The Custer County Board of Supervisors met in regular session on Tuesday morning, February 10. The meeting was called to order by Board President Charles Blowers at 9:00 AM. District 6 Supervisor Lynn Longmore was once again not present at the meeting, but called in by phone to keep abreast of Board activities.
Supervisors looking for items showcasing Custer County for NACO Door Prizes
The Custer County Supervisors will be acting as host to the Central Nebraska Meeting of the Nebraska Association of County Officials at the Younes Center in Kearney on March 19. Custer County businesses are encouraged to supply baskets or items showcasing the area to be used as door prizes at the meeting. Drop items off to the Custer County Clerk by March 10 to be included as a door prize at this regional event.
Supervisors authorize advertising for Roads Department equipment, approve bid for bridge replacement culverts
Highway Superintendent Chris Jacobsen appeared before the Supervisors on Tuesday to present plans to purchase a new pneumatic roller for road construction work, and two Caterpillar motor graders. Tuesday’s request by Jacobsen was to begin the process to advertise for options to purchase the equipment, with the authorization to actually buy the vehicles to come in a future meeting.
District 3 Supervisor Clay Govier asked Jacobsen from where the equipment would be sourced, and whether there would be any warranty for the items.
Jacobsen indicated the equipment would likely be locally sourced. As the County plans to buy the equipment used, no warranties would be provided, with the Roads Department expecting to complete any required maintenance in-house. Jacobsen noted that with regard to the pneumatic roller only limited use is expected, insufficient to require the expense of a new vehicle with a warranty.
Likewise, the two new graders will be purchased used to avoid a new-unit cost of over $400,000 each. However, Jacobsen stated many of the 16 graders now in operation are aging rapidly, with one pair having 2,000 and 3,000 hours of operational time.
Later in the meeting, Jacobsen returned with three sealed bids to provide culverts for six upcoming bridge replacement projects, primarily in the Callaway area.
Ace/Eaton Metals of Kearney won the contract at Jacobsen’s recommendation, with a bid of $246,365.30 for all six projects together. The bid beat out the next competitor, Midwest Sales and Service by more than $75,000, as well as a bid from Contech Engineered Solutions of Roco, NE. Ace/Eaton will deliver the culverts to the sites of the replacement work. The Roads Department would then complete the replacement work.
Treasurer provides semi-annual report, addresses updates to County investments
Custer County Treasurer Sheri Bryant provided an overview of the July – December 2025 Treasurer’s financial statement for the Supervisors. Bryant stated the Office of the Custer County Treasurer ended the year with $17,083,083.42.
Bryant noted the various accounts the Treasurer’s office manages are reconciled daily, ensuring the most current and accurate accounting of the funds is available. The Board approved the report with their thanks to Bryant.
Bryant also obtained the Supervisors approval for changes affecting funds invested at Pinnacle Bank of Arnold and at Flatwater Bank in Ansley.
As Bryant explained after the meeting that in order to ensure coverage of the investments that the County has with the banks totaling above the $250,000 FDIC limit, the banks will provide what are known as “pledge securities”. These are additional funds, generally in the form of bonds or other investments by the bank, used to provide security for the County’s investment should the bank fail.
At Pinnacle Bank, the bonds being pledged to cover Custer County’s investments were changed from two bonds – one in Polk County and another in Aurora, NE – to one bond with the Dawson Public Power District. At Flatwater Bank, a bond with the Gothenburg Highway Allocation Pledge was added for additional security on the County’s investments held there.
Other Supervisors actions
In Committee reports, Board President and District 5 Supervisor Blowers noted that with the completion of the railroad crossing work south of Anselmo, Country Partners had recently paid the County $100,000 for their share of the construction costs. Blowers thanked Country Partners for being a good partner throughout the project.
District 7 Supervisor Sara Parliament indicated she had attended the recent village meeting in Ansley, and discussed the topic of the Region 26 Emergency Management Tower that was recently proposed to be purchased by Custer County. Parliament stated that Ansley village staff said they would look for the original lease agreements for the tower, which predate any current staff. Ansley leaders also indicated they would be open to a new long-term lease with the County, continuing grounds work and maintaining security at the site.
Parliament also praised mutual aid responders at last Thursday’s (February 5) grass fire just south of Ansley. Parliament credited the area departments with minimizing the damage to 200 acres burned, with no loss of life or property, aside from one of the Ansley department’s vehicles. Parliament also stated Custer County Emergency Manager Mark Rempe’s command truck was particularly useful in helping maintain coordination between the many different services that responded.
Custer Economic Development Corporation (CEDC) Executive Director Scotti Ross provided an update on two community development block grant (CDBG) programs administered by the CEDC for the County. The funds originated in U.S. Housing and Urban Development programs providing money for a variety of activities, but with a number of administrative requirements attached. The CDBG program in Custer County provides funds for an Economic Development program, and for a Housing Improvement Program. Under each program, businesses and homeowners could obtain a loan that would be incrementally forgiven, so long as specific requirements were met through the life of the loan.
Ross stated this should be the last time a report is needed, as the outstanding loans have been reduced to an amount that no longer requires federal regulation and oversight. Ross noted that once the programs have been “de-regulated”, the County can use the funds used for the loans for other purposes.
With no further business before the Custer County Supervisors, the meeting was adjourned at 10:30 AM. The next meeting of the Supervisors is scheduled for 9:00 AM on Tuesday, February 24, in the Supervisors Room in the Custer County Courthouse.
