Gage County Newsletter

By Don Schuller 6/7/24 Road and Bridge Committee meeting:I informed the board and Highway Superintendent that I had received a complaint about trees encroaching on East Plum Rd. There was discussion on notifying landowners of their responsibility to remove trees and shrubs in the county easement along their property. If a landowner receives a notification letter for removal, he/she has 10 days to reply with a plan. If there is no reply, the county will do the removal and assess the cost to the landowner’s taxes.Other departments were reviewed. 6/26/24 Equalization meeting:Increases in valuations were discussed. The assessor’s office can only address the valuation. If during the protest period a property owner can provide supporting information that like properties are not valued the same, the valuation can be adjusted. The taxes on the valuation are determined by the taxing entities such as schools, NRD, county, etc. The board discussed having a countywide evaluation conducted to make values equal for like properties. It would not lower tax levies. 6/26/24 Regular meeting:During Public Comment Terry and Bev Acton announced that they will be hosting the 27th annual Cattleman’s Ball in June, 2025. This event is a cancer research fundraiser. Ninety percent goes to cancer research and ten percent is returned to the community.Tom Bliss, Executive Director of Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD), updated the board on grants that will be awarded for Gage County projects. A one-million-dollar grant was obtained for building duplexes in Beatrice. Childcare will be getting $250,000 set aside for assistance. Food assistance funds also will be earmarked for the county. Liberty is getting assistance for a water project, and Virginia and Wymore are getting assistance with street projects.Oliver Williams of SENDD reported that there will be broadband grants for projects in Gage County. It is not yet known where those projects will be.Planning and Zoning Administrator Lisa Wiegand told us the next Planning and Zoning meeting is 7:00 pm, June 18th, Supervisor’s board room, second floor of the courthouse. Two public hearings will take place. One is for a commercial diesel repair business in Lincoln Township and another is for expansion of the Beatrice Well Head Protection Area in Blakely and Grant Townships.I asked Highway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke if his department is checking for noxious weed infestations. He said Weed Superintendent Becky Borgman has been checking.She will be sending letters when needed. If you have a complaint, contact Becky at402-223-1399.The internet provider Pinpoint Communications has sued the Gage County Board for its recent decision to deny the company a permit to lay fiber optic cable in the county road easements. The permit was denied on the grounds that it was a waste of taxpayer’s money to provide a government grant to an area that already received government funds to install broadband services. The lawsuit alleges the county board overstepped its authority in denying a utility permit. Pinpoint states that the board lacks the power to reject such a right-of-way permit and that Pinpoint was treated differently than past applicants for such a permit. Supervisor Gary Lytle and I voted to approve the permit.By a unanimous vote, the board approved allowing our insurance carrier, Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (NIRMA) to handle the litigation, with a $10,000 deductible.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.

Janice Jean Meyer,

Candidate 2.0

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