Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Seward County commissioners approve claims, continue sign-on bonuses and authorize LiveScan agreement
Summary
On July 14 the Board of Commissioners approved county claims, retained sign-on bonus policy for recruitment (with departments responsible for tracking payouts and moving funds to a sinking fund), authorized the Chair to sign a LiveScan Service Subscription Agreement with Idemia, and set a joint public hearing for Sept. 21, 2026.
The Seward County Board of Commissioners met July 14 and approved county claims, consent items and several administrative actions related to recruitment and a vendor contract.
Chairperson Misty Ahmic and Commissioners Raegan Hain, Scott Pekarek and Darrell Zabrocki voted to approve claims through July 3, 2026, after a roll-call style recording of the claims list. The claims docket included payroll and vendor payments recorded in the minutes.
Roxanne Knutson, Human Resources Director, and Sara Stenger, Detention Center Director, presented information about the county's sign-on and referral bonus policies. The board discussed budgetary implications because the county staggers bonus payouts over multiple fiscal years. The board decided to continue offering the sign-on bonuses and directed Department Heads to track payouts and, if necessary, transfer remaining wage-budget funds to a sinking fund so multi-year payouts are covered. The board had previously approved a sign-on bonus policy in May of $3,500 with the following staggered payment schedule: $500 after 90 days, $1,000 after six months and $2,000 after one year; departments may use the policy when they fail to receive qualified applications within 30 days of advertising a vacancy.
The board voted to authorize the Chair to sign a Service Subscription Agreement with Idemia for LiveScan service (motion by Scott Pekarek; second Raegan Hain). Commissioners also set a joint public hearing for Sept. 21, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., and appointed the Nebraska State Print Shop to print postcards; Commissioner Hain will attempt to reserve Harvest Hall for the hearing.
Commissioners received reports from members about meetings with cities, resource districts and transit and noted upcoming agenda items including a Blue Valley Community Action annual report and funding request scheduled for July 21. The Board of Commissioners adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
The actions preserve the county's recruitment incentives while directing departments to manage multi-year budget exposure and add a vendor contract expected to support fingerprinting/identification services.
