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, September 18, 1997
8:30 a.m.
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF STAFF MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 11, 1997
2 ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
3 8:30am STREET VACATION NO. 97006, EAST 25 FT. OF S.W. 16TH
STREET FROM W. BURNHAM STREET SOUTH TO SOUTH SECTION
LINE; BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS NO. 105, REGARDING
INTERPRETATION OF LANCASTER COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS,
SECTIONS 2.0678 AND 15.001 (HOME OCCUPATIONS)
Mike DeKalb, Planning
4 9:00am SAFETY AND HEALTH FAIR
Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation & Risk Manager
5 9:15am STAFF SECURE FACILITY
Don Killeen, County Property Manager; Kit Boesch, Human
Services Director; Jim Blue, Cedars Youth Services
Director
6 9:45am VOTE ON FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE PURCHASE
OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR THE TACTICAL
RESPONSE UNIT
Bill Jarrett, Chief Deputy Sheriff
7 10:00am SALARIES FOR UNCLASSIFIED, UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES,
SHERIFF CAPTAINS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS
8 ACTION ITEMS
a. Recycling Site at Trabert Hall
b. Contingency Fund Recommendation from VPC for $1,500
for the Junior Angus Show
c. Request from Carole Eddins to Delay First Payment
From KINKO From July 1, 1997 to June 1, 1998
9 CONSENT ITEMS
a. Proxy for Nationwide Money Market Fund
10 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Monitoring of County Board Meetings by Staff
11 PENDING
a. Establishment of Special Improvement District in
Princeton
b. South Street Campus
12 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Hudkins
b. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Tussing
c. Visitors Promotion Committee - Svoboda
d. GA Burial Subcommittee - Campbell, Tussing
e. Information Services Policy Committee - Steinman
f. Government Access & Information Committee - Steinman
13 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. City-County Common - Friday, September 19,
1997, at 8:00 a.m., at the County-City Building,
Fourth Floor Conference Room - All Commissioners
14 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS
a. Open House for Christian Record Services - September
21, 1997, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m., at 4444 S. 52nd St
b. "Community Connections" Publication Party and
Distribution Day - Thursday, September 25, 1997, at
9:00 a.m., at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health
Department Training Center, 3119 "O" Street
15 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
16 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
17 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23,
1997
18 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
MINUTES
Lancaster County Board Of Commissioners
County-City Building
Fourth Floor Conference Room
Thursday, September 18, 1997
8:30 a.m.
Commissioners Present: Linda Steinman, Chair
Larry Hudkins
Steve Svoboda
Darlene Tussing
Commissioners Absent: Kathy Campbell
Others Present: Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer
Ann Taylor, County Clerk's Office
AGENDA ITEM
1 APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 11, 1997
MOTION: Tussing moved and Hudkins seconded approval of the
minutes. On call Tussing, Hudkins, Svoboda and Steinman
voted aye. Motion carried.
2 ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
a. Reclassified property near Pioneers Park in the Comprehensive
Plan
MOTION: Hudkins moved and Svoboda seconded approval of the
addition. On call Hudkins, Svoboda, Tussing and Steinman
voted aye. Motion carried.
3 STREET VACATION NUMBER 97006, EAST 25 FEET OF SOUTHWEST 16TH
STREET FROM WEST BURNHAM STREET SOUTH TO SOUTH SECTION LINE;
BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS NUMBER 105, REGARDING INTERPRETATION OF
LANCASTER COUNTY ZONING REGULATIONS, SECTIONS 2.0678 AND 15.001
(HOME OCCUPATIONS) - Mike DeKalb, Planning Department
Mike DeKalb, Planning Department, briefly reported on
Street Vacation Number 97006, a request to vacate a
portion of Southwest 16 th Street south of West Burnham
Street, noting recommendation for approval (Exhibit
"A").
DeKalb also reported on Board of Zoning Number 105,
regarding an interpretation of the Lancaster County
Zoning Regulations with regard to home occupation
(Exhibit "B").
DeKalb reported that Marty Ivins, applicant, was
required to show compliance with local zoning
regulations when applying renewal of his federal
firearms license. He stated that Mr. Ivins resides on
an acreage outside the three-mile zone and operates a
business called Red Arrow Products. Mr. Ivins' primary
business is related to his apple orchard, although he
also operates a machine shop, repairs cellular phones
and satellite dishes and repairs and customizes guns.
In addition, Mr. Ivins has ordered and sold guns
although he does not operate a show room or maintain
inventory. Mr. Ivins contends that the sale of guns is
incidental to his gun smithing operation.
DeKalb reported that the Building and Safety Department
had determined that Mr. Ivins was not in compliance
with Zoning Regulation Section 15.001 which states, "no
commodity shall be sold upon the premises except that
which is prepared on the premise in connection with
such occupation or activity or which is sold in
relation and incidental to such occupation".
DeKalb reported that Ivins had appealed the ruling to
the County Board of Zoning Appeals, alleging an error
in interpretation of the code. He reported that the
Board of Zoning Appeals upheld the finding of the
Building and Safety Department on a three to zero vote.
In response to a question from Hudkins, Diane Staab,
Deputy County Attorney, indicated that Ivins would be
providing additional information regarding the number
of gun sales in proportion to his gun smithing
operation. If the figures indicate that the sale of
guns was minimal in proportion to the gun smithing
operation the issue may be resolved administratively.
DeKalb noted that if the County Board finds that an
error in interpretation of the County Zoning laws did
occur, the finding will be applicable to all zoning
districts not just this one particular property.
4 SAFETY AND HEALTH FAIR - Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation and
Risk Management Manager
Sue Eckley, Workers' Compensation and Risk Management
Manager, reported on the results with the "Winning with
Wellness" contest, noting that the grand prize winner
was Janet Becker, a legal secretary in the County
Attorney's Office.
Eckley briefly reported on the Safety and Health Fair
scheduled for March 15, 1998 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at
Pershing Auditorium, noting that the fair is a joint
effort by Lancaster County, the City of Lincoln,
Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln Electric System.
She noted there will be joint funding of the event by
those entities, stating that the County's $1,000
contribution would be through the Wellness and Fitness
budget.
Eckley reported that the purpose of the fair is to
promote safety and resources within Lincoln and
Lancaster County and provided a list of vendors which
have indicated interest in participating in the fair
(Exhibit "C").
5 STAFF SECURE FACILITY - Don Killeen, County Property Manager;
Kit Boesch, Human Services Director; Jim Blue, Cedars Youth
Services Director; Allison Bushkofsky, Quality Improvement
Director, Cedars Youth Services
Jim Blue, Cedars Youth Services Director, reported that
the State Fire Marshall had inspected Trabert Hall and
determined that a sprinkler system was not required for
the juvenile staff secure facility.
Blue addressed the issue of occupation of the extra
rooms on the fourth floor of Trabert Hall by the
Women's Commission. He stated that the juvenile staff
secure facility would not be able to provide for 15
youth unless those rooms were made available. He
stated concern regarding confidentiality, contraband
and exposure to public traffic if the rooms were
occupied by other agencies.
Kit Boesch, Human Services Administrator, noted that
the concept of a staff secure facility included family
contact, and that it would not be possible unless those
rooms were available. She suggested that perhaps some
of the space occupied by the Lincoln Action Program
could be made available for the temporary location of
the Women's Commission.
Hudkins stated that it was important to have sufficient
room for expansion for additional youth in a staff
secure facility and asked Don Killen, County Property
Manager, what alternatives were available for
relocation of the Women's Commission offices in the
building.
Killeen reported that Family Services will be vacating
large rooms on the first and lower level in March. He
inquired whether the large room on first floor might be
more conducive to the needs of the juvenile staff
secure facility.
Blue replied that the staff secure facility needed to
remain a contained program, and dividing space between
two floors would require split staff to provide
supervision to youth.
Brief discussion followed, with the suggestion that the
Women's Commission temporarily locate in the two
storage rooms currently occupied by the Lincoln Action
Program on the second floor of Trabert Hall with
relocation to the large room on the first floor after
Family Services vacates in March.
Killeen reported that storage was available for Lincoln
Action Program in the "K" Street Building.
Steinman and Killeen agreed to speak to Lincoln Action
Program and the Women's Commission representatives
regarding the temporary move.
Blue provided a financial summary (Exhibit "D") noting
that $41,500 was still needed for start-up operating
expenses. He suggested that the County and Cedars
Youth Services develop a renewable contract for the per
diem cost, and that the County provide the remaining
$41,500 needed for the start-up funding. Blue also
reported that the Crime Commission has tentatively
planned funding of $100,000 to Lancaster County for the
staff secure program through the Juvenile Services Act
funding. He suggested that Lancaster County apply for
these funds to help support the per diem cost related
to the juvenile staff secure facility.
Tussing inquired whether the $70,000 in funds for
mental health assessment of youth were still available
through the Department of Public Institutions and
Office of Juvenile Services.
Blue responded that the funds were still available, but
they were targeted for the purpose of enhancing the 24-hour
crisis line for risk assessment for law enforcement, mental
health and human services agencies at the Freeway Station.
Brief discussion took place on selection of an
architect for the renovation of Trabert Hall into a
juvenile staff secure facility.
Killeen reported the Pubic Building Commission
currently contracts with Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker for
architectural services.
Kroeker reported that he had been contacted by Robert
Dawson, architect, who stated that he had performed
architectural work for Cedars Youth Services in the
past.
Board consensus to select Bahr, Vermeer and Haecker as
the architect for the renovation project.
The Board requested Diane Staab, Deputy County
Attorney, to develop a renewable contract for the per
diem cost between Lancaster County and Cedars Youth
Services and a $41,500 one time start-up cost.
The Board also requested Kit Boesch, Human Services
Administrator, to apply for the $100,000 in funds
through the Crime Commission Juvenile Services Act.
6 VOTE ON FEDERAL BLOCK GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE
PURCHASE OF A MOBILE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR THE
TACTICAL RESPONSE UNIT - Bill Jarrett, Chief Deputy Sheriff
Bill Jarrett, Chief Deputy Sheriff, requested the
approval of the County Board to apply for a Federal
Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for the purchase of a
hostage negotiations phone for the Tactical Response
Team.
In response to a question from Hudkins, Jarrett stated
that the total cost of the phone is $3,765, and the
grant would pay for $1,500 of the cost.
MOTION: Tussing moved and Hudkins seconded approval for the
Chair to sign the grant application form. On call
Tussing, Hudkins, Svoboda and Steinman voted aye.
Motion carried.
7 SALARIES FOR UNCLASSIFIED, UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES,
SHERIFF CAPTAINS AND DEPARTMENT HEADS
Attorney's II
Accept the recommendation of the County Attorney and
the Public Defender.
Veteran's Service Officer
Approve salary of $35,000.
Assistant Veteran's Service Officer
Approve salary of $26,0000.
Emergency Services Coordinator
Approve salary of $47,500.
Assistant Emergency Services Coordinator
Approve salary of $38,300. No change.
Nursing Home Administrator
Approved salary of $80,000.
Mental Health Director
Approved salary of $63,000.
Attention Center Director
Approved salary of $50,000.
Attention Center Deputy Director
Approved salary of $40,000.
Human Services Administrator
Approved salary of $49,000.
Chief Administrative Officer
Approved salary of $68,000.
Budget and Fiscal Officer
Approved salary of $62,000.
Weed Control Superintendent
Approved salary of $39,000.
Building Administrator
Approved salary of $66,000.
Corrections Director
Approved salary of $62,000.
8 ACTION ITEMS
a. Recycling Site at Trabert Hall
Don Killeen, County Property Administrator,
reported on a request from Gene Hanlon, Recycling
Coordinator, to locate a recycling drop-off site
on property south of the parking lot next to
Trabert Hall, 2202 South 11 th Street. He stated
that the cost of installing a concrete pad and
fencing for the site would be paid for by the City
of Lincoln.
Board consensus to approve the request, provided
no objections were provided by Lincoln Public
Schools which occupies the adjacent property.
b. Contingency Fund Recommendation from Visitors
Promotion Committee for $1,500 for the Junior
Angus Show
Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer, briefly
reported on the recommendation from the Visitors
Promotion Committee to award $1,500 from the
Contingency Fund to support the Junior Angus Show
held in Lincoln.
In response to a question from Hudkins, Eagan
reported that $1,500 was a standard amount for a
contingency award.
Hudkins recommended that applicants be apprised of
the award limit when making a grant application.
MOTION: Hudkins moved and Tussing seconded approval of the
Contingency Fund request. On call Hudkins,
Tussing, Svoboda and Steinman voted aye. Motion
carried.
b. Request from Carole Eddins to Delay First Payment
from KINKO Manufacturing from July 1, 1997 to June 1, 1998
Dave Kroeker, Budget and Fiscal Officer, reported
on a request from KINKO Manufacturing Company to
amend the project financing agreement signed with
the County to reflect that first payment due date
will be June 1, 1998 instead of July 1, 1997.
Kroeker reported that the City of Lincoln has also
approved the payment schedule change.
The Board requested Diane Staab, Deputy County
Attorney, to prepare an amendment to the contract
delaying the first payment as requested.
ADDITIONS TO AGENDA
Reclassified property near Pioneers Park in the Comprehensive Plan
Tussing reported that the Great Plains Trails Network had
inquired about the residential designation in the
Comprehensive Plan of a triangular parcel on the southeast
corner of the intersection of West Van Dorn Street and
Coddington Avenue. She stated that the State had determined
the parcel was not sewerable, but that the residential
designation gave the appearance that it was suitable for
development. Tussing noted that the parcel was an integral
part of the trails system.
Following brief discussion, the Board requested the Planning
Department to review the designation in the Comprehensive
Plan and make recommendation to the Board.
10 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER REPORT
a. Monitoring of County Board Meetings by Staff
Kerry Eagan, Chief Administrative Officer, reported on
a request for audio monitoring of County Board meetings
by County Board staff.
Hudkins agreed to contact Don Killen, County Property
Manager, to see whether wiring is in place.
If wiring is not in place Hudkins was authorized to
approve the installation up to a cost of $500.
11 PENDING
a. Establishment of Special Improvement District in Princeton
b. South Street Campus
12 DISCUSSION OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. Master Plan Steering Committee - Hudkins
Hudkins reported on the sale of property east of
State Title Company which is currently being
utilized as a parking lot by the County at no
cost. He stated that the new owners had indicated
that rent would be charged for use of the lot in
the future.
b. Parks & Recreation Advisory Board - Tussing
Tussing reported that discussion focused on
scheduled construction of two new swimming pools
in the Highlands and University Place areas and
the proposed purchase by the City of property west
of Pioneers Park for expansion of the park and
golf course.
c. Visitors Promotion Committee - Svoboda
Svoboda reported that the Chair of the Visitors
Promotion Committee had requested that members of
the committee meet with the Board to discuss the
problems encountered with funding the State High
School Football Championships.
Brief discussion followed, regarding the Visitors
Promotion Committee's participation in the
budgeting process and their input with regards to
the contract with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
d. General Assistance Burial Subcommittee - Campbell,
Tussing
Tussing reported that Mike Thew, Chief Deputy
County Attorney, had indicated that legislative
change would be necessary to allow the County
Board to sign off on General Assistance
cremations. Thew had stated that unless a
responsible adult family member gave necessary
permission, burial would be necessary.
Tussing reported that Kathy Smith, Purchasing, had
reviewed the costs reported by burial providers in
a survey conducted in 1996 in response to concerns
that the County was not providing a fee sufficient
to cover their costs. She stated that the fee of
$1,300 proposed in the contract was based on the
lowest cost quoted in the survey.
Hudkins asked the amount of the highest quote.
Tussing stated that amount was $1,920.
Hudkins stated that perhaps an average of the
highest and lowest figures would be a more
equitable amount. He also noted concern regarding
the length of time negotiations on the proposed
burial contract has taken.
Tussing also reported that unusual circumstances
such as an oversized casket and transportation
were addressed as separate issues in the proposed
contract.
Eagan noted that some burial providers have tax
free property and that implies an obligation to
the community.
Hudkins responded that only cemeteries have tax
free properties, and that the mortuaries are for
profit businesses that do pay taxes in the County.
He also stated that the mortuaries should not
realize a profit on General Assistance burials,
but should be able to recover their costs.
Brief discussion followed on comparable costs in
other counties with Tussing noting that certain
costs such as burial liners and granite headstones
for Veterans Service markers were not required
elsewhere.
e. Information Services Policy Committee - Steinman
No report.
f. Government Access & Information Committee - Steinman
Steinman reported that the Fees Committee report
on a fee structure for the sale of maps and other
data related to the Geographic Information
Services (GIS) was discussed. She reported that
fees earned by the sale of this information would
be used to offset costs incurred by the GIS
project.
13 SCHEDULE OF BOARD MEMBER MEETINGS
a. City-County Common - Friday, September 19, 1997 at
8 a.m., at the County-City Building, Fourth Floor
Conference Room - All Commissioners
14 INVITATIONS TO BOARD MEMBERS
a. Open house for Christian Record Services - September 21,
1997 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at 4444 South 52 nd Street
b. "Community Connections" Publication Party and
Distribution Day - Thursday, September 25, 1997 at
9 a.m., at the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health
Department Training Center, 3119 "O" Street
15 CORRESPONDENCE TO THE COUNTY BOARD
16 CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE COUNTY BOARD
17 AGENDA ITEMS FOR COUNTY BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 23, 1997
18 EMERGENCY ITEMS AND OTHER BUSINESS
19 ADJOURNMENT
By direction of the Chair, the meeting was adjourned.
Kandra Hahn
Lancaster County Clerk