Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Eminent domain concerns Dear Editor: The Nebraska Constitution states there will be no eminent domain for private gain. Period. But there are plenty of interlopers who choose to ignore that. By allowing public/private partnerships we see the beginning of Fascism. You know, “for the greater good” and disregard the rights of private property.” Right now, there are four aircraft staging out of the ONeill airport flying at 300’ all day long under contract to the US Geological Administration to do a survey. They use lidar to map underground mineral...
While neighboring state's officials wait to make decisions on permits for a proposed carbon-capture pipeline, Antelope County Planning and Zoning Commission members voted 6-1 to approve a conditional use permit for Summit Carbon Solutions. Bob Krutz cast the lone vote to deny the permit when the commission reconvened, Oct. 12. A public hearing for the CUP was originally held Sept. 14. During discussion after the hearing, commission members voted to continue the meeting to Oct. 5. At that...
Whether or not Antelope County Planning and Zoning Commission approves a conditional use permit for a proposed carbon-capture pipeline will wait until Thursday, at the earliest. The group is set to reconvene, Oct. 12, at 3 p.m., in the commissioners' meeting room, to discuss approval or to deny the permit. Public comment will not be heard since that portion of the process closed when the commission met Sept. 14. Chairman Greg Wortman said he had been contacted by a member of the public who...
What would an ideal Antelope County look like in 20 years? The answer to that question, along with challenges and opportunities for area residents, were discussed during a Sept. 20 townhall meeting, at the Antelope County Courthouse in Neligh. Mason Herrman, a planner with Marvin Planning Consultants, of David City, led the get-together, which included approximately a dozen area residents. MPC is working with the county’s planning and zoning team to update the local comprehensive plan. The townh...
Dear Editor: Summit Carbon Solutions, owned partially by a South Korean Company, is asking the Antelope County zoning board for a conditional use permit to grant permanent easements for a carbon pipeline. Concentrating CO2 into a pipeline under high pressure is a disaster waiting to happen. Multi-national corporations will profit through subsidies, depreciation and tax credits. The "Inflation Reduction Act" states the government will pay them up to $180 per metric ton. Depreciation on a $5.5 billion pipeline for an investor in the 50% tax brack...
The saga of Summit Carbon Solutions and its quest for a conditional use permit for a carbon pipeline, proposed to cross the northern tier of Antelope County will continue. At least for now. Following a public hearing, held Sept. 14, in Neligh, and after discussion amongst county planning and zoning commission members, a decision will wait until Oct. 5, when the group is scheduled to reconvene at 3 p.m. The proposed pipeline would transport CO2 emissions from ethanol plants in a five-state area...
A proposed carbon-capture pipeline, scheduled to cross Antelope and Holt counties, is an example of "environmentalism gone amok," according to an Iowa resident who addressed Antelope County Commissioners, May 9. Tammy Kobza, a Nebraska native who serves as a field representative for The John Birch Society, said Nebraskans can learn a lot about landowner rights and eminent domain by watching their eastern neighbors battle Summit Carbon Solutions. The Iowa-based company seeks to construct a...
With less than two weeks left in the session, the 108th Legislature is dragging an overburdened $12.975 billion budget to the finish line. Passing the budget is the only thing lawmakers are constitutionally required to accomplish. As introduced by the Appropriations Committee, the budget proposal would result in a projected ending balance of almost $715 million above the 3% required minimum reserve. This amount would be available to fund proposals pending before the Legislature this session....
Antelope County Commissioners listened to comments from opponents of a proposed carbon-capture pipeline earlier this month. Jane Kleeb, founder of Bold Nebraska, was scheduled to meet with Holt County Supervisors, Feb. 16, but a Central Nebraska snowstorm kept her from making the trek from her home in Hastings to O'Neill. Before Antelope County leaders, Kleeb outlined her organization's fight against the Keystone XL pipeline and how she worked with area landowners to protect property rights. She...
After sifting line by line through proposed zoning regulations, Holt County Supervisors approved changes for regulations regarding pipelines, carbon pipelines and wind energy. Proposed regulations for solar energy were sent back to the county's planning and zoning board for additional information during the Nov. 16 meeting. Pipeline regulations Proposed regulations update the definition of pipeline to include crude oil, tar sands and affluents. Per regulations, a pipeline will be "any pipe with...
A decision on proposed planning and zoning regulations in Holt County will wait until at least Nov. 16. That's the next time county supervisors will meet in regular session, at 9:45 a.m., at the courthouse in O'Neill. For more than two and one-half hours area residents presented testimony, covering carbon dioxide pipelines, solar farms and wind energy, during an Oct. 31 public hearing. At the conclusion, county lawmakers failed to advance a motion, by Doug Frahm, which would have accepted all...
The public had an opportunity to hear platforms of four candidates vying for the District 40 legislative seat, last Thursday, during a forum held in Plainview. Barry DeKay, of Niobrara; Robert Johnston, of Clearwater; Keith Kube, of Crofton and Mark Patefield, of Laurel participated in the 90-minute event. Farm Bureau sponsored the forum, which was moderated by Chad Moyer, of the Rural Radio Network. Candidates were given two minutes to respond to questions submitted by audience members. While...
After existing for 42 years, Holt County's comprehensive plan will be updated. But, a proposed 18-month moratorium on industrial pipelines, wind and solar power, will not be in effect while updates take place. Supervisors voted 6-0, Wednesday, March 16, to deny the moratorium, following a public hearing in O'Neill. The moratorium request came from the county's planning and zoning commision, which voted 6-2 in favor of the moratorium, March 7, following a two-hour public hearing. At that time, la...
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 Board of Adjustment members unanimously upheld a previous decision, made by county supervisors, to deny a pipeline application permit, until TC Energy agrees to follow proposed conditions. The decision was announced Thursday, when the board reconvened a meeting that started Oct. 30. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes. In February, Holt County supervisors voted to deny the permit, until conditions laid out by the county planning commission are met, noting TC Energy must have...
A decision on an appeal regarding TC Energy's application for a pipeline construction permit in Holt County will wait a little longer. Following nearly 3 and one-half hours of testimony by 60 individuals during a public hearing Oct. 29, at O'Neill's community center, the Holt County board of adjustment recessed until Thursday, Nov. 5, at 2 p.m. In February, Holt County supervisors voted to deny the permit, until conditions laid out by the county planning commission, are met. In denying the permi...
A Holt County supervisor recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference. Bill Tielke, chairman of the county supervisor board, was notified in January that he had been appointed to the association's Environment, Energy and Land Use Policy Steering Committee. The committee is responsible for matters pertaining to air, water, energy and land use – including such things as water resources/management; stormwater; pesticides; a...
June 30 retirement of longtime Antelope County clerk of the district court, Judy Cole was announced during the April 14 meeting of the Antelope County commissioners. The meeting was held via video conference, with commissioner Eli Jacob and chairman Charlie Henery present in the meeting room, along with clerk Lisa Payne. Commissioners Dean Smith, Regina Krebs and Carolyn Pedersen participated remotely via Zoom. Sheriff Bob Moore, county attorney Joe Abler, zoning administrator Liz Doerr and...
Aaron Boggs of Creighton, who has served as foreman of Antelope County's road department for about a year, was hired to head the department when the county commissioners met at the courthouse in Neligh on March 10. The commissioners entered closed session to consider applications, after an announcement by chairman Charlie Henery just before 11 a.m. "I have to leave by noon or so," he said. "So, we need to go into executive session to talk about personal employee stuff. We need a motion to do...
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...
Holt County citizens filled the county supervisors’ meeting room in the courthouse last Friday morning as the county leaders took care of business. Bryan Steskal of Steskal read a letter penned by his wife, Diana Steskal, who was unable to attend the meeting. In the letter, Steskal wrote the Holt County zoning board members denied TransCanada’s conditional use permit until two conditions are met, including one that requires obtaining easements. Many, she said will most likely be appealed. She also cited three federal court cases filed aga...
The final item of business handled by the Holt County supervisors last Thursday afternoon at the courthouse in O'Neill caused some disunity among the leaders. As the supervisors passed time waiting to address an agenda item regarding outside counsel to handle a road-haul agreement with TC Energy, the meeting room filled with about two dozen county residents, many who are facing eminent domain proceedings for pipeline right-of-way easements across their land. While three of those citizens, Bryan...
Seats in the Holt County supervisor’s chamber at the courthouse in O’Neill were all occupied and additional chairs were taken in, when the leaders met Monday. Many audience members voiced concerns, during the 10 minutes set aside for public comment, regarding TransCanada’s route across the county, as well as a new transmission line that will also cross the county. Diane Steskal of Stuart presented a letter to the supervisors, signed by herself and her husband, Byron Steskal, regarding the proposed Keystone XL pipeline route. She read the letter...
