During public comment at the Dec. 24 Gage County Board meeting, resident Margaret Hayth of 104 West Granville, Beatrice, urged supervisors to update planning and zoning regulations and reconsider the review process so major projects are vetted locally before state review.

"Maybe you actually start these things at the county level, that way the public can get involved a little earlier," Hayth said, citing issues the county has faced recently with wind towers, solar farms and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). She also referenced a prior Island Grove CAFO review and said state-level reviews sometimes lack the staff or budget to perform extensive local checks.

In response, the chair said staff had been instructed to have Lisa Wiegand contact consultants to review and update county regulations and that the work is anticipated in calendar year 2025. Board members confirmed consultants had not yet been hired and said they would ask any selected consultant to consider whether zoning districts should be adjusted to reflect different terrain and land use patterns in the county.

Hayth closed by urging the board to act, and supervisors thanked her for the suggestion. The board did not take an immediate regulatory action at the meeting beyond directing staff to seek consultant assistance and to return with recommendations.

The exchange highlighted ongoing local concerns about siting and permitting processes and the balance between state and county review in land-use decisions.