Jeff Hajny

    The Seward County Commissioners chose the two finalists for the proposed jail project during their Jan. 8 meeting.
     The commissioners first heard from project consultant Dan Williamson, County Sheriff Joe Yocum and Jail Administrator Terry Kamprath. The commissioners decided that the two finalists to make another presentation regarding their designs for new jail would be Carlson West Povondra and DLR Group.
     The commissioners also made their appointments for the upcoming year, including:
     • Joe Ruzicka as the chairman of the Seward County Board of Commissioners, the Seward County representative on the Southeast Nebraska Development District Board, and to work with case workers on G.A. issues;
     • Scott Stuhr as vice-chairman of the Board of Commissioners, as a member of the Region V Mental Health Governing Board, as the Seward County's representative on the Four Corners Health Board, and as a member of the Seward County E911 Board;
     • Larry Dedic to the Blue Valley Community Action Board of Directors, the Seward-Saline Solid Waste Agency, the Coordinated Intervention System for Domestic Abuse Board and as a liaison to the Lower Platte South NRD;
     • Mary Koci to the Seward County Visitors Committee, the CASA Board, the Seward County Aging Services Commission, and as a BRIDGES board member;
     • Darrell Miller as a liaison to the Upper Big Blue Natural Resources District;
     • Dr. Connie Novak or any other physician of Memorial Health Care Systems as the county coroner's doctor;
     • Ray Naber as Seward County's representative to the Great Plains Resource, Conservation and Development Board;
     • Russell Daehling as the Seward County Highway Superintendent for 2008 with a present salary of $4,250 per month and a cost of living adjustment to be given in the same manner as other appointed officials in July 2008;
     • Jeff Baker as the Seward County Veteran's Service Officer;
     • Gary Petersen as the Seward County Weed Superintendent and Emergency Manager;
     • Monique Ruby as the CASA Director;
     • Denise Jannsen as the Pre-Trial Diversion Coordinator; and
     • Sherry Schweitzer as the Seward County Budget Making Authority.
     In other business, the commissioners:
     • named the Seward County Independent and The Milford Times the newspapers for Seward County;
     • accepted the clerk of the district court fee report for December 2007 in the amount of $2,169.42;
     • accepted the sheriff's fee and mileage report for November 2007 in the amounts of $1,597 and $825.28 respectively;
     • approved the retaining of Niewedde & Wiens, CPA, for a period of three years to conduct the county audit;
     • approved the cost of living increase for elected officials at 2.7 percent for 2008;
     • approved paying the tuition of $225 for Koci to attend NACO Institute of Excellence, which is a course developed by NACO in cooperation with the University of Nebraska Extension with each county being allowed one participant;
     • set the Seward County Public Defender base salary for the term beginning Jan. 8, 2009, at $49,000 plus an annual cost of living adjustment for 2010, 2011 and 2012 based on the Consumer Price Index of Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers U.S. City Average; and
     • set the Seward County Commissioners base salary for the term beginning Jan. 8, 2009, at 43 percent of the salary of the 2008 elected county officials plus an annual cost of living adjustment for 2010, based on the Consumer Price Index of Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers.