Lack of second stalls Holt County motion

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 to the agenda late last week.

Boshart, of O’Neill, said some of the county’s townships are well-run. Others, not so much.

He told fellow supervisors that of Nebraska’s 93 counties, only 23 still rely on townships, while the remainder have switched to the commissioner model.

“Whether in favor or not, everybody deserves a say, that’s why I say put it on the ballot,” Boshart said. “Whatever the people decide, I’m fine with.”

Concerns about townships ranged from a shortfall of funding to a lack people available or willing to serve on township boards.

“There’s probably five townships that have, oh what I’d say, doing a great job, doing their own work. There might be more, I might be missing some,” he said. “One township didn’t get their bills (turned) in to FEMA, because one township member didn’t do his job. So the county ends up paying for that, so all the rest of the county ends up paying for that township’s mistakes ... Is the township system working when the county ends up doing the work?”

Boshart opined, “I guess if you don’t want to put it on the ballot, I would think you’re for voter suppression.”

Supervisor Doug Frahm, of Amelia, said he “wholeheartedly” disagreed with Boshart’s assessment.

“I think you’re exaggerating the problem immensely,” Frahm said. “I know we have a lot of good townships. We have a lot of townships that want to stay townships.”

He asked if representation would decrease from a seven-member to a five-member board if the county were to switch to a commissioner system.

Chairman Bill Tielke said representatives from the Nebraska Association of County Officials clarified representation could remain at seven members.

“I want to know first before we even think about a vote. We need to bring in each and every township before this board and see what they think. Right now, we’re listening to one guy say we have thousands of problems ... but there’s other ways to go about it,” Frahm said.

Supervisor Don Butterfield, of Atkinson, agreed.

“O’Neill and Atkinson, the towns, have the biggest majority. It’s not going to be a fair vote for the country people,” he said.

“So you’re going to decide for the people in the town. You don’t want to have them vote because they don’t know what they’re doing or they’re too dumb,” Boshart said.

“I never said that,” Butterfield responded. “I just said the people in the country are going to be outvoted by the townspeople because there’s more people in town.”

Boshart replied townspeople pay more in taxes, which drew laughs from individuals in the audience.

Tielke said when other counties have made the switch, officials have held town hall meetings so “everyone can have a say so.”

Supervisors joined a conference call with NACO executive director Larry Dix, deputy director Jon Cannon and Beth Ferrell, legal counsel, to receive answers to questions about a potential switch.

Dix clarified that ballot language would determine if the county could maintain a seven-member board.

Road maintenance was an expressed concern. Butterfield asked about the number of township miles and road upkeep, while Tielke questioned how often roads are maintained if the township system is abandoned.

Dix said it’s a county-by-county practice.

Tielke responded, “Some think every road will be like mail routes. Well, every road is not done like the mail routes. There isn’t enough money ... The cost to take these roads that haven’t been maintained very well all these years, there is no way to calculate the cost.”

Dix said that decision would be the responsibility of the political subdivision.

Holt County Attorney Brent Kelly said switching to a commissioner form would have consequences, especially when it comes to employment questions, including benefits.

Kelly asked NACO officials if the county could maintain townships that are working well and piecemeal those that aren’t.

Dix said a ballot initiative is either all or none. Some townships dissolve on their own, though, due to a lack of leadership.

“It’s the nature of evolution,” he said. At that point, a second set of state statutes outlines procedures.

At that point, the county can take over maintenance of roads and the county can levy taxpayers for costs for employees.

“Once you get to a certain level of townships that have dissolved, then it automatically goes to the ballot,” Dix said.

Kelly said his interpretation of state statue is once 50% of townships dissolve, the county board must place the measure on the ballot.

“What number do you start from?” Kelly asked. “If we started with 37 (townships), is that the number?”

Yes, according to Dix.

Boshart asked how it’s possible for townships to make the decision to dissolve.

Ferrel said the process can begin if a township board becomes inactive, if two or more positions on the township board cannot be filled and the county has not been able to fill the board for six months.

Butterfield queried if townships can be absorbed into a neighboring township.

Dix said he believes that has happened but isn’t a common practice.

Boshart called for a straw poll.

Frahm said it appeared other options exist and need to be explored.

“We know we have a board member who is going to be gone in January. We’ve had townships for a lot of years. Why throw it in the bucket just because you’re going to be gone? I’m not in any big hurry,” he said.

Discussion on a potential switch surfaces every election year, according to Tielke.

“It’s not a new idea.”

Boshart made a motion to place on the ballot a resolution for dissolution of townships and to remain a seven-member board.

Fellow supervisors sat silently before Tielke said the motion died due to lack of a second.