The Custer County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Wednesday morning, November 12 at 9:00. All supervisors were present for the meeting held in the Supervisors Room on the top floor of the Custer County Courthouse in Broken Bow.
Fox Tenders Resignation
District 3 Supervisor Barry Fox announced his resignation from the Custer County Supervisors. Fox stated his resignation will be effective December 1, and that he intends to attend the next meeting before stepping away.
Fox indicated that with a new and growing business, he is simply unable to commit the time required to dedicate to the boards activities.
Stated Fox, “[I] really appreciate all work that this group has done. I’m proud to serve the long side of you guys. Thank you.”
The Supervisors reluctantly voted unanimously to accept Fox’s resignation.
To replace Fox, County Clerk Kelly Jacobsen, Attorney Steven Bowers, and Treasurer Sheri Bryant will interview applicants to fill out the term. The hiring committee has 45 days from the date of Fox’s resignation to fill the position.
While not strictly required, the county will likely advertise the position publicly and accept either submitted names or applications for review.
The appointee must reside within the 3rd district, encompassing the western half of Broken Bow, as delineated primarily by 10th Avenue. With Fox’s term formally ending at the end of 2026, the appointee will also need to register as the incumbent candidate by February 15, with any challengers to the seat registering as candidates by March 1.
Board Hears Employee Insurance Options
Starting about 10:00, Dustin Will and Dan Duren of Benefit Management out of Lincoln presented the Supervisors with options to consider for providing health insurance to County employees.
Will and Duren provided a recommendation to move from the Counties current policy managed by the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO), and instead providing two options from Medica Health Insurance.
One policy would be a standard PPO policy, similar to that currently provided under NACO, the other would be a high-deductible plan, allowing employees to save money in a Health Savings Account, or HSA.
In moving to these plans, the County would save between $114,839 and 126,518 from its current cost of $1,141,159. Critically, the monthly cost to employees would be cut by over half under the new policies. For example, The monthly cost for a family plan would change from 1,514.63 under the current plan to $583.36 under the Medica High-deductible HSA plan.
Will and Duren answered a number of questions from the Supervisors and County employees in attendance at the meeting, including the whether coverage is available in other states (Medica provides a nation-wide network of providers), how mental health is covered (similar to the current NACO plan, but with a co-pay in some cases), cost of using Benefit Management to manage insurance (no direct costs unless hired for a specific project, Insurance Companies pay Benefit Management and that cost is included in the overall premiums paid in by the County), and how the HSA account works.
Review of new insurance options was a project strongly promoted by Sheriff Dan Osmond. Osmond told the Supervisors that the current plan is not competitive with those provided elsewhere, and is damaging to his ability to hire and retain employees in the Sheriffs Department.
Will and Duren told the Supervisors that the intent of their organization was to provide wins for everyone in managing health insurance options. In the view of Benefit Management the presented options accomplished this goal, providing savings to both the county and employees.
The Supervisors will consider their options, contacting surrounding counties that have used Benefit Management in the past and likely make a decision by the next meeting.
Committee Reports
The Supervisors provided updates on their activities since the last meeting in Committee Reports.
District 4 Supervisor James Markham noted an issue with an odor in the Health and Human Services Building. An Air Quality evaluation found no issues, but some minor mold abatement was conducted under an air conditioner condenser. The warranty on damaged shingles on the HHS building is still under review.
District 7 Supervisor Sara Parliament has been in discussion regarding recycling with Ansley and Berwyn. Leaders from both towns are open to discussion of options, but would like to see taxes reduced under any agreements. One option discussed was adding a fee to car registrations to spread costs for the recycling center differently.
District 6 Supervisor Lynn Longmore attended a Mutual Aid meeting where County Emergency Manager Mark Rempe discussed the new tower being installed, which should improve coverage in the area.
District 2 Supervisor Tammy Kleeb stated she had heard back from from the state Department of Health and Human Services regarding an earlier question of funding for local facilities. The notice was apparently in fact simply indicating that DHHS could find other space if the County needed the space for other purposes.
Longmore and Kleeb have also been in contact with Broken Bow City Administrator David Schmidt and Custer Economic Development Corporation Director Scotti Ross regarding the recycling center. Schmidt indicated he would work with surrounding communities on ideas for funding the center. Ross is looking into grants to continue center funding.
Other Supervisors Actions
- Claims were reviewed for approval. District 1 Supervisor Anne Gibbons voted against paying General Fund expenses.
- Custer County Treasurer Sheri Bryant presented the Supervisors with certification information on 43 distress warrants served by the Treasurer’s office and Custer County Sheriff, amounting to $52,483 delinquent from 2024. Only 17 of the 43 warrants are still outstanding.
- The Supervisors voted to authorize year-end certification of Custer County Highway Superintendent Chris Jacobsen’s activities, clearing the way for incentive pay for the year ending in December 2025.
- A committee was formed to review and set salaries for elected Custer County Officials for the next year. The committee members will be Markham, Parliament, Kleeb, Osborn, Bryant, and Jacobsen.
- The Supervisors approved an early close at 1:00 PM on Christmas Eve, December 24.
- Acting as the Corner Township Board, the Supervisors approved two claims: $182.45 to the Burwell Tribune and $262.59 to the Highway Department for road work.
- In Public Comments, District 6 Resident Mark Cardoza addressed the Supervisors regarding the Recycling Center. Cardoza stated he viewed the center as simply providing subsidized garbage disposal, and had heard of residents using the center to get rid of garbage, rather than paying for trash disposal through normal channels. He proposed the Supervisors either subsidize all garbage disposal in some manner, or impose a fee for use of the recycling center.
The meeting of the Custer County Supervisors adjourned at 11:18 AM. The next meeting of the Custer County Board of Supervisors is scheduled for November 25 at the Custer County Courthouse in Broken Bow.
