Richardson County board adopts resolution to cover overspent budgets, hears Cooper Nuclear Station alert update

The Richardson County Board of Commissioners on June 24 adopted a resolution to cover three overspent departmental budgets, approved payment of the day’s claims and heard a quarterly preparedness update from the NPPD Cooper Nuclear Station.

Chairman John Caverzagie opened the meeting at 9 a.m. in the Commissioner’s Meeting Room at the Richardson County Courthouse in Falls City. After routine approvals of the June 17 minutes and the posted agenda, Commissioner Campbell arrived at 9:09 a.m.

Dakota Schulenberg, Emergency Preparedness Offsite Coordinator at the NPPD Cooper Nuclear Station in Brownville, told the board that "The IPAWS system will be fully implemented within the near future," saying the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System will be used to send cellular alerts to people in the station’s emergency planning zone and that residents without cell phones can obtain special radios to receive those alerts.

Steve Darveau Jr., the county’s Highway Superintendent, updated the board on routine road and bridge maintenance and said the county is preparing improvements to its so-called "dustless highway." The board agreed to add work on Boy Scout Road and to include the courthouse parking lot while the contractor is on site.

Scott Miller and Steve Simon of Miller-Farrell Insurance presented the county’s annual insurance premium for July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027, reporting a 1.54% increase from the prior year. The 2026–2027 premium was listed at $341,696.15 (prior year $336,441.25).

Kaytlyn Kennedy, Richardson County Extension Educator, presented the 2025 Extension Service annual report and raised the possibility of renting a vehicle under a University of Nebraska program to reduce travel costs for extension staff.

On fiscal matters, Commissioner Campbell moved to adopt Resolution 2025-2026-42 to cover overspent amounts in three departmental budgets—Data Processing/County Information Technology ($1,885.05), Agriculture Extension Agent ($72.30) and County Surveyor ($4,495.83—using unencumbered funds from the Miscellaneous General budget for fiscal year 2025–2026. Commissioner Karas seconded the motion, and a roll-call vote recorded Karas-aye, Campbell-aye and Caverzagie-aye; the motion carried. The resolution was recorded in Resolution Book 29, Page 2.

Chairman Caverzagie moved to approve payment of all claims submitted that day; Commissioner Karas seconded the motion and it carried by roll-call vote. The clerk presented detailed claims across funds; notable totals included General Fund $309,568.47 (payroll expense $120,863.05; Medica insurance $57,710.35; Anderson Auto Group vehicle purchase $47,987.00), Road & Bridge Fund $73,162.79 (Matin Marietta Materials rock $28,048.71), Drug Court Fund $2,600.00 and a Jail Bond Repayment Fund outlay of $297,271.25 for a BOK Financial Corp fee.

Sheriff Hardesty was unable to attend because of an emergency call and did not give a report. The meeting closed after a motion by Chairman Caverzagie, seconded by Karas; the board adjourned at 10:59 a.m. and scheduled its next regular meeting for 9 a.m. July 1, 2026.

Acknowledgments: The meeting minutes show Mary L. Eickhoff as Richardson County Clerk and John Caverzagie as Chairman of the Board.