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Dawson County commissioners approve health insurance renewal, pickup purchase and public defender contract
Summary
At its May 15 meeting, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners approved a Fairco employee health insurance renewal (with a $75,000 stop-loss and $3,367,893.40 annual maximum), authorized purchase of a county pickup from Midway for $41,798, and appointed Patrick Tarr as public defender; several routine financial claims and receipts were also approved.
The Dawson County Board of Commissioners on May 15 approved a series of routine and financial actions, including an employee health insurance renewal, the purchase of a county pickup truck and the appointment of a county public defender.
Chairman PJ Jacobson called the meeting to order at 9:06 a.m. County Clerk Michaela Arndt recorded the roll; Commissioners Rod Reynolds, Bill Stewart and Kevin Swanson were present and Commissioner Joe Richeson was absent. The board first approved the May 1, 2026 minutes and filed officials’ receipts and Treasurer’s receipts before taking up vendor claims and the business agenda.
The board accepted a renewal proposal for the county’s employee health insurance. Dan Schwartzkopf and Jason Boyd of Jones Group presented the renewal information. Commissioner Rod Reynolds moved and Commissioner Bill Stewart seconded a motion to accept the Fairco renewal that includes a $75,000 stop-loss and an annual maximum with laser amounts of $3,367,893.40; the motion carried on a 4-0 vote (Reynolds, Stewart, Swanson, Jacobson voting aye).
In procurement for the Road Department, quotes for a pickup were presented by Andy Duryea. The board reviewed five quotes—Heartland ($45,250.00 and $43,995.00), Midway ($42,737.00 and $41,798.00) and Gateway Motors ($46,733.00)—and approved the Midway quote of $41,798.00. Commissioner Rod Reynolds moved the purchase, Commissioner Kevin Swanson seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.
The board approved Resolution 2026-15, an interlocal agreement with Gosper County to share a weed superintendent. Commissioner Kevin Swanson introduced the interlocal agreement; Commissioner Rod Reynolds moved and Commissioner Bill Stewart seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
The board also appointed Patrick Tarr as Public Defender and authorized Chairman PJ Jacobson to sign the Dawson County Public Defender contract. The motion to approve Tarr’s appointment was made by Commissioner Reynolds, seconded by Commissioner Swanson, and carried 4-0.
Routine financial approvals that passed included filing Officials’ Receipts (County Clerk $727.53; Register of Deeds $52,076.71; Clerk of District Court $9,007.10; Surveyor $6,722.50), Treasurer’s Receipts totaling $994,247.18 and approval of vendor claims. The agenda listed a total of general vendor claims of $1,981,054.13; road vendor claims totaled $543,179.83; and highway buyback vendor claims totaled $688,379.14.
Presentations that drew no action included an update from Jeremy Eschliman and Haleigh Eschliman of Two Rivers Public Health Department, Chief Deputy Sheriff Edd Albrecht’s April crime report, a discussion with Brett Shippe of the Nebraska Rural Hospital Association about a possible county-hospital insurance partnership, and an update from Melanie Gomez of Sheltering Hands (no funding requested).
The meeting adjourned at 10:13 a.m. County Clerk Michaela Arndt later certified that the items discussed were included on the publicly posted agenda.
