County needs to make changes to court room
HARTINGTON — Cedar County Commissioners want to make the Cedar County Courthouse and courtroom a safer place.
Commissioners discussed several options last week which would make the courtroom, county court and district court offices a safer place.
The judges and the court system have expressed concern to Commissioners on security and space issues for the courtroom and judicial offices at the Cedar County Courthouse.
Commissioners received a letter from Yankton architect Glen Mannes outlining options that could be considered.
“The back staircase is unsecured,” said Chairman Richard Donner. “If it is made inaccessible then the Fire Marshall has issues.”
Remodeling the present structure, which would include adding an elevator, is one option.
Commissioners expressed concern over this option since an estimate from several years ago for an elevator from first floor to the courtroom came in at $250,000.
Commissioners also discussed the possibility of adding a new addition, which would house a courtroom along with several offices.
The Commissioners know either project could be costly, but if something is not done, it could be mandated from the state down the road.
Donner said guidelines from the American Disability Act (ADA) and fire safety will have to be top priorities.
“If an incident happens we will be scrambling to do something,” said Donner. “Remodeling the second floor could be an awful project. This is a big decision we do not want to do anything radical.”
Commissioner Marlen Kraemer agreed any of the options could be costly, but yet something may have to be done.
“If you look down the road at county consolidation this may be something we should seriously consider,” said Kraemer. “If we keep up the space for the judicial system at our courthouse, we could look at having other counties come here if counties would ever be consolidated.”
In other action, Commissioners voted to amend a resolution on lodging tax that was passed at their  Aug. 8 meeting.
The amendment changes how the three percent lodging tax that will be collected would be used.
Originally, Commissioners voted to have the three percent tax divided evenly. One half of the tax would have been used for the Visitor’s Improvement Fund or ‘bricks and mortar’; the rest was to be used for promotion.
“The notification on the Lodging Tax has to be into the state by Sept. 30,” said Commissioner Frederick Pinkelman. “I have been thinking about the split on the lodging tax, I would like to change it.”
Kraemer said one of his concerns on the lodging tax is that all of the county would see a benefit from the money.
“How much will go to the south end of the county?” Kraemer asked.
After discussion, all three commissioners voted to change the split to two percent going to ‘bricks and mortar’ and one percent for promotion.
The Commissioners also agreed the Visitor’s Committee which will oversee the tax revenues will now include a board member from the lodging industry from both the south and north part of the county and also one member from each of the three districts in Cedar County.
“That is about as fair as you are going to get it,” said Donner. “It will still be up to the appointed board members as to how the money will be spent.”
County Assessor Don Hoesing presented 72 valuation change notices for the Commissioner’s approval.
Hoesing told board members a Tax Equalization Review Commission (TERC) hearing will be held in Lincoln on Nov. 15. TERC will act on protests that have been filed by a group of land owners who have filed protests concerning the values on agriculture land in Cedar County.
Originally agriculture land for the whole county was valued using the same dollar amounts, according to land use.
Now, Cedar County is divided into two valuation groups said Hoesing.
“Ag land was selling higher in the southern part of the county,” Hoesing said. “The county was split in two groups according to the market value.”
Hoesing said the valuation dispute was settled for 2003 between the land owners and the county; the hearing on Nov. 15 will deal with the 2005 ag values.
“The group has protested their 2006 ag values also and filed with TERC,” said Hoesing. “I am hoping the hearing on Nov. 18 will deal with both years.”
Carol Wortmann told board members there are still nine outstanding distress warrants from November 2005.
“There were 104 distress warrants; nine are still outstanding,” said Wortmann.
Distress warrants will be issued again in November of this year, according to Wortmann.
Two bids were opened for a purchase on a motor grader with attachments.
The bid from Northeast Machinery was for $237,928 less trade-in of $130,000, for a total of $107,928.
Murphy Tractor and Equipment submitted a bid of $178,144 less trade-in of $74,500, with the total at $103,644.
The bids were tabled, and a decision will be made at a later date.
Cedar County Commissioners passed a motion to sign a resolution to contract with  Project Extra Mile through the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department.