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Buffalo County commissioners approve routine business, renew jail phone contract and set gravel bid date
Summary
At its Feb. 8 meeting in Kearney, the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners approved minutes and payroll, accepted several departmental reports, approved two liquor licenses, renewed a one‑year inmate phone contract with Global Tel Link, set the 2022 gravel bid date, authorized sale of surplus property and changed the Highway Department workweek.
The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners met Feb. 8, 2022, in the Buffalo County Board Room in Kearney and approved a series of routine administrative and operational items.
Chairman Ivan Klein called the meeting to order. County Clerk Janice I. Giffin recorded the proceedings. The Board voted to approve the Jan. 25 meeting minutes and to ratify payroll claims processed Jan. 28, each motion carrying on a 6–0 roll-call vote with Commissioner Myron Kouba recorded as absent. The Clerk provided payroll and benefits detail for the record, including a General Fund net payroll listed at $294,547.40.
The Board accepted the Clerk of the District Court’s January 2022 report and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension’s 2021 annual report after presentations from staff. Zoning Administrator Dennise Daniels reviewed the 2021 Planning and Zoning and Floodplain Administrator report, which the Board also accepted.
Sheriff Neil Miller presented a proposed one-year renewal of the inmate phone and messaging contract with Global Tel Link Corporation (GTL). Commissioner Daniel Lynch moved to approve the renewal and Commissioner Timothy Higgins seconded; the Board approved the one-year renewal in a unanimous vote of those present.
Chairman Klein reviewed correspondence, including a letter from Jacobsen Orr noting resolution of a Tax Increment Financing claim by Kappa Ethanol Holdings, LLC, and a thank-you from Lincoln County. During a public hearing, the Board approved a Special Designated Liquor License for the National Audubon Society–Iain Nicolson Audubon Center for an April 7, 2022 event.
The Board also approved a Class D retail liquor license and manager’s application for Shorty Wendell Ventures LLC doing business as Foote’s Oasis at 2550 Lowell Road in Gibbon after a brief public hearing; the Sheriff’s office had submitted a report for the licensing review. That license approval was carried by motion of Commissioner Timothy Higgins, seconded by Commissioner Daniel Lynch.
Highway Superintendent John Maul was present for transportation items. The Board set the 2022 county gravel bid date for Feb. 22, 2022, for materials effective April 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. Commissioners authorized the Road Department to work with AuctionTime to sell designated surplus equipment and supplies; the county clerk’s office and Road Department will maintain the list of items for sale. The Board also approved a temporary change to the Highway Department work schedule, moving from five eight‑hour days to four ten‑hour days from March 7 through Nov. 4, 2022, with a return to the prior schedule Nov. 7.
The Board recessed briefly and reconvened as the Buffalo County Board of Equalization to handle equalization business before returning to the regular meeting. Chairman Klein adjourned the meeting at 9:42 a.m.; the Board scheduled its next regular meeting for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022.
