Polk County names county depositories and hears highway department update

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners on Dec. 16 adopted a resolution approving Pinnacle Bank (Osceola and Shelby), Cornerstone Bank (Stromsburg and Polk), Heritage Bank and the Nebraska Public Agency Investment Trust (NPAIT) as county depositories. Commissioner Boruch moved to adopt the resolution; Commissioner Boss seconded the motion, and the roll-call vote was Boruch, aye; Boss, aye; Westring, aye. County staff noted that an application from Union Bank and Trust's NFIT program was also received but the county has no funds currently on deposit there; the board said it would revisit NFIT acceptance if the treasurer later places funds there.

Highway Superintendent Theis updated the board on road and safety matters. Theis reported another accident at an intersection on the Polk-Butler County line and said a traffic-control study is required before installing signage; Butler County may share the study cost. Theis also reported that a second railroad track is being installed between Shelby and Osceola, with the track laid across R Road; a culvert will be placed on Q Road between 136th and 137th Roads tomorrow. Theis said he will speak with Nebraska Machinery Company representatives at the NACO conference about the Vision Link system for Caterpillar equipment. Pay applications for the Shelby North and Osceola North overlay projects have been received and will be reviewed by the superintendent before being submitted to the board for payment.

The board discussed salaries for elected officials for the four-year term beginning Jan. 2027 and reviewed Nebraska Association of County Officials guidance; no action was taken. The deadline to set salaries for the next term is Jan. 15, 2026.