Meeting Minutes and Proceedings Statements

The Sheridan County Board of Commissioners (BOC) met on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the County Courthouse. Notice of the meeting was published on the County website sheridancountyne.gov. The meeting was open to the public and a ZOOM connection was also available. Present were Chairman James Krotz, Commissioners Bruce Messersmith and Dan Kling, Clerk Sindy Coburn, Treasurer Renee Thies and Clerk of the District Court Carol Stouffer.

Acting as the Board of Equalization (BOE) the Commissioners received from Assessor Tina Skinner a Correction Sheet proposing the removal of a center pivot from the personal property list of Great Plains Farms LLC of Raliegh NC. The pivot had been entered twice on the list. The BOE approved the correction.

Acting as the Board of Commissioners (BOC) the Officials audited and approved for payment claims totaling $429,712.

Weed/Prairie Dog Superintendent Melissa Grover presented a letter extending the period of Black-Tailed Prairie Dog force control recently imposed on six parcels. The original end date for the force control period was July 25. The new extended date is August 15, 2025. The BOC approved the extension to allow adequate time for the grasses to go dormant which will assure better environmental conditions for the use of Zinc Phosphide.

The Commissioners considered, approved and signed a letter of support for the efforts of the 4-H Foundation to renovate and expand a building at the Sheridan County Fairgrounds. Such expressions of support are important to efforts to secure grants.

At 9:30 the Board opened bids for a new two-year gravel crushing contract for 50,000 tons of material. The two bids received were from Kustom Rock in Gordon and Western Construction in Rapid City. Western Construction’s bid was $7.74/yard. Kustom Rock’s bid was $7.85/yard. Because Western Construction could not begin delivery until September and because their fuel surcharge requirement was nearly twice that of Kustom, the BOC voted to accept the Kustom Rock bid.

Interim Road Superintendent Rod Norton will complete the contract and present it to the BOC next week.

USDA Animal Damage Control Officer Tim Brewer presented the proposed contract for services for 2025-26. The cost of services will increase by $1,700 in the coming year.

State Senator Tanya Storer stopped by for a post-session “check in”.

Gregg Mooney, a health insurance consultant with the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) appeared to explain recent changes to the NACO health plans. The County left the NACO plan last year for Medica and their lower premiums and greater flexibility. The Commissioners told Mooney that they would look over the new NACO plan if he wished to submit the details. The County health care plan year starts in October.

Caleb Johnson, Budget Consultant, visited with the BOC via phone about advisability of “sinking funds” in the various Office and Department budgets.
Next week, the Commissioners will consult with the two departments that currently have such funds.

The next scheduled meeting of the BOE/BOC will be Tuesday, June 24. The minutes of this and all meetings of the Board of Commissioners will be available to the public at the office of the Sheridan County Clerk and now are available online at sheridancounty.ne.gov. All meetings of the Board of Commissioners are held in compliance with Nebraska Open Meetings Act and the public is always welcome. 

Written by James Krotz
Posted by Jack Andersen

The Sheridan County Commissioners met in regular session and by Zoom (ID#87981717732 Passcode# 625274) at 9:15 A.M. on June 10, 2025. All members present along with Clerk Sindy Coburn and Interim Road Superintendent Rod Norton. Krotz stated that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. This meeting was posted on the official County website and posted in the Sheridan County Journal Star on May 28, 2025.

Kling made a motion to accept the agenda. Messersmith seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

Kling made a motion to approve the minutes of 5-27-2025. Messersmith seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

The board reviewed the 2025-26 insurance rates from Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA). The cost of the coverage will increase 12.99% over last year. This coverage includes property, liability and workman’s comp insurance. Kling made a motion to change the deductible for Property, Building & Content to $10,000. Krotz seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.
Messersmith made a motion to renew the contract with NIRMA for our insurance and set the deductible for Property, Building & Content at $10,000 and leave the deductible for Auto Physical Damage and Mobile/Remote at $1,000. Kling seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

The board reviewed a Letter of Engagement for audit services submitted by Dana-Cole of Scottsbluff. Messersmith made a motion to sign the letter of engagement with Dana-Cole for audit services in the amount of $21,000. Kling seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

Interim Road Superintendent Rod Norton informed the board that he purchased a new packer from North Dakota last week. He also reported that the supply of crushed gravel is low but a new contract will be considered at the next board meeting.

Emma Strotheide appeared to report that a right of way dispute with a neighbor has not been resolved. When the land was surveyed it was determined that a fence and trees were both with in the public right of way. At this time the board will request the County Attorney to draft a letter to both parties informing them that they need to remove their respective encroaching items from the public right of way.

Bernard and Charmayne Strong appeared to request gravel along a section of 590th Lane north of Hwy 20. It was agreed that gravel would be applied when it became available and when the road dried out enough to support truck traffic.

Sheriff Brewer reported that he feels he has reached a tentative agreement with the City of Rushville for law enforcement services.

Building & Grounds Superintendent Jeff Davis was not available.

Valerie Beel, David Russell and Scott Lindsey met with the board to discuss and to seek county support in seeking grants for the two stage plan to upgrade the Fair Ground Building. According to Beel, Phase I will be completed by July and they are getting ready for Phase II. Phase II includes a commercial kitchen along with other amenities. The group wants to apply for a Community Development Block Grant and is asking that it run through the County. The group also asked for a letter of support in seeking grants for the project. The board will consider the request on June 17.

Public Comment: Weed Superintendent Melissa Grover and Randy Benben met with the board to discuss prairie dogs. Benben stated that he has been contracted by Sandra Koinzan to eradicate her prairie dogs but stated that he is not going to do it until later in Fall. Poisoning the dogs doesn’t work well with green grass. The board will need to give more time on the force control cases. Grover will present a letter for the board to approve at the next meeting.

Adjourn: Noon
Attest: Sindy L. Coburn, Clerk
James Krotz, Chairman
Posted by Jack Andersen

The Sheridan County Board of Equalization met in regular session and by Zoom (ID#87981717732 Passcode# 625274) at 9 A.M. on June 10, 2025. All members present along with Clerk Sindy Coburn and Interim Road Superintendent Rod Norton. Krotz stated that the meeting would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act. This meeting was posted on the official website and published in the Sheridan County Journal Star on May 28, 2025.

Messersmith made a motion to accept the agenda. Kling seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

Messersmith made a motion to approve the minutes of 5-27-2025. Kling seconded the motion. With a roll call vote all voted aye.

Public Comment: None No action taken. 

Adjourn: 9:15 A.M.
Attest: Sindy L. Coburn
James Krotz, Chairman
Posted by Jack Andersen