Douglas County Board of Commissioners

The Board started with a moment of silence for the 79th anniversary of D-Day

Next is a presentation from Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom. Doug Kagan thanked DC finance director Joe Lorenz for meeting with the group and providing information so they can accomplish their goals

Moving on to board of equalization

During citizen comment, an Omaha resident said the county’s property value assessment process is complicated and not fair for property owners

Board of Eq agenda approved

Now on to the regular commissioner meeting. On the consent agenda, Comm Jim Cavanaugh asked about a $50,000 budget transfer. Finance director Joe Lorenz said administration had received and spent money from a grant that they didn’t reflect in the budget

Kim Hawekotte from administration said the grant was for juvenile services

Consent agenda approved

The Board recognized the retirements of Mary Beth Holland and Kina Watson-DeBerry from the health department

Comm Chris Rodgers read a resolution honoring the life of Omaha-native actor John Beasley, who passed away last week.

Rodgers said we’re all poorer for having lost the chance to see Beasley perform on Broadway for the first time

During citizen comment, Luis Jimenez proposed having the community health center across the street from the correctional facility rather than in the same building

Moving on to public hearings. First, the Board approved a liquor license for World Liquor

Next is a budget adjustment for wage increases, as well as increases to some departments. Finance Director Joe Lorenz said this is the last budget supplement of the financial year

Lorenz said they’re increasing the budget for 911 communications by $300,000 for wage increases

They’re also allocating $500,000 for employee fringe benefits bc of increases in social security and pension expenses, and $150,000 to the county attorney bc of an increase in the number of autopsies

The county will add $1.3 million to the community mental health center fund, driven by rising pharmacy costs for psychotropic medications. Lorenz said this is being offset by revenue

The budget supplement adds up to more than $2.2 million

Lorenz said this will get the county “over the finish line” before they approve next year’s budget this summer

More than $1.3 million of the $2.2 million will be offset by revenues. $650,000 is unfunded, meaning that the county is allocating new money, and $270,000 is coming from the salary adjustment fund

The County Board approved the budget adjustment

Next is an item approving the vacation of Hadan Street and 117th Street between State Street and 120th Street

Dan Kutilek from the county engineer’s office said neighbors petitioned for the vacation and the Omaha City Council approved it, with stipulations

The county will enter into an agreement with the developers for improvements on 120th Street

The developer, Westwood Solutions, will own the property. Kutilek said there will be some kind of commercial development

Kutilek said he hasn’t heard any opposition from neighbors

The Board will take action on the vacation next week

Next is a public use permit for Waste Management of Nebraska to operate a landfill in an ag zone at 13505 N 216 St

Kent Holm from environmental services said this item is updating the facility from the existing conditional use permit to comply with new zoning regulations

Approved

Next is an extension to the agreement with Deloitte to oversee the county’s compliance with ARPA regulations. Lorenz said there’s no cost increase at this time

Comm Cavanaugh said he was against the original agreement, believing people within the county could provide the service at a much lower cost

He said the county board wasn’t notified until the last minute by Deloitte about the risk of a federal clawback for using ARPA for the community mental health center project

Cavanaugh said the county shouldn’t continue the agreement, and they should find a better way to get legal opinions on ARPA spending

Cavanaugh called the agreement a “professional fees gravy train”

Comm Mike Friend said the agreement wasn’t his first choice either, but the ship has sailed. He said he isnt sure county staff would able to handle a federal clawback

He said the county has distributed a lot of ARPA money already and nothing has been clawed back so far

“I would love to shut em off, but I don’t think it’s wise at this point,” Friend said

Cavanaugh said there are local private law firms that would be able to provide these services

Friend said it’s not a given that using a local firm would be better or cheaper.

The Board approved the extension 6-1, Cavanaugh voting no

Next, lobbyists Sean Kelley and Kelly Plucker will give an overview of the legislative session, which adjourned last week

Kelley said it was a “very unusual session” bc of the filibuster, but a lot was still able to get done

He provided a bill tracker for the commissioners. He said Gov Jim Pillen accomplished many of his goals

Of the 13 bills the Board officially supported, 5 passed.

The Board opposed 3 bills, none of which passed

The Board adjourned but went back to Board of Equalization to re-vote on an item

County clerk Dan Esch said they need to re-vote bc of a conflict of interest for Comm PJ Morgan

The Board reconsidered and approved the item with Comm Morgan abstaining. Adjourned at 10:51 am