The Custer County Board of Supervisors met inside the courthouse in regular session on Tuesday morning. All supervisors were present.
A big topic of discussion was electrical upgrades for the courthouse building. Before the power plant explosion experienced in Broken Bow, electrical upgrades were already being discussed. Supervisor Barry Fox told the board that those upgrades are an even bigger priority now after the explosion.
The upgrade comes down to voltage. More specifically, when the temporary power supply much of the city is on right now is removed and city voltage upgrades are completed, the courthouse’s equipment needs to be compatible in time. A two month timeline was given.
Some bids had been received by Fox from electrical companies to run the necessary lines into the building from the city-provided transformer. With a short time window looming, the board decided to have discussions with the city regarding easements to place equipment in a different location in order to save money running lines.
In closing discussions on the matter, the board decided that having a generator or generator hookup ability as a part of the project was not worth the expense.
Road project bids for asphalt and gravel were opened by the board on Tuesday. Two asphalt bids and five gravel bids were received. All were deferred to the roads department to discuss with the highway committee before a decision is made.
Lawn care and snow removal bids were also opened by the board, from Charron Lawn Care and Kahnk Lawn care. The bid from Charron Lawn Care was accepted for service at both the courthouse and judicial center. Service will include lawn mowing, fertilizer applications, sprinkler service and repairs, snow removal, and salting.
Weed Superintendent Tim Conover told the board he completed his yearly evaluation with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, receiving all possible points in the categories of inspection, office evaluation, year end report, and continuing education. He added that as a part of the Sandhills Weed Management area, a Nebraska Environmental Trust grant in the amount of $339,100 had been awarded to be used over a 3 year period.
Sheriff Dan Osmond came before the board to inform them of an incoming $19,000 bill that would soon be taking him over the jail’s budget from a recent inmate transport to the Lincoln Regional Center. He added that despite the transport being ‘difficult’, he and a deputy did save $3,500 by doing it themselves. Custer County’s housing of inmates from other counties is bringing in some money for the Sheriff’s Office as well.
A substitution of securities with Nebraska State Bank was approved by the board, as were the 2024 Audit Draft Financial Statements and Alternative Compliance Examination Report from Contryman Associates.
Applications to cross right-of-way were approved for several pivot power projects. Another application for Consolidated was approved for fiber internet installation around Merna.
A question of lighting upkeep at the DHHS building was discussed. It was determined that items like lightbulbs were the responsibility of the state, while fixtures, ballasts, and other ‘non-wear’ parts were the cost responsibility of the county.
The final discussion during the meeting was regarding the county’s ‘cash in lieu’ option that county employees can participate in. Those who do not use county insurance can receive $450 payments and discussion centered around whether or not that amount should be increased. A desire for more information and consistent numbers to make an informed decision were called for, and the decision was tabled.
Tuesday morning’s meeting adjourned at 11:18 AM.
