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Buffalo County approves $86,900 local match for RYDE Transit, OKs 610 Central change order and schedules hearing on tax exemption
Summary
At its Feb. 28 meeting the Buffalo County Board of Commissioners approved a $86,900 local funding match for RYDE Transit under Resolution 2023-06, authorized a $6,620.61 change order for the 610 Central Project, scheduled a March 14 hearing on a permissive exemption for Vietnam Vets Nebraska, and heard a resident complaint about road grading in Ravenna.
The Buffalo County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 28, 2023 approved a $86,900 local funding match so RYDE Transit may pursue federal and state public-transportation grants, and authorized a $6,620.61 change order for the county’s 610 Central Project.
The Board voted to adopt Resolution 2023-06, which instructs RYDE Transit — described in the resolution as the Community Action Partnership of Mid Nebraska’s transit provider — to apply for funds available under Section 5311 of the Federal Transit Act and the Nebraska Public Transportation Assistance Program. The Board moved the local funding match of $86,900 for FY2023–24; the motion was moved by Commissioner Bill Maendele and seconded by Commissioner Sherry Morrow. The motion passed with six ayes and one abstention from Commissioner Myron Kouba.
Facilities Director Stephen Gaasch presented Contract Change Order Request #29 for the 610 Central Project. The Board approved the $6,620.61 change order, with members noting the change orders were processed from the project contingency of the Guaranteed Maximum Price. That motion was moved by Commissioner Timothy Higgins, seconded by Commissioner Daniel Lynch, and approved by roll call.
During the meeting the Board recessed and sat as the Board of Equalization, where it approved a permissive exemption waiver request for Vietnam Vets Nebraska and authorized County Assessor Roy Meusch to consider the permissive exemption; a public hearing was set for the Board’s March 14 meeting. The permissive-exemption action was moved by Commissioner Ronald Loeffelholz and seconded by Commissioner Myron Kouba; the vote was unanimous.
Other business included acceptance of the UNL Extension 2022 Annual Report and the 2022 Zoning and Floodplain Administrator report, ratification of payroll and vendor claims, and a decision to delay notices and decision on the county’s 2023 gravel bids until the March 14 meeting. The Board also held two brief executive sessions — one for an inter-department employee transfer (the transfer was approved after the session) and one to discuss pending litigation; no litigation details were disclosed in open session.
During citizens’ forum, residents John and Anna Leithoff raised concerns about road grading around 370th Road in Ravenna; the minutes record the comment but show no formal county action on the issue at that meeting. The meeting adjourned at about 10:07 a.m.; the next regular meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. March 14, 2023.
Votes at a glance
- Approve Feb. 14, 2023 minutes: moved by Bill Maendele; seconded by Daniel Lynch; vote — Maendele, Lynch, Higgins, Kouba, Loeffelholz, Morrow, Klein — Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Ratify Feb. 24 payroll claims: moved by Sherry Morrow; seconded by Myron Kouba; vote — Morrow, Kouba, Higgins, Loeffelholz, Lynch, Maendele, Klein — Aye. Outcome: approved.
- Accept UNL Extension 2022 Annual Report: moved by Ronald Loeffelholz; seconded by Bill Maendele; vote — unanimous. Outcome: accepted.
- Accept 2022 Zoning and Floodplain Administrator Report: moved by Ronald Loeffelholz; seconded by Sherry Morrow; vote — unanimous. Outcome: accepted.
- Approve Local Funding Match for RYDE Transit (Resolution 2023-06): moved by Bill Maendele; seconded by Sherry Morrow; vote — six ayes, one abstain (Myron Kouba). Outcome: approved. Local match: $86,900.
- Approve Change Order #29, 610 Central Project ($6,620.61): moved by Timothy Higgins; seconded by Daniel Lynch; vote — unanimous. Outcome: approved.
- Enter/exit executive session (inter-department transfer) and approve transfer: moved by Bill Maendele; seconded by Myron Kouba; vote — unanimous. Outcome: transfer approved.
- Advance permissive exemption waiver for Vietnam Vets Nebraska and schedule public hearing (Mar. 14): moved by Ronald Loeffelholz; seconded by Myron Kouba; vote — unanimous. Outcome: hearing scheduled.
- Approve Feb. 2023 vendor claims: moved by Bill Maendele; seconded by Ronald Loeffelholz; vote — unanimous. Outcome: approved.
What it means
The RYDE Transit vote clears a local funding commitment so the county’s rural transit operator can pursue federal and state aid under Section 5311 and the state assistance program; the Board recorded the $86,900 match amount in Resolution 2023-06. The change-order approval draws on project contingency funds for the county’s 610 Central Project, indicating minor cost adjustments rather than new budget appropriations. The permissive-exemption action begins a formal review process for Vietnam Vets Nebraska with a public hearing scheduled next month.
No public testimony or board debate recorded in the minutes challenged the transit match or the change order. The Leithoffs’ road-grading concern was recorded as a citizen issue for possible follow-up at staff level or future agendas.
Next steps: the Board will revisit the permissive-exemption request and the gravel-bid decisions at its March 14 meeting; the single-audit review was also delayed to that date.
