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Chase County commissioners elect leadership, approve claims and make staff appointments
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Summary
At the Jan. 13 organizational meeting the Chase County Board elected Kurt Bernhardt chair and Billie Muehlenkamp vice chair, approved payroll and claims totaling $271,744.06, adopted multiple administrative resolutions and made several personnel appointments including highway leadership and an emergency manager.
Kurt Bernhardt was elected chairman of the Chase County Board on Jan. 13, 2026, after Commissioner Jacci Brown nominated him and Commissioner Billie Muehlenkamp seconded the nomination; the roll call was Muehlenkamp — yes; Brown — yes; Bernhardt — abstain. The board then named Muehlenkamp vice chair by voice vote (Muehlenkamp abstain; Brown yes; Bernhardt yes).
The board approved the minutes of Dec. 23, 2025, and voted to approve claims and payroll as submitted. The meeting record lists a net payroll of $91,771.36 and a grand total of all claims of $271,744.06; the claims list and individual vendor line items were entered into the record and a complete claims listing is on file with the county clerk.
Commissioners adopted three administrative resolutions during the session: Resolution 2026-1 (designation of publication for legal notices), Resolution 2026-2 (authorizing the county treasurer to invest county monies) and Resolution 2026-3 (designation of depositories and pay dates). The clerk noted complete copies of each resolution are on file in the county clerk’s office.
The board approved a series of appointments by motion: Duane Dreiling as Chase County Emergency Manager; Anthony Krajewski as Highway Superintendent; and Richard DeWester as Assistant Highway Superintendent. Commissioners also appointed representatives to outside boards: Muehlenkamp to Region II Human Services, Region II Behavioral Health, West Central Nebraska Area Agency on Aging and Southwest Nebraska Juvenile Services; Brown to Southwest Nebraska Public Health, West Central Nebraska Developmental, Champion Mill, Chase County Safety and Chase County Fair boards; and Bernhardt to Chase County Planning & Zoning and Chase County Community Hospital.
Commissioner Bernhardt moved and the board approved a 3% wage increase for County Veterans Service Officer Duane Todd. The board also approved Resolution 2026-4, which sets official salaries for 2027–2030; a copy of the resolution is on file with the county clerk. The board approved surplusing a nonworking Dyson vacuum (tag #879) from the Extension office for disposal.
The meeting was called to order by County Clerk Wendy Moe at 8:00 a.m. and adjourned by Chairman Bernhardt at 9:50 a.m. A complete set of minutes, the full claims listing and copies of adopted resolutions are available in the office of the county clerk.