Gage County Meetings

By Don Schuller 11/27/23 Committee Meeting:Planning and Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand informed the board the next P & Z meeting is December 14th, 7:00 pm, Supervisors meeting room, second floor of the courthouse. A public hearing is scheduled at 7:15 for a special use permit for a communications tower in section six of Blakely Township.Sheriff Millard Gustafson discussed the possible purchase of a van to replace the van used to transport prisoners. The current van has 220,000 miles on it and is having breakdown issues.Building and Grounds Manager David Jones said the information technology company we hired, Applied Connective, has a proposal to update the security equipment, at the board’s request.Ryan Robinson, Applied Connective, reviewed what we currently have for cameras and computer equipment to operate the security system. The existing equipment is getting old and it is an appropriate time to improve on the system, says Robinson.The proposal includes:Security server and maintenance of the serverWi-Fi managed services for the courthouseAccess control and managed services (network door control, etc.)Update panic button/hardwareMultimedia managed services/equipment for the boardroomHighway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke said the highway department plans to proceed with filling on shoulders on East Plum Rd, starting at Kenny Hill. I told Mr. Kuhnke the shoulders east of the river bridge need to be a priority due to the inability to properly mow the roadside. There is a high concentration of deer in this area. Due to the curves in the road and tall vegetation, it is difficult to see well.Mr. Kuhnke will present the board with bids for two new pickups and a motor grader.Stop signs have been placed in Holmsville as recommended by the engineering firm hired by the county.The bridge on 94th Rd between Highway 8 and Walnut Rd is closed. Plans are to replace it with tubes. Installation time frame is unknown at this time.I asked Mr. Kuhnke about getting gravel placed on South 23rd Rd south of the Wymore Country Club. He said it will be spring before gravel is applied.Mr. Kuhnke stated he was contacted by someone from Virginia about reducing the speed limit on 162nd Rd adjoining the village. He told the board that Virginia is allowed to put up their own speed limit signs, but not less than 35 mph. By state statute a road adjoining a village is automatically annexed into the village. The county has been maintaining the road. This will discontinue if the village puts up speed limit signs or applies a dust control product, stated Mr. Kuhnke.11/29/23 Regular MeetingApplied Connective proposal votes were tabled until the next meeting to allow for more discussion.Supervisor Emily Haxby stated the grant application for hard surfacing the road on the west side of Adams failed. We are looking for another grant. I asked Ms. Haxby about efforts for a grant to hard surface the 3 miles of 162nd Rd south of Virginia. In general, she said she is not focused on this at this time. I noted there will be opportunity to hard surface the road in 2028 when the state overlays the highway between Liberty and Highway 8.Support letters for the Blue Springs River Bridge are encouraged. Direct the letter to “Whom it may concern” and email to Emily Haxby at ehaxby@gagecountyne.gov.The next board meetings dates have been changed to accommodate the Nebraska Association of County Officials annual meeting. The next committee meeting is Dec 8th, 7:00 am. The regular meeting is Dec 12th 8:30 am. Both are at the Supervisors meeting room.I had a discussion with County Attorney Roger Harris about the proposed county policy on dust control on county gravel roads. Mr. Harris said he has communicated with our insurance carrier in regard to liability. His concern is if the product isn’t applied properly and a wreck is caused the county could be liable.This highlights the portions of the county meetings I feel are most relevant to my constituents. Use the link below to view the actual minutes and hear audio of the board meeting, when posted.https://gagecountynebraska.us/board_meetings/enhanced_minutes.aspxFacebook: Don Schuller – Public Servant.

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