Gage County Update

By Don Schuller 10/30/23 Committee Meeting:Public comment: Greg Thomas, Island Grove Township board member, spoke to thank the board for the effort put into the Otto/Summit Pork CAFO special use permit.Supervisor Emily Haxby stated there are five bridge outreach meetings scheduled. It does not matter which meeting a person attends. On-line surveys for all bridges involved can be completed at any location. The Blue Springs meeting was held November 15th. The bridge surveys are needed to complete federal grant applications.Highway Superintendent Mark Kuhnke reported that filling on the shoulders of East Plum Road will be starting at Kenny Hill, which is a priority portion of the road. The banisters will be replaced by reflectors and a three-foot shoulder will be installed. Other priority locations on East Plum Road will be addressed next.Kuhnke will be sending more roadside tree removal letters after Thanksgiving.I asked Kuhnke for clarification on the rating of the bridge on 176 Road, one and three quarter miles north of Liberty. I have received information from the public obtained for the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT) that the 32-ton rating sign on the bridge represents all vehicles. Kuhnke explained the sign indicates 32 tons and has blank indicators for additional ratings. According to NDOT, per Kuhnke, this means the bridge has a rating for trucks and trailers with more axles, even though the additional rating indicators are blank. If the sign stated only the 32-ton rating and nothing else, then it would mean 32 tons was the rating for all vehicles.11/15/23 regular meeting:Public comment:Summit Pork representative Mitch Baum spoke to the board requesting a reconsideration of the CAFO vote which denied approval of the proposed CAFO in Island Grove Township. He stated the operation meets all zoning regulations. In order for this to happen a board member who voted no on the motion at the 11/1/23 meeting would have to make a motion to this effect. This can only take place at the original meeting or the following meeting. No such motion was made during today’s meeting.Kuhnke told the board he received a letter from the Marshall County, KS, board of supervisors. This letter stated they have proceeded with plans to build a bridge on the Stateline Road east of 80th Road and expects Gage County to pay half of it.The existing bridge has a rating of 3 tons and is the only access to a residence in Kansas east of the bridge. In previous discussions with Marshal County, Kuhnke explained to them the Gage County Board could not participate in sharing cost unless bids were taken and Nebraska laws followed. Gage County has paid for the engineer to design a structure with tubes costing half as much as the propose bridge. Kuhnke told them Gage County would consider paying for the tubes, but that paying for a bridge was out of the question.I asked Chairman Tiemann if I could contact the Marshall County Board. I want to know why they would proceed the way they have without further discussion. I do not want to have legal action taken on this matter. Assistant County Attorney Amanda Spracklen-Hogan offered to send a letter. Tiemann asked me if this would suffice for my request to speak with them, and I agreed it would.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.aspx

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