County Board to select officers

Reorganization of the Gage County Board of Supervisors for 2007 and reports from new Sheriff Millard “Gus” Gustafson and new County Attorney Randall Ritnour will highlight the next County Board meeting beginning at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17.

With two new supervisors, Gary Barnard and Ron Fleecs, attending their first meeting in office since winning in the November general election, the County Board will select a chairman and vice chairman for the coming year.

In other action at Wednesday's meeting, the County Board will also discuss and approve/disapprove several sheriff's office-related items. The supervisors are scheduled to discuss and approve/disapprove purchase of a patrol car, laptop computers for each deputy, a request from the Gage County Sheriff's Reserves for a patrol car, addition of part-time deputies, use of credit and charge cards and a new facility steering committee.

The supervisors are also scheduled to hear a presentation from Ritnour on bad checks and a Stop program.

In addition, the County Board will approve bank depositories and designate the official county newspaper or newspapers.

The supervisors will also appoint members and alternates to the Gage County Personnel Board, Region V Services Board, the Americans with Disabilities Act Committee, Southeast Nebraska Development District, Gage County Economic Development and Blue Valley Community Action Board.

The supervisors will also select representatives to the Public Health Solutions Board, the Beatrice Area Solid Waste Agency and the Public Health Solutions board and a contact person for the Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association.

The County Board will also authorize the board chairman to continue the GIS/Information Technology, Law Enforcement and Health and Human Service committees and name members for 2007.

In addition, the County Board will approve/disapprove the current standing rules for board of supervisors, confirming MIPS as the county's primary computer network and wiring provider and additions/withdrawals of securities on county monies.

The County Board will also discuss and designate individuals and determine amount of compensation for preparing the county budget.

In other business:

Employment contracts: Approve/disapprove employment contracts with Marlin Kliewer as county highway superintendent and planning and zoning administrator and Mark Meints as emergency management director.

Road vacation report: Hear Kliewer's report on a study for vacating a road in the northeast quarter of Section 14 in Blakely Township about two miles north of Homestead National Monument of America.

Pipe bid specifications: Approve/disapprove bid specifications for corrugated metal pipe and call for bids.

Annual weed report: Hear the annual Weed Control Authority report from Maxine VonRiesen, county weed superintendent.

County audit: Receive and approve/disapprove annual county audit.

EMS steering committee: Approve/disapprove adding Don Harmon to the Emergency Medical Services steering committee approved at the last County Board meeting to discuss changes to the county's emergency medical services operations.

Township officials' bonds: Approve/disapprove bonds for various township officials.