COMMISSION MINUTES, FEBRUARY 12, 2007

The Board of Washington County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, February 12, 2007, in the commission room at the Washington County Courthouse. Present: Alison Mueller, 1^st District Commissioner, Chairman; Marcia Funke, 2^nd District Commissioner; Gene Helms, 3^rd District Commissioner, Jason Brinegar, County Attorney, and Lou Kern, County Clerk.

Chairman Mueller called the meeting to order.

Next regular meeting will be Tuesday, February 20, 2007. County offices will be closed on Monday, February 19, 2007, to observe President’s Day.

The February 5 minutes are amended to read that Ann Hawk did not receive a merit increase due to adjustment in wages on January 1, 2007.

The Washington County Fair Board will use the commission room for a meeting on Thursday, February 15. at 7:00 P.M.

The board approved bills and payroll totaling $160,696.26.

Don Richardson, custodian, spoke with the board about a used mower to be sold at a liquidation sale in Nebraska. No decision was made.

Alison Mueller reported on the pre-construction meeting with Treanor Architects and AHRS General Contractors. The county may have some additional costs for concrete testing and soil compaction testing. It was agreed that there will be a meeting on the 2^nd Monday of every month at 2:00 P.M. with the architects, the contractor and the Public Building Commission once construction begins.

Debbie Swoboda, Emergency Management Coordinator, was given permission to buy a DVD player and DVD’s for Incident Command System (ICS) training and (NIMS) National Incident Management System training. Debbie will go to Clay Center to get the emergency management pickup.

The board approved and signed change order nos. 2006-49 through 2006-51.

The board approved and Chairman Mueller signed official bond for Bruce A. Simmons as Greenleaf Township Clerk.

The board examined annual township reports for Clifton; Grant; Greenleaf; Haddam; Hanover; Highland; Independence; Kimeo; Lincoln; Linn; Little Blue; Logan; Lowe; Mill Creek; Sheridan; Sherman; Strawberry; Union, and Washington Townships.

Lou Kern, County Clerk, presented spreadsheet for distribution of the $76,000.00 budget to the five ambulance services. The board approved the amounts of: Clifton City, $6,940.00; Greenleaf City, $8,300.00; Hanover Hospital, $17,140.00; Linn City, $17,820.00, and Washington City, $25,300.00. $500.00 is held to pay ambulance runs to Jefferson County Nebraska ambulance service.

Duane Bruna, Noxious Weed and Solid Waste Director, presented a diagram for traffic control at the transfer station during Spring Clean Up Days on April 26, 27 and 28. The board approved the bid of Jem Flying, Morrowville, for the purchase of spring chemicals in the amount of $28,157.10.

The board examined evaluations for the Communications Department and Chairman Mueller signed payroll change notices for Carla Dodd; Monica Dusin; Theresa Herrs; Ranai Meyer; Judy Pfiester, and Shenane White, effective January 1, 2007.

Christy L’Ecuyer, Business Coordinator, presented a draft of a housing survey that will be sent out.

At 10:00 A.M. the commission, Marilyn Kolle, Register of Deeds, and Lou Kern, County Clerk, attended the inaugural ceremony for Paul Monty, District Magistrate Judge.

Jody Ouellette, Washington County Hospital board member, and Lila Keesecker, Washington County Hospital steering committee member, and Christy L’Ecuyer, Business Coordinator, met with the commission. A sheet of ideas for usage of the current hospital was discussed. A feasibility study is essential to determine the direction that needs to be undertaken. Christy has written a grant proposal for technical planning assistance through the National Association of Counties. Two firms have expressed interest in doing the feasibility study for $26,000. The hospital board will consider the issue next week.

The commission adjourned at noon for lunch and reconvened at 1:00 P.M.

David Willbrant, Public Works Administrator, gave weekly work report. The board reviewed evaluation for Marilyn Ditmars and Chairman Mueller signed payroll change notice effective January 1, 2007. The County/Township meeting is Thursday, February 15 at 9:00 A.M. The bridge northeast of Washington that is slated to be built with bridge grant funding was discussed.

The board spoke with Jason Brinegar, County Attorney, regarding several issues. At 2:00 P.M. Gene Helms moved to go into executive session with Jason Brinegar, County Attorney, for 15 minutes under the attorney/client privilege. Marcia Funke seconded and motion carried. At 2:15 P.M. the board returned to regular session. No action was taken.

Gene Helms moved to enter into a Local Agreement with the City of Clifton for participation in the Restated and Amended Revitalization Plan. Marcia Funke seconded and motion carried.

Marcia Funke moved and Gene Helms seconded to enter into a cooperative agreement between Washington County Commission and County Board of Health and Junction City-Geary County Health Department for the Development of Coordinated Water Quality Planning and Implementation of County Sanitary Codes (Rural Lakes Region). Motion carried.

There being no further business the board adjourned at 2:45 P.M.