County Clerk Joyce Oakley was authorized to advertise for sealed quotes for roof replacement at the Nemaha County Jail Wednesday, May 26, by the Nemaha County Commissioners.
The current roof is saturated with water underneath. Water has leaked into the dispatch area.
The commissioners tabled awarding a bid for tuck point replacing on the courthouse exterior to await a presentation from another bidder. Richard McGill of McGill Restoration explained his proposal May 26. He said that the building was in good shape and should be for the foreseeable future. The project should eliminate leaking, McGill said.
Tuck pointing involves removing and replacing defective mortar joints between the stone. Three bids were received by the commissioners earlier in May.
Discussion continued with Sherry Black, Auburn Memorial Library director, regarding encroachment along county property, and additional parking and handicapped parking. That is in conjunction with the planned library addition.
Black presented the commissioners a drawing of the proposed addition and additional parking. She said that the city officials would need to enter into an interlocal agreement with county officials for an additional seven feet of the county’s property. The new addition will encroach on property currently being used for the Nemaha County Jail. Bert Fuller, Auburn city attorney, will be contacted to find out if city officials would prepare an agreement that would allow county officials, if necessary in the future, to build within the encroached area.
The commissioners favored giving library officials extra ground. Monty Lovelace, chairman, said that the library addition was a good project. Black said that the architect wanted to put the project out for bids around Thursday, July 1. Library officials needed as much in place as possible. Black said that she appreciated the commissioners’ support on the project.
The project involves renovating the existing library and a 2,600 square foot new addition. The current library opened in March 1996. The project includes converting the current meeting room to house up to 15 computers, a new dedicated children’s area offering an inviting space for children to read and explore and a new conference room accommodating up to 70 persons.
The low bids from Farmers Coop were accepted for June fuel: $2.435 for No. 2 Diesel fuel and $2.365 for regular unleaded fuel. The other bid was from Lueders Petroleum, $2.455 for Diesel and $2.395 for regular unleaded.
Two applications from Omaha Public Power District officials were approved. One was to set a pole in a right of way, one-half mile east and 2.5 miles south of Talmage. Nate Slagle requested the application. The other was a single phase underground crossing five miles west and 4.5 miles south of Auburn. Blayne Behrends requested the application. Slagle and Behrends are building residences.
A request from Rod and Roxann Penfield for a road entrance on a county road east of Brock was approved.
The commissioners approved a certificate of compliance floodplain and floodway regulations for the Indian Cave State Park Recreation Road project. Mainelli Wagner & Associates officials requested it. The road is being built up.
Directors of Region V Services and Region V Systems updated the commissioners on their programs.
C.J. Johnson, director, Region V Systems submitted a budget request of $10,759 for mental health issues for fiscal 2010-11, a $54 increase and a budget request of $1,935 for substance abuse issues for fiscal 2010-11, a $10 increase.
Johnson said that Region V Systems officials worked with behavioral health issues in Southeast Nebraska. Those included substance abuse and mental health issues. He said that services have expanded for families who are struggling to find services, a result of the safe haven law. Region V Systems officials have been successful in helping families out. Officials are trying to work with law enforcement officials, Johnson said.
The commissioners said that they were amazed at the services which were provided with minimal funding and that the programs implemented were successful. They were pleased to see the growth of Region V Systems.
Dave Merrill, executive director, Region V Services, submitted a budget request of $13,485, no increase. The request has not increased for 15 years. Merrill said that there was a slight increase in state and federal costs. Health insurance premiums have increased. He said that the number of individuals served has tripled over the past 22 years. Region V Services serves individuals with developmental disabilities.  Its mission is to provide desired training and supports that promote interdependence and relations within community and lessen reliance upon agency services. Individuals are served in Nemaha and 15 other Southeast Nebraska counties. He thanked Lovelace. who represents Nemaha County on the Region V Services governing board. Lovelace said that he appreciated the work of Region V Services officials. Merrill said that most of the agency’s funding was from federal officials through the Medicaid waiver program. Bob Kinghorn, area director, Region V services, updated county officials on the agency’s Auburn programs.
The commissioners reviewed an agreement for emergency protective custody services between county officials and Region V Systems officials. The contract period is from July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011. The amount of per day services increased $11 to $121. That was the first increase in a few years. A proposed change to the Five Rivers Resource Conservation & Development bylaws was also reviewed.