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Nebraska Association of County Officials
1335 H Street Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 434-5660
Fax: (402) 434-5673
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Registration is now open for the annual NACO conference that will be held at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney. The conference dates are December 13 through 15. Wednesday, December 13 is the opening session at 2 p.m. and the final day concludes with a Friday, December 15 breakfast, business meeting and awards presentations following through to a sack luncheon dismissal at about noon.
County officials and their employees may register by clicking
here
. Vendor registration can be accomplished by sending an email to
LeRoy Janssen
. The general activities agenda can be accessed by clicking
here
. Group agendas are
here
.
Other conference information concerning room reservations, County Official of the Year nominations, and the conference keynote speaker can be accessed
here
.
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Advanced Institute of Excellence Class Rescheduled
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Water and Climate the Focus of the Advanced Institute of Excellence
The Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) – Institute of Excellence, Advanced Institute has been RESCHEDULED for Tuesday, February 13, 2018 (makeup date: Tuesday, February 20, 2018) in Kearney from 9:30 am to 4:00 pm on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. This year Nebraska Extension and the National Drought Mitigation Center will team together to focus on current and future climate and water issues in state. Because of the importance of this year’s workshop theme the event will be open to all NACO members, and officials/staff from municipalities and other government agencies.
The goal of the Advanced Institute is to create a greater awareness of the complex issues facing Nebraska's counties and help decision-makers make more informed decisions. Topics covered will include: a Nebraska climate and drought overview; current and future drought and water impacts; drought and recreation; water and leadership; planning for the future; and more. Presenters will include individuals from: The National Drought Mitigation Center, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, Central Platte Natural Resource District, and officials from county government.
The cost of the workshop will be $60 per individual. NACO will bill counties after the event according to participation. To cover travel and program costs a minimum of 30 participants is required to hold the training. To register or for more information contact Nebraska Extension Educators: Carroll Welte in Burt County (
cwelte1@unl.edu
or 402-374-2954) or Jessica Jones in Johnson County (
jjones12@unl.edu
or 402-335-3669).
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Nebraska Internet Enhancement Grant Funds
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The Nebraska Public Service Commission is now taking pre-applications from counties and municipalities wishing to apply for grants from the Nebraska Internet Enhancement Fund (NIEF). Pre-applications will be accepted beginning today, Tuesday, October 17-through-Friday, November 10. The Commission utilizes pre-applications to determine whether potential projects meet the requirements for a NIEF grant award.
Established in 2001 by the Nebraska Legislature, the NIEF uses a share of the proceeds from public entities that lease dark fiber optics to fund grants for infrastructure projects that deliver broadband or other advanced telecommunications products throughout the state. The grants focus on areas of the state that are unserved or underserved by such services. The standard amount awarded to successful grant applicants is $50,000.
To view the news release in its entirety, click
here
.
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Minimum Salary Recommendations Available
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2019-2022 Minimum Salary Recommendations Report and Supplemental Information is Now Available
After completing its work, the 2017 Salary Committee forwarded its recommendations for 2019-2022 county elected officials’ salaries to the NACO Board. Following approval of the report by the NACO Board, NACO President William Tielke presented an overview of the report and its contents at the October Legislative Conference at Wildcat Hills. The next day copies of the report and supplemental information was electronically forward to each county board chair and each county clerk by email. The supplemental information includes: 2017/anticipated 2018 salaries of all elected officials, deputies, appointed officials, jail administrators and benefit information.
If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the referenced 2019 – 2022 Minimum Salary Recommendations report and supplemental information, please contact Elaine Menzel at
elaine@nacone.org
.
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EPA Administrator and Nebraska Governor Meet & Discuss WOTUS Ruling
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On October 20, Governor Pete Ricketts welcomed United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to Nebraska. Administrator Pruitt visited Nebraska to discuss the future of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.
At the Governor’s Residence in Lincoln, Administrator Pruitt briefed the Governor and select cabinet members on the EPA’s work on rolling back the Obama Administration’s WOTUS rule. The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion with Administrator Pruitt, Governor Ricketts, members of his cabinet, Congressman Bacon, and members of the Common Sense Nebraska Coalition detailing the future of WOTUS.
“Thank you to Administrator Pruitt for all he has done to cut onerous and job-killing federal red tape imposed on the states,” said Governor Ricketts. “Administrator Pruitt and the Trump Administration have kept their word and repealed the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule that would have threatened future growth in Nebraska agriculture and manufacturing. In his work of rolling back the old rule and writing a new one, Pruitt is returning power to the states and protecting the rights of our farm families and small business owners.”
View more pictures from EPA Administrator Pruitt's visit to Nebraska
here
.
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Legislature Schedules Interim Hearings
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Although the 2018 legislative session won't begin until January, senators and staff are working on new legislation during the interim. Resolutions proposing interim studies are offered during the session to examine new ideas for legislation and to dig deeper into issues raised by previously introduced bills. Public hearings are held on some of the priority issues selected by each legislative committee, including the topics that are of interest to counties. County officials are encouraged to attend the hearings and provide testimony. Unlike hearings during the legislative session, testifiers do not need to take a position in support or opposition to the issue, but are simply asked to provide input. Some of the hearings will be live-streamed through the Legislature's website.
The complete interim study schedule is available
here
or each month's hearings can be found on the Legislature's
calendar
.
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Correct Filing Officer is Essential to Tort Claims Case
Filing notice of a tort claim with the Omaha Transit Authority’s legal and human resources officer did not meet the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act’s (PSTCA) requirement to file with the “clerk, secretary, or other officials whose duty it is to maintain the official records of the political subdivision, or the governing body of the political subdivision” (Neb.Rev.Stat. §13-905) in a recent Nebraska Court of Appeals Case.
To read the complete summary, click
here
.
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2017-2018 Directory of County Officials
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NACO's 2017-2018 Directory of County Officials is a valuable resource that not only gives you names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers and e-mail addresses of every county official in the state, but includes a listing of county board meeting days, NACO districts, county seats, NACO officers and directors, affiliate officers and NACO staff.
The NACO Directory is also still be available in electronic format by selecting the "Directory of County Officials" icon on the NACO webpage. The electronic version is updated on a regular basis and contains the changes that occur between printings of the hard copies.
A printed directory is available for $19.00 if non-taxable and $20.00 if taxable.
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County Government Day PowerPoint
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The PowerPoint presentation is available electronically at no charge (sent via e-mail) for use by counties during their annual County Government Day. The PowerPoint provides a comprehensive look at county government functions in the State of Nebraska and can be customized by each county. CD's are also available for $10.00 each to cover processing, shipping and handling. To request the County Government Day PowerPoint electronically, please e-mail your request to
larrydix@nacone.org
.
The CD order form is available
here
.
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2017 County Board Handbook and Revisions
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Newly Revised -- 2017 County Board Handbook and Related Revisions are Now Available
The cost for a current handbook, including legislative information from the 2017 session, is $80.00/book plus $18.00 shipping and handling per book. The 2017 Supplement to the County Board Handbook is available for $25.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling. The order form is available on the
NACO website
or by clicking
here
.
The 2017 County Board Handbooks and Supplements will be available for pickup at the annual conference in December.
You can save the shipping charges mentioned above if you fill out the form and email it to Deb Eberly.
If you are interested in purchasing a complete handbook or a supplement please contact
Deb Eberly
or call her at (402) 434-5660 ext. 232.
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Health Care Markets Face Unsure Future
Health Insurance Marketplace Enrollment Begins Nov. 1, Despite Efforts to Repeal ACA
In the shadow of the failed effort to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA), recent administrative action, legislative efforts and the kick-off of 2018 open enrollment on Nov. 1 has put the ACA’s marketplaces in the spotlight.
Approximately 7 percent of the U.S. population, or 22 million people, receive their health insurance through this ACA-created system intended to provide a mechanism for health coverage for those who were previously uninsured. By comparison, employer-based health systems and the Medicaid and Medicare programs cover more than 250 million people, and are largely unaffected by these developments.
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Harnessing the Engagement of Your Employees
Counties continually must “do more with less.” Federal or state-mandated increased in services and programs, but with less revenue and funding, means finding new ways to keep up. One solution can be found in each and every county – their own employees.
This hands-on training session, led by employee engagement expert Robert Lavigna, will focus on how engaging the county workforce can save time and money, and contribute to better employee development at the same time.
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November 7-9, 2017
Nebraska Weed Control Association Fall Training
Ramada Inn, Kearney, NE
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December 13-15, 2017
NACO Annual Conference
Younes Conference Center
Kearney, NE
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Thank you for keeping up to date on the latest NACO News,
Sincerely,
Nebraska Association of County Officials
1335 H Street Lincoln, NE 68508
Phone: (402) 434-5660
Fax: (402) 434-5673
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