The Custer County Board of Supervisors met in regular session Tuesday morning, October 14. Supervisors Sara Parliament and Barry Fox were not present for the meeting.
Board of Equalization Addresses Distress Warrants
Custer County Treasurer Sherri Bryant provided the Supervisors with an update on distress warrants. The Treasurer’s office turns these warrants over to the Sheriff’s Department to collect on properties that are delinquent in taxes.
Bryant reported 39 warrants had been served by the Sheriff’s Office over the past year. Through the warrants $27,280.47 in delinquent tax funds were collected. The Sheriff returned 11 properties as uncollected, with $16,187.57 still unaccounted for.
Additionally, six properties were struck from the tax rolls as unable to be collected at all, for a total of $1,297.60. Bryant reported these properties were generally trailer homes that had been stripped, burned – in one case buried – or otherwise rendered of no value, or properties in bankruptcy with no assets available to pay the taxes owed.
State to Require Counties to Pay for Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Building
The Board also discussed the ramifications of the recently approved Nebraska Statute 68-130. This law requires counties to provide office space and service facilities for Nebraska DHHS services, at no cost to the DHHS – the bill for facilities will rest entirely with the county. Currently DHHS rents the building at 2475 S E St, in part, from Custer County.
In reviewing the statute and requirement, Custer County Attorney Steven Blowers stated that he saw this is an unfunded mandate from the state, a view shared by many on the Board.
As a part of the changes required by this statute, a county may request DHHS conduct a space and occupancy evaluation and possibly reduce or eliminate facilities occupied by DHHS in the county.
The Board of Supervisors will begin meetings with DHHS, as well as request a meeting with State Senator Tanya Storer, who represents Custer County in the Nebraska Legislature, to discuss the matter.
Supervisors Continue Discussions on Recycling, Other Board Actions
Discussions with area municipalities on funding of the Custer County Recycling Center have started. Supervisor Anne Gibbons reported that she had approached Comstock leaders at the recent Comstock Village Meeting. Comstock stated they would rather have hot mix for their roads than a recycling center. Gibbons stated Comstock “doesn’t want to play”. Gibbons also indicated that informally Sargent village leaders are split on the question, but have not yet had a formal meeting, and are quite with regard to how much they may be willing to pay toward the Center.
Supervisor Lynn Longmore stated he had received documentation about how agreements in the Omaha Metro area are set up. Longmore reported the agreement was a brief page and a half, with Omaha, Sarpy County and Douglas County each providing $150,000. Longmore is continuing discussions with Arnold, Oconto, Callaway, and Broken Bow leaders on the recycling question.
The Supervisors also briefly discussed the possibility of grants being available through the Custer County Economic Development Corp. It was still unclear though whether the grants are currently available, and if so, who needs to apply.
Gibbons also noted that the deadline to participate in the Sargent ECAP Community Survey is tomorrow (October 15). Area residents do not need to reside in Sargent to complete the survey. Anyone who frequents the village is welcome to take part. The UNL-facilitated survey will help Sargent set goals and priorities for future community enhancements.
Funds were reviewed and bills for the month paid by the Supervisors. Gibbons was the lone no vote for approval of General Fund claims. An update to funding for the Judicial Center was also approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:45. The next meeting of the Custer County Supervisors is scheduled for 9:00 AM on October 28 at the Custer County Courthouse.
