These minutes are unofficial until approved by the Board of Commissioners at their next meeting.
April 1, 2019 Unofficial
The Board of Nemaha County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, April 1, 2019 in the Commissioner’s Room of the Nemaha County Courthouse. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Gary Scoby leading the flag salute. Present also were Commissioners Tim Burdiek and Dennis Henry, and County Clerk Mary Kay Schultejans recording the minutes.
Windfarm Attorney James Neeld came before the board. Tim Burdiek moved to hold a fifty-five minute executive session until 10:00 am to discuss legal issues relating to NextEra Energy Resources. Dennis Henry seconded the motion. The motion carried with all voting aye. Present for the executive session was the Board of Commissioners, Attorney James Neeld, and County Attorney Brad Lippert. At 10:00 am, Commissioners agreed to extend the executive session until 10:30 am. The meeting returned to open session at 10:30 am with no action taken by the board following the executive session.
Deb Duncan with Unity for All came before the board to let Commissioners know of changes that have been made to the organization that she represents, including a change in name from Doves, Inc. to Unity for All. Ms. Duncan requested that Nemaha County continue to help fund this organization under its new name. Commissioners agreed to appropriate $6,000 to Unity for All for 2019 to be paid out of the Commissioner’s Fund.
Logan Bausch, Martha Smith, and Jane Sunderland with Northeast Kansas Environmental Services came before the board to update Commissioners concerning the activities of their organization over the past year and to request continued funding from Nemaha County for their organization in the future.
Tim Burdiek moved to hold a thirty minute executive session until 11:55 am to discuss legal issues relating to NextEra Energy Resources. Dennis Henry seconded the motion. The motion carried with all voting aye. Present for the executive session was the Board of Commissioners, Attorney James Neeld, and County Attorney Brad Lippert. The meeting returned to open session at 11:55 am with no action taken by the board following the executive session.
Open discussion concerning the development of a windfarm in Nemaha County began at 12:00 pm. Attorney James Neeld announced that the county has finished negotiating a term sheet with NextEra Energy Resources concerning the Soldier Creek Windfarm. The term sheet, along with a footprint of the project and procedures for the public hearings, will now be published in the local papers and posted on the Nemaha County website. Public hearings are scheduled for April 22nd and April 25th for public comment before the Commissioners vote to approve the term sheet. Questions and comments were posed to Mr. Neeld from those present for the open windfarm discussion. Copies of the term sheet packet were given to those present for this discussion.
Emergency Preparedness Report:
Emergency Preparedness Director Russel Lierz advised the board that:
• all of the tornado sirens throughout the county have now been repaired.
• forty-four people attended the storm spotters class that was held in Sabetha last week.
• the Sabetha Fire Department is hosting a Regional Fire School this weekend at “The Main Event” in Sabetha.
• he recently took an online course to become storm spotter certified.
• he and Steve Duryea will be offering CPR and First Aid training for the Nemaha County jailers and dispatchers this Wednesday.
The board reviewed the minutes from the March 25, 2019 meeting. Dennis Henry moved to approve the minutes as presented. Tim Burdiek seconded the motion. The motion carried with all voting aye.
The board reviewed vouchers submitted by the different departments that were paid at the end of March. Dennis Henry moved to approve the warrants and pay vouchers for March 2019 as presented. Tim Burdiek seconded the motion. The motion carried with all voting aye.
With no further county business coming before the board, Chairman Gary Scoby adjourned the meeting at 2:05 pm. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, April 8, 2019 at 9:00 am.