Buffalo County commissioners approve $15 million collateral increase, sheriff vehicle purchase and unanimous vendor claims

Kearney — At its July 26, 2022 meeting, the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a series of routine but fiscally significant actions, including increasing pledged collateral at First National Bank to $15,000,000, authorizing purchase of a sheriff’s patrol vehicle for $43,441 and approving July vendor claims.

Chairman Ivan Klein presided over the meeting. The board recorded a full roll call of Commissioners Timothy Higgins, Myron Kouba, Ronald Loeffelholz, Bill Maendele and Sherry Morrow; Commissioner Daniel Lynch was absent. County Clerk Janice Giffin recorded the minutes and County Attorney Shawn Eatherton was present.

The board approved three separate bank collateral actions for the County Treasurer: release of $125,000 of pledged collateral at Exchange Bank; addition of $185,000 in pledged collateral at Exchange Bank; and addition of $15,000,000 in pledged collateral at First National Bank. All motions passed unanimously with six aye votes and Lynch absent. The minutes record those votes as routine treasury-authority actions taken to secure county deposits.

Sheriff Neil Miller described the procurement process that followed the County Purchasing Act (three informal bids) and the commissioners authorized purchase of a 2023 Ford F-150 patrol vehicle for $43,441. The motion was moved by Commissioner Bill Maendele and seconded by Commissioner Myron Kouba and passed unanimously.

The board approved several administrative and community items: appointment of Shawn Engberg to the Kearney Visitors Bureau board to fill a term through 2024; authorization for Chairman Klein to sign the Annual Federal Funds Purchase Certification for the Nebraska Department of Roads; and authorization for the chairman to sign an interlocal agreement with the City of Kearney to help fund the Peterson Senior Activity Center. Commissioners also ratified a Special Designated Liquor License for Nightlife Concepts for an August 5 event.

Facilities Director Steve Gaasch briefed the board on upcoming construction and surplus-auction details. The board set Aug. 23, 2022 as the Request for Proposal (RFP) date for roofing and gutter replacement projects at the Recreation Area Office Building, Bathhouse and the Road Department Shop near Ravenna. Gaasch also reported changes for the July 30 surplus auction: impound-lot cars will be auctioned from 321 Central Ave, Kearney, and a house to-be-moved will be auctioned from 1406 1st Ave, Kearney.

The board recessed to convene the Board of Equalization, which approved consolidated minutes for the 2022 property valuation protest hearings and granted a motor-vehicle tax exemption for First United Methodist Church of Kearney for a 2013 Chevrolet Express. The Board of Equalization then adjourned and the commissioners resumed regular business.

County Clerk Janice Giffin opened a bid submitted by Dana F. Cole & Company, LLP in response to an RFP for auditing services; Board Administrator Lynn Martin and the Budget and Finance Committee will review the proposal and return with a decision on Aug. 9, 2022.

The meeting closed after the board unanimously approved the July vendor claims, which include multiple large line items recorded in the minutes, and recessed until the next regular meeting on Aug. 9, 2022. No members of the public spoke during Citizen’s Forum.

Votes at a glance: approval of July 12 minutes (moved Higgins, second Kouba) — approved (6–0, Lynch absent); ratify July 15 payroll claims (moved Morrow, second Loeffelholz) — approved (6–0); accept June RYDE report (moved Maendele, second Kouba) — approved (6–0); accept County Treasurer semi-annual report (moved Morrow, second Higgins) — approved (6–0); release $125,000 pledged collateral at Exchange Bank (moved Morrow, second Loeffelholz) — approved (6–0); add $185,000 pledged collateral at Exchange Bank (moved Morrow, second Maendele) — approved (6–0); add $15,000,000 pledged collateral at First National Bank (moved Morrow, second Higgins) — approved (6–0); authorize purchase of one 2023 Ford F-150 for $43,441 (moved Maendele, second Kouba) — approved (6–0); appoint Shawn Engberg to Visitors Bureau (moved Higgins, second Kouba) — approved (6–0); authorize chair to sign Annual Federal Funds Purchase Certification (moved Higgins, second Kouba) — approved (6–0); authorize chair to sign Interlocal Agreement with City of Kearney for Peterson Senior Activity Center funding (moved Maendele, second Morrow) — approved (6–0); ratify County Clerk action on Special Designated Liquor License for Nightlife Concepts (moved Kouba, second Morrow) — approved (6–0); set Aug. 23, 2022 for roofing RFP (moved Morrow, second Loeffelholz) — approved (6–0); recess and convene Board of Equalization (moved Loeffelholz, second Higgins) — approved (6–0); approve 2022 valuation protest hearing minutes (moved Maendele, second Kouba) — approved (6–0); approve Motor Vehicle Tax Exemption for First United Methodist Church (moved Higgins, second Loeffelholz) — approved (6–0); approve July 2022 vendor claims (moved Kouba, second Higgins) — approved (6–0); adjourn meeting — approved.

Why it matters: the collateral changes and vendor payments documented in the minutes are part of the county’s routine fiscal-management and banking practices; large collateral and claim line items affect county cash management and warrant public record. The board set procurement steps for upcoming projects (roofing/gutter RFP and audit review) that will return for committee or board action in August.

Next steps: the Budget and Finance Committee will review the auditing-services proposal and return with a recommendation on Aug. 9; the board will receive formal RFP responses for the roofing project on Aug. 23; several approved administrative items proceed to implementation per the minutes.