m., at Hruska Law
Center, Second Floor - Steinman
d. Railroad Transportation Safety District - Tuesday,
August 26, 1997, at 8:30 a.m., at the County-City
Building, Council Chambers - All Commissioners
e. District Energy Corporation - Tuesday, August 26,
1997, at 12 p.m., at the Lincoln Electric System
Boardroom - Hudkins, Svoboda
f. Community Mental Health Center Advisory Committee
- Wednesday, August 27, 1997, at 12 p.m., at the
Community Mental Health Center, Basement
Conference Room - Svoboda
g. Lancaster County Emergency Planning Committee -
Wednesday, August 27, 1997, at 1 p.m., in the
County-City Building, Emergency Operations Center
- Hudkins
12 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS
a. Grand Opening Celebration for the
Renovation of Crossroads House - Monday, August
25, 1997, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., at 1000 "O" Street
b. United Way/CHAD Campaign Kickoff - Thursday,
September 4, 1997, at 12 p.m., at the Lincoln
Foundation Garden, 215 Centennial Mall South
c. County and Municipal Road and Street Program
Management and Reporting Requirements Workshop -
Wednesday, October 22, 1997, from 9:30 a.m. to
2:30 p.m., at the Villager Motor Inn
13 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
14 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
15 AGENDA ITEMS FOR THE COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 1997
16 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
17 ADJOURNMENT
By direction of the Chair, the meeting was adjourned.
_________________________
Kandra Hahn
Lancaster County Clerk