Nemaha County commissioners create new veteran and emergency funds, approve hires and contracts

The Nemaha County Board of Commissioners met June 18, 2025, in Auburn and approved a series of budget and administrative actions including the creation of new funds for veterans and emergency management, acceptance of a July fuel bid, personnel and procurement decisions.

The board adopted Resolution No. 2025‑11, which establishes three new county budget funds: Fund 1900 (Veteran’s Aid Fund), Fund 1901 (Veteran’s Memorial Fund) and Fund 2915 (Emergency Management Fund). Commissioner Bryan Mellage moved the resolution, Commissioner Mike Hall seconded, and the motion passed on a roll‑call vote: Mellage, Hall and Chairman Michael Weiss recorded aye votes.

Commissioners also adopted Resolution No. 2025‑12 to cover two budget overages. The resolution authorized transfers of $10,108.12 to the Road Noxious Weed Control Fund and $625.16 to the Veteran’s Service Fund to address shortfalls. Commissioner Mike Hall moved the resolution; Commissioner Mellage seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

On procurement matters, the board accepted the July 2025 fuel bid submitted by Sapp Brothers: No. 2 Clear Diesel at $3.079 per gallon and regular with ethanol at $2.569 per gallon. The motion to accept the bid was made by Commissioner Mellage, seconded by Commissioner Hall, and approved by all three commissioners.

The board approved purchase of a new printer for the Treasurer’s Office from Five Nines Technology Group for $1,401.69 after a request by Nemaha County Treasurer Jana Gerdes. Motion was by Commissioner Mellage and seconded by Commissioner Hall; the vote was recorded as unanimous.

Personnel actions included approval to hire a full‑time Building & Grounds Custodian with benefits for Nemaha County. The motion was made by Commissioner Mellage, seconded by Commissioner Hall and approved by the board.

The board appointed the Nemaha Valley Observer (formerly the Nemaha County Herald) as the county’s official posting source for meeting notices and minutes. Commissioners also authorized a $10,000 transfer from Fund 0990 (Visitor Promotion) to Fund 0995 (Visitor Improvement). Both motions passed by roll call with all commissioners voting aye.

The board approved and signed an interlocal agreement between Nemaha County and Nemaha Rural Fire District No. 4 as prepared by County Attorney Ligouri. The motion passed with Commissioners Mellage and Weiss voting aye and Commissioner Hall recorded as abstaining.

The minutes record a presentation by Chief Probation Melanie Stormer of a 2025–2026 budget request totaling $6,183.94; the minutes note the presentation but do not record further board action on that item. Agenda items listed an annual update from APACE (Region 5 Systems) and an open public discussion; the minutes record those agenda items but include no substantive remarks from those presentations in the official minutes.

The board declared a 2016 Dodge Charger police sedan and an antique wooden cabinet from the Clerk of District Court as surplus to be sold by sealed bid at a later date. Highway‑related items listed Dan Alexander on FEMA‑DR‑4420‑NE projects and a discussion with Ian Vice about a backhoe; the minutes list those topics without recording further action.

Payroll and claims were approved as presented. The minutes itemize claims across county funds, including general fund payroll totaling $79,154.40 and individual large vendor payments (for example, Martin Marietta $55,501.68; UNL AEM Business Center $15,452.49). The meeting adjourned at 12:30 p.m.

What happens next: the new funds established by Resolution No. 2025‑11 become part of the county’s fiscal structure for use in veteran services and emergency management; additional implementing transfers, contracts or appropriation details were not recorded in the minutes and would require further staff action or subsequent meetings.