The Sheridan County Board of Commissioners (BOC) met on Tuesday, February 25, 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, Commissioner Dan Kling, Clerk Sindy Coburn, Treasurer Renee Thies and Clerk of the District Court Carol Stouffer.

Commissioner Bruce Messersmith, who was recovering from the flu, joined the meeting via ZOOM and, because he was not present in person, joined in all discussion but did not vote.

Acting as the Board of Equalization (BOE) the Commissioner reviewed Correction Sheets 198 and 199 presented by Assessor Tina Skinner.

The first was to correct an earlier Correction 194 which failed to include a Penalty Tax of 53.84. The second was to remove an item of personal property attributed to Chad Swim whose last name had been misspelled as “Seim.” The BOC approved both Corrections.

Treasurer Renee Thies presented, and the BOC accepted, her report on securities pledged by our depository banks on amounts exceeding the limit of FDIC insurance.

The Treasurer and Assessor presented signed agreements with their office staff assenting to a transfer of the mandated Arbor Day holiday. Arbor Day falls in a season of peak activity for these two offices so the Elected Officials and their staff agreed to a paid day off on a later date as a transferred holiday. The Commissioners had agreed to this arrangement earlier in the year.

Interim Road Superintendent Rod Norton reported that the new, one-year contract with Croell Inc. for crushed red-rock will bring a price increase of $1 dollar, from $8 to $9 per cubic yard. Norton had our contract hauler bring as much red rock as possible to the County before the old contract expired. Norton presented an information packet on a new soft-ware package from Brightly Software that promise to integrate all the Road Department’s IT work. The Commissioners took the matter under advisement and observed that the cost of the update, if approved, would require that it be considered in the 2025-2026 budget.

Weed Superintendent Melissa Grover presented two price quotes for a new Utility Task Vehicle for the department. The quotes from No Limit Power of Valentine ($16,908.98) and Chadron Motor Company ($17,284) were for the same model 2025 Can Am Defender Pro Limited. Because No Limit Power agreed to remove and re-install the various fittings on our present UTV at no extra cost the BOC agreed with Grover’s recommendation to accept the No Limit Power proposal.

Building and Grounds Superintendent Jeff Davis visited with the BOC about the ongoing tuckpointing campaign at the courthouse. All agreed that since there was money available in the Building Fund we should proceed with the project as soon as the weather and the contractor would permit. Over the course of the past two years the contractor has completed work on the upper reaches of the courthouse so his work this year will require a smaller and cheaper lift.

The Board reviewed a request for a “Commitment of Support” from Senior Services which runs the Open Plains Transportation program (successor to the Sheridan County Handi-Bus). This Commitment of Support is requested of all the program participants (Gordon, Rushville, Hay Springs and the County) as an expression of local matching funds necessary to secure State and Federal Funds. The BOC approved a 2-year Commitment of $8,522 per year and approved a resolution instructing Senior Service Inc. to apply for the Federal and State Funds.

The BOC also approved a Building Use Agreement setting the terms of use for a 210 ft/sq office in the Courthouse Annex by Senior Services Inc. There is no direct rental cost to Senior Services. Use of the Building is considered a $1,600/year “in kind donation” by the County that is credited toward our local match for the State and Federal grants. “Handi-Bus” services provide low-cost transportation to any Sheridan County resident. Visit optne.com or call Open Trails at 308-761-8747.

Budget Consultant Caleb Johnson appeared to brief the BOC on the challenges that certain Unicameral escapades may present as we begin to consider the County’s 2025-26 Budget.

The Governor’s spending cap, uncertainty about the inheritance tax and other, as yet unknown, mandates will bring the Board’s Budget Anxiety Level (BAL) to the usual elevated state.

The next meeting of the BOE/BOC is scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 at 11:00 a.m.
Please take note of the late starting time.
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