Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 26 - 50 of 52
Holt County Supervisors approved Resolution 2021-33, redistricting of the seven supervisor districts, using an equal population, based on the 2020 U.S. Census, during its Dec. 30 meeting, on a 5-1 vote. District seven supervisor, Don Butterfield, cast the dissenting vote. District four supervisor, Scott Keyes, was absent. According to Census results, the population count totals 10,127, which would put 1,447 residents in each district. The biggest concern expressed by Butterfield was losing a por...
Based on the county's comprehensive plan, Holt County supervisors denied a perpetual wetland reserve easement, for Melvin Knox's Bar K Bar , LLC, during a Dec. 16 public hearing, at the courthouse in O'Neill. Supervisor Doug Frahm made the motion, which passed unanimously. Supervisor Dustin Breiner was absent. The hearing, which lasted more than an hour, was a required step, following a Dec. 13 public hearing in front of the county's planning and zoning board. That board voted 6-3 in favor of...
Holt County Supervisors approved two agreements of an opioid ligitation settlement during the board’s Oct. 29 meeting in O’Neill. But how much the county will receive and when the payout will arrive wasn’t immediately clear. According to board chairman Bill Tielke, Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly suggested the county support the ligitation, which started in 2016. At that time, Nebraska joined a compact with a dozen other states, suing pharmaceutical distributors Cardinal, McKesson and Ameri...
Holt County Supervisors denied nuisance claims regarding trees and shrubs growing in the right of way along township-maintained roads at its Sept. 30 meeting in O'Neill. Supervisors spent approximately 55 minutes discussing the issue involving complaints filed against landowners in Rock Falls Township. Supervisor Don Butterfield proposed a resolution which would have spelled out the procedure for townships to recommend which rights of way would need to be cleaned and stipulated the county and...
If a tree grows in the right of way, along a township road, and needs trimmed or removed, who is responsible for tree trimming? Holt County Supervisors listened to public comment on the topic, Thursday, during a public hearing held in the supervisors' room at the Holt County Courthouse in O'Neill. While the hearing focused on written notices, sent by the county attorney's office, to landowners in Rock Falls Township,the question of responsibility first sprouted earlier this year, when the Emmett...
Concerns from landowners about the speed of traffic, traveling on a three-mile stretch of 868 Road, north of Page, were brought to the attention of Holt County supervisors during Monday's meeting in O'Neill. Dan Hanlon, of Page, said people"fly by" at high rates of speed between 501 and 504 avenues. At least three residents along the stretch, who have children and grandchildren, have posted yellow caution signs noting children are in the area. One of the signs, posted by a residence near the int...
Holt County Supervisors approved a resolution against President Biden’s Executive Order 14008, dubbed the 30 x 30 land grab, during its May 28 meeting. Prior to the vote, seven individuals spoke to the board about plan, which would conserve 30% of lands and waterways in the United States by 2030. The county’s resolution states the program, if implemented, “will conflict with plans, policies, zoning and programs of Holt County and notes that supervisors are in opposition to it. The resolution, introduced by Doug Frahm and seconded by Dusti...
Holt County Supervisors faced a light agenda, approving two resolutions, during the board’s March 31 meeting in O’Neill. Resolution 2021-10 approves the formation of a COVID American Rescue Plan Fund, following the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act by Congress. The resolution directs the county treasurer to establish the fund. County clerk Cathy Pavel will add the fund to the 2021-2022 budget. Supervisor Doug Frahm made the motion to adopt the resolution and Darrin Paxton seconded the mot...
Holt County Supervisors approved a resolution declaring the county a Second Amendment sanctuary during the board’s March 16 meeting in O’Neill. The resolution cites U.S. Supreme Court cases upholding an individual’s right to possess firearms and notes Article 1, Section 1-1, of the Nebraska constitution providing “All persons have certain inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the right to keep and bear arms for the security or defense of self, f...
Holt County Supervisors may declare its support of the Second Amendment of the U.S. and Nebraska constitutions during the governing body's March 16 meeting. Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly told supervisors, during the board's Feb. 26 meeting at the Holt County Courthouse, other counties have passed similar resolutions. "Basically, it's declaring this board's support for the Second Amendment ... If the state passes a law, it would preempt what you're doing. I don't have any problem with you...
Holt County supervisors selected who will fill leadership positions during the board's Jan. 7 meeting. Bill Tielke was re-elected to serve as chairman and Doug Frahm will oversee the board of equalization. Per board policy, when a chairman is absent, the other chairman will preside. Four individuals were reappointed to positions they currently hold, including Gary Connot, road superintendent; Mike Durre, planning and zoning administrator; Deb Hilker, emergency manager and Ken Stenka, veterans...
After approximately 15 years as the Holt County treasurer, Connie Krotter will leave public office and take a position in the private sector. Her resignation will be effective Jan. 15. Krotter submitted a letter of resignation during Monday's Holt County Supervisors meeting. Chairman Bill Tielke read the letter to fellow supervisors. The announcement was met by surprise from members of the board. Krotter said she has been blessed and humbled to serve the county for 15 years. "I worked with a...
Holt County Supervisors approved fixing a drainage issue on the corner of 496 Avenue and 871 road, approximately two miles east of O'Neill. Whether Grattan Township will assist with costs for the upgrade wasn't immediately clear during the board's Oct. 15 meeting at the Holt County Courthouse meeting room. Road superintendent, Gary Connot, said concerns surfaced approximately one and one-half years ago, when homes in the area were impacted by surface and subsurface water. County road department...
Approximately 35 Holt County residents crowded the supervisor’s meeting room and adjoining hallway, Monday, to listen to discussion about whether the county should dissolve townships and move to a seven-member board of commissioners. A motion to the effect, made by Steve Boshart, would have placed the item on the November ballot, giving the people of Holt County the ultimate decision. Prior to the motion being made, supervisors spent more than 90 minutes hashing over the item, which was added t...
Holt County Supervisors spent nearly one hour discussing force spraying, conducted by the Holt County Weed Department, during the board's July 16 meeting. Superintendent Bill Babutzke told the supervisors more than 120 inspections have been completed across the county. One property, consisting of approximatley 900 acres, will require a force spraying for leafy spurge and musk thistles. The price tag could tally between $20,000 and $30,000. "There's not a plane out there that will do it. Not a...
The Holt County supervisors finalized seating of a board of adjustment when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 30. Vice chair Steve Boshart presided, due to the potential for board of adjustment action related to TC Energy matters, with which chairman Bill Tielke has a declared conflict of interest. Clayton Goeke of Atkinson was selected, by written ballot from a pool of three interested citizens, to serve as the alternate board member. Goeke garnered three votes, Cheri Frisch of Atkinson, two, and Tom Schaaf of Lynch, non...
The Holt County supervisors reviewed and set new parameters for daily meal reimbursement when they met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Tuesday, June 16. Staff working outside the county will be allowed $10 for breakfast, $12 for lunch and $16 for dinner/supper. The motion was made by supervisor Steve Boshart, seconded by supervisor Doug Frahm and carried on a 6-0 vote, with supervisor Don Hahlbeck absent. Mike Zakrzewski of O’Neill was appointed to the board of adjustments, with Jim Hubel of Ewing, Mark Rossman and Barb Steskal of Atk...
The Holt County supervisors approved a road-use agreement for duration of potential construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, despite the county leaders’ denial of a construction permit in February. Consideration of the road-haul agreement was on the agenda when the supervisors met in the courthouse for an in-person meeting April 30. The agreement had been drafted by Omaha attorney David Domina, with Brent Kelley, Holt County attorney, proceeding, at the request of the supervisors, to negotiate terms with TCE officials. Kelly was present in t...
Holt County supervisors are considering the engagement of a human resources firm to help navigate employment issues. A telephone conference was held with Chad Thies from Zelle Human Resource Solutions in Lincoln during the March 16 meeting at the courthouse in O'Neill. After hearing what the firm offered in services, chairman Bill Tielke asked Thies to submit a proposal. Supervisor Steve Boshart estimated an annual cost of $36,000 to $40,000. "It will be high," Tielke said. "But the thing is, if...
Six Holt County supervisors listened as nearly 50 citizens presented testimony last Friday afternoon. A public hearing regarding TC Energy's application for a pipeline construction permit was held in the district courtroom at the Holt County courthouse. Pipeline opponents, from elementary students to 90-year-old grandparents, packed the courtroom, filling approximately 100 seats, and spilled out to the second-floor hallway. Speakers were called in order of sign-up, which had begun in the morning...
Three Holt County supervisors agreed, when the leaders met at the courthouse in O’Neill last Thursday, to serve on a committee to look for ways to improve efficiency within the road department. Road superintendent Gary Connot described several recent issues he attributed to lack of training, oversight and accountability. “I personally think we have got to get more oversight, more practical training and more instructions to our motorgrader operators,” he said. “We had a guy this last summer – we had the best set of roads in the county – in a per...
Bill Tielke and Steve Boshart will retain their leadership positions on the Holt County Board of Supervisors. Tielke was re-elected by his peers as chairman of the supervisors, while Boshart was re-elected to chair the board of equalization. Pursuant to traditional policy, the two leaders will serve as vice chair for each other. County clerk Cathy Pavel presided over the election process until a chairman was elected, then turned the gavel over to Tielke for the balance of the annual organization meeting Jan. 9, at the Holt County Courthouse. Pa...
The Holt County supervisors addressed cyber security at their final 2019 meeting. The leaders met Dec. 31 at the courthouse in O'Neill. Steve Anson with Anson Insurance Services was invited, by chairman Bill Tielke, to present information about insuring the county against "hacking" of county computers. Tielke indicated cyber security concerns were raised at a recent convention he had attended. "I don't think it's a matter that we can keep beating around the bush and not doing something about,"...
The Holt County supervisors met Monday, Dec. 16, in front of a crowd of concerned citizens. Agenda items regarding a TC Energy road-haul agreement and some township road concerns drew the visitors. The supervisors heard an update on a bronze statue planned for the courthouse lawn by the “Finian Women.” They are a group headed by daughters of longtime Holt County resident, Doc Cook, who referred to himself as a Finian, according to county clerk Cathy Pavel. Natalie Cook Butterfield addressed the leaders regarding fundraising and planned placemen...
The Holt County supervisors addressed a recent article submitted to area media when they met at the courthouse Monday, Nov. 18. According to the letter submitted by Holt County attorney Brent Kelly, published in the Nov. 20 edition of the Advocate and online at SummerlandAdvocate.com, and by other area news media, his purpose was to explain some of the issues county residents and elected officials will face as TC Energy proceeds with its effort to build a pipeline. Chairman Bill Tielke turned...
