Gage County
By Don Schuller
12/12/22 Committee meeting:
Highway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke said the traffic count was completed for 134th road south of Belvedere and north of Linden. 162nd road (Virginia) had traffic counters on it for the same 3 miles but the equipment malfunctioned so no count was taken. Kuhnke offered the results of the traffic count for last May as a comparison. I did not get the traffic count recorded. I can tell you it is low. Kuhnke will be sending me the results.
I told the board and Kuhnke I received a complaint on the tall grass along East Plum Rd between the River Bridge and Kinney Hill. I brought this to their attention last year. Nothing was done. The road was overlaid with asphalt several years ago and still hasn’t had the shoulders completed. This makes it difficult for narrow, 2 row, shredders to mow the road side. I believe since the county has failed to properly shoulder the road, the county should see to it is shredded for safety purposes. No action was taken.
12/13/22 Regular meeting:
Road and bridge committee discussion with Highway Superintendent Kuhnke included the hydrologic study for the State Line Rd Bridge east of 80th road. It is in progress. This study will allow the engineer to determine what kind of structure is necessary to accommodate the flow at the bridge location.
The board discussed the three miles of 134th in Sherman township road. The Sherman township board has requested the county take over maintenance on this road. The county is maintaining the road on either side of these three miles and it would be more efficient to have the same operator do the entire road. The board is favorable to this.
Supervisors discussed Planning and zoning members phone numbers be published on the county website. There have been requests by the public for contact information. Some commissioners do not want their phone numbers published.
Supervisor Haxby made the motion to publish commissioner email addresses and phone numbers. Emily’s motion did not get a second. Discussion followed about issuing commissioners county email addresses. Haxby moved to publish a county email address on the county website with phone numbers optional. Supervisor Terry Jurgens seconded the motion. Motion failed with Haxby and Tiemann being the only ones in favor.
Presently there is no written policy stating expectations of P & Z Commissioners. I voted against Haxby’s motion due to this. Before requiring personal contact information be on the website, I believe written policy is needed stating this before requiring phone numbers be published. This gives a prospective volunteer for commissioner notice of what is expected.
Planning and Zoning is reviewing solar regulations following the public hearing held Dec 6th. The commission decided to re-visit the regulations based on public comment. Another public hearing will follow. If you are interested in these regulations please attend the public hearing. Watch the Public Notices on the county website for dates. A copy of the proposed regulations can be obtained at the P & Z Administrator’s office. Once the commission is satisfied with the proposed regulation it will be submitted to the county board for approval. A public hearing will be held by the board.
Efforts continue to obtain funding for improved broadband for the entire county.
I attended the Nebraska Association of County Officials state convention Dec. 14th to 16th in Kearney. NACO always has a well-organized and informative convention.
