CUSTER COUNTY—The Custer County Board of Supervisors heard from a variety of county entities during Tuesday’s morning meeting.
Donna Glendy presented a report regarding the Seven Valleys Historical Society which was formed in 1966. Glendy said the four buildings require continued maintenance and that the museum is staffed by volunteers, but the board would love to have a part-time summer employee.
Glendy said in order to qualify for the Nebraska Passport Program, the museum in Callaway would need to make sure more hours are covered during the summer season. The Seven Valleys Historical Society is funded mostly by membership fees and donations but the society is asking for $6,500 from the Board of Supervisors. The total operating budget for the Seven Valleys Historical Society is approximately $14,000, according to Glendy.
Cheryl Carson with Custer County Tourism Visitors Committee and the Arnold Economic Development Corporation presented to the board a new website that will most likely launch in August, she said. The new tourism website will include events, attractions, funding opportunities, and other helpful information regarding the Custer County communities.
“The grants portal part—this is what our original website started out as just a function for people to figure out how to get funds applied for through us because there had been nothing formal set up before. The old website will go away and it’s been rolled into this. So there’s an overview that basically recaps to them what our purpose is, what we do,” Carson said.
The supervisors approved an agreement for work on a priority matrix regarding county roads. An agreement was approved with Brent Burklund of T.C. Engineering not to exceed $24,000. Burklund said the next few months will consist of collecting county data to update the road inventory and determine the priority of road projects that need to be completed based on road surface, cost, location, maintenance, etc. (Click here to view the July 9 meeting.)
Emory Haynes with the Veterans Service Office also presented an annual report breaking down some of the numbers regarding Custer County veterans. He reported that the office was currently under the $83,000 budget allotted for operating costs.
The Veterans Service Office helped distribute approximately $6 million in benefits last year to Custer County’s 703 veterans—around $9,000 per veteran. Haynes said 36 local veterans died in the last year, including one man who served in World War II, the Korean War, and in Vietnam.
Custer Economic Development Director Andrew Ambriz presented a semi-annual report, which was approved by the supervisors. Ambriz said the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) is overall going well except for a couple of “sore spots.”
A representative from the Nebraska Department of Ag Evaluation, Tim Stortz, reported on weed control and that the department is holding counties accountable and is always on the lookout for noxious weeds.
Emergency manager Mark Rempe came before the board to discuss 9-1-1 addressing and the supervisors voted to enter into executive session. No decisions were made following the closed session and Chairman Barry Fox advised Rempe to speak before the Broken Bow city council.
Deputy Treasurer Lana Moran said the CDBG Housing Grant has approximately $8,500 in the fund and the board approved the sheriff’s summary of distress warrants which includes 55 warrants with a total of $63,000.
Highway Superintendent Chris Jacobsen was reappointed to the Nebraska “One Call Board” and Resolution #21-2019 was approved for a road study to be completed on Road 631 approximately six miles southeast of Broken Bow off of Sumner Road. Resolution #22-2019 Fracture Critical Bridges was also approved which will authorize Barry Fox to sign agreements for bridge inspections. It was reported that a bridge inspection costs approximately $1,600.
An SDL application was approved for a truck and trailer roping event at the Custer County Fairgrounds August 16-18.
The Board of Supervisors approved motor vehicle exemption applications for the Berean Church, Callaway Good Life Center, Good Will, Homeward Trail Bible Camp, among others and discussed the maintenance/janitorial position at the courthouse. The board also spoke with NIRMA representative Larry Pelan about the county’s insurance needs and reviewed the current policy.
