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Dawes County commissioners approve Hamaker conservation easement, $750 Crawford grant and personnel policy change
Summary
At their June 24 meeting the Dawes County Board of Commissioners approved a conservation easement for Bud and Sandy Hamaker, a $750 promotional grant to the City of Crawford, a clarification to employee personal-day calculations, and directed payment to an investor in a tax-redemption case.
The Dawes County Board of Commissioners on June 24 approved a conservation easement for Bud and Sandy Hamaker, authorized a $750 promotional grant to the City of Crawford for Fourth of July activities, clarified county personal-day calculations and directed the treasurer to pay an investor from county funds related to a tax-redemption claim.
The meeting opened at 9:03 a.m., with Chairman Vic Rivera and Commissioners Walter Juhlin and Jake Stewart present. The board approved the meeting agenda and the minutes of its June 10 meeting after correcting that two lawyers, not three, were recorded in the earlier minutes.
The board accepted a unanimous recommendation from the Zoning Board and voted to approve a conservation easement for Bud and Sandy Hamaker. Assessor Lindy Coleman described conservation easements as protections commonly applied to long-standing homesteads; the board noted the easement does not restrict general land use. The Hamakers joined the meeting and indicated they had no questions about the easement.
Separately, the board approved a $750 grant application submitted by the City of Crawford to promote Fourth of July weekend events in Crawford. The grant was approved on a roll-call vote.
Treasurer Sam Wellnitz briefed the board on the Beeson parcel, which was sold at tax sale. The investor who purchased the delinquent taxes will be paid approximately $283.32; the Beesons were reported to owe roughly $3,000 and may redeem without penalty if they pay within 30 days. The board directed the Treasurer to submit a claim for the remaining balance to the investor and authorized use of funds from the Miscellaneous General Fund to cover the payment.
On personnel policy, the board debated how to record personal days and unanimously approved language clarifying that personal days count as eight hours for employees who work 40 hours per week and seven hours for employees who work 35 hours per week. Commissioner Jake Stewart noted the benefit applies to all county employees.
Other routine business included review and approval of department fee and mileage reports and the auditing of claims. The board initially set aside claim #25060200 payable to River A Holdings for separate consideration, later approving that payment with Chairman Rivera recorded as abstaining.
The meeting closed at 10:23 a.m.; the board announced the next Board of Equalization and Commissioner meetings will take place July 8, 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.m. and approximately 9:20 a.m., respectively.
