Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Governance Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boone County commissioners renew employee plans, approve road contracts and fiber-optic ROW, and grant short catastrophic-pay supplement
Summary
The Boone County Board of Commissioners on May 18 approved renewal of current Blue Cross Blue Shield health and dental plans for 2026–2027, authorized road-project awards and payments including a microsurfacing contract and a $182,139.62 payment application, approved a fiber-optic ROW plow (Resolution 2026-15), and authorized up to 80 hours from the Catastrophic Fund to supplement an employee’s medical leave after a brief executive session.
The Boone County Board of Commissioners convened May 18 in Albion and approved a series of routine and project-related actions, including insurance-plan renewals, road contracts and a request to plow fiber-optic cable in county right-of-way.
The board voted to keep the same Blue Cross Blue Shield plans for the 2026–2027 plan year: the $6,100 deductible health plan with copay and the Dental PPO Plan (Premier Option 3). Commissioner Matt Niewohner made the motion, which Commissioner Brian J. Yosten seconded; the roll call vote was unanimous in favor.
On infrastructure and road work, the board approved the Notice of Award, Notice to Proceed and related agreements for the 2026 microsurfacing road project after confirming bid responsiveness. The board also approved Payment Application #1 from A & R Construction Co. for the Albion Northwest Road Project in the amount of $182,139.62. Both actions were moved and seconded and adopted by unanimous roll call.
The board approved Resolution 2026-15 allowing Great Plains Communication LLC to plow fiber-optic cable in county right-of-way in Section 30, Township 20 North, Range 6 West (east side of 225th Avenue) to reach a new tower-site driveway; Highway Superintendent Brian McDonald had reviewed the request. The motion to approve the resolution passed on a unanimous roll call.
The board approved a purchase quote of approximately $5,500 from Akrs Equipment for a 2026 John Deere Z530M mower for the District #3 Road Shop, and agreed to fund a Petersburg Community Club request for advertising assistance for Petersburg Carnival Days scheduled June 23–24, 2026. The board also voted to table revisions to the Visitor Promotion Fund application and guidelines until its June 8 meeting to allow review of State Statute 81-3717.
Following a closed executive session under Open Meetings Act §84-1410 to discuss preventing needless injury to an individual requesting assistance, the board approved up to 80 hours from the Catastrophic Fund to supplement an employee’s medical leave. Motions and roll-call tallies for all recorded votes show unanimous support by Commissioners Jon Lindgren, Brian J. Yosten and Matt Niewohner.
The meeting concluded with routine calendar notes from commissioners and public comment about holiday pay and upcoming Tax Equalization and Review Commission hearings.
Votes at a glance • Approve May 11, 2026 minutes — Motion: Yosten/Lindgren — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Select BCBS plans for 2026–2027 — Motion: Niewohner/Yosten — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Approve Resolution 2026-15 (fiber-optic ROW plow) — Motion: Lindgren/Niewohner — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Approve 2026 Microsurfacing Notice of Award/Agreements — Motion: Niewohner/Yosten — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Approve Payment Application #1 (A & R Construction Co.) $182,139.62 — Motion: Niewohner/Yosten — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Approve mower purchase (~$5,500) — Motion: Lindgren/Yosten — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Approve Petersburg Community Club promotion funding — Motion: Lindgren/Yosten — Outcome: Approved (unanimous). • Table Visitor Promotion Fund guideline revisions until June 8, 2026 to review State Statute 81-3717 — Motion: Lindgren/Yosten — Outcome: Tabled (unanimous). • Approve up to 80 hours from Catastrophic Fund for employee medical leave — Motion: Yosten/Niewohner — Outcome: Approved (unanimous).
The board scheduled its next regular meeting for Wednesday, May 27, 2026.
