Lancaster County commissioners approve road and bridge contracts, grant forms and appoint facilities director

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on June 9 approved multiple infrastructure contracts, several service agreements and grant application steps, directed a study into vacating a seldom-used right-of-way in the unincorporated village of Prairie Home and confirmed a new facilities and property director.

The board voted to begin a county-led study of a public right-of-way and alley in Prairie Home after John Barry of Lancaster County Engineering said the street "hasn't been used for several years" and is now "overgrown with trees and brush," and that the county is considering whether to vacate the block. Commissioners approved the study resolution by roll call.

County engineering presented three major procurement actions that the board approved. Pam Dingman, Lancaster County Engineer, recommended awarding a county-bridge-match contract to JJK Construction LLC to replace bridge X084 (rated poor in the county system) and to remove bridge C262; Dingman said the winning bid was about $60,000 over the engineer's estimate but described the price as reasonable. Dingman identified the bridge as being on or near Stagecoach Road roughly between South 82nd and South 96th streets; the contract amount appears garbled in the meeting record and was not clarified on the public motion.

Dingman also recommended and the board approved a paving contract with Pavers Incorporated to repave Pine Lake Road from South 112th Street to South 148th Street. Dingman told commissioners the winning bid came in about $400,000 under the engineer's estimate and staff will transfer funds from the highway fund to the bridge and special road fund to pay for the work.

The board approved a county pavement-rejuvenation contract with Proceal Incorporated for the 2026 program. Dingman described rejuvenation as a surface treatment intended to extend asphalt life, saying, "it's kind of like lotion on your skin," and noted that the work is intended to preserve county road surfaces longer than spot patching.

Separately, the board approved a professional-services agreement with Shemer Associates Inc. for survey, environmental and design work for replacement of county bridge V033 at a stated not-to-exceed amount of $241,812. Dingman said the county is trying to design poor-rated bridges in advance so it can pursue grant funding and build them when money becomes available.

Other actions approved by the board included:

- Agreements with Shaina Sprackckling and Tyler Hawkins to serve as referees for valuation protests for the 2026–2028 tax years and to transmit findings and recommendations to the board. - An agreement with Bridge Behavioral Health to provide chemical dependency evaluations at the county crisis center, not to exceed $43,000; Scott Etheton of the Mental Health Crisis Center said the center has arranged such evaluations for about 15 years and the contracted agency will assist staff in completing them. - Authorization for county staff to sign disclosure and applicant risk-assessment forms required to apply for and receive pass-through grants from the Nebraska Crime Commission for the Bureau of Justice Assistance and for the VAWA STOP program; Sarah Hoy, director of human services for the City of Lincoln and Lancaster County, said the BJA pass-through grant helps fund Square One, the county's youth and family crisis resource center.

On personnel, the Public Building Commission selected Sydney Shinost as facilities and property director with an annual salary of $143,312, effective July 6, 2026; commissioners who participated in the interview process described Shinost's experience in project management and large renovation work and supported the appointment.

Procedural votes taken during the meeting included approval of the June 2 meeting minutes, a claims package and a broad consent agenda covering numerous contract amendments and departmental reports. The board also voted to go into executive session earlier in the meeting for a strategy session on a real estate transaction and legal advice and returned to open session before proceeding with the day’s business. No members of the public signed up for the public-comment period.

The board noted upcoming meetings, including a June 11 joint meeting with Lancaster County villages and cities and a June 16 public hearing on adopting updated building, electrical and mechanical codes for Lancaster County. The meeting adjourned after a final roll-call vote.

Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): minutes approval — motion carried (one abstention); claims and consent items — motions carried by roll call; executive session motion — carried; resolution to study vacation of Prairie Home right-of-way (5F) — approved; contract awards for bridge X084 and removal of C262 (5G) — approved; Pine Lake Road paving contract (5H) — approved; pavement rejuvenation contract (5I) — approved; Shemer Associates agreement for bridge V033 (5J) — approved; referee services agreements (5K) — approved; Bridge Behavioral Health agreement (5L) — approved; Bureau of Justice Assistance forms (5M) and VAWA STOP forms (5N) — approved; public building commission selection of Sydney Shinost (5O) — approved. Specific roll-call tallies and the display names used in the meeting record appear in the official minutes.

The board is scheduled to meet again June 16; a public hearing on county building-code adoption is on the agenda.