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Box Butte County commissioners set BOE hearing dates, approve jail repairs and equipment purchases
Summary
At a June 3, 2026 meeting in Alliance, Box Butte County commissioners approved routine county business including a schedule of Board of Equalization hearing dates, authorization to sign a Tier 1 site investigation form, surplus property, increases to petty cash, and approvals for jail shower repairs and security cameras.
Vice-Chairman Mike Sautter called the Box Butte County Board of Commissioners to order at 8:01 a.m. on June 3, 2026, in the county courthouse in Alliance. Roll call showed Brett Ditsch and Mike Sautter present; Chairman Steve Burke was excused. County Clerk Martie Burke recorded the proceedings and County Attorney Marissa Curtiss was present.
The board approved its consent calendar, which included payroll and claims, office reports from the Clerk and other elected officials, and the minutes of the May 20 meeting. Committee member Brett Ditsch moved approval; Vice-Chairman Mike Sautter seconded the motion, which passed with two votes in favor and one excused.
The board retained current NIRMA insurance deductible levels — $1,000 for auto physical damage and mobile/remote and $2,500 for property, building and contents — on a motion by Vice-Chairman Sautter.
Sautter also moved to authorize Chairman Steve Burke to sign the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Tier 1 Site Investigation Work Plan Form once Panhandle Geotechnical completes required documents; that motion carried with Ditsch's second. The authorization directs the chairman to sign the form after submission of the technical documents, not to begin any work itself.
During a Board of Equalization session opened at 8:21 a.m., the board approved a schedule of property valuation protest hearings on multiple dates in June and July, then closed the BOE at 8:47 a.m. The approved schedule lists start times and multiple hearing dates to accommodate protests of valuation.
Road Superintendent Barb Keegan provided a road and equipment report. Treasurer Valery Bell presented a list of items the board declared surplus; the board approved surplusing those items.
The board approved administrative and facility expenditures: it increased the County Clerk's petty cash fund from $100 to $250, approved Pipe Works Plumbing LLC's $5,200 estimate for jail shower replacements, and approved Mobius Security's quote of $17,977 for jail cameras (cameras only). Each action was moved and seconded and carried with the same 2–0 roll call among those present.
There were no public comments during the allotted public comment window. The board recessed briefly and reconvened before completing the remaining agenda items and adjourning at 9:55 a.m.
Votes at a glance - Excuse Chairman Steve Burke: Moved by Mike Sautter; seconded by Brett Ditsch; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Consent calendar approval: Moved by Brett Ditsch; seconded by Mike Sautter; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - NIRMA deductibles retained: Moved by Mike Sautter; seconded by Brett Ditsch; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Authorize Chairman to sign DEWEE Tier 1 form (after Panhandle Geotechnical completes documents): Moved by Mike Sautter; seconded by Brett Ditsch; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Open Board of Equalization / hearing schedule / close BOE: Moved by Mike Sautter; seconded by Brett Ditsch; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Surplus property list (per Treasurer Valery Bell): Moved by Mike Sautter; seconded by Brett Ditsch; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Increase Clerk petty cash from $100 to $250: Moved by Brett Ditsch; seconded by Mike Sautter; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Approve Pipe Works Plumbing Estimate No. 16846 for jail shower replacements ($5,200.00): Moved by Brett Ditsch; seconded by Mike Sautter; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved. - Approve Mobius Security quote for jail cameras ($17,977.00): Moved by Mike Sautter; seconded by Brett Ditsch; vote: 2 yes, 0 no, 1 excused; outcome: approved.
What’s next The Board of Equalization will hear property valuation protests on the approved dates in June and July. The DEWEE Tier 1 form authorization awaits completion of required documents by Panhandle Geotechnical before the chairman signs. Other approvals (surplus, shower replacements, camera purchase) authorize staff to proceed with the steps necessary to implement them.
(Reporting note: All attributions and vote tallies are taken from the county meeting record of June 3, 2026.)
