Commissioners accept Ofe's resignation

Antelope County may need to weed out candidates depending on how many applications it receives from people wanting to replace a longtime employee.

The board of commissioners received a letter of resignation from county weed superintendent Bruce Ofe during its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Neligh.

The Oakdale man plans to retire from the full-time position Dec. 31 after more than 40 years of working for the county.

"I'd be willing to stay that long so that if you get somebody hired, I could help them kind of transition into the job or however you want to do it," Ofe said.

"If you don't have someone hired by that time, I could do the state reports and get those sent in and everything because there's quite a bit of state reports that have to be done," he said.

Board chair Charlie Henery asked whether the reports Ofe was referring to were ones that had to be completed by the end of the calendar year.

"They actually have to be to the state of Nebraska by the end of January, but I usually try to get my board to OK them at the January meeting," Ofe said.

Henery asked whether the five commissioners or the county's weed control authority – another five-person elected board – will handle the advertising for Ofe's replacement.

While the weed control authority directs the activities of the weed superintendent, Ofe noted the commissioners are the ones who handle appointing a person to the position.

"I know in the past, sometimes, if the weed board knows of somebody (who's) interested, they might recommend them to this board," Ofe said. "I know that's happened years before I was hired."

The commissioners expressed their appreciation to Ofe for all of the work he has done while working for the county.

"Thank you so much for your service over the years," Henery said.

Henery asked Ofe whether his retirement plans included going fishing.

"I don't know for sure what all I'm going to do, but I'm getting old enough that it's probably time," Ofe said. "There just comes a time that you can kind of tell when you want to do something else."

Ofe wanted to know the commissioners' thoughts on him working through the end of December and potentially helping with the job transition.

Henery noted the county needs to start advertising for Ofe's replacement right away so someone could be hired before Ofe retires.

"It would be wonderful to have you and this person that we choose to work together until the end of December, and learn the reports and go to meetings," Henery said.

Henery asked Ofe about county weed superintendents attending conferences and training sessions.

"You have to have 20 hours of continuing education a year," Ofe said. "The Nebraska Weed Control Association offers 40, so you have to at least get to two of those."

In addition to the annual hours of continuing education, a county weed superintendent's duties, according to the Nebraska Noxious Weed Control Act, include:

-Being certified, in writing, by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture as a commercial applicator.

-Examining all lands under the jurisdiction of the county's weed control authority to determine whether the Noxious Weed Control Act and the rules and regulations are being complied with.

-Compiling infestation data and other reports as the state's director of agriculture or the county's weed control authority may require.

-Supervising and carrying out the coordinated weed control program within the county.

-Ascertaining and tabulating the approximate amount and location of land infested with noxious weeds in the county annually.

-Ascertaining and preparing information required by the county board of commissioners or supervisors for preparation of the county budget.

Henery noted Antelope County needs to find the "right individual" who is willing to train for and take on all of the duties of the weed superintendent's position.

"There's a lot," Ofe said. "Quite a bit goes with it."

Commissioner Dean Smith asked Ofe what kinds of qualifications the county should look for in the people who apply to be the weed superintendent.

Ofe noted a person does not need to have a college education to perform the position's duties, but an agricultural background would be helpful.

"I know a lot of the new superintendents that are being hired now do have some college education," he said. "When I started, you hardly ever saw it."

Ofe mentioned the ages of county weed superintendents cover a wide range across Nebraska.

"You're starting to see a lot more younger ones," he said. "Some counties go part time; some go full time."

Ofe suggested the commissioners talk to the members of the county's weed control authority to see whether they have anybody in mind for his position.

"I know they would work with you on it to try to find someone," he said.

The commissioners decided to reach out to a couple of members of the county's weed board – such as board chair Edward Jensen – before advertising for the weed superintendent's position.

Ofe noted his wife, Connie, has worked for him as his bookkeeper during his time as the county's weed superintendent and is planning to retire as well.

"I think that can be handled just through the weed board because she was just hired by the weed board," he said.

The commissioners thanked Ofe once again for his years of service to the county and wished him well in his retirement.

"We'll get advertising and try to find someone to replace you," Henery said. "It's going to be hard."