Highway Superintendent warns of liability concerns on Platte River Road; seeks State Highway Commission attention

Highway Superintendent Scott Huppert told the Dodge County Board on Nov. 27 that Old Highway 275 overlay work is complete and may cost less than the $942,000 originally allocated from ARPA, but that several Platte River Road projects remain unfinished by the state contractor.

Huppert said crews have installed roughly 20 miles of county snow fence and continue ditch-cleaning work for the FEMA project. He reported that the Nebraska Department of Transportation told him not to send a new county snowplow operator to work on Platte River Road and that the contractor’s deadline for asphalt work (Nov. 15) was missed, with outstanding bridge and intersection work.

Because of the unfinished work and concerns about county equipment causing further damage, Huppert requested "a letter from the State Department of Transportation to Dodge County releasing the County from any liability if they do any damage during snow removal," and said he plans to ask the State Highway Commission for time on the Dec. 6 agenda to discuss Platte River Road. The Road & Bridge Committee agreed to have an elected official attend the state meeting.

Emergency Manager Tom Smith was credited with managing much of the FEMA paperwork; Huppert estimated about $250,000 in reimbursements for completed FEMA-related work.

Why it matters: unfinished state-contracted work on county thoroughfares can constrain county operations, expose the county to repair costs, and delay essential winter maintenance. Huppert’s request that NDOT release liability and the planned State Highway Commission discussion are the next procedural steps.

The board did not vote on new authority during the meeting but directed staff and committee members to pursue the state meeting agenda request.