County government modernization measure approved

Lawmakers gave final approval April 9 to a bill intended to modernize county government processes.

LB834, sponsored by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, allows a county assessor, when authorized by the county board, to appoint one or more deputies who will perform the assessor’s duties in his or her absence.

The assessor may not appoint the county treasurer, sheriff, clerk or surveyor as deputy.

Among several other technical updates, the bill also eliminates an annual $5 mobile home park permit fee and provides for delinquent taxes on mobile homes, cabin trailers and manufactured homes to be extinguished after 15 years.

LB834 also includes provisions of LB1230, sponsored by Sen. Paul Strommen of Sidney. The measure includes mobile homes under the state’s Disposition of Personal Property Landlord and Tenant Act, which governs how landlords handle abandoned personal property.

Under the bill, homes valued under $2,000 may be disposed of at a landlord’s discretion, while homes valued over $2,000 may be sold at public auction. After completing the required steps, landlords may obtain a certificate of title from the state Department of Motor Vehicles, giving them legal control of the property.

LB834 passed on a vote of 46-0.