Buffalo County sets 2023–24 property tax levies, corrects Cherry Valley plat, denies Roubicek final plat, approves Casey’s license and awards $1.05M road work

The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners met Oct. 10, 2023, and adopted a set of routine and project decisions affecting county taxes, development and roads.

The board, sitting as the Board of Equalization, approved Resolution 2023‑53 setting property tax rates for the 2023–24 fiscal year. The county general levy was set at 0.298655 and the total county levy at 0.321211; the motion to set levies was moved by Commissioner Bill Maendele and seconded by Commissioner Myron Kouba and passed by roll call vote of members present.

The levy decision follows routine procedure by the Board of Equalization and sets the tax-rate framework local units will use for assessments and budget calculations this fiscal year.

On zoning matters the board approved Resolution 2023‑45A to amend language in a previously approved administrative subdivision for "Cherry Valley." The amendment corrects a typographical error in the approved resolution to identify Buckboard Road (revising the earlier text that had misstated the road name) and affirms that Buckboard Road is a county‑maintained, open public road that meets the county’s minimum width standards. The amendment was moved by Commissioner Bill Maendele and seconded by Commissioner Ronald Loeffelholz and adopted by the board.

Separately, the board denied the final plat application for the proposed Roubicek Subdivision after reviewing a Summary Report of Denial and hearing comments from Registered Land Surveyor Mitch Humphrey. The board voted (moved by Commissioner Daniel Lynch, seconded by Commissioner Maendele) to deny the final plat and asked Humphrey to resubmit the application with requested variances to the Planning & Zoning Commission for further review.

During a public hearing the board considered a new Class C retail liquor license and manager’s application for Casey’s Retail Company at the Elm Creek location (Casey’s 4303, 5785 Buffalo Creek Rd). Amber Roeder, district manager for Casey’s, answered the board’s questions; after review of the County Sheriff’s report the board approved the license and manager’s application (motion by Commissioner Ronald Loeffelholz, seconded by Commissioner Myron Kouba).

In road business, Highway Superintendent John Maul and the clerk opened bids for multiple culvert and bridge projects and referred those bids to the Road Committee for review at the Oct. 24 meeting. The board accepted the low bid from Werner Construction, Inc. for the 2024 Asphalt Overlay Projects at a total contract cost of $1,050,000 (moved by Commissioner Daniel Lynch, seconded by Commissioner Myron Kouba). The board also set a bid date of Nov. 14, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. for Projects C10(1007) and C10(1012) for Clay/Dirt to Road Top.

Other routine actions included approving prior meeting minutes, ratifying payroll and early claims, accepting the Treasurer’s and Clerk of District Court’s monthly reports, accepting the Keno audit for the year ending June 30, 2023, and approving three tax list corrections as submitted by the County Assessor. All roll-call votes reported in the minutes were recorded as unanimous among members present unless otherwise noted.

The board recessed its meeting at 9:23 a.m. to convene the Board of Equalization and reconvened as the board of commissioners; the meeting recessed briefly at 9:35 a.m. and resumed at 10:00 a.m. The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 a.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023.

Votes at a glance: minutes approval (unanimous yes among members present); ratify payroll (unanimous); Resolution 2023‑45A (amend Cherry Valley) — approved; Roubicek final plat — denied; Resolution 2023‑53 (levies) — approved; Casey’s Class C liquor license — approved; Werner Construction 2024 Asphalt Overlay contract ($1,050,000) — approved.