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Board approves land sale and related options for Multimodal Transportation Center despite sheriff’s objections
Summary
Lancaster County approved sale and option-to-purchase agreements with the City of Lincoln linked to a proposed Multimodal Transportation Center; Sheriff Terry Wagner submitted a letter and spoke against the location citing loss of county parking and public-safety concerns, but the Board approved the agreements 4–0 (one commissioner absent).
The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on June 16 approved several real estate transactions with the City of Lincoln tied to the proposed Multimodal Transportation Center (MMTC) and Lancaster County Convention Center project, drawing objections from the County Sheriff over parking loss and anticipated public-safety impacts.
Commissioner Sean Flowerday described Items 7A through 7F as the culmination of lengthy negotiations between the County and City of Lincoln. The Board passed a resolution authorizing the County Board Chair to execute documents necessary to comply with a real estate purchase agreement related to Lots 7–12, Block 65 and Lots 1–12, Block 146.
The Board then approved a real estate purchase agreement to sell Lots 1–12, Block 146 and the vacated east-west alley between H and G Streets to the City. Terry T. Wagner, Lancaster County Sheriff, presented a previously written letter opposing that location for the MMTC. In his letter and in remarks to the Board, Sheriff Wagner cited three principal concerns: the loss of county-owned employee and visitor parking around the County-City complex, a potential $30-per-month parking charge for employees, and public-safety problems he associated with previous transit-hub locations. Wagner’s letter detailed past law-enforcement calls near a prior StarTran transfer station and cautioned that restrooms and indoor waiting areas at an MMTC could attract people experiencing homelessness, increasing calls for service.
Commissioner Rick Vest and others acknowledged Wagner’s concerns but said protracted negotiations with the City produced the best outcome for the County. Commissioner Matt Schulte stated that final location decisions rest with the City of Lincoln. The Board voted by roll call 4–0 (Commissioner Chelsea Johnson absent) to approve the sale agreement and related option-to-purchase agreements for other parcels in Block 65. The Board also approved a petition to vacate H Street from 9th to 10th Street.
The record shows county staff and some Sheriff’s Office personnel urged continued efforts to mitigate parking impacts. At public comment, two Sheriff’s Department employees, Sara Sump and Lisa Cook, urged the Board to continue seeking solutions to reduce employee parking costs related to the land transaction.
Next steps: The sale and option agreements move forward; details about parking mitigation or alternative employee parking provisions were not specified in the transcript. The Board approved the packet of land-use-related motions as part of routine action on the agenda.
