[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6584831,"mediaKeyId","5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c","parentId",5499845,"title","Fire districts present preliminary levies; commissioners press Eastern Sarpy for details","audioSeconds",528,"startMs",4038000,"endMs",4566000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c&start=4038&end=4566","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c/thumbnail_4038000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6584831/Sarpy-County/Nebraska/Fire-districts-present-preliminary-levies-commissioners-press-Eastern-Sarpy-for-details","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584831-ed9fc4e9571ed36bb84db90d0b239e8d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401092&Signature=fld2JnUgpYsbi9LRQp~vfi81SEx9-F7x1tlHN6kKvmqiv4FJUCosZBxYPMbQIAVziGcxQqDD-kyGwtgpJi-kL9gct9xzmaAYhxTIu9ofHbShTBkUMA8Irln2Gh~X3g1fVPYbAcl2xPEC8C-W1JNS-vN5~jsNOZwfg9wsj7OxKPD~4imNwWrgIqWScYoQMZQRum8sAFWfUWSJcWbOfvI-cInaxSmuf-cTOne3LYeQc9RwipUaz2gUhYp6IinYQZA1yfPbaKd07aJQ5TdscZ5mSHv6VuD9IlQhIrjCNr7m-w0csZo25InYRAb5FOTW89F1nBDTOwtKjoHdshelS2QbHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sarpy County, NE","date","2025-07-28T15:44:45Z","article","Several fire districts and the Sarpy County Ag Society presented preliminary levy and budget information to the Sarpy County Board, prompting commissioners to ask for additional details on bond and capital plans before final approvals later in August.

Amber Hotelling, chief deputy county clerk and register of deeds, introduced the preliminary levies and asked district representatives to be present to answer questions. Kevin Edwards represented Millard, reporting a 6.39% increase in taxable valuation over the 2024 certified value and a requested levy increase of 1.45%; he said the change would raise the cost by about $1.50 on a $100,000 home.

Edwards also presented Papillion Fire District figures: a 10.71% valuation increase, a total budget increase of 10.21%, and contractual increases tied to interlocal agreements (MFO) with Papillion and La Vista. Papillion’s capital replacement plan increased to $305,076 for apparatus replacement and the district plans a higher annual set-aside (roughly $815,800) to avoid bonding for apparatus.

Gretna (Eastern Sarpy) and other districts were on the agenda; commissioners flagged Eastern Sarpy’s request for the full 15¢ allocation the county can allocate under current procedures and asked county staff to request additional detail at the Aug. 26 final-approval meeting. Commissioner discussion stressed equity across districts and asked staff to ask Eastern Sarpy to explain the high levy and what bond or capital projects the money would finance.

Rod Beattie, Gretna Fire Chief, said his district tried to maintain a similar levy and that in the prior year the district moved toward paid staffing and merged EMS and ambulance funding into a single fund. Beattie said the department included money in the budget for potential new hires tied to expected local development.

County staff reminded commissioners that final action on these budgets will be taken at the Aug. 26 meeting and said staff would ask districts for clarifying information—particularly on Eastern Sarpy’s bond requests—before the board votes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board Meetings - Jul 29 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Representatives for several fire districts presented preliminary budgets and levy requests to the Sarpy County Board; commissioners asked for more detail from Eastern Sarpy about a high levy request and noted final budget approvals are scheduled for Aug. 26.","taxTitle","Sarpy County, Nebraska","taxId",3788,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584835,"County approves $460,952 independent cost-estimating contract for South Sarpy Expressway CMGC project",385,3839000,4224000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c&start=3839&end=4224","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c/thumbnail_3839000.jpg","/articles/6584835/Sarpy-County/Nebraska/County-approves-460952-independent-cost-estimating-contract-for-South-Sarpy-Expressway-CMGC-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584835-115ec854747bc6d3d984ad6fa89d33af/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401092&Signature=OgbAptzYK5yTDGGj5TOi3K8HwwFiBFLcpLC6ra3eKFglT3JibwdwFTKtm0xkKSVoAiZlMQU4vj~1ssUgiSDDQitKhAhFCXv2hlwWJM3jcSBl-NIBmXGru-AAM-~mPbUeNK39~Qta0QRPLqrX6R~0o3hdTuIMeTqipT-26k77Nun6dHZ60-SEnp6htbtWW~UD52OfU4xxK4VOvc21GslhhdWtP1h~hfDItiHdY2k9VbSUpKCZi9zuB3Z3PinTZ6zZzyhIxxgFvsG8b2ns9YHZb266PubX9o~SQNLimKfkXpwOUD8mko4m1aJVJx-IsqIWhb-wlRZ2Q0eSR9A1lufI~w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarpy County commissioners approved a professional services agreement with Innovative Contracting and Engineering Services to produce independent cost estimates for the South Sarpy Expressway project (C‑77, 25‑15), a precondition and best practice for the construction-manager/general-contractor (CM/GC) procurement method.

Scott Bovec, deputy county administrator, said the firm is nationally experienced at independent cost estimating and is already working on similar Nebraska projects. The contract amount is $460,951.96, which county staff characterized as roughly one-half of one percent of the expected construction cost; HDR (the county’s engineering consultant) reviewed the fee and found it consistent for a project of this size and type.

Innovative will provide a 60% cost estimate and a 90% cost estimate and participate in development meetings to help refine quantities, phasing and schedule. Bovec said the firm’s work is aimed at providing cost certainty for the county, the designer (HDR), and prospective CM/GC firms and that the firm will participate in an upcoming project workshop.

Commissioners approved the agreement by voice vote (motion by Commissioner Kelly, second by Commissioner Warren) with no recorded objections. County officials said the firm’s travel is limited relative to remote work and that Innovative will be heavily involved over the next several months as the guaranteed maximum price (GMP) is developed.","Sarpy County approved a professional services agreement with Innovative Contracting and Engineering Services for an independent cost estimate as part of the CM/GC procurement for the South Sarpy Expressway; the contract is about 0.5% of anticipated construction cost and will deliver 60% and 90% cost estimates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":79,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584839,"Commission tables renewal request for construction/demolition disposal site after unpaid road fees",735,3104000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c&start=3104&end=3839","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c/thumbnail_3104000.jpg","/articles/6584839/Sarpy-County/Nebraska/Commission-tables-renewal-request-for-constructiondemolition-disposal-site-after-unpaid-road-fees","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584839-5f00fba61e4c77c24c8eb704af33c33f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401092&Signature=WTqWm0lhU4Z0ws~-x7ew5cz6Y8yvJEGbl505TEfJicYWwvP4D4MqBEiUVRFbMCKEYvm2RsqLR52qw8rfOXZR1QnTzYuVkWCFHo-5RKIlh654qQ~6LjaXi8YkP~DqdFQidtuQivKsWNQkcfGt4nPfDpuD51eEJz7Emm3c8S0v1lJM6ec2sQ4CCBbKh2Q1r5Vb86-4r4yLjIFcoO~sBS21NeJjvU9bTd~BpTqeYL6Uj~grIvgVGiDZKKNDQ7dk8tokKDRjum6osCULqEM~ytGhYHA3hAcEq9czSXQNwhDAsS8Un05~XLvqvqelOM812GvLdShmUSZLfUeQz3t97atVEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sarpy County Board tabled action on a special-use permit renewal for a construction-and-demolition (C&D) waste disposal site operated on ~19.8 acres northwest of 100th and 111th Street after county staff said the operator remained out of compliance with zoning and had not finalized a required road-maintenance agreement.

The permit, originally approved in 2019 with a five-year term, allowed stockpiling and crushing of concrete and asphalt. Planning staff recommended denial because the permit expired March 31, 2024, the operator continued to work on the site without the renewed permit, and the outstanding road-maintenance fees from the original agreement had not been paid. Planning reported that a draft updated road-maintenance agreement was sent to the applicant in December 2024 and again in March 2025 with no substantive response.

Robert LaRocco, planning director, told the board that since the Planning Commission recommended approval in July 2024 the county has attempted numerous times to coordinate an updated road agreement and to collect the outstanding balance. He said the operator had been operating without necessary permits for roughly 16 months and staff had no path forward to resolve the violation and bring a favorable recommendation to the board.

Representatives for the owner—including Joe Grudenmeyer and an engineer from TD2—asked for a short layover so the parties could finalize a negotiated road-maintenance agreement. The applicant’s counsel and engineers told the board the owner, Brian (surname not fully stated), had faced health issues that limited responsiveness but that the owner was willing to meet with county staff.

Deputy County Attorney Nicole Spitzenberger recommended a minimum of two weeks and possibly three to complete negotiations and prepare an amended resolution that could include the new road-maintenance agreement. The board ultimately voted to table the matter and directed staff to continue negotiations; the item was set to return to the board on Aug. 26, 2025.

Planning staff said the updated road-maintenance agreement would: roll outstanding amounts from the 2019 agreement into a new payment schedule (spread over five years), calculate new maintenance fees tied to the applicant’s use, and include contributions toward a 108th Street paving project. County staff also noted that if the board denied renewal and enforcement followed, ongoing recycling and construction projects that rely on the site’s recycled concrete and asphalt could be affected.

The board’s tabling vote was unanimous. County staff and the applicant agreed to continue negotiations and return a finalized agreement and any amended resolution for board action in late August.","County staff recommended denying renewal of a special-use permit for a construction and demolition (C&D) waste disposal site because required road-maintenance fees remained unpaid; the applicant asked for more time and the board tabled the request to late August to allow negotiation of an updated road-maintenance agreement.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6584845,"Sarpy County denies two tax-exemption requests from 50 Mile March Foundation",1400,1256000,2656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c&start=1256&end=2656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5499845-bd12662cf4c9e02f34ce03837818350c/thumbnail_1256000.jpg","/articles/6584845/Sarpy-County/Nebraska/Sarpy-County-denies-two-tax-exemption-requests-from-50-Mile-March-Foundation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6584845-71fcbe9e684b23b5085b5ca1b6b0dd54/orig.mp4?Expires=1775401092&Signature=FiSil2XyL7A5471Ve827x45kXWVylDWPwLthyjCAtzLRr7FC2Kq7jC2tL3yCkqDvpUM3oVQEEWoJZesfGvmrTGg5e0SViOKri-Rnr2UZw-5xyQ6H22rRu9h-aJ5wgujbkP6oDYpMHRmrQhoAg9Ou5TpKIhZfQXxaWNSMm9z6BzOFQ9NSHBC1LIu3klISmQXNbOgIJZNiV29MJOAOHQBjx21CTAtq1a-NCJazpQSZ25DnatZSBJRBDZHSKDL~6o7xLfc~-wO-0-ejpMWSYjXt~M6~dvF6ZK4gAKlHK9pnewx6F5HeSufKAkixY3irSCE1LBgKLIjrDJpvJ0Jnr55WFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sarpy County Board of Equalization and later the Board of Commissioners denied two tax-exemption and waiver requests from the 50 Mile March Foundation, a Bellevue-based nonprofit, after county staff concluded the property did not qualify and the organization missed statutory filing deadlines.

The denial matters because the applications sought property-tax-exempt status for parcels used in part as boat and RV storage and small rental units; county staff said those uses do not meet the statutory \"exclusive use\" test required for the exemption. County attorneys also advised the boards they had no legal authority to extend the 2024 filing deadline and that the 2025 extension window had closed when the application arrived late.

At a public hearing on the parcels (011046945 and 011046929) the foundation’s representatives, including Jay Morales and Brianne Schuler, described the organization’s mission to provide veteran housing and community services and said revenue from on-site rentals or storage is used to support programming. Morales said the organization had spent substantial sums on planning and that the property currently supports limited programming and volunteer activity while the group develops a longer-term project.

Deputy Assessor Jackie Moorhead told the board the property must pass a five-part test for the exemption and that \"currently it does not pass the exclusive use. The property must be used exclusively for the purposes of the qualifying organization, which right now as of January 1, it is an RV park storage facility. So that does not qualify for the exemption.\" County staff also noted the parcel was purchased in December 2024 and no timely application was received for 2024 (the deadline for filing for 2024 was Dec. 31, 2023). The county attorney added that there is no statutory mechanism to extend the 2024 filing deadline and the procedure to extend the 2025 application required filing by July 1; the county received the 2025 paperwork on July 3.

Board members asked questions about how the foundation uses the site and whether revenue from storage or leases could be treated as donations or incidental income. County legal counsel said the relevant standard looks to whether the \"predominant or primary purpose of the property is for that charitable organization\" and recommended the group seek outside counsel if it wants to restructure operations to meet NDOR (Nebraska Department of Revenue) guidance on permissive uses.

Commissioners voted to accept the assessor’s recommendation of denial for the first set of parcels; the motion carried 3–2, with Commissioners Kelly and Warren recorded as voting against. The follow-up hearing on a second year’s request produced the same outcome (denial of the exemption), again carried 3–2 with Kelly and Warren voting no. County staff noted the 2024 tax bill for the parcels was about $9,000, which the foundation said it would pay but called an administrative burden.

County officials said their explanations and guidance during the hearing were intended to help the foundation refile under the correct legal framework in future years. The boards closed the public hearings after the votes; the county advised the group to consult legal counsel and the assessor’s office about property-use changes that might satisfy the exemption criteria in future filings.

The foundation representatives said they understood and will pursue counsel and operational changes; they also emphasized that current on-site revenue is a small portion of their overall funding and is reinvested into the nonprofit’s programs.

Votes at a glance: two tax-exemption applications (parcels 011046945 and 011046929) were denied after county staff found the property did not meet exclusive-use standards and statutory filing deadlines were missed. Both denials carried 3–2 (Kelly and Warren recorded as voting no).","The Board of Equalization and County Commissioners denied two applications from 50 Mile March Foundation after county staff found the property did not meet \"exclusive use\" requirements and key filing deadlines were missed; board cited lack of legal authority to extend deadlines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fire districts present preliminary levies; commissioners press Eastern Sarpy for details

County approves $460,952 independent cost-estimating contract for South Sarpy Expressway CMGC project

Commission tables renewal request for construction/demolition disposal site after unpaid road fees

Sarpy County denies two tax-exemption requests from 50 Mile March Foundation