Lancaster County
Board of Commissioners
Board of Commissioners
lancaster.ne.gov
STAFF MEETING AGENDA
Lancaster County Board of Commissioners
Thursday, July 9, 1998 - 8:00 a.m.
County-City Building - Meeting Room #113
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF STAFF MEETING MINUTES OF JULY 2, 1998
2 ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
3 8:30am BUDGET WORKING SESSION
Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer
4 9:00am JUVENILE PROBATION
Ed Burkle, State Juvenile Probation Officer
5 9:30am WINNING WITH WELLNESS
Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation and Risk Manager
6 9:45am LABOR NEGOTIATIONS; PENDING LITIGATION
Ron Todd, Personnel Director;
John Cripe, Classification & Pay Manager;
Mike Thew, Chief Deputy County Attorney
7 10:15am LAND REUTILIZATION COMMISSION
Clint Thomas, City Real Estate and Relocation;
Bill Austin, Lincoln City Attorney;
Doug Cyr, Deputy County Attorney
8 10:45am PIONEER CEMETERY HISTORIC SIGNS
Ed Zimmer, Planning Department
9 11:00am LANCASTER MANOR REFINANCING
Bill Giovanni, Ameritas Investment Corporation
10 ACTION ITEMS
a. Submission of $5,000 Grant Request to Office of Community
Justice for Development of a Comprehensive Community
Corrections Plan
b. HHS Network Management Services Meeting RSVP
c. Board of Equalization Hearings
11 CONSENT ITEMS
12 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Contract with Sinclair Hille Re: Attention Center
b. Contract with Sinclair Hille Re: Justice Building Review
Committee and Invoice with Editech
c. Policy Meeting with Karen Chinn
d. Reappointment of Betty Olson, Rollin Schnieder and Shirley
Fralin to the Advisory Defense Council
e. Appointment of David Dykmann to Lancaster Manor Advisory
Board
f. Community Technology Grant
g. Conversion to Oracle for Noxious Weed Control
13 PENDING
14 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Hudkins
b. Ecological Advisory Committee - Tussing
15 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. City-County Common Budget Hearings - Thursday, July 9,
1998, from 12:15 to 4:30 p.m. at the County-City Building,
Room #113 - All Commissioners
b. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Thursday, July 9,
1998, at 4:00 p.m., at the County-City Building,
Commissioners Hearing Room - Tussing
c. Growth at the Fringe - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, at 7:30
a.m, at the County-City Building, Mayor's Conference Room
- Campbell
d. Budget Work Session - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, from 8:00
a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #106
- All Commissioners
e. Public Building Commission - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, at
3:30 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #113
Campbell, Hudkins
f. Board of Health - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, at 7:30 p.m., at
3119 "O" Street - Hudkins
g. Government Access & Information Committee -
Wednesday, July 15, 1998, at 12:00 p.m., at the County-
City Building, Room #206 - Steinman
16 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS
17 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
18 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
19 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF JULY 14, 1998
20 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
MINUTES
Lancaster County Board of Commissioners
County-City Building
Meeting Room #113
Thursday, July 9, 1998
8:30 a.m.
Commissioners Present: Linda Steinman, Chair
Kathy Campbell
Larry Hudkins
Darlene Tussing
Commissioners Absent: Steve Svoboda
Others Present: Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer
Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer
Ann Taylor, County Clerk's Office
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING OF
JULY 2, 1998.
MOTION: Hudkins moved and Tussing seconded approval of the minutes.
The Board requested that following corrections be made to the
minutes:
Change Item 11, Section c, Sentence 2 to read as follows:
Tussing also stated they discussed the new local short term residential
provider, as Hasting's residential program will be closing on October 1,
1998.
Change Item 4, Paragraph 7, Sentence 3 to read as follows:
Steinman indicated if the County has equipment that is portable,
someone will have to maintain and take care of the equipment.
AMENDED: Hudkins moved and Tussing seconded approval of the minutes
with the stated corrections. On call Hudkins, Tussing and Steinman
voted aye. Campbell abstained from voting. Motion carried.
2 ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
a. Billing from Chinn Planning, Inc.
b. Meeting to Discuss Establishment of a City Cable Service
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded approval of the additions
to the agenda. On call Campbell, Tussing, Hudkins and Steinman
voted aye. Motion carried.
ACTION ITEMS
c. Board of Equalization Hearings
Kandra Hahn, County Clerk, distributed copies of a proposed schedule for
the Board of Equalization hearings on property valuation protests
(Exhibit A). She suggested that the hearings take place in Room 113, as
there are scheduling conflicts for the Commissioners Hearing Room. Hahn
also suggested that those individuals appearing to appeal their valuations
before the Board of Equalization that did not meet previously with a referee
be provided an opportunity to meet with Tom Kubert, Referee
Coordinator, in Conference Room 106.
The Board approved the hearing schedule, but requested that
further evaluation of the hearing room and number of scheduled
hearing dates take place following the first week of hearings.
3 BUDGET WORKING SESSION - Dave Kroeker, Budget
& Fiscal Officer
County Assessor
Robin Hendricksen, Chief Administrative Deputy Assessor, requested that
the Board reconsider the reduction in the Education/Training line item in
the County Assessor's budget. He noted that the requirement for continuing
education for appraisers has increased eight hours over the last two years.
Hendricksen stated that appraisers in the County Assessor's office are not
permitted to perform outside appraisal work. In exchange the County
Assessor's office has covered the cost of their continuing education.
Hendricksen also noted that the exchange of information at the annual Oasis
Conference, such as how to print comparable sheets for use in the property
valuation process, has resulted in cost savings to the County.
Steinman noted that the Board's intent was to keep requests for
significant increases over last year's budget at the same level
of funding as expended last year, with further review at mid-year.
Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer, noted that actual cost
figures for the County Assessor's education/training were not
available at the time the budget was prepared. He agreed to
review those costs and report back to the Board.
County Treasurer
Terry Adams, Deputy County Treasurer, reported that there is a shortage of
space for the drivers license section in the Motor Vehicle Licensing
facility at 625 N 46th Street. He estimated the cost of
furniture and space readjustment at $10,000.
Kroeker stated there were sufficient funds available in the Building Fund
for the project.
Adams stated that he will present the plans for the space readjustment
to the Board once they have been approved by the State.
Noxious Weed Control Authority
Doug Thomas, Information Services Director, reported that the costs and
advantages of converting the Noxious Weed Control Authority from Rbase to
Oracle has been analyzed, at the request of the Board (Exhibit B).
Jim Anderson, Information Services Director, noted that advantages to
Oracle conversion include:
Consolidation of yearly data
Conformance to relational database standards
Geographic Information System (GIS) integration
Automation of manual procedures
Year 2000 compliance
Point of entry error checking
Automated data entry
Thomas estimated the total cost of conversion to Oracle at $35,000, but
noted that there will be support and training costs if the Noxious Weed
Control Authority remains on the Rbase System.
Campbell suggested that funding of the Oracle conversion be included as
a program development cost in Information Services' budget.
Kroeker agreed to review the Noxious Weed Control Authority budget to
determine whether funds budgeted for Rbase costs could be transferred to
help fund the conversion.
Tussing suggested that the charge to the City for weed abatement be
reviewed.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to authorize conversion
of the Noxious Weed Control Authority from Rbase System to Oracle
and requested that Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer, and Doug
Thomas, Information Services Director, work together to readjust
the budgets to fund the conversion project. On call Campbell,
Tussing, Hudkins and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
Grants Fund
Kroeker briefly reviewed the Grants Funds Proposed Budget FY99
(Exhibit C), noting that some adjustment of figures will be needed.
Kroeker also reported that the State Department of Health & Human Services
has indicated that figure for the Intergovernmental Transfer payment,
included in the Miscellaneous category, will probably double next year.
Campbell requested that Kroeker indicate with an asterisk and an explanation
at the bottom of the Lancaster County Comparison FY99 to FY98 Expense
Budget (Exhibit D), and all other working budget documents, that the
29% increase in the Grants Fund Budget is due to a transfer of funds on
behalf of the State of Nebraska. She also suggested that Kroeker include a
budget line item that indicates the percentage of increase, excluding the
State of Nebraska transfer.
The Board also requested that Kroeker and Kit Boesch, Human Services
Administrator, evaluate the Grants Administrator program and report back
to the Board at a Thursday County Board of Commissioners meeting.
Hudkins left the meeting.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
a. Billing from Chinn Planning, Inc.
Dennis Banks, Attention Center Director, reported that Chinn Planning, Inc.,
has submitted an invoice that exceeds their contract by $1,328 (Exhibit E).
He noted that the excess expense was attributed to additional trips made by
Chinn Planning, Inc. representatives, at the request of the Board, to "jump
start" Phase II of the Lancaster County Comprehensive Juvenile Justice
System Study.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to authorize the additional
$1,328 expense to the Chinn Planning, Inc. contract, which was
related to Phase II of the Lancaster County Comprehensive
Juvenile Justice System Study. On call Campbell, Tussing and
Steinman voted aye. Hudkins was absent from voting. Motion
carried.
4 JUVENILE PROBATION
Ed Burkle, State Juvenile Probation Officer;
Dennis Banks, Attention Center Director
Ed Burkle, State Juvenile Probation Officer reported that the State Juvenile
Probation office recently implemented a statewide system of case management
reporting which should address one of the concerns noted in the Lancaster
County Comprehensive Juvenile Justice System Study. He suggested that State
Juvenile Probation expand its provision of pre-adjudication and electronic
monitoring services to a State-wide basis and work on development
of protocol for graduated sanctions as an alternative to detention.
Hudkins returned to the meeting.
Steinman noted that the County's Juvenile Justice Council has held numerous
discussions on the issue of graduated sanctions and urged Burkle to meet
with Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator, to discuss the issue. She
also noted that the Juvenile Court Judges have indicated that they may be
willing to accept the concept of an Assessment Center, provided that the
assessments are made by a Probation Officer.
Campbell asked whether there was a possibility of assigning additional
probation officers to Lancaster County.
Burkle responded that the State will be adding 26 additional probation
officers, although placement has not yet been determined. He noted,
however, the State's new database will allow improved assessment of the
probation caseload to determine the greatest areas of need.
5 WINNING WITH WELLNESS
Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation & Risk Manager
Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation & Risk Manager, briefly reported on the
Winning with Wellness program, which encourages participants to change
their behavior in the areas of health, exercise and recycling. She noted
that the four week program will commence on August 2nd and end on
August 28th.
Eckley noted that the County has sufficient in the Wellness Fund to pay
the $2.00 registration fee for any County employee wishing to participate.
She noted that family members wishing to participate will be responsible
for their registration fees.
6 LABOR NEGOTIATIONS; PENDING LITIGATION - Ron Todd,
Personnel Director; John Cripe, Classification & Pay
Manager; Mike Thew, Chief Deputy County Attorney
MOTION: Tussing moved and Hudkins seconded to enter Executive Session
at 9:54 a.m. for discussion of labor negotiations, pending
litigation and a personnel matter. On call Tussing, Hudkins,
Campbell and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
MOTION: Tussing moved and Campbell seconded to exit Executive Session
at 10:33 a.m. On call Tussing, Campbell, Hudkins and Steinman voted
aye. Motion carried.
ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA
b. Meeting to Discuss Establishment of a City Cable Service
The Board designated Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer,
to serve as the Board's representative at the meeting.
7 LAND REUTILIZATION COMMISSION
Clint Thomas, City Real Estate and Relocation;
Bill Austin, Lincoln City Attorney;
Doug Cyr, Deputy County Attorney;
Terry Adams, Deputy County Treasurer
Eagan noted that the Board has given consideration to the issue of whether
to enter into an agreement with Douglas County to have their Land
Reutilization Commission serve in that capacity for Lancaster County. He
noted that, should the County choose to do so, 90% of the funds realized
from the property sales will go directly to the Land Reutilization
Commission. Eagan noted that the County could also choose to extend their
Interlocal Agreement with the City to allow their Real Estate and
Relocation Department to operate on behalf of Lancaster County's Land
Reutilization Commission.
Campbell inquired whether the Public Building Commission could
serve as Lancaster County's Land Reutilization Commission.
Doug Cyr, Deputy County Attorney, stated no, that membership is
dictated by State Statutes. He cautioned that the Board will be
creating a new political subdivision if they choose to proceed
with establishment of a Land Reutilization Commission. Cyr also
noted concern that, since Land Reutilization Commissions do not
take title to the properties in their name, the certificates can
remain open indefinitely on the Treasurer's books.
Steinman noted concern that the County currently lacks oversight to
determine whether property placed on tax sales may be of interest to
the County.
Cyr reported that Robin Hendricksen, Chief Administrative Deputy
Assessor, currently reviews the properties listed for tax sale
against the assessments and bids on those properties on behalf of
the County.
Clint Thomas, City Real Estate and Relocation, noted that he is
only authorized to bid up to the amount that the City has
invested in each property offered for sale. He also noted that
his department maintains an inventory, but does not actively
market the properties.
Board concurrence to explore the Interlocal Agreement with the
City of Lincoln on land reutilization issues.
Bill Austin, Lincoln City Attorney, noted that the issue of
extending the Interlocal Agreement has not yet been raised with
the Mayor or the City Council.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to send a letter to
Mayor Johanns and the City Council requesting an Interlocal
Agreement on land reutilization issues. On call Campbell,
Tussing, Hudkins and Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
The Board requested Eagan to notify Marty Barnhart, Director of the Land
Re-utilization Commission for Douglas County, of the Board's decision.
8 PIONEER CEMETERY HISTORIC SIGNS - Ed Zimmer, Planning Department
Eagan noted that the County has a responsibility, under State Statutes, to
provide historical information with regards to any abandoned pioneer
cemeteries of which the County has assumed maintenance.
Ed Zimmer, Planning Department, suggested that signs be placed at
the cemeteries which include the following information:
Name of the cemetery and additional names by which it is
commonly known
Date of the cemetery's establishment
Prominent families buried in the cemetery
Brief standardized text
Zimmer suggested that the County Engineering Department produce the signage
in their shop.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Hudkins seconded to send a letter to Russ
Shultz, Noxious Weed Control Authority Superintendent, and Don
Thomas, County Engineer, explaining the project, and asking if
the County Engineering Department could produce the signage,
funded through the Noxious Weed Control Authority budget, with
Ed Zimmer, Planning Department, providing the text. On call
Campbell, Hudkins, Tussing and Steinman voted aye. Motion
carried.
9 LANCASTER MANOR REFINANCING
Bill Giovanni, Ameritas Investment Corporation;
Larry Van Hunnik, Lancaster Manor Administrator;
Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer
Bill Giovanni, Ameritas Investment Corporation, reported that
refinancing the Lancaster Manor bonds, with outstanding principal
in the amount of 7 million dollars, could result in an aggregate
cost savings of approximately $630,000.
Giovanni stated that he had worked with Bill Seim, Certified
Public Accountant, and determined through review of Medicare and
Medicaid regulations, that interest savings would accrue to the
benefit of the State and Federal government and can not be shared
with the County. He noted, however, that there would be a
revenue neutral impact on the County. Giovanni also noted that
it had been determined that Medicaid reimbursement will cover the
cost of issuance.
Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer, noted that two outside
brokerage firms have reviewed the issue and recommended
reissuance of the bonds.
Giovanni recommended proceeding as follows:
- Preparation of the various bond documents
- Staff review of bond documents, estimated timeframe of 3 to 4 weeks
- Submit bond documents to Moody's and Standards and Poors for
review and assignment of a rating
Giovanni noted that once the rating is received, the bonds will be placed
out for bid, with award to the lowest bidder.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Hudkins seconded to proceed with the Lancaster
Manor refinancing, as outlined by Bill Giovanni, Ameritas
Investment Corporation. On call Campbell, Hudkins, Tussing and
Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
10 ACTION ITEMS
c. Submission of $5,000 Grant Request to Office of Community Justice
for Development of a Comprehensive Community Corrections Plan
Steinman noted concern that there may be a duplication of services.
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to approve submission of the
$5,000 grant request for the development of a Comprehensive
Community Corrections Plan. On call Campbell, Tussing, Hudkins and
Steinman voted aye. Motion carried.
d. Health & Human Services Network Management Services Meeting RSVP
Board consensus to have Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer, and Kit
Boesch, Human Services Administrator, serve as the Board's representatives
at the meeting (Commissioners' Information Packet).
The Board also requested Eagan to send notice of the meeting to the
following:
- Carole Douglas, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department Acting
Director
- George Hanigan, Community Mental Health Center Director
- Reba Schafer, Lincoln Area Agency on Aging Administrator
e. Board of Equalization Hearings
This item was moved forward on the agenda.
11 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Contract with Sinclair Hille Regarding Attention Center
Eagan stated that the contractual relationship with Jim Hille,
Sinclair Hille & Associates Inc., for the Attention Center needs
to be reviewed, as his agreement under the Chinn Planning, Inc.
contract has expired.
Campbell noted that Hille has been involved with the project
since the beginning and it was assumed that he would continue to
serve as the architect. She suggested that further
contract negotiation with Hille include defining the scope of
work, with phases defined up to construction of a new facility.
b. Contract with Sinclair Hille Regarding Justice Building Review
Committee and Invoice with EDTECH Inc.
Eagan reported that the existing contract with Bahr Vermeer & Haecker
Architects does not cover the purchase of furniture and technology or
operational costs for the Hall of Justice and Law Enforcement Center.
Steinman reported that Steve Flanders, Project Manager, has
renegotiated the contract with Lane Bakke, EDTECH Inc., for his
technology assistance.
In response to a question from Hudkins, Steinman stated that
there may be funds available in the Technology Fund to pay
Bakke's consulting fee.
Campbell stated that Bakke's fee is clearly a County expense, as
it is related to courtroom technology, but that the contract
issue needs to be resolved.
The Board requested that Don Killeen, County Property Manager;
Steve Flanders, Project Manager; and Jim Hille, Sinclair Hille &
Associates Inc., appear at the Final Budget Hearing scheduled
from 8 a.m to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, July 14th to discuss
the scope of the contract.
c. Policy Meeting with Karen Chinn, Chinn Planning, Inc.
Board consensus to schedule the policy meeting with Chinn Planning, Inc.
for August 6th, with an alternative date of August 20th.
Meeting participants will include the following:
Juvenile Court Judge Tom Dawson
Juvenile Court Judge Toni Thorson
Dennis Banks, Attention Center Director
Gary Lacey, County Attorney
Dennis Keefe, Public Defender
Tom Casady, Chief of Police
Terry Wagner, County Sheriff
Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator
Dave Kroeker, Budget & Fiscal Officer
Bill Janike, Chief Probation Officer
Campbell noted that clarification is needed on the issue of
establishment of a "Country Docket" in the County Court so that
technology and Court Administrator issues can be addressed.
d. Reappointment of Betty Olson, Rollin Schnieder and
Shirley Fralin to the Advisory Defense Council
Board will take action on this item at the Tuesday, July
14th County Board of Commissioners meeting.
e. Appointment of David Dykmann to Lancaster Manor Advisory Board
Board will take action on this item at the Tuesday, July
14th County Board of Commissioners meeting.
f. Community Technology Fund Grant
Steinman reported briefly on a proposal from the Government
Access Information Committee (GAIC) to seek a Community
Technology Fund Grant which would fund a partnership effort
between six rural high schools and the eleven villages in the
InterLinc project to update web site information (Commissioners
Information Packet).
Board consensus to seek Option 3, with the $9,430 cash match from
the Information Services budget.
g. Conversion to Oracle for Noxious Weed Control
This item was discussed under Item 3.
12 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Hudkins
Hudkins reported that the City Attorney's office will require
additional shelving space in the Hall of Justice and Law
Enforcement Center to house their Premise computer system and law
books. He noted that the $4,600 expense will be deducted from
the City Attorney's budget.
b. Ecological Advisory Committee - Tussing
Tussing reported that discussion focused on the Wilderness Park
Study. She noted that the water retention study will use
modeling in the Geographic Information System (GIS) to
demonstrate the various effects of placements.
Tussing also reported that the subarea plan has a target
completion date of December, 1999 to coincide with the
Comprehensive Plan Annual Review.
13 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. City-County Common Budget Hearings - Thursday, July 9, 1998,
from 12:15 to 4:30 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #113
- All Commissioners
b. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Thursday, July 9, 1998, at
4 p.m., at the County-City Building, Commissioners Hearing Room
- Tussing
c. Growth at the Fringe - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, at 7:30 a.m., at
the County-City Building, Mayor's Conference Room - Campbell
d. Budget Work Session - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, from 8 a.m. to
12 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #106 -
All Commissioners
e. Public Building Commission - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, at 3:30 p.m.
at the County-City Building, Room #113 - Campbell, Hudkins
f. Board of Health - Tuesday, July 14, 1998, at 7:30 p.m., at
3119 "O" Street - Hudkins
g. Government Access & Information Committee - Wednesday, July 15,
1998, at 12 p.m., at the County-City Building, Room #206 -
Steinman
14 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS
15 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
16 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
17 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF JULY 14, 1998
18 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
RETURNING TO ITEM 6
MOTION: Tussing moved and Hudkins seconded to enter Executive Session
at 11:57 a.m. for continued discussion of a personnel matter.
On call Tussing, Hudkins, Campbell and Steinman voted aye.
Motion carried.
MOTION: Tussing moved and Campbell seconded to exit Executive Session
at 12:13 p.m. On call Tussing, Campbell, Hudkins and Steinman
voted aye. Motion carried.
19 ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Campbell moved and Tussing seconded to adjourn the meeting. On
call Campbell, Tussing, Hudkins and Steinman voted aye. Motion
carried.
Kandra Hahn
Lancaster County Clerk