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October 23, 2015                                                                                 www.nacone.org   NACO E-Line Archive  

Upcoming Events

Save the Dates For:  

 

Nebraska Weed Control Fall Training
Kearney, NE

November 5 - 6, 2015

 

121st Annual NACO Conference

Younes Conference Center  

Kearney, NE

December 9 - 11, 2015

 

To view all upcoming events, click here.


WHO SUPPORTS NACO AND THEIR MISSION?

 

AssocMembersAssociate and Sustaining Members

NACO Associate and Sustaining Members enable NACO to enhance its continuing education programs for county officials across the state. Visit NACO's complete associate and sustaining membership list here.

In This Issue  
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annconfresAnnual Conference Information
The 2015 NACO Annual Conference will be held in Kearney at the Younes Convention CenterThe conference dates are December 9th through the 11th.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!  Go to the NACO website or click here

The Kearney Visitor's Bureau has a webpage designed specifically for conference information as it becomes available through the planning process.  You can visit that page by clicking here.

Rooms have been contracted at the Wingate inn, the Hampton Inn, the Holiday Inn, the Holiday Inn Express, the Comfort Inn and the Fairfield Inn for $99.95 per night for single and double rooms and suites are contracted for $149.95 per night.

You must phone the hotel of choice to make reservations stating that you are attending the conference to receive the group discounted room rate. Only guaranteed reservations will be accepted. Reservations must be guaranteed with either a credit card or by direct billing back to your county.
 
PLEASE NOTE: Reservations may be made initially under the county name but must all have individual names of who will occupy each room no later than November 10, 2015. Any reservation being held under the county name after this date will be cancelled.
 
Changes Or Cancellations To Lodging Reservations
 
County officials should take note that the date for changing or cancelling any reservations for the NACO conference is November 10.  Any county making cancellations or changes lodging reservations after this date will be charged the first night's lodging.
 
 
HEADQUARTER HOTELS LOCATED ON THE YOUNES CONFERENCE CENTER CAMPUS(See map):
 
Wingate Inn:     (308) 237-4400
 
Hampton Inn:    (308) 234-3400
 
Fairfield Inn:      (308) 236-4200
 
Comfort Inn:      (308) 236-3400
 
Holiday Inn:      (308) 237-5971
 
ADDITIONAL LODGING OPTIONS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY:
 
Holiday Inn Express:                                       (308) 234-8100  
 
Best Western Mid Nebraska Inn & Suites:        (308) 234-2541
 
AmericInn:                                                     (308) 234-7800
 
Country Inn & Suites:                                      (308) 236-7500
 
Ramada Inn:                                                   (308) 237-3141  
wigNebraskan Named to Governing Institute Women in Government Class of 2106
Governing Institute Announces Women in
Government Leadership Program Class of 2016
A yearlong program for elected women leaders from across the nation

The Governing Institute is proud to announce the 25 members of the Women in Government Leadership Program Class of 2016, the new class of elected officials from state and local government selected to participate in the annual program.  Mary Ann Borgeson, Douglas County Commissioner will represent Nebraska.  To view other class members from across the nation, click here.

Governing Institute's Women in Government Leadership Program highlights the outstanding contributions of women currently in public office, provides leadership development and job critical skills during three in-person summits, and creates a network to pay it forward by inviting and mentoring the next generation of women leaders to run for office. The inaugural class of 24 completed a yearlong curriculum in July 2015 and already have taken action to mentor women leaders in their respective regions.

Each class is chosen from nominations submitted online at www.governing.com/wig. Women must be elected to a state or local office and not on the ballot during the program year. Over 100 women were nominated for the Class of 2016 and selections were made based on career and educational accomplishments, recommendations from the nominators, a commitment to actively participate, and a goal of seating a diverse class in a number of categories. Each class also includes one rising star, a young woman not yet serving in elected office, but with the interest and potential to run in the future.

The Class of 2016 will gather for their first leadership conference Nov. 7-8 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. The 25 women in the program's new class will be profiled in the February 2016 issue of Governing magazine and will participate in Governing events throughout the coming year, including a roundtable discussion in Washington, D.C. in January 2016 and a third leadership retreat in summer 2016. 
justicereinvestJustice Reinvestment Re-Entry Roundtable October 27th
The Justice Reinvestment Steering Committee is hosting a re-entry roundtable on October 27, 2015 to provide an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to gather information and ask questions about the  state's re-entry programs and the progress of implementing LB 605.  An invitation to the roundtable is attached and everyone is encouraged to distribute the invite to the members of your organization, other stakeholders, and anyone else you feel would be interested in participating.

To access the invitation to the roundtable, click here.
 
Here is a link  for directions to the Hitchcock Humanities Center in Bellevue where the Criss Auditorium is located.
stateboardsOpenings on Nebraska Boards and Commissions
Kathleen Dolezal from the Nebraska Governor's Office has asked for assistance to assist in filling vacancies on state boards and commissions that are open with a wide diversity of positions.  She adds, that "I am humbled every day by how truly dedicated, hard-working, and talented Nebraskans are and that they are willing to give freely of their time and talents to serve."

Attached are two listings of positions that are open for appointment both in the upcoming months and positions that are yet to be filled.  Any assistance that you can provide in promoting all of the openings on the boards and commissions would be greatly appreciated.  The application form can be completed at: https://governor.nebraska.gov/  under "Constituent Services."
 
The inscription over the north entrance to our State Capitol is a valuable reminder of engaged citizens like you: "The Salvation of the State is Watchfulness of the Citizen."  Working together, we can build state government that creates an environment that will grow Nebraska and move our state forward. 
 
Please review the opportunities available and consider sharing this e-mail with anyone or organization that you feel may be interested in serving.

For further information or questions, please contact Kathleen Dolezal at 402-471-1971 or by email at kathleen.dolezal@nebraska.gov
livestockmatrixNebraska Ag Director Appoints Livestock Development Matrix Committee


Nebraska Department of Agriculture (NDA) Director Greg Ibach announced  on October 19th the members of the newly elected Livestock Development Matrix Committee.

Appointed by Ibach to serve on the committee are; John Csukker, Shelby; Elizabeth (Liz) Doerr, Creighton; Leon Kolbet, Hayes Center; Dean Krueger, Hebron; Mark McHargue, Central City; Jennifer (Jen) Myers, Palmer; Sarah Pillen, Columbus; Andrew (Andy) Scholting, Wisner; Steve Sill, Wisner and Richard (Rick) Stowell, Ph.D., P.E., Lincoln.

The Livestock Development Matrix Committee was created through Legislative Bill 106, which was signed by Gov. Pete Ricketts on May 27, 2015.  The law charges the NDA with development of an assessment matrix that can be used by county government officials for siting livestock operations.

Per the law, committee members are to provide consultation to Ibach during the matrix development process and must review the matrix annually and recommend changes to the department if needed.

The assessment matrix must be completed by August 30th, 2016.
instofexcellInstitute of Excellence Hosting Advanced Class
Most people are familiar with the song Bob Dylan recorded in 1964, The Times They are A Changin'. No doubt there was turbulent change in the 60's with the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement.  Anymore, though, it seems the times they are always a "changin."

How people handle change depends on if it is welcomed or unwelcome. It's proven people handle change much better, if they have an opportunity to prepare, plan and act to make the best of it.

Nebraska Extension is offering past graduates of the NACO Institute of Excellence an opportunity to learn more about preparing, planning and acting to make the best of change. On Tuesday, December 8th from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center, Dr. Tim Lemmons will present an overview of strategic planning for managing the future.

While Tim is an educator and ag economist, he has a passion for organizational planning. As a public official himself, he has a good grasp of the change in store for Nebraska. He will provide some short-term actionable items that county officials, regardless of how long they're in office, can initiate and build on.

Don't stand around and hum The Times They Are a Changin'. Do something about it. Plan now to attend Strategic Planning for Managing the Future. The time is right to prepare, plan and act to make the best of the changes to come.

This is an Advanced NACO Institute of Excellence Class.  Only previously graduated Institute of Excellence students are able to register and attend.

Please put the Advanced class of the NACO Institute of Excellence on your calendar.  Registration for the session is on the NACO website.  For more information contact Carroll Welte at 402.374.2929 or email cwelte1@unl.edu. The registration deadline is December 1. The program fee is $45 per person. To cover the speaker's travel expenses a minimum of 10 participants are needed to hold the program.
vetserveTraining to Better Serve Veterans

The Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (NALHD) are supporting and coordinating five No Wrong Door trainings across the state (see attached flyer for dates and locations). These trainings have been developed by the multi-disciplinary Veteran's Brain Injury Task Force over the past several years to give community members from a range of professions/organizations a solid understanding of issues that veterans, service members, and their families/loved ones face. The training also gives participants resources and strategies they can use to serve veterans, service members, and their families better.

To view the informational flyer to obtain more details, click here.

Susan Bockrath, Executive Director of the NALHD says that, "I want to make sure that other folks, especially those who maybe don't think their work relates to veterans, know that these trainings are coming up and that there really is value for everyone... teachers, principals, county clerks, law enforcement...everyone."
marcMulti-Agency Resource Training Center Opportunity
Nebraska Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NE VOAD) is sponsoring a training this fall and early winter in four locations on multi-agency resource centers (MARCs). A MARC is a one-stop shop for those affected by disasters-various community and state organizations and agencies have booths. Disaster victims can visit all the service/information providers and determine a plan of action based upon their and their family's needs.   
 
Red Cross will teach the training, and it is free to attend; lunch will be provided. Travel scholarships are available; information is on the flyer. Participants will learn the benefits of a MARC, how to set up a MARC, what agencies should be included, and challenges for coordinating a MARC. This information will be useful to community leaders!

View the training flyer here.

For more information contact: Ashley Mueller, MS, Extension Educator, Disaster Education Coordinator, Nebraska Extension.  Email: ashley.mueller@unl.edu Office phone: 402-727-2775.  Address: Nebraska Extension in Dodge County, 1206 W. 23rd Street, Fremont, Nebraska 68025-2504  
interimroadsTransportation Committee To Conduct Interim Hearings on Roads
County officials are encouraged to share their thoughts on Nebraska's state and local roads (LR318), including the maximum weight limits (LR317), and removal of roadside vegetation (LR319), at a series of hearings conducted by the Legislature's Transportation and Telecommunications Committee. Interim studies and hearings are a tool used by the Legislature to investigate a specific topic that may be the subject of legislation in the coming session or an issue that was introduced during a regular session that needs further development.
 
The next Transportation Committee hearing will be held inCrete on October 27, and in Bellevue on Dec. 1. The times and locations are listed in the hearing schedule below or can be found on the Legislature's website at www.nebraskalegislature.gov.
 
Comments on county population thresholds, specifically for counties over 300,000, and county classifications based upon population (LR196) will be heard by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on Nov. 4 at 1:30. The committee will also hear LR335 on recommended election law changes under the most recent report published by the Presidential Commission on Election Administration.

The Revenue and Education Committees will hold joint hearings on school funding (LR32 and LR344) on November 12.
 
The Urban Affairs Committee examined tools for revitalization of neighborhoods (LR278) and the Nebraska Energy Code (LR174) today at 1:30. On Nov. 5 in Norfolk, the committee will examine the Local Option Municipal Economic Development Act (LR152) and economic development tools, such as tax increment financing, available to municipalities (LR155).
 
The Appropriations Committee will examine the potential growth for tourism (LR321), methods to improve government efficiency (LR333), and funding for public health departments (LR257) on Dec. 1.
 
The Retirement Systems Committee will hold its annual examination of the state-administered retirement systems on Nov. 18.
 
Transportation and Telecommunications Committee Hearings
 
October 27, Crete City Hall Council Chambers, 1:30 p.m.
LR318 (Smith) Interim study to conduct a comprehensive study of Nebraska's state and local roads system
LR317 (Scheer) Interim study to review the Nebraska Rules of the Road and provisions which establish maximum weight limits
 
December 1, Bellevue University John B. Muller Administrative Services Building, 1:30 p.m.
LR318 (Smith) Interim study to conduct a comprehensive study of Nebraska's state and local roads system
LR339 (Garrett) Interim study to examine the current statutory requirements governing the removal of roadside vegetation
 
December 3, State Capitol Room 1113, 10:00
Joint Transportation and Telecommunications and Appropriations hearing - NDOR Needs Assessment - Invited testimony only
 
December 3, State Capitol Room 1113, 1:30 p.m.
LR318 (Smith) Interim study to conduct a comprehensive study of Nebraska's state and local roads system
LR317 (Scheer) Interim study to review the Nebraska Rules of the Road and provisions which establish maximum weight limits
LR319 (Smith)    Interim study to examine certain issues under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission

A complete hearing schedule is available here.
unocertifiedNebraska Certified Public Managers Program
The School of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha would like to invite you and your staff to participate in its highly acclaimed professional development program - the Nebraska Certified Public Manager� Program (CPM). In 2016 the Nebraska CPM Program is beginning its ninth year of assisting Nebraska's highly dedicated public/nonprofit managers to better serve their communities.
 
The Nebraska Certified Public Manager� Program enhances performance by teaching supervisors and managers to apply recognized management theories and best practices to the challenges they face. The Nebraska CPM Program is designed for current and future supervisors and managers employed in public service or non-profits.
 
The Nebraska Certified Public Manager� Program is more than a collection of educational sessions. It is an organized course of study in supervision and management designed specifically for managers. Participants not only attend on-campus sessions or post on-line, but during the period between sessions they also work on assignments and a significant capstone project that is of benefit to the participant's organization.
 
Recognizing that budgets are limited, we have worked to keep the Nebraska CPM program affordable. The fee for the program is $2,500 for all twelve sessions.Another incentive to participate in the program is the undergraduate and/or graduate credits that can be earned. Graduates of the Nebraska CPM Program can receive 15 upper level college credits which can be used to complete a Bachelors in General Studies (BGS) through UNO's Division of Continuing Studies Program. There is no charge for these credits beyond the $2,500 tuition for the CPM Program. If they have an undergraduate degree, graduates can receive six graduate credits toward a Master in Public Administration (MPA) degree from UNO. To receive the MPA credits, participants must enroll in the UNO graduate school and pay tuition and fees for the six credit hours. Nebraska CPM participants who do not live in Nebraska must pay non-resident tuition. No work beyond the CPM program requirements is necessary to receive the undergraduate and graduate credits.
 
Applications for the 2016 cohort is limited. We don't want your employees to miss this opportunity; the program won't be offered again until January 2017. A brochure and detailed training schedule is enclosed. For more information about the Nebraska Certified Public Manager Program� and application process, please contact Ellen Freeman Wakefield at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (402-554-2636), efreemanwakefield@unomaha.edu. A program application is also available at the School of Public Administration website.
 
We are excited about beginning another cohort in 2016 and hope that your employees will be able to take advantage of it. Please share this information with others in your organization and urge them to apply for the Nebraska Certified Public Manager Program�.  The program application is due November 30th.

What else you may need to know
Course Schedule
Certified Public Manager Program Flier
Certified Public Manager Program Application 
lb605Proposed Rules for Probation Practices Related to LB 605
Proposed Supreme Court Rules  pertaining to LB 605 are now available on the judicial branch website (https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/) until November 1.

The Nebraska Supreme Court invites interested persons to comment on all five of the proposed rules.  For further information and to review and comment on those proposed rules please click here.

legallineMIPS Bytes
Internet Forums

Your car starts to make an annoying and unfamiliar sound. Instead of taking it straight to the mechanic, you decide to do a little Internet research. Lo and behold, you find a website called a "forum" of which there are many posts about your vehicle and the suspect noise you've been hearing. An individual has a post that says your brake pads need replaced. This is a perfect example of what a forum can be used for and is very common for many companies or groups to have a forum about particular products, services, or activities.

In short, a forum is a place to go to find or share information with a specific group of people on a broad subject. Wikipedia states: "A discussion forum is hierarchical or tree-like in structure: a forum can contain a number of subforums, each of which may have several topics. Within a forum's topic, each new discussion started is called a thread, and can be replied to by as many people as so wish." These replies are in the form of posts.

Not only is a forum a place where the moderators or administrators can release information to a group of people, but also for the users to ask questions, share ideas with other users, and collaborate on common issues. Depending on the way the forum is set up, you may have to be a member of a specific group of users to participate in the conversations, or even see the posts from other users. The next time you need to find information on a particular topic, consider a forum. It might just have the information you're seeking.
Countygovernementdaycd County Government Day PowerPoint
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.
NACO's 2015 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.  In January, county clerks for each county will receive one complimentary copy of the directory intended for use by all offices in their courthouse.  For additional copies, click here for the order form.
County_Board_Handbook_2012 2014 County Board  Handbook and Revisions
The 2014 County Board Handbook and related revisions are now available. The cost for a current handbook, including legislative information from the 2014 session, is $80.00/book plus $18.00 shipping and handling per book. The 2014 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 here. For questions, contact Ashley Vandeloo by clicking here or call her at (402) 434-5660 ext. 223.
News From NACo




  U.S. COURT OF APPEALS DELAYS WOTUS RULE NATIONWIDE

Last Friday, a federal court ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to temporarily delay nationwide adoption of the "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) rule.

The order was in response to challenges brought by 18 states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin).

Two of the three 6th Circuit Court of Appeals judges held that the states bringing the challenges "have demonstrated a substantial possibility of success on the merits of their claims" and ordered the rule to be "STAYED, nationwide, pending further order of the court." However, in the coming weeks, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals must determine whether it has the authority to hear the case.
 
This comes only after a separate decision on August 27 by the U.S. District Court of North Dakota to delay the rule in 13 states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming). Prior to last week's Court of Appeals ruling, however, the EPA and the Corps were still legally allowed to implement the final rule in the remaining 37 states.

While numerous WOTUS cases have been filed by 31 states and other private parties in separate circuit courts, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multi-district Litigation decided that the cases would be merged in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals because they are similar in nature. However, in a separate development, the same panel denied the Department of Justice's request to consolidate other WOTUS lawsuits filed separately in district court against U.S. EPA and the Corps.

This development only increases the complexity because it remains undetermined whether challenges to the rule will ultimately be heard in circuit or district courts. This will likely lengthen the time-frame of the rule's judicial proceedings.

STATE OF PLAY IN CONGRESS

On May 12, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 1732) by a vote of 261-155. H.R. 1732 would withdraw the final rule and require the agencies to restart the rule-making process, inclusive of state and local governments. While the measure passed with a majority of votes, there were not enough to override a presidential veto.

The U.S. Senate has a similar bill, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act (S. 1140), that would also require the agencies to redo the "waters of the U.S." rule-making process. Additionally, the bill includes a set of principles the agencies should consider when rewriting the rule, including the types of ditches that should be exempt. S. 1140 passed out of the U.S. Senate's Committee on Environment and Public Works in July and is currently awaiting floor consideration. To see if your Senator is a cosponsor, click here

The U.S. Senate could also take up S.J.Res. 22, a joint resolution expressing Congressional disapproval for the rule. The resolution currently has 49 cosponsors. To see if your Senator is a cosponsor, click here.

Additionally, although it remains unclear how Congress will proceed with finalizing the fiscal year 2016 appropriations process, both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate FY 2016 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bills include language to stop the final "waters of the U.S." rule from being implemented.
 
For more information, visit NACo's
online resource hub and action center
nacoweb NACO Web-based Education 

Stepping Up: Preparing a Plan and Tracking Progress
for People in Jails with Mental Illness

Tue, Nov 17, 2015 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM CST
 
Join us for the next webinar in the Stepping Up series to learn about key strategies for preparing a plan, identifying outcome measures and developing processes for tracking progress toward your goals for reducing the number of people with mental illnesses in your jail. As the last of Stepping Up webinars focused on the six steps, this webinar will bring together the knowledge you've gained from the previous five webinars to help you develop a plan for moving forward in your county. Attendees are encouraged to review previous Stepping Up Webinars and Planning Guides in preparation for this webinar.

To register for the event, please click here: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3224729435329419522
whatshappSee What's Happening in Your Neighborhood?

If you have anything going on in your area that you would like to post photos about, please send an email and attach the photo(s) and a description of the event to LeRoy.Janssen@nacone.org      

Nebraska Association of County Officials
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