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Nemaha County board elects leaders, approves pay increases and fills key posts
Summary
At its Jan. 14 meeting in Auburn, the Nemaha County Board of Commissioners elected Michael Weiss chair and Mike Hall vice-chair, adopted Resolution 2026-01 setting officials' salaries (including two $5,000 adjustments), and approved a slate of 2026 appointments and routine county business.
The Nemaha County Board of Commissioners met Jan. 14, 2026 in Auburn and elected Commissioner Michael J. Weiss chairman and Commissioner Michael Hall vice-chair for the year.
County Clerk Diane Johnson called for nominations; Hall nominated Weiss for chair (seconded by Bryan Mellage), and the board elected Weiss (Hall aye; Mellage aye; Weiss abstain). Mellage nominated Hall for vice-chair (seconded by Weiss); Hall was elected vice-chair (Mellage aye; Weiss aye; Hall abstain).
The board then approved routine minutes and accounts payable. The board unanimously approved the presented accounts payable claims and authorized the county clerk to issue payments.
Why it matters: Resolution 2026-01 establishes the pay schedule for county officials through 2030, affecting budget planning and compensation for elected and appointed county positions.
In discussion of Resolution 2026-01, commissioners made two specific salary adjustments before adopting the resolution as amended. The board approved a $5,000 increase to the County Clerk’s 2027–2030 salary pursuant to State Statute 32-217 (Motion by Weiss; second Hall; roll call: Hall aye; Mellage nay; Weiss aye). The board separately approved a $5,000 increase to the County Assessor’s 2027–2030 salary to apply when the Assessor performs additional county appraisal duties (Motion by Hall; second Weiss; roll call: Mellage nay; Weiss aye; Hall aye). The amended resolution was then adopted by the board.
The board also approved a series of appointments for 2026. Motions carried to appoint Jeff Boden as county surveyor and to appoint Dan Alexander of Midwest Engineering Inc. to perform highway superintendent duties for 2026 (both motions passed unanimously). The Nemaha Valley Observer was named the county’s official newspaper for 2026, and the Nemaha County website was designated as an official posting place for meeting notices and minutes.
Other appointments approved included representatives to the Auburn Joint Airport Authority, Region V Systems/APACE, SENCA, SENDD, the Southeast District Health Department and other local boards; those appointments remained the same as in 2025.
The board adopted Resolution 2026-02 authorizing the County Treasurer to invest excess county funds for 2026 (Motion by Mellage; second Hall; unanimous). The board also appointed Renee Critser as Emergency Management Agency director and Nahum Winder as deputy EMA director, and named James Reed and Gene Mace as Veterans Service Officer and assistant Veterans Service Officer, respectively.
The board authorized staff to begin advertising for a part-time Weed Superintendent.
The meeting concluded after the board reviewed routine reports from county offices and approved the claims listing. With no further business the board adjourned at 9:40 a.m.
