Lancaster County commissioners approve nearly $4 million in road and bridge contracts and appoint new facilities director

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on June 9 approved a series of infrastructure contracts and administrative actions, including a $1.21 million contract to replace Bridge X084 and remove Bridge C262, a roughly $2.05 million paving contract for Pine Lake Road, and the appointment of Sydney Sheinost as facilities and property director, effective July 6.

Pam Dingman, Lancaster County Engineer, told the board the JJK Construction LLC bid of $1,213,107.10 for Bridge X084 and removal of C262 came in about $60,000 over the engineer's estimate but was competitive among seven bidders. "It came in $60,000 over the engineer's estimate, but still, a really good price for this bridge," Dingman said. The board approved the award as part of a county bridge match grant program.

Dingman said two bids were received for paving Pine Lake Road from South 112th Street to South 148th Street and that the winning bid was about $400,000 under the engineer's estimate. "We will be looking to transfer money from our highway fund to our bridge and special road fund in order to do this project," Dingman said. The board voted to award the $2,046,964.05 contract to Pavers Incorporated.

The board also approved a pavement-rejuvenation contract with Proseal Inc. not to exceed $422,481.28 intended to extend asphalt life via surface treatment rather than spot patching. "Patching potholes is not maintenance," Dingman said. "When we look at rejuvenation, what we're doing is putting a coating on this asphalt. It's kind of like lotion on your skin." The board approved the expenditure.

Separately, the board authorized an agreement with Shemer Associates to provide survey, environmental analysis and design services for replacement of County Bridge V033 at a cost not to exceed $241,812, and approved referee agreements to hear valuation protests for the 2026–2028 tax years.

On behavioral health services, the board approved an agreement with Bridal Behavioral Health not to exceed $43,000 to provide chemical dependency evaluations at the county crisis center. Scott Adetton of the mental health crisis center described the change as shifting to an agency arrangement to ensure evaluations are completed: "This is just the same thing, pretty much the same rates, but it's with an agency to have them come over and help out," he said.

Sarah Hoyle, director of human services for the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County, asked the board to sign federal pass-through grant forms for two programs. The board authorized submission of forms to apply for a Bureau of Justice Assistance Edward Byrne State Crisis Innovation Program grant that would support Square 1, the youth and family crisis resource center. Hoyle also presented forms for the VAWA STOP grant, which funds a mix of part-time positions in the county attorney's office, the sheriff's office, police and partner providers; the board approved those documents.

Earlier in the meeting the board directed the county engineer and planning department to study a request to vacate a public right-of-way on Thayer Street in the unincorporated village of Prairie Home. John Berry of Lancaster County Engineering said the block "hasn't been used for several years" and is overgrown; the study and a planning department report will precede any vacation decision.

The Public Building Commission's selection of Sydney Sheinost as facilities and property director, with an annual salary of $143,312 effective July 6, was approved by the board after commissioners who participated in the interview process praised her experience in project management and large-scale renovations.

The meeting included routine approvals of minutes and claims, consent agenda items, announcements about upcoming meetings and hearings, and a closed executive session called for strategy regarding a real estate transaction and legal advice. No members of the public spoke during the public comment period.

Votes at a glance: the minutes from June 2 carried (one abstention by Commissioner Schulte); the claims and consent items carried; the JJK Construction bridge contract, Pavers paving contract, Proseal pavement rejuvenation, Shemer design agreement, referee contracts, Bridal Behavioral Health agreement, the two grant-related form approvals, and the Sheinost appointment were all approved by the board during the meeting. The board adjourned following those actions.