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Nemaha County commissioners award culvert contract, set holiday hours and approve bank depositories
Summary
The Nemaha County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 3, 2025, awarded a $559,540.04 contract for a southeast concrete box culvert, adopted three resolutions naming county depositories, approved a payroll increase and several administrative items including a planning commission appointment and driveway permits.
Auburn, Neb. — The Nemaha County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 3 approved a string of administrative and procurement actions, including awarding a low bid for a southeast concrete box culvert project and adopting three resolutions naming the county’s banking depositories.
Chairman Michael Weiss and Commissioners Mike Hall and Bryan Mellage met in the Commissioner’s Chambers. After opening the meeting and approving the agenda and Nov. 19 minutes, the board addressed personnel, procurement and finance items on the agenda.
The board accepted the low sealed bid for Project C-64(252) — Nemaha Southeast concrete box culvert — from Gus Construction Co. Inc. for $559,540.04, with a contract start date of April 27, 2026, and a completion date of June 26, 2026. The motion to accept the bid was made by Commissioner Mike Hall and seconded by Commissioner Bryan Mellage; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote.
The board adopted three resolutions designating county depositories: Resolution No. 2025-30 naming First National Bank of Johnson; Resolution No. 2025-31 designating the Nebraska Public Agency Investment Trust (NPAIT); and Resolution No. 2025-32 naming Auburn State Bank. Each resolution was approved by roll call with all three commissioners voting aye.
On personnel matters, the board approved a 2.5% payroll increase for Suki Fischer effective July 1, 2025. The motion by Commissioner Mellage, seconded by Chairman Weiss, passed unanimously. The board also voted to close the Nemaha County Courthouse at noon on Dec. 24, 2025, granting county employees four hours of holiday benefits.
The board approved issuance of a US Bank credit card for Deputy Emergency Management Assistant Nahum Winder, contingent on his signing the county credit card agreement. The approval passed after motion by Chairman Weiss and a second by Commissioner Hall.
Commissioner Mellage moved, and Commissioner Hall seconded, to appoint Luke Winkelman to the Nemaha County Planning Commission; the appointment passed on a unanimous roll call vote.
Under Highway Superintendent business, the board approved driveway applications for Seth Zentner (Sec. 17 T5N R13E) and for the Jay Fischer Family Trust (Sec. 17 T4N R14E). Both motions carried on unanimous roll call votes.
Earlier in the meeting, the board considered a motion by Commissioner Mellage to prohibit the road foremen from attending the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) convention Dec. 17–19 in Kearney. That motion failed when Mellage voted aye but Chairman Weiss and Commissioner Hall voted nay, leaving Road District #3 foreman Jim Holthus authorized to attend.
Votes at a glance: Motion to not allow road foremen to attend NACO convention — motion failed (Mellage aye; Weiss nay; Hall nay). Payroll increase for Suki Fischer — approved (Weiss, Hall, Mellage aye). Acceptance of Gus Construction low bid for Project C-64(252) — approved (Hall, Mellage, Weiss aye). Resolutions 2025-30, 2025-31, 2025-32 (depository designations) — all approved (Hall, Mellage, Weiss aye). Courthouse Christmas Eve hours — approved (Hall, Mellage, Weiss aye). US Bank credit card for Deputy EMA Nahum Winder — approved (Hall, Mellage, Weiss aye). Appointment of Luke Winkelman to Planning Commission — approved (Hall, Mellage, Weiss aye). Driveway applications for Seth Zentner and Jay Fischer Family Trust — both approved (Hall, Mellage, Weiss aye). Accounts payable claims and vendor payments — approved by roll call.
The minutes record an agenda item for public comment by Susan Piper on concerns with the Nemaha County Planning Commission and a scheduled update from Jerad Reimers, district coordinator for Rep. Adrian Smith (NE-03); the published minutes do not include verbatim remarks or further board action tied to those items. The board discussed the requirement to set salaries by Jan. 15, 2026, but took no final action on that unfinished business.
With no further business the board adjourned at 10:55 a.m. Diane Johnson, Nemaha County Clerk, certified the minutes.
