The Saline County Commissioners talked about funding and dates for several area hazardous waste, chemical and electronics collection programs at their regular meeting

on Tuesday morning at the courthouse in Wilber.

Willis Luedke, chairman of the board of  commissioners, said Five Rivers RC and D (Resource, Conservation and Development), is working on a grant application to fund a household hazardous waste collection where each participating county would only be responsible for the roll-off container charges associated with the collection.

Luedke said an estimated cost for the county would be around $600 and volunteers would be needed at the site. The collection is tentatively planned for next Fall.

Five Rivers covers eight counties in southeast Nebraska including Gage, Jefferson, Johnson, Nemaha, Otoe, Pawnee, Richardson and Saline.

Another collection awaiting funding is in the planning stages by ESU 5 (Educational Service Unit) out of Beatrice. The group would like to have a collection of unused chemicals from school labs. They have turned to other agencies for grant money.

“The DEQ [Department of Environmental Quality] had $3.3 million requested and a little over $1 million to spend,” Luedke said in explanation of the available grants.

The county is still working on an electronics collection for March, in which a grant would cover most of the costs. This collection would be open to the public and would charge a set fee for items.

In other business, the commissioners approved the go-ahead for Mark Headrick of Federal Employee Benefits, to plan presentations for county employees to hear about a benefits program.
Headrick shared an overview of his company’s programs, similar to Aflac and other gap insurance coverage. He said this type of coverage has been a part of federal government employment and his firm is now offering it to other entities.

He said their coverage is different in that it provides more money right away, to those with medical issues, such as upcoming cancer treatments and immediately following a heart attack or heart surgery. He explained it as “living life-insurance.”

The plans, which can be tailored to individuals to include cancer, heart attack, heart surgery or an accident, have set premiums and can also fit the needs of individuals, single parents of families to include children.    

Headrick went through several specifics of the plans and stated participation is always voluntary and there is no cost to the county. Benefits are tax free lump sums not issued through the county’s payroll.

The board also:

- Heard a semi-annual report from Saline County Treasurer Deb Spanyers in which the Dec. 31, 2009 balance of all accounts was $6,078,073.68.

- Heard an update fro Dan Johnson no the plans to paint the District courtroom and adjoining rooms.