Lancaster County commissioners approve contracts, grant forms and appoint facilities director

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on June 9 approved a package of routine business items including minutes and claims, multiple construction and service contracts, federal grant documents and a personnel appointment.

Chair Christy Yokum opened the meeting and the board moved forward with several agenda items the board described as routine. The board approved the minutes of its June 2 meeting (Commissioner Matt Schulty recorded an abstention) and approved the claims process through June 5.

Why it matters: The approvals cleared a number of bridge and road contracts that county engineers said address structures rated in poor condition, authorized grant paperwork to sustain crisis services and confirmed leadership for county facilities work.

County engineer John Barry asked the board to start a study and potential vacation of a public right-of-way in the unincorporated village of Prairie Home, saying the street had been unused ‘‘overgrown with trees and brush’’ and may be suitable for vacation if findings support that step. The board voted to begin the study.

Pam Dingman, Lancaster County engineer, presented multiple infrastructure recommendations that were adopted by the board: award of a contract to replace bridge X084 and remove bridge C262; a paving contract for Pine Lake Road from South 112th Street to South 148th Street; a 2026 pavement rejuvenation contract intended to extend pavement life; and a design agreement with Shemer Associates for bridge V033. Dingman said bridge X084 is ‘‘rated poor on our system’’ and that the winning bid for that project came in about $60,000 over the engineer’s estimate; the Pine Lake bid was roughly $400,000 below estimate.

The board also approved agreements for referee services to hear property valuation protests, an agreement with Bridge Behavioral Health to provide chemical dependency evaluations at the crisis center (not to exceed $43,000 as stated in the meeting), and two federal pass-through grant forms related to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (to support Square One youth and family crisis resources) and the Office on Violence Against Women STOP grant program. Sarah Hoy, director of human services for the city of Lincoln and Lancaster County, said the BJA form was needed to extend the award documents and that the grant ‘‘helps fund Square One, our youth and family crisis resource center.’’

The Public Building Commission’s selection of Sydney Shinost as facilities and property director was approved; the agenda listed an annual salary of $143,312 with an effective date of July 6, 2026. Commissioners who participated in the interview process spoke in support of Shinost’s qualifications. Chair Yokum said she was part of the interview process and that Shinost ‘‘has over 15 years of experience with project management, ground-up development and large-scale renovations.’’

The board recessed into an executive session earlier in the morning for a strategy session on a real estate transaction and legal advice; no further public details were disclosed. The meeting closed with announcements about upcoming joint and staff meetings and a June 16 public hearing on updated building and mechanical codes.

What’s next: The board’s next regular session is scheduled for June 16; the appointment of the facilities director is effective July 6, 2026, per the agenda.