Commissioner asks NACO to look into more prompt billing by public defense attorneys

​YORK – The Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) recently held its legislative convention in Beatrice and York County officials were in attendance. During that session, York County Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier asked the NACO board to look into the issue of court-appointed attorneys submitting late billings which subsequently cause havoc when it comes to county budgets.

​York County has seen this problem for a while now – certain court-appointed attorneys hold their billing to the county until after a case is resolved, instead of as it goes along. What then happens is the county suddenly receives a years-long total to be paid all at once, without having any notice the billing is coming until it arrives and payment is suddenly due.
“I was told how in Lincoln County, they actually passed a resolution saying services must be billed to them within 90 days of the service,” Obermier said. “We could look into that. Granted, it would really be a formality but in Lincoln County they say it has actually helped.”
The other commissioners said they would be interested in hearing more about this option and Obermier said he would be talking further with Lincoln County officials about how they handled the matter.
Also during the NACO session, Obermier said, was a conversation about mandating all elected officials’ contact information to be made public, in some fashion.
Obermier’s comments came during the public comment portion of this last week’s county board meeting.
Also during the most recent meeting of the county board members:

• The commissioners went on their quarterly jail visit.
• They went into executive session to discuss “contract negotiations.”
• A motor vehicle exemption for York General was approved. This is for a van being used in the childcare program.
• Obermier and Commissioner Andy Bowman were designated as York County’s vote-makers during NACO’s annual convention in December.
• The board agreed to a slightly-revised contract with York General for physical aptitude tests.
• The commissioners also approved an archiving contract with Vanguard for the assessor’s office.
• Commissioner Bowman reported how he and Commissioner Daniel Grotz have been working with the roads department in a number of areas.
• Obermier reported tree trimming took place at the courthouse property and the city has begun work to make curb cuts on the west side of the courthouse to better align handicap access with the ramp into the courthouse.
• Obermier also said the joint communications board met recently and “everything seems to be running very well. There is one opening and there are two in training, but all seems to be going well.”