[{"_1":2,"_114":-5,"_115":-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",[32,74,84,94,104],{"_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",6745531,"mediaKeyId","5579974-1e4a7b94c6eca72afd68ccd548e5cc50","parentId",5579974,"title","Votes at a glance: Gage County board approves consent agenda, contracts and fair licenses","audioSeconds",366,"startMs",25000,"endMs",391000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579974-1e4a7b94c6eca72afd68ccd548e5cc50&start=25&end=391","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6745531/Gage-County/Nebraska/Votes-at-a-glance-Gage-County-board-approves-consent-agenda-contracts-and-fair-licenses","mediaUrl","author","Gage County, NE","date","2025-07-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Gage County Board of Commissioners took a series of formal actions at its July 9 meeting, approving routine and single-item measures drawn from the consent and regular agendas.

Actions approved included the consent agenda (minutes and claims through 07/09/2025), separate approval of two pulled claims, award of a Visitor Improvement Fund grant to the Carnegie Center Inc. for $7,764, appointment of Jeanette Dorn to the tourism advisory committee, four special-designated liquor licenses for the Gage County Ag Society for the July 23–25 fair events, certification of completion for a statewide stop-sign upgrade (Resolution No. 25-02), and a one-year radio maintenance contract with First Wireless Inc. The board also voted to apply liquidated damages to the Oakscapes construction contract tied to final completion tasks (striping, seeding and grading).

Where vote tallies were recorded in the transcript: the consent agenda passed 7–0; the Johnny's Welding claim (No. 25070075) passed 6–0 with one abstention recorded; the RL Team/Construction claim (No. 25070079) passed with one abstention recorded; the Carnegie visitor grant passed 7–0; the appointment of Jeanette Dorn passed 7–0; the four special-designated liquor licenses passed 7–0; Resolution No. 25-02 passed 7–0; the First Wireless contract passed 7–0; and the Oakscapes liquidated-damages motion passed 7–0.

Several approvals were accompanied by brief discussion or staff notes. County counsel flagged an inconsistency in termination language in the First Wireless contract and said staff would request a correction before execution. A commissioner disclosed involvement with one vendor when that vendor's claim appeared on the register; the related claim was approved with an abstention noted on the record.

Summary of formal actions (as recorded in meeting transcript):
- Consent agenda: approved (motion carries, 7 in favor).
- Claim No. 25070075 (Johnny's Welding Inc., $5,043.20): approved (6 in favor, 1 abstention recorded).
- Claim No. 25070079 (RL Team & Construction Inc., $56,008.00 + $7.21): approved (6 in favor, 1 abstention recorded); a commissioner disclosed involvement with the company.
- Visitor Improvement Grant to Carnegie Center Inc. (wood floor replacement): $7,764 — approved 7–0.
- Appointment: Jeanette Dorn to tourism advisory committee, term effective 07/01/2025 — approved 7–0.
- Four special-designated liquor licenses for Gage County Fair events (07/23–07/25/2025): approved 7–0; sheriff had no opposition on record.
- Resolution No. 25-02 (certificate of completion for stop sign upgrades): approved 7–0; county replaced roughly 400 signs under the program.
- Radio maintenance contract with First Wireless Inc., term 07/01/2025–06/30/2026: approved 7–0; counsel requested cleanup of inconsistent termination language.
- Oakscapes liquidated damages: board approved charging liquidated damages through final completion (striping, seeding, grading) — approved 7–0.

The board also approved plans and called for bids on courthouse lighting and an east-side handicap ramp; those bid openings are scheduled for 08/06/2025. Several other agenda items were deferred for later review.

Ending note: For items with vendor or contractor involvement disclosed by commissioners, the transcript records abstentions rather than roll-call name-by-name tallies for each member; the meeting minutes and claims register should be consulted for formal accounting and any related ethics documentation.","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Gage County Board of Supervisors Meeting July 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Gage County Board of Commissioners approved the consent agenda and a set of single-item measures at its July 9 meeting, including claims, contracts, a visitor grant, fair liquor licenses and a resolution certifying completion of stop-sign upgrades.","taxTitle","Gage County, Nebraska","taxId",69711,"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},6745513,"Gage County board to send letters opposing BEAD change that counts unlicensed fixed wireless as 'reliable service'",227,2205000,2432000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579974-1e4a7b94c6eca72afd68ccd548e5cc50&start=2205&end=2432","/articles/6745513/Gage-County/Nebraska/Gage-County-board-to-send-letters-opposing-BEAD-change-that-counts-unlicensed-fixed-wireless-as-reliable-service","The Gage County Board of Commissioners directed staff July 9 to send letters to state and federal representatives opposing a federal change that treats unlicensed fixed wireless as an eligible form of 'reliable service' for BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) funding determinations.

Miss Haxby explained that the federal change removed roughly 52% of Gage County locations from eligibility for funding because those locations could now be counted as served by unlicensed fixed wireless. \"Now what happened was that at the federal level, they've decided to allow unlicensed fixed wireless as a reliable broadband service, which it's not,\" Haxby said in the meeting. She told commissioners the change reduced the county's eligible locations and that the county and nearby jurisdictions are coordinating to ask representatives to preserve fiber-priority funding and to limit use of unlicensed fixed wireless in BEAD allocations.

Commissioners moved and seconded a motion to send letters explaining why the change is harmful to county BEAD allocations and urging policy that prioritizes fiber. The motion carried 7–0.

Ending: Staff will prepare and send letters to representatives explaining the local impact; commissioners asked staff to include maps and data showing the locations lost under the changed definition.","The board voted to send letters to representatives after staff said a change in federal guidance treating unlicensed fixed wireless as reliable broadband reduced eligible BEAD funding locations in Gage County by about 52 percent.",{"_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},6745521,"Gage County will apply liquidated damages to Oakscapes project until final completion",229,1955000,2184000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579974-1e4a7b94c6eca72afd68ccd548e5cc50&start=1955&end=2184","/articles/6745521/Gage-County/Nebraska/Gage-County-will-apply-liquidated-damages-to-Oakscapes-project-until-final-completion","The Gage County Board voted July 9 to apply liquidated damages to the Oakscapes contract until the project reaches 100% completion.

County staff briefed commissioners that the Oakscapes contract had received multiple extensions (initial completion date 11/01/2024, later moved to May and then June 1) but that progress had stalled again. A motion to charge liquidated damages through final completion (including striping, seeding and striping) was moved and seconded and carried on the record.

County staff noted the decision followed a conference call in which the contractor's representatives acknowledged the possibility of liquidated damages; staff said they do not take the step lightly. A county staff member said, \"That's not something we take lightly. We do everything we can not to charge liquidated damages to be a good place to work, but, unfortunately, this has kind of drug.\" The board directed the county administrator's office to notify the contractor and proceed with enforcement until final completion is achieved.

Ending: Staff will send formal notice to the contractor and follow up with enforcement steps as necessary; the board recorded the motion to apply damages and requested staff to inform the contractor through the county administrator.","After repeated schedule extensions and stalled progress, the Gage County Board voted to charge Oakscapes liquidated damages through final completion for striping, seeding and grading. Staff will notify the contractor and proceed with enforcement.",{"_33":95,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":96,"_41":97,"_43":98,"_45":99,"_47":100,"_49":50,"_51":101,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":102,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":103,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6745526,"Gage County approves $7,764 visitor improvement grant for Carnegie Center wood floors",428,1005000,1433000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579974-1e4a7b94c6eca72afd68ccd548e5cc50&start=1005&end=1433","/articles/6745526/Gage-County/Nebraska/Gage-County-approves-7764-visitor-improvement-grant-for-Carnegie-Center-wood-floors","The Gage County Board of Commissioners approved a $7,764 Visitor Improvement Fund grant to the Carnegie Center Inc. for wood-floor replacement at its July 9 meeting.

Presenters described the Carnegie Building as a locally significant historic structure that attracts visitors to Beatrice and Gage County. Margaret Haight, who identified herself as a local resident and longtime supporter of the Carnegie building, said the building is a county tourism landmark and urged the board to approve the fund request: \"I hate seeing all these old historic buildings just being torn down. And I loved it that they tried to save this building.\" Dave Jones, who identified himself as chair of the Gage County Visitors Committee and as a board member of the Friends of the Carnegie group, described the project background, the condition of the South Room flooring and the group's fundraising history, saying the group had raised more than $200,000 over time to support the building's maintenance.

Commissioner Lytle moved to approve the $7,764 request; Commissioner Dorn seconded. The board voted 7–0 to approve the grant. The visitor improvement committee will manage the disbursement; the county clerk's office will record the payment in the county's accounting system.

Ending: The grant covers the immediate cost of floor replacement; additional maintenance and specialized conservation work (for Carrara-marble areas and other historic finishes) were discussed as ongoing needs by the presenters.","The county approved $7,764 from the Visitor Improvement Fund to help the Carnegie Center replace wood floors that were determined to be beyond repair. The grant was approved unanimously at the July 9 meeting.",{"_33":105,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":106,"_41":107,"_43":108,"_45":109,"_47":110,"_49":50,"_51":111,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":112,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":113,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6745509,"Gage County outlines FY2025–26 budget priorities; reassessment funding for Beatrice highlighted",249,2487000,2736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5579974-1e4a7b94c6eca72afd68ccd548e5cc50&start=2487&end=2736","/articles/6745509/Gage-County/Nebraska/Gage-County-outlines-FY202526-budget-priorities-reassessment-funding-for-Beatrice-highlighted","At the July 9 meeting the Gage County Board discussed headline items for the fiscal year 2025–26 budget, including property reassessment work, sheriff equipment requests and road maintenance and capital plans.

Staff reported approximately $220,000 in additional funds earmarked for reassessment work in Beatrice; a previously noted rural reassessment allocation (around $150,000) will be adjusted, leaving an anticipated county reassessment total in the low hundreds of thousands (transcript language: \"3 to 400,000 now for the it's 180 on 1 and so it'll be at 300 some thousand\"). Staff said the assessor's office will continue rural reassessment work in phases and expects residential and commercial reassessment in Beatrice to continue into subsequent years.

On law enforcement budgets, staff and commissioners discussed the sheriff's requests for equipment including weapons upgrades, body-worn cameras and potential in-car video upgrades. Road and bridge priorities included a planned 5–7 year armor-coat cycle with an expectation to armor-coat 20–30 miles in the coming cycle, site-specific guardrail repairs and a potential motor-grader purchase planned in the budget. The board also discussed managing grant-funded blacktop projects that would require the county to front costs and be reimbursed by grants.

Ending: The board instructed staff to continue working on line-item details and to bring refined figures and proposed adjustments back to the board during the budget process.","Commissioners reviewed budget priorities including increased reassessment funding for Beatrice, sheriff equipment needs, roadway armor coating plans, and capital projects to be grant-funded and reimbursed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Gage County board approves consent agenda, contracts and fair licenses

Gage County board to send letters opposing BEAD change that counts unlicensed fixed wireless as 'reliable service'

Gage County will apply liquidated damages to Oakscapes project until final completion

Gage County approves $7,764 visitor improvement grant for Carnegie Center wood floors

Gage County outlines FY2025–26 budget priorities; reassessment funding for Beatrice highlighted