Custer County supervisors approve claims, tax corrections and permit for Viaero fiber; road bond and armor-coating bids discussed

Chairperson Blowers presided over the Custer County Board of Supervisors meeting at the Custer County Courthouse on March 10, 2026. The board approved updated minutes from Jan. 24, 2026 (motion by Supervisor Markham; seconded by Supervisor Longmore). Supervisor Gibbons abstained on the minutes vote; other votes were recorded as ayes.All.

The board reviewed and approved claims across county funds. Motion by Supervisor Gibbons, seconded by Supervisor Kleeb, approved General Fund claims including salary and vendor payments. Motion by Supervisor Govier, seconded by Supervisor Markham, approved Road Fund claims, which included equipment purchases and materials line items; motion by Supervisor Markham, seconded by Supervisor Parliament, approved Communications Fund claims. Preservation and Modernization Fund claims (Fidlar) were approved on a motion by Supervisor Parliament, seconded by Supervisor Govier. All aforementioned motions passed by roll-call votes.

Weed Superintendent Tim Conover presented his annual evaluation from the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, showing a score of 3400/3400. The board accepted the evaluation and thanked Conover for his work and organization.

The meeting convened as the Board of Equalization at 9:10 a.m. County Assessor Elise Taylor distributed tax-correction paperwork. The board approved a tax-list correction for Connie Bottorf (reduction tied to the 2022 state audit) and for Richard W. and Linda Maas (homestead reduction tied to the 2025 state audit). Motions were made and carried by roll-call votes.

Several permissive-exemption requests were considered. Supervisor Longmore read an application for Callaway Christian Academy LLC (a homeschool co-op) but noted the request lacked supporting documents; the board denied that exemption (motion by Longmore, second by Parliament). On the assessor's recommendation, the board approved exemption applications for American Legion Post #220 for two parcels in Comstock Village (motions by Gibbons, seconded by Kleeb). The board also approved an exemption for Creation Instruction Association/Boneyard Creation Museum based on the assessor's recommendation (motion by Govier, seconded by Kleeb). All exemption votes were recorded as carried.

Back in county-board session at 9:22 a.m., the board approved an application from Viaero Fiber Networks, LLC to construct 139 feet of underground conduit and fiber west from the Custer County Fairgrounds (motion by Supervisor Markham, second by Supervisor Gibbons; roll-call vote: ayes—all).

Chairperson Blowers read a county surplus list. The board approved Resolution No. 13-2026 declaring items surplus (motion by Supervisor Markham, second by Supervisor Gibbons) and authorized selling surplus items at auction (motion by Supervisor Kleeb, second by Supervisor Parliament). The board then closed bids for the 2026 armor-coating project at 9:30 a.m.; bids were opened from Figgins Construction Co., Sta-Bilt Construction Company, Midwest Coatings Co. Inc., and Vance Brothers LLC. On the recommendation of N. Olson the board took the bids under advisement and referred the matter to the highway committee for further review.

Austin Partridge, representing Northland, presented options for possibly issuing a bond to pave roads and answered questions from the board. The board noted that bond bids will be opened March 31, 2026, and that staff will follow up with Partridge after a decision.

The board discussed the county's telephone contract with Great Plains Communications, which expires in May; staff referenced an Eakes evaluation completed in April 2025 and said the county will work with emergency management/communications to issue a request for proposals to potential providers.

Public comment was opened (no speakers named in the minutes). The board went into executive session at 10:13 a.m. to discuss strategy regarding pending litigation and contract negotiations; the board returned from closed session at 10:45 a.m. and announced no decisions were made. The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

Actions recorded at the meeting included approval of minutes; approval of General, Road, Communications, and Preservation/Modernization fund claims; multiple Board of Equalization tax corrections and exemption decisions; approval of the Viaero underground conduit permit; adoption of Resolution #13-2026 declaring surplus property; authorization to sell surplus at auction; and opening/closing armor-coating bids with referral to the highway committee. Next regular meeting scheduled for March 31, 2026.