The Custer County Board of Supervisors met Tuesday morning in the top floor of the Courthouse.
Most of the meeting centered around approving the one and six-year highway plan, and getting approval to switch construction companies to complete asphalt hot-mix projects scheduled this year.
Highway Superintendent Chris Jacobsen, who detailed the county’s projects at the February 11th meeting, appeared again to request the board allow the county to terminate their contract with Miller and Associates and sign a new agreement with Oak Creek Engineering in Kearney.
Jacobsen said Miller has lost a lot of their staff due to retirement and moving, and he would like to have Oak Creek finish the last two construction projects slated to be done this year. Miller has done the designing of the remaining projects, so only the actual construction phase is left to complete.
Lance Harter with Oak Creek then spoke to the Board. Harter said the company formed in 2014, does bridge and roadway work, and now have four people to manage a project. They’ve done asphalt projects in Dawson, Webster and Franklin counties, and only bill for time spent working on the project.
Supervisors questioned Jacobsen about the ability of the county to end the contract with Miller without having to pay an additional fee or penalty. Jacobsen said to his knowledge, Miller has already been paid for all the work they’ve completed, which includes the Arnold River Road project last year and designing the projects scheduled for this year.
County Attorney Steven Bowers looked at the Miller contract and concluded the county wouldn’t have to make an additional payment for terminating their contract.
District 3 Supervisor Barry Fox recommended the board approve the one and six-year highway plan.
“After reviewing it and talking, I think the one and six-year plan as presented is probably ok. Bump and I discussed a little bit, I think there’s some questions on exactly timing of, like that Merna North Road and if that needs to go to gravel for awhile and get dried out, and I think Bump, your opinion, not to put words in your mouth, was that we’re probably good for another 2-3 years before that needs to happen.”
A motion was made to approve terminating the Miller contract and initiating a new contract with Oak Creek, which was seconded and approved 5-0.
In other Board business, Brad Slaughter with Northland Securities appeared before the Board to explain how funding for upcoming road projects would work, specifically with regards to highway allocation bonds.
“The bond issuance allows you authority to levy, it doesn’t require you to levy. So if you folks have availability within your budget or within certain cashflows to pay debt service on those bonds without additionally levy, you can do that. Currently the county’s at about 21.4 cents was your last budget item out of the 45 constitutional levy limit you’re allowed to go to. So you’re under 50% of what you could be asking.”
Slaughter gave examples of costs to the county for 9, 12, and 15 million dollar bonds, with amortization periods of 5, 8, and 10 years. Levy’s in the examples range from 3-9 cents per $100,000.
Slaughter said the county would have 36 months to obligate highway funds, meaning projects under contract have three years to be completed. Northland has helped fund the DHHS and Judicial Center buildings in Broken Bow.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, a motion was made to approve taxes on the Broken Bow Housing Authority’s purchase of a vacant lot near Quality Senior Villages, in the Haven Heights Addition. The Board approved the motion 5-0.
Several speakers, wire racks and accessories owned by the county were declared surplus property.
Countryman Associates was approved 5-0 by the Board to conduct a single federal audit.
The Board approved three cross county right of ways: installing overhead power lines along Victoria Springs road and Old Highway 2; CPPD installing underground power lines at Road 437 and Highway 2; CPPD installing underground power lines at Road 436 and Highway 2.
Also at the meeting, supervisors read two bids for armor coat projects. Highway Superintendent Jacobsen asked the Board to wait until their next meeting to approve, since the Highway Department can do the armor coating for a much lower cost.
Jacobsen also told the board they’re taking bids for a low-boy trailer, as the present trailer needs replacing.
Finally, Emergency Manager Mark Rempe came before the board to request a dozer and/or excavator from the county be allowed to dig a trench and take out trees around a property being threatened by the Eureka Fire. The Board quickly gave approval without a formal vote.
The next Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday March 4th in the top floor of the courthouse.
