The Nemaha County Commissioners were updated Wednesday, May 9, on parking to be built in the city’s right of way on the north side of Auburn Memorial Library.
The plans called for four additional parking stalls extending west. Two were handicap accessible stalls and two were regular stalls. The stalls would go to the driveway leading into the sheriff’s department. It was suggested to leave a buffer zone between the parking and the sheriff’s department.
The children’s addition building project is underway. Heather Koeneke, library director, said that while the project was downsized and an easement was no longer required from the commissioners, the architect kept some additional parking stalls in the plans. The stalls were on the city-owned right of way. Koeneke contacted Glen Hogue who saw no problem with the additional stalls. She wanted to make sure that county officials had no plans for the area before proceeding with the parking.
Koeneke said that the worst times for parking at the library were during the children’s summer reading program and children’s storytime.
Surplus Equipment Bid Accepted; Will Help Haul Rock
A $5,110 bid from Tim Holthus, Johnson, was accepted for the surplus 1972 P&H Crane and attachments. It was the only bid received. The bid covered: $3,600 for the P&H dragline; $750 for the Kiesler clamshell; $500 for the hammer and leads; $110 for the drag bucket-rusty and $150 for the drag bucket-green.
A request was received from Johnson-Brock Public Schools officials to help haul rock to the football field. The commissioners agreed to commit to the request. School officials would like to have rock by mid-June and by Sunday, July 1, at the latest. Assistance was requested to haul rock and help grade dirt.
Commissioner Marvin Bohling said that school officials are considering placing turf on the football field. The issue may be considered Monday, May 14. Contributions have been received. Jim Gerking is contributing tires. Others have contributed money and time.
The commissioners discussed that they had no problems having county officials helping with the hauling. They wanted to help the best they can in hauling rock and helping to grade dirt. Their main concerns were taking time away from other projects.
Action Business
A permit for floodplain development northwest of Brock was approved. That is a federal highway bridge replacement project.
Subdivision of a 1.44 acre tract of land for Steve Jamison was approved. It is in Benton Precinct in southwest Nemaha County. The tract is additional land to be added to his property.
The commissioners authorized County Clerk Joyce Oakley to advertise for sealed bids for a replacement equipment trailer for the roads department.
Oakley was also authorized to advertise for sealed bids for painting/striping the center line on about seven miles of the county’s hard surfaced roads. Recommendations for firms to consider were received. A bid will be awarded Wednesday, June 13.
A request by Ben Walters to use county property, the District 3 shop in Johnson, for the Huff-n-Puff Pullers garden tractor pull Sunday, June 17, was approved. Walters will present proof of insurance. The pull is during the Johnson Chicken Barbecue weekend.
The commissioners proclaimed Sunday-Saturday, May 13-19, as National Law Enforcement Week and Tuesday, May 15, as National Law Enforcement Day. The proclamations recognize the work of law enforcement officers.
Receive Scrap Tire Collection Grant
Nemaha County officials received a $9,606.50 grant from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for a scrap tire collection. Plans are to have collections Saturday mornings, Aug. 18 and 25.
Hearings on Vacating County Roads Recommended
Mark Mainelli of Mainelli Wagner & Associates recommended scheduling hearings on vacating two county roads northwest of Brock in northwest Nemaha County. The commissioners will receive input from adjoining landowners and others having interest in the roads. Studies on the road closings were conducted by Mainelli Wagner & Associates, Inc. No hearing dates were scheduled.
The first road is 737 Road west to the east bank of the Little Nemaha River. Three landowners had access to their land off of this segment of road. One can maintain full access to their land. Two would be impacted because access to their land comes from the section of road being studied. One owner’s land would become landlocked because the only access to their land is from the section of road being studied.
The second road is 632 Avenue south to the north bank of the Little Nemaha River. Three landowners had access to their land off of that segment of road. One can maintain full access to their land. Two landowners would be impacted because access to their land came from the section of road being studied. One owner’s land would become landlocked because the only access to their land was from the section of road being studied.
Officials of the Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) were contacted and indicated that they had no active lines in either section of road. Windstream officials were contacted and indicated that they had no active lines in 737 Road. No recent improvements were documented to either road. Since both roadways were not maintained with an aggregate surface, neither was a viable roadway for either fire or rescue personnel. Sheriff Brent Lottman, also the emergency 911 contact, indicated that he had no objection to closing either section of road. Neither road was a school nor mail route. Removing the first roadway would result in about a $60 annual reduction of highway allocation. Removing the second roadway would result in about a $100 annual reduction of highway allocation.
Preliminary bridge plans were also presented for a bridge west of Peru for the Buck Creek watershed structure.
Other Business
County officials should receive material for railroad pavement markings shortly.
Commissioner Dennis Wittmann will work with Sheriff Brent Lottman and Auburn city officials on renewing the jail/dispatch contract with city officials. The contract is up for renewal in September. A three-year contract was discussed.
Board of Equalization
The commissioners, meeting as the Board of Equalization, approved three personal property tax list corrections.
A $993.40 addition to JEMS Farms, Inc., in care of Marvin Biere, Auburn, adding three items acquired in 2010 to 2011 property return. The addition was because of a clerical error.
A $743.28 deduction for Brian and Amber Meyer, Johnson, because of a clerical error. A pivot was to be removed from the 2011 listing as it was moved to Johnson County.
Additions for the past three years were approved for Allgood Chiropractic, Auburn. The additions were: $333.94 for 2009; $325.38 for 2010 and $258.82 for 2011. The addition was a new decompression system purchased by the owner in 2007 and the accountant did not include it on the personal property return for 2009; and the owner failed to file personal property reports for the 2010 and 2011 years, therefore the depreciation worksheet was not reviewed personal property was filed by the assessor’s office with a 25 percent penalty.