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Buffalo County Facilities OMP

Facilities OMP Info

Department Duties

The Buffalo County Facilities OMP department strives to provide extraordinary, professional and reliable building management services for all of the county facilities. Our Facilities staff are trained professionals who are committed to providing a clean, safe, secure and functional building environment for both the county staff and the general public.

Buffalo County Facilities OMP includes:

  • Operations: custodial and maintenance
  • Management: facility rental use and administrative services
  • Planning: short term and long term improvements

Steve Gaasch is the Facilities Director and Nick Killough is Assistant Facilities Director.

Steve Gaasch

Facilities Director

PO Box 1270
Kearney, NE 68848
308.236.1225
308.236.1865
facilities@buffalocounty.ne.gov

Facilities OMP Responsibilities

The 14 members of the Facilities OMP staff are responsible for maintaining all County Government buildings, including the Courthouse, Judicial Center, County Jail, Highway Department buildings, Extension Building, four office buildings, and a recreation area with a lake and campground. There are over 30 buildings in total.

In addition to these facilities, Facilities OMP maintains 11 parking lots, all walkways, steps and lawns adjacent to these areas, including landscaping, and provides snow and ice removal during the winter.

The staff meet regularly to review work practices and safety regulations. They take part in additional training to keep up to date on the latest practices and procedures relative to the cleaning, maintenance, security, and protection of County facilities, employees, and the general public.



 

Facilities Operations

Custodial Services

Our Custodial Staff are trained cleaning professionals who are committed to providing a safe, clean and presentable building environment. We provide custodial services for 10 of our County buildings, their entrances, surrounding grounds, and parking areas. These buildings include: 

  • Buffalo County Courthouse
  • Buffalo County Judicial Center
  • Buffalo County Jail/EOC Center
  • DHHS
  • Adult Probation
  • Juvenile Probation
  • Extension Building
  • 215 Office Building
  • Buffalo County Highway Department
  • Buffalo County Weed District

Maintenance Services

Our Maintenance Staff are trained maintenance professionals who are committed to providing a safe, secure, and functional building environment. Their work includes:

  • Planned/preventative maintenance: includes inspections, servicing, general upkeep to buildings, equipment, and grounds.
  • Reactive/unplanned maintenance: repairing breakdowns of our facilities and grounds
  • Overseeing underground fuel storage tanks/piping/lines and ensuring compliance with government regulations
  • Monitoring/maintaining building management systems including HVAC controls, fire alarm systems, etc.
  • Emergency maintenance: assessing/repairing/coordinating repairs to critical system breakdowns
  • Snow & ice removal


 

Facilities Management

Facility Rental Use

The Facilities OMP department is responsible for facilitating the rental use of county facilities.  At this time the principle location of this usage is the Buffalo County Extension Building. The responsibility includes:

  • Schedule the usage of the Extension Building meeting rooms & kitchen, and maintain the master schedule
  • Process all requests for usage of the meeting rooms & kitchen, and insure compliance with Board policies and regulations
  • Execute rental contracts for outside group usage and collect rental fees associated with each agreement
  • Verify appropriate requirements are met by groups using the facility
  • Provide Facility Assistant when required, for groups with alcohol
  • Provide proper access to scheduled groups
  • Prep building for usage and follow up to ensure that it has been returned in proper condition

Administrative Services

  • Ensure compliance with employment rules/regulations, county policies, and all applicable state and federal laws/regulations
  • Oversee the daily operations of the Facilities OMP workforce and the work assignments
  • Monitor, inspect, and review the daily operations of the County facilities and grounds
  • Manage installations, repairs, equipment testing ,and contracted maintenance by outside sources
  • Oversee the development and implementation of operational policies and procedures
  • Utilize and administer facility/building management software systems to manage the county facilities
  • Coordinate professional development of Facilities OMP staff through training and workshops
  • Have a representative on the County safety committee and any other committee as requested

Management Software System (FacilityDude)

  • Facility management software utilized by the County
  • Work tickets are generated by county employees needing custodial or maintenance assistance. All work requests need to be submitted on a work request utilizing Dude Solutions software (FacilityDude).
  • Work tickets are assigned to Facilities staff and/or contractors for work orders
  • Additional "preventative maintenance" work tickets are also generated with FacilityDude for scheduled servicing/inspecting/upkeep
  • Once the work has been completed, the work tickets are closed out and a follow up email is sent to the requestor to let them know that the work has been completed
  • Data is collected from the information inputted into FacilityDude and utilized for managing current costs and projecting future expenses/budgeting

Procurement

  • Review and manage contracts related to county facilities
  • Manage Facilities OMP equipment, materials, and supplies and order inventory/supplies when needed
  • Develop and maintain strong vendor and contractor partnerships to ensure the best quality, cost, and customer service for the County
  • Procure building equipment and supplies as needed for facilities

Budget

  • Develop and manage Facilities OMP budgets, including preparing and maintaining a yearly budget
  • Create cost estimates for anticipated individual projects
  • Manage budgeted costs on projects as they occur

Claims/Accounts Payable

Review and keep record of monthly bills and claims against Facilities OMP, including all utility bills for all County buildings.


 

Facilities Planning

Planning, Design & Development

  • Develop and implement one, two, and six year department plans
  • Small scale: develop and implement small scale adjustments to existing spaces to keep space up to date and adequate for current usage needs.
  • Large scale: coordinate design, engineering, and construction of all Capital improvements including new buildings, new additions to existing buildings, and remodels of existing buildings.
  • Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federals laws and regulations related to buildings and grounds