Gage County Committee and Board Meetings

By Don Schuller 11/14/22 Committee meeting:Planning and Zoning administrator Lisa Wiegand reported that P & Z is conducting a public hearing on the solar regulations at 5:00 pm., Dec 6th in the County Courthouse Supervisor’s meeting room.Highway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke reported that the trees have been removed at both of the Pleasant Hill Cemeteries.State bridge matching program funds have been requested to replace a bridge with tubes three quarters of a mile east of 134th Rd on the B-Line.Superintendent Kuhnke said 162nd Rd from Virginia south 3 miles has been regraded and rocked with 1 inch rock. Three-quarter inch rock had been sought but it was unavailable. Unfortunately, long stretches of dry weather have made it difficult to get the rock worked into the roadbed. This is a priority road to be graveled next spring.The county board discussed Information Technology (IT) staff live-streaming the board meetings. The consensus is to secure a company to provide us IT staff before we proceed with equipment for streaming.11/16/22 Regular meeting:I asked Highway Superintendent Kuhnke about the status of the Blue Springs River Bridge inspection. In a previous meeting I expressed concern that the bridge has a tonnage rating less than the weight of a loaded semi-truck and requested an inspection. Kuhnke said the inspection will be hired out. He learned inspections occur on a two-year cycle. He didn’t know where the bridge was in the cycle.A five-year master agreement for land survey corner preservation with the state was discussed. Presently the state locates section corners as needed. Due to a shortage of surveyors in the state’s workforce, they have requested an agreement where the county surveyor locates these corners and the county is reimbursed by the state.I talked with County Surveyor Chris Witulski and he was in favor of this agreement. It is much more efficient for the local surveyor to locate these corners. A motion to adopt and approve the execution of the Master Agreement with the Nebraska Department of Transportation for county survey purposes was approved unanimously.A related motion to approve Perpetuation of Corners of Land Surveys, a five-year Master Agreement for our county surveyor to provide survey services for state highway projects within Gage County, was also approved unanimously.Note to landowners:Highway Superintendent Kuhnke and the Gage County Board have been discussing roadside mowing and removal of trees and shrubs in county road easements. State Statute 39-1811 states, in brief, that adjoining landowners are responsible for mowing the county easement. State Statute 39-1812 states, in brief, that adjoining landowners are responsible for tree/shrub removal in the county easement when such vegetative growth becomes a public nuisance.County Attorney Roger Harris has drafted a letter for Kuhnke to send to landowners in violation of these statutes. State statutes allows counties and townships to perform mowing and removal operations and add the cost to the landowner’s taxes.It is imperative that the county abide by the laws. In the event there is an accident caused by a neglected nuisance, such as shrubs, trees, or tall grass, the landowner and the county/township will be sued. Nobody wants this. We especially don’t want anyone hurt or killed. Please check your roadsides to avoid a letter.

Jacqueline J. Tennant

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