An $18,840 bid from Skyline Construction for roof replacement at the Nemaha County Jail was accepted Thursday, June 24, by the Nemaha County Commissioners. It was the only bid received. Skyline Construction is also doing tuck pointing work at the courthouse.

Drainage of the Little Nemaha River on landowners’ property was discussed with Mark Mainelli, road consultant for Nemaha County; Albert Fuller, attorney for Little Nemaha Valley Levee District No. 3; Jerry Kennedy and John Stevenson, levee district board members; and Jason Lambert and Corky Jones, landowners along the Howe road south of Nemaha. After the discussion, the commissioners decided to close the road because of water on the road and to reduce liability. The water backed up from the man-made levee which dams water along the side of the road. The road was used earlier last week when Highway 136 east of Auburn was closed after the Little Nemaha River left its banks. The county officials thanked the landowners for attending. Those who attended thanked the county officials for their time.
Commissioners adopted a resolution declaring Nemaha County a disaster from the June flooding.
Mike Heng and Tom Snodgrass discussed seep water on their property in the Peru area when the Missouri River was high. County officials will refigure the drainage needed, find out what type of equipment was needed, obtain that equipment and clean out ditches next to the roads. Replacing tubes with larger tubes will be considered. It was requested to do so this year. County officials were asked to let Heng and Snodgrass know what was going on.
Marty Fattig, chief executive officer with Nemaha County Hospital, told the commissioners that he was pleased with the progress of construction at the hospital. Fattig said that work was going well in spite of the rains. He called Hampton Commercial Construction a good general contractor and said that there were good people on the job. Fattig reported that when concrete work is completed, installation of steel will start and then the project will proceed fast. He said that the financial audit was completed in mid-June and it looked like a good year.
The low bid from Farmers Coop was accepted for July 2010 fuel: $2.585 for No. 2 Diesel and $2.53 for unleaded.
A resolution was approved subdividing a 2.87 acre tract of land for Roberta Kennedy in Nemaha Precinct, southwest of Nemaha.
The $121 daily agreement for emergency protective custody services with Region V Systems officials was approved. That figure represents an $11 daily increase.
An application was approved from Omaha Public Power District for John Hawley to install a single-phase overhead power line 1.25 miles east and one mile south of Julian.
In a couple of weeks, County officials should receive the aid agreement regarding the Energy Efficiency and Construction Block Grant for replacement of courthouse windows, and replacement of lights at the courthouse, Health and Human Services building and the law enforcement building.
Discussion will continue on designating smoking areas for county buildings. Officials of other counties will be contacted.
NIRMA 2010 insurance premiums will increase by $4,658, a 5.74 percent increase. The commissioners will invite Dave Taladay of the Southeast Nebraska Development District to discuss the district’s annual report, dues and services. The board decided not to send a letter on the proposed solutions to Nebraska Environmental Trust Funding of acquisitions and easements.
Board of Equalization
The commissioners, meeting as the Nemaha County Board of Equalization, heard property protests. There were seven property owners on the agenda but only four parties attended. County officials will review all the situations.
Leslie Thomas-Bratrsovsky, Auburn, protested the huge increase in her valuation because since 2001 no major improvements were made to her property. She asked that her valuation remain as it was in 2009 as two similar residences decreased in assessed value. She was told that some values decreased because of condition changes.
Gerald Stukenholtz, Nebraska City, of CAMS Farms, Inc. protested valuations on two properties which were farmed once in the past three years. He said that there was a drainage problem on one property that was caused by an airport runaway and wetness in the area, and that the other property had wetness, poor drainage and flooding.
Evelyn West, Auburn, protested her increase because she had a single garage and her valuation was for a double garage and that her valuation included a porch roof that did not exist. The assessor said that the property was valued too low in previous years and needed to be brought up to market value. The property will be reviewed and recommendations will be made.
Representatives of the Aufenkamp Family Trust protested their valuation because flooding on all three of the properties occurred from the Missouri River when water started to overflow the road to Cooper Nuclear Station south of Brownville, which continued until the Missouri and Nemaha rivers fell below flood stage. The representative contended that the land should be valued by the type of road. County officials will look at the property and make a recommendation to the board of equalization, which will consider that the land flooded out.
Several real estate tax corrections were also approved.