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Buffalo County commissioners approve siren upgrade, buy dozer with ARPA funds and OK subdivision
Summary
At their July 12 meeting, the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners authorized a countywide two-way siren upgrade contract, approved purchase of a $251,671 Caterpillar dozer using ARPA funds, and adopted Resolution 2022-26 to create the "Jacobson Acres" administrative subdivision, among routine audits, liquor licenses and tax-exemption approvals.
Vice Chairman Sherry Morrow called the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners to order July 12, 2022, and the board approved a series of contracts, audits and licenses, including a countywide siren upgrade and a road equipment purchase funded with American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars.
The board authorized a contract with American Signal Corporation to install a two-way secure outdoor siren activation and management system countywide after Emergency Manager Darrin Lewis and Deputy County Attorney Andrew Hoffmeister reviewed the proposal. Commissioner Bill Maendele moved to authorize Vice Chairman Morrow to sign the contract; Commissioner Daniel Lynch seconded the motion, and the roll call vote recorded all present commissioners voting aye (Ivan Klein was absent).
The board then appointed Emergency Manager Darrin Lewis as the county representative and Sheriff Neil Miller as the alternate for change order authority on the siren project; that motion also passed on a roll call vote.
In road department business, the board accepted a state contract through SourceWell from NMC of Doniphan, Neb., to purchase a Caterpillar 6-way dozer for $251,671.00 to be paid from ARPA funds. Commissioner Ronald Loeffelholz moved to accept the contract; the motion carried on roll call (absent: Klein).
On zoning matters, Zoning Administrator Dennise Daniels opened a public hearing on an administrative subdivision application presented by surveyor Trenton Snow on behalf of the trustees of the Rex A. Peterson and Shari A. Peterson revocable trusts. No members of the public addressed the board. The board adopted Resolution 2022-26, creating the administrative subdivision known as "Jacobson Acres," finding the proposed plat—approximately 1.62 acres—meets county subdivision requirements and noting that remnant property would total roughly 136 acres. The board also recorded that the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy had indicated a subdivision review was not required.
The board approved several financial-oversight and administrative items: setting July 26, 2022, as the date for an audit RFP for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022; approving a contract with KSO CPAs, P.C. to perform Keno audits for fiscal years ending June 30, 2021 and June 30, 2022; and accepting the Keno audit for year ending June 30, 2021.
Other actions included authorization for a surplus property auction by Bramer Auction & Realty scheduled July 30, 2022 at 1406 1st Ave., Kearney; approval of Special Designated Liquor Licenses for National Audubon Society—Rowe Sanctuary (events Aug. 20 and Sept. 24, 2022) and B&B Research and Investments LLC (Village 1919) for Aug. 20, 2022; and multiple motor vehicle tax-exemption approvals for nonprofit and church applicants as presented by County Treasurer Jean Sidwell.
The board recessed to convene as the Board of Equalization, approved Tax List Corrections 4881–4885, then returned to regular session. The board entered executive session at 9:55 a.m. to discuss an inter-department employee transfer request and other personnel matters and resumed open session at 10:25 a.m. Vice Chairman Morrow opened Citizen’s Forum and recorded that no one addressed the board before adjourning at 10:26 a.m.
The meeting recorded standard roll-call approvals for motions where roll calls are noted; in those votes, Commissioner Ivan Klein is recorded absent.
