The Nemaha County Commissioners Tuesday, Dec. 13, took no action on a request to rename Half Breed Road east of Auburn.
The commissioners took the request under consideration.
Victoria Hoff visited with the commissioners about the issue. The commissioners requested that she contact the Native American tribal council and request that the council send a letter requesting that the road be renamed. Hoff told the commissioners that she first contacted state officials, who directed her to contact county officials.
Hoff called the term Half Breed impolite, rude and an offensive slur to Native Americans. She said that it was offensive to see the name on a county public road sign. Hoff said that she was brought up to be diversified. She did not request changing the name of the monument. The Half-Breed Tract historical marker is west of Auburn along Highway 136.
During discussion, the commissioners thought that they had no legal authority to change the name. The commissioners discussed that the name Half Breed was an important part of Nemaha County and early Nebraska history. The commissioners thought that the designation remembered and recognized Native Americans. See separate article on page 2 for historical information.
Other Action Items
The commissioners approved an application for a road entrance for Jill Alexander. The application was requested by Dan Meyer, tenant, who will farm the ground in 2012. The entrance is in Benton Precinct.
Conveyance of tracts of land for Allison D. Gibbs, trustee of the A.D. Gibbs Revocable Trust sold to City of Auburn and recorded in Book 125 of Deeds, Pages 369-371, were approved and ratified. The tracts are in Douglas Precinct east of Auburn.
Two resolutions were approved. One resolution approved the subdivision of two tracts of land in Spring Oak Estates requested by Terry Argo. The tracts were 7.56 acres and 13.20 acres, respectively. The tracts are in Douglas Precinct west of Auburn.
A resolution was approved releasing a $55,000 pledged security for Farmers Bank of Cook. A security was repledged at $75,000.
An interlocal agreement between officials of Nemaha County and the University of Nebraska was approved. That regarded county officials providing .409 percent of the cost for a full-time equivalent extension assistant.
Other Business
County Attorney Louie Ligouri discussed hiring a part-time investigator. No action was taken. The issue was tabled until the Wednesday, Dec. 28, meeting.