Weed concerns, road closures discussed during commissioners meeting

Antelope County Commissioners tackled multiple agenda items when they met in regular session, Aug. 2, in Neligh.

One promotional and one improvement grant request were approved. A promotional grant request for $242.50 was received from the Orchard Community Club. Funds were used for Orchard Free Celebration Days. Commissioner Eli Jacob moved to accept the request; commissioner Dean Smith made the second. All voted in favor.

The second grant request was an improvement grant for $1,750 from Oakdale,for the purchase of a new sign along Highway 275. Jacob made the motion to accept the improvement grant, with commissioner Carolyn Pedersen seconding the motion.

Antelope County Weed Superintendent Bryan Cornett approached about a landowner who has been asked to control leafy spurge. To date, nothing has been done about it.

Cornett consulted with county attorney Joe Abler, who said to issue a 15-day notice to the property owner, giving him 15 days to take care of the weeds. Failure to complay will result in charges for violating state ordinance and state law.

Cornett said the landowner could be fined up to $1,500.

According to the superintendent, other counties give a 15-day notice, followed by an inspection. If nothing has changed, the county will issue a 10-day notice. Then, if nothing is done, the county can hire someone to go in and control the weed. Commissioners agreed with Cornett, but no action was taken.

Jackie Duncan, a First Net consultant from AT&T, approached the board about testing the First Net telephone service in the county. Aaron Boggs, county road superintendent said the demo version was “great and his crew had service in several spots in the county that normally would not have had service.”

Duncan explained First Net partners with U.S. Cellular and Viaro by using their towers; they do not use their signal though. First Net was built by the federal government for first responders and is intended to enhance public safety by separating essential workers from general consumers in the case of an emergency.

“Just in simple terms, it’s a national broadband wireless network for public safety to use… it lets public safety communicate,” Duncan stated.

Commissioners decided they would speak with Boggs and other department heads to determine how to proceed.

Highway Superintendent Brian McDonald approached the board about the $0 change order for Ashfall bridge.

A hearing date was set for Tues., Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. for the right-of-way/road closure on 515th Ave., between section 35/36, in the Stanton Township.

Bids were opened for the FEMA mitigation on the Koinzan Road to protect the embankment. The bid was awarded, pending review of numbers, to John Prouty Construction, of O’Neill, who bid of $170,546.80. The project start date was set for Monday, Sept. 5.

Boggs informed the board and the public the county had planned on conducting work on 524 Avenue but realized the project is “too big.” Boggs said culverts are located in Oakdale, but it may be better to bid the project.

Smith asked for input from people in attendance.

An audience member, Duane Kerkman said, “It was approved over four years ago and nothing’s been done, just want to know why … it was voted on, it got approved - in fact, some of you even voted yes on it and to this day yet there’s just nothing getting done.”

Kerkman mentioned commissioners approved the work on May 8, 2018.

“But if it would have been done in 2018, it would have probably been done for a third (of the cost) when it got approved,” Kerkman said.

Charlie Henery replied, “Ya, but it didn’t.”

Kerkman asked, “Why are some taxpayers supposed to suffer for something not getting done?”

Henery answered, “Well, all taxpayers.”

According to proceedings from the May 8, 2018 meeting, “524th Avenue: Reclassify as a Minimum Maintenance Road. Recent weeks and meetings have lead (sic) to the discussion of a portion of 524th Ave. be reclassified as a minimum maintenance road. As discussed last week, Brian McDonald, highway superintendent would like to keep the ball rolling on the reclassification of this road.”

From those same meeting minutes, Henery made the motion and Jacob seconded the motion, to approve the resolution for the Nebraska Board of Classifications and Standards to consider changing the status of said 524th Avenue.

No decision was made, but the next step will be to see if the local dirt can be certified to use.

Commissioners decided to hold a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at 8 a.m., to allow offices time to share budgets.

The final discussion held covered road superintendent and foreman’s wages. Commissioners could not make a decision if executive session was necessary for the discussion of the county’s road superintendent and foreman’s wages.

County clerk, Lisa Payne, called Abler for his input when he had Payne read the Open Meetings Act.

Commissioners came to the conclusion to form a committee of two, consisting of Krebs and Smith, to conduct performance reviews on all county employees who serve directly under the board. Jacob made the motion and Pedersen seconded the motion, with all commissioners voting in favor.