Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Nemaha County commissioners hear solar-farm concerns, approve right-of-way permits and highway work
Loading...
Summary
At an Aug. 28, 2024 Commissioners meeting, about 20 residents voiced concerns about proposed solar farms; the board accepted a fuel bid, approved several right-of-way applications, adopted subdivision and levy-allocation resolutions, and approved a chip-seal contract for an old highway section.
Nemaha County commissioners met Aug. 28, 2024, and heard public comment from about 20 residents concerned about proposed solar farms while conducting routine county business including right-of-way approvals, contract authorization for road maintenance and the creation of a county planning commission.
The meeting opened with standard procedural items and two scheduled presentations: Kim Tanner of Cooper Nuclear Station discussed IPAWS implementation and removal of sirens, and Ed Uken of Hamilton Telecommunications provided a quote for courthouse surveillance cameras. During the 10 a.m. public-comment block Susan Piper and about 20 Concerned Nemaha County Citizens raised issues about solar farms in the county. Representatives from National-grid Renewables of Brock attended with an attorney to answer commissioners’ questions; the written minutes record public concern and company presence but do not include verbatim Q&A.
Board actions recorded in the minutes include acceptance of a fuel bid from Sapp Brothers (quoted at $2.83 per gallon for #2 clear diesel and $2.655 for regular with ethanol), approval of three right-of-way applications (Windstream and two OPPD locations), adoption of Resolution No. 2024-21 (a subdivision for Leroy A. & Jane E. Meyer) and Resolution No. 2024-20 (final allocation of levy authority for the Ag Society and fire districts). The board also approved a $11,860 proposal from Micheels Construction Co. to chip seal the old Highway 136 west of Brownville, with additional costs noted for bypass repairs around Auburn.
The commissioners voted unanimously on the recorded motions where roll-call tallies appear in the minutes. The board set public hearing dates for the county budget (Sept. 11 and a joint hearing Sept. 23) and voted to establish a five-member Nemaha County Planning Commission composed of county residents with at least one representative from each commissioner district; interested residents were asked to apply to the County Clerk’s office by Sept. 9.
Next steps: County staff will process the accepted fuel bid and right-of-way permits, the highway superintendent will coordinate chip-seal work with Micheels Construction Co., and the Board will appoint planning-commission members from applicants who contact the clerk. Several items (notably public concerns about solar development) remain open for further review and potential future action.