Lancaster County commissioners approve consent package, contract supplements and pay-grade changes tied to minimum wage

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 16 approved a package of routine contracts, several targeted service supplements and personnel pay-grade adjustments tied to an upcoming minimum-wage increase.

A motion to approve the consent items — which included contract amendments for social media archive services, behavior-health coordination, updates to a Federal Highway Administration grant, construction contracts for the Square 1 Family Resource Center and multiple change orders — passed on a roll-call vote.

The board approved a claim submitted beyond the 90-day limit under Nebraska law for Victory Park LLC for $1,534.54. The claim was described on the record as approval of "claims for goods and services beyond the 90 day time period provided in Nebraska revised statute 23-135." The motion carried.

The board authorized several resolutions and contract actions: a resolution authorizing the county clerk to issue payments while the board is adjourned; designation of county depository banks for 2026; installation of traffic signs in Malcolm at Northwest 105th Street and West McKelvey Road; and a supplemental environmental agreement (Supplemental 2) with Stelzberg Holton Olvig and related professional-services supplements. One professional-services supplement (contract CD-22-0537) with Fillsburg, Holt, and Olvig was approved not to exceed $32,558.60.

The board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Lancaster County District and County Court judges (on behalf of the Nebraska Supreme Court) for installation of security cameras in county courtrooms.

Community Corrections requested and received approval of an interlocal lease with the City of Lincoln for a transport vehicle to be used to move individuals between the county jail and the community corrections building; the county will pay $1 for the lease term. Jeff Kilpatrick of Community Corrections said the vehicle "will be used to assist in taking folks back to custody" and described security features including a locked rear area that cannot be opened from inside.

On personnel matters, John Tober of the Human Resources Department presented two recommendations from the personnel policy board to eliminate two lower casual-worker pay grades (A06 and A07) and move those temporary workers into pay grade A08. Tober said the change reflects an upcoming minimum-wage increase from $13.50 to $15.00 per hour and affects roughly 25 casual employees, mostly temporary election staff. The board approved the pay-grade adjustments.

The board accepted federal terrorism insurance coverage tied to a memorial statue honoring Lancaster County Sheriff’s Deputy Greg Dodge and disclosed the related premium. All routine motions and resolutions reported on the agenda were approved by roll-call vote unless otherwise noted.

The meeting concluded with announcements about upcoming meetings and streaming options.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 9, 2025 minutes — approved (motion carries). - Approval of out-of-time claim (Victory Park LLC) $1,534.54 — approved. - Consent agenda (multiple contract amendments and change orders) — approved. - Resolution 6a (county clerk payments while board adjourned) — approved. - Resolution 6b (designation of 2026 depositories) — approved. - Resolution 6c (traffic signs in Malcolm) — approved. - Resolution 6d (environmental agreement Supplemental 2) — approved. - 6e (professional services supplement with Fillsburg, Holt, and Olvig, not to exceed $32,558.60) — approved. - 6f (MOU with judges for courtroom security cameras) — approved. - 6g (interlocal vehicle lease with City of Lincoln for Community Corrections) — approved. - 6h (terrorism insurance for memorial statue) — approved. - 6i (personnel pay-grade changes to reflect $15 minimum wage) — approved.

What happens next: Several contract supplements and the vehicle lease will move forward to implementation by the responsible county departments; the personnel pay-grade change will be reflected in county payroll classifications and applied to the identified casual workers.