Holt County Supervisors deny perpetual easement

Holt County Supervisors voted unanimously to deny a perpetual easement application for Graham Crowe Ranch, LLC, during its March 16 meeting.

Supervisor Doug Frahm was absent.

After a Feb. 28 public hearing, supervisors voted to table a decision until the 16th.

Prior to the vote, landowner Les Graham told supervisors, “I guess it’s one of those deals we feel we have the right to do it and it would be good for our ranch. I guess it’s up to you guys to make the decision whether we have the right to do it or not.”

Supervisor Don Butterfield asked chairman Bill Tielke what options the board had.

“Accept or deny or postpone it for two weeks,” Tielke said. “If you’ve thought and got your minds made up, then let’s move on. If you’ve got considerations or aren’t sure, I guess I would rather see it put off for two weeks. This is a big consequential deal.”

Tielke asked Dave Sands, director of Nebraska Land Trust, if supervisors are bound by a time limit.

“There’s only a time limit on the planning commission. They have 60 days to decide,” Sands said.

Supervisor Darrin Paxton said, “It’s with that perpetual clause in these easements, that’s what I’m stumbling on. perpetuity is just something I don’t know would be something for the county to have to deal with down the road.”

Butterfield made a motion to deny the easement. Paxton seconded the motion.