Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Editor’s note: In last week’s edition of SAM, the jump for this story was not included. We are running the article in its entirety and regret the error. After hearing public comment on a proposed moratorium, March 7, Holt County Planning and Zoning Commission members voted 6-2 to recommend an 18-month moratorium on all industrial pipeline, wind and solar power development to Holt County Supervisors. Commission member Mary Kaczor told an audience of more than 35 individuals, that the cou...
A decision on a perpetual easement for the Graham Crowe Ranch, LLC, in northeastern Holt County, will be revisited at 10:30 a.m., during a March 16 meeting of the Holt County supervisors. Supervisor Don Butterfield, of Atkinson, made a motion to table a decision, Feb. 28, following a public hearing which lasted more than 90 minutes. "I need to have a little time to mull this over," Butterfield said. Chairman Bill Tielke said it's unfair to make a quick decision. "Don, I'll agree with you. This...
After hearing public comment on a proposed moratorium Monday evening, Holt County planning and zoning commission members voted 6-2 to recommend an 18-month moratorium on all industrial pipeline, wind and solar power development to Holt County Supervisors. Commission member Mary Kaczor told an audience of more than 35 individuals, that the county’s current comprehensive plan was written in 1980. “It’s totally out of date,” she said. The commission has hired Marvin Planning Associates, of David Ci...
Holt County Supervisors will hold a public hearing, regarding a perpetual conservation easement will be held, Feb. 28, at 1:30 p.m., at the courthouse in O'Neill. Chairman Bill Tielke set the date during the board's Jan. 31 meeting after Les Graham, of Graham Crowe Ranch, LLC, told supervisors he would like a public hearing scheduled as soon as possible. "It's been going on for awhile. It's been a month since you've had a chance to look at the easement," Graham said. Supervisor Doug Frahm said...
The 2022 Primary Election for Summerland-area villages, Antelope and Holt counties and state offices are open for registration. Incumbents - anyone who holds any elected office - must refile or file for a new position by Feb. 15. If an incumbent in one position files for a different position, they are still required to file by the Feb. 15 deadline. The deadline to file for individuals who currently do not hold an elected position is March 1. A list of offices to be filled, which will appear on...
Longtime Holt County Supervisor Bill Tielke will continue to preside over the board after he was elected to serve as chairman for 2022, on a 5-0-1-1 vote, when the board met Jan. 6 to reorganize. Supervisor Scott Keyes was absent from the meeting and Tielke abstained. Doug Frahm, of Amelia, was elected to chair the county's board of equalization. After approving board of representatives, delegates and committee assignments for the upcoming year, supervisors approved the reappointments of and...
Details about a proposed pipeline that would push carbon dioxide from ethanol plants in Nebraska and surrounding states to North Dakota were presented to county officials during December meetings in Antelope and Holt counties. Dayton Murty, representing Summit Carbon Solutions, an Ames, Iowa-based company, provided on overview of the pipeline and outlined environmental and economic benefits, to Antelope County Commissioners on Dec. 7 and Dec. 30, to Holt County Supervisors. If the pipeline is...
A handful of Holt County residents shared concerns about a proposed CO2 pipeline with supervisors during Holt County's Dec. 30 meeting. Diana Steskal, of Atkinson, said landowners are asking supervisors to research pipelines and Summit Carbon Solutions before making any decisions. "We'd like the supervisors to ask the Summit company for an open public meeting, to inform the citizens about the pipeline and let the citizens ask questions," Steskal said. Construction practices, land reclamation,...
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...
After nearly an hour of discussion about a request for a Wetland Reserve Easement, for Melvin Knox's Bar K Bar, LLC, Holt County Supervisors set a public hearing date and determined the county's planning and zoning board should conduct a public hearing, too. The action was taken Tuesday, during the board's scheduled meeting. Knox filed paperwork for the easement, with county clerk Cathy Pavel, Oct. 26. According to the paperwork, a decision on the easement was to be made in 60 days. Following di...
When Holt County Supervisors meet Nov. 30, the board may finally consider a resolution on land-use development concerning conservation easements. During the Nov. 16 meeting, supervisors agreed to forward the resolution, for review, to Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly. The item appeared on the agenda in October, also. The board may also consider a wetland reserve easement for Bar K Bar, LLC, located near Goose Lake. In October, supervisors tabled discussion on the easement, requested by Melvin...
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...
Damage from a lightning strike that ignited grassland and spread to a five- to six-mile-wide fire is still being assessed. Holt County Emergency Management director Deb Hilker presented a map of damaged acres and buildings to Holt County Supervisors at the group's June 30 meeting in O'Neill. Hilker said an estimated 6,600 acres were affected. The topographical map is interfaced with a plat map to highlight people and acres affected by the fire, which started June 24, in the river bottom between...
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...
A potential resolution denouncing President Biden's Executive Order 14008, dubbed the 30 x 30 land grab, will have to wait, after Holt County Supervisors tabled the item during Monday's meeting in O'Neill. The executive order, titled "Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad," directed the secretary of the interior, secretary of agriculture and other senior officials to devise and submit a plan, by April 27, to conserve 30% of lands and waterways in the United States by 2030. According to...
Antelope County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a resolution declaring the county as a Second Amendment sanctuary county at the board’s May 4 meeting. The resolution, similar to one approved by Holt County Supervisors, pledges support for the right to bear arms, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Approximately 35 counties have approved resolutions, according to the Nebraska Firearms Owners Association website. No discussion was held prior to the vote a...
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 gave the nod to 33 projects with an estimated price tag of $25.9 million, during a Feb. 16 hearing for the county’s one- and six-year road plan. The plan includes bridge replacement and repairs, overlay projects and culvert replacement across the county. The Ewing area will see improvements after several projects are completed. A .2-mile stretch near the intersection of 848 Road and 509 Avenue feature a bridge replacement estimated at $400,000. A five-mile stretch of c...
Shelly Ross really treasures her new job. The 48-year-old took over the duties of the Holt County treasurer Jan. 19 and was officially sworn into office Feb. 1. The board of supervisors appointed Ross on Jan. 7 to the elected position's current four-year term that runs through December 2022. She took over as the full-time treasurer from Connie Krotter, who had served in the O'Neill-based position for 15 years. "My new role is going well," Ross said. "We have an excellent staff in our office,...
