[{"_1":2,"_94":-5,"_95":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,84],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6109698,"mediaKeyId","2759660-8a1b27340970e47817b00a0da3f11cde","parentId",2759660,"title","Keith County commissioners unanimously sign off on routine business and authorize chair to oppose LB216","audioSeconds",528,"startMs",141000,"endMs",669000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759660-8a1b27340970e47817b00a0da3f11cde&start=141&end=669","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6109698/Keith-County/Nebraska/Keith-County-commissioners-unanimously-sign-off-on-routine-business-and-authorize-chair-to-oppose-LB216","mediaUrl","author","Keith County, NE","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","Keith County commissioners opened their meeting by approving the agenda, the minutes of the prior meeting and the payment claims by unanimous roll call votes.

Later in the meeting the board considered LB216, a bill under consideration at the Nebraska Legislature that would, if enacted, change the administration of the clerk of the district court — shifting authority in some counties from an elected county official to state oversight. County staff and the district court clerk delivered background and expressed opposition at the commissioners’ request.

“Tina” (district clerk) told the board the bill has been attempted for decades and that the proposal could carry unforeseen consequences for county services and budgets, including uncertainty for staff: “If this would go into effect and I would resign… then the state would actually choose,” she said, expressing concern about loss of local accountability and potential budgetary impacts. She also noted the state fiscal outlook and a fiscal note tied to the bill.

Commissioner Schroeder moved that Chair Ben Crandall sign a letter opposing LB216 on behalf of the board; Commissioner Wortman seconded. The motion carried on a unanimous roll call. Commissioners said they want local control maintained and asked citizens to contact members of the Legislature if they wish to weigh in; Tina encouraged constituents to review committee testimony and to email judiciary committee members individually.

In separate business, the board also approved, by motion, a county‑sponsored request from Keith County Area Development (KCAD) to remove the rose garden on county property and allow a semi‑permanent sculpture pad there as part of a rotating public art program; the board directed county roads and buildings staff to assist with site preparation and allowed staff to explore paying costs from general miscellaneous or Keno funds.

All vote tallies below reflect roll call votes taken at the meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Approve agenda: Motion by Commissioner Schroeder, second by Commissioner Ervin — unanimous approval (4–0).
- Approve minutes of previous meeting: Motion by Commissioner Wortman, second by Commissioner Schroeder — unanimous approval (4–0).
- Approve payment claims: Motion by Commissioner Wortman, second by Commissioner Irvin — unanimous approval (4–0).
- Authorize Chair Ben Crandall to sign board letter opposing LB216: Motion by Commissioner Schroeder, second by Commissioner Wortman — unanimous approval (4–0).
- Approve KCAD sculpture pad and site cleanup, direct Roads/Buildings to assist and explore funding: Motion by Commissioner Schroeder, second by Commissioner Irvin — unanimous approval (4–0).

The board’s action on LB216 was limited to authorizing a letter of opposition and does not constitute any formal state filing by the county beyond the signed letter.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Keith County Board of Commissioners Meeting March 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved routine agenda items and payment claims, and voted 4–0 to have the board chair sign a letter opposing LB216, a proposal to transfer the clerk of district court office to state control.","taxTitle","Keith County, Nebraska","taxId",73789,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":50,"_51":81,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":82,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":83,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6109703,"Commissioners order feasibility studies, table plat and approve conditional use permit after Lakeshore and West Vista hearings",1203,1803000,3006000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759660-8a1b27340970e47817b00a0da3f11cde&start=1803&end=3006","/articles/6109703/Keith-County/Nebraska/Commissioners-order-feasibility-studies-table-plat-and-approve-conditional-use-permit-after-Lakeshore-and-West-Vista-hearings","Keith County commissioners instructed county roads staff Tuesday to perform feasibility studies on two separate requests to vacate platted roads and later tabled a related final plat until those studies are complete.

After a public hearing that included cross testimony from property owners and neighbors, the board voted to direct the county highway superintendent to study a request by Tim O’Connor and Gerald and Nancy Patrick to vacate a short portion of Spinner Road in the Bennett’s/Lakeshore area. Commissioner Irvin moved to direct a feasibility study; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Ortman and passed unanimously. Resident Harry Marsh told the commissioners he opposed closing the road for safety and emergency access, saying the route had provided alternate access when nearby roads flood. Property owner Tim O’Connor told the board he had previously reconstructed much of the local access using recycled asphalt milling but said a short, sand‑filled washout section repeatedly fails and is the rationale for the vacation request.

The board separately approved a feasibility study on a petition by Brian Fromm and Carol Carter to vacate a portion of West Vista Drive in a Lakeshore/West Vista subdivision that would be absorbed as part of a proposed replat. Following staff and planning commission recommendations the board instructed the highway superintendent to study that vacation as well; the motion passed on a roll call vote. At the same meeting, commissioners voted to table the associated final plat (Buffalo Ridge Replat No. 3) until the feasibility study and vacation process are complete.

On a related planning item, the board approved Conditional Use Permit CUP 25‑1 to allow an additional dwelling on a three‑acre lot in an agricultural (AG) zone at 914 W. Highway 92 (the applicant is John Johnson). Commissioner Irvin moved for approval and Commissioner Schroeder seconded; the motion passed 4–0 on roll call. Planning staff noted the request met minimum lot‑size standards for the accessory dwelling policy and that the planning commission had recommended approval.

Commissioners and staff emphasized the next steps: the county highway superintendent will perform feasibility analyses (including consultation with emergency services) and, if the studies indicate vacating is feasible, the board will schedule public hearings and formal resolutions to accept or reject vacation petitions. Road and planning staff also said they would coordinate with emergency responders on access implications before any final vacation vote.

The board’s motions were procedural direction to begin formal studies; no vacation or plat approvals were finalized and the public will have further opportunity to comment at a subsequent published hearing if the superintendent’s studies recommend moving forward.","The board directed the county highway superintendent to study two proposed road vacations in the Lakeshore and West Vista subdivisions, tabled a related final plat pending the study, and approved a conditional use permit allowing an additional dwelling on a three‑acre lot in an agricultural district.",{"_33":85,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":86,"_41":87,"_43":88,"_45":89,"_47":90,"_49":50,"_51":91,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":92,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":93,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6109709,"State engineers outline Perkins County Canal plan, timeline and local impacts",4365,3495000,7860000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2759660-8a1b27340970e47817b00a0da3f11cde&start=3495&end=7860","/articles/6109709/Keith-County/Nebraska/State-engineers-outline-Perkins-County-Canal-plan-timeline-and-local-impacts","Nebraska Department of Natural Resources senior project engineer Matt Manning and HDR Engineering vice president John Engel presented Keith County commissioners with an update Tuesday on two interrelated water projects: repairs and upgrades to the Western Irrigation District canal and the larger Perkins County Canal effort intended to preserve Nebraska’s winterwater entitlements under the South Platte River Compact.

Manning said the Western work — canal cleanups, replacing several road crossings with box culverts and headworks improvements at the diversion — is at roughly 60 percent design and is expected to be phased over several years so irrigators retain water deliveries. “We’re cleaning up the canal, increasing its size, and replacing some road crossings,” Engel said, noting several locations will require geotechnical borings and coordination with the county highway superintendent before work begins.

The Perkins County Canal project, the presenters said, aims to secure Nebraska’s wintertime compact entitlement (established in the South Platte River Compact, adopted by the states in 1923 and enacted by Congress in 1926). Manning said permitting and an environmental review remain the pacing items: a final environmental impact statement and record of decision are not expected until the mid-to-late 2020s, with construction tentatively scheduled to begin in the 2029–2032 window.

“Until we complete the federal environmental review we can’t finalize a preferred route,” Manning said. He described a study area that crosses northeastern Colorado into Keith County and said the state is evaluating existing reservoirs and conveyance to limit new construction where possible. The presenters explained why Colorado water development and recharge projects in recent years have reduced flows at the state line in winter, increasing urgency for the canal from Nebraska’s perspective.

Commissioners asked about property impacts, reservoir sizes and timing. Engel said reservoir acreage estimates remain preliminary; alternatives in earlier federal studies suggested potential reservoir footprints ranging from modest to several thousand acres depending on routing and use of existing storage. Manning said additional field work — deep borings, piezometers and pump tests — is planned in the coming months and that state staff will invite county staff and affected landowners to follow-up briefings.

Manning and Engel emphasized the state’s continuing effort to coordinate with Colorado and stakeholders. “We want to minimize impacts to landowners and use existing storage where feasible,” Engel said, while also acknowledging substantial uncertainty until permitting identifies a preferred alignment. Manning encouraged residents with questions to attend a related public meeting scheduled March 21 and to contact the DNR project team for updates.

Commissioners thanked the presenters and asked that highway staff be involved where road crossings or borings are needed. Manning said the project team plans to coordinate local notifications and return to county leadership as design and permitting progress.

The presentation covered technical detail on diversion gates, river-return structures and phased box‑culvert replacements; it did not include any county action or commitment of county funds. The state team asked the commission to expect requests for access and to coordinate with the county highway superintendent on right-of-way borings and construction timing.","Nebraska Department of Natural Resources and HDR Engineering gave commissioners an update on Western Irrigation District improvements and the larger Perkins County Canal project, describing design, permitting and an uncertain route that could require land borings and future public hearings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Keith County commissioners unanimously sign off on routine business and authorize chair to oppose LB216

Commissioners order feasibility studies, table plat and approve conditional use permit after Lakeshore and West Vista hearings

State engineers outline Perkins County Canal plan, timeline and local impacts