Submitted by 

Mary Kay Schultejans, County Clerk

The Board of Nemaha County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, May 16, in the Commissioner’s Room of the Nemaha County Courthouse. The meeting was called to order with Chairman Dylan Keim leading the flag salute. Present also were Commissioners Jason Koch and Gary Scoby, and County Clerk Mary Kay Schultejans recording the minutes.

Audrey Schremmer with Three Rivers, Inc. came before the board to let the commissioners know what services this organization provides to local residents. This organization is requesting funding from the county in the amount of $1,200 for 2023.

Harold Schump came before the board to talk to the commissioners and Election Officer Schultejans about advance voting in Nemaha County.

Department Reports

Road and Bridge/Solid Waste Supervisor Adam Kuckelman, along with Secretary Kristina Talkington, advised the board that:

• Dust control is being put on today.

• The guys are still blade patching at this time.

• The cost of rock through Martin Marietta will be increasing by about 6 percent beginning July 1.

• The guys will be finishing up Bridge B-17, and will then move on to Bridge GK-1 (near 144th Road and Q Road).

• The price of diesel is high right now and the price to dump at Rolling Meadows recently increased again. Kuckelman stated he would like to increase the price to dump at the landfill. The board approved increasing the in-county cost to $65 a ton and the out-of-county cost to $75 a ton effective June 1.

Sheriff Rich Vernon advised the board that:

• He has moved Cassandra Beck to Dispatch Level 2 at $18.50 per hour, effective April 21.

• He has moved Dean Zartman to Dispatch Level 4 at $19.50 per hour, effective April 21.

• Lisa Copeland may be able to return from medical leave soon.

• There was a group protesting at the Sabetha High School graduation ceremony over this past weekend. Vernon stated that he had officers present at the ceremony.

Senior Services/Public Transit Director Tammy Epple and Administrative Assistant Marie Weaver came before the board.

• Epple let the commissioners know that they are ready to send out the needs assessment survey to local residents. The board authorized the payment of up to $2,500 for postage for the survey.

• Epple requested to purchase six tires through C&K Service for the Sabetha bus. The commissioners agreed to this request.

County Attorney Brad Lippert came before the board. He let the commissioners know that the letter and billing to NextEra Energy Resources concerning the Soldier Creek Wind Farm project will be sent out this afternoon. The commissioners advised Lippert that another letter and billing needs to be sent to NextEra Energy Resources in regards to the Irish Creek Wind Farm project.

Also at the meeting:

The board reviewed vouchers submitted by the different departments that were paid at the middle of May.

A 2023 budget request was submitted for the Four-County Budget of the 22nd Judicial District in the amount of $12,393.

The commissioners held a 15-minute executive session to discuss the discipline of non-elected personnel. Present for the executive session were the three commissioners and Kuckelman. The meeting returned to open session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The board held another 15-minute executive session to discuss the performance of non-elected personnel. Present for the executive session were the three commissioners, Kuckelman and Recycling Department employee Terry Cardwell. The board requested to extend the executive session for an additional five minutes. The meeting returned to open session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

County Treasurer Janell Niehues came before the board. She asked for an executive session with the commissioners. The board approved a 15-minute executive session to discuss the pay of non-elected personnel. Present for the executive session were the three commissioners, Niehues and Schultejans. The meeting returned to open session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The board reviewed and approved the minutes from the May 9 meeting.

The commissioners held a 10-minute executive session to discuss the performance of non-elected personnel. Present for the executive session were the three commissioners and Schultejans. The meeting returned to open session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The board left the meeting room to look at office space at the Courthouse and the Pioneer Building.

The next regularly scheduled meeting was held on Monday, May 23. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.