Submitted by

Mary Kay Schultejans

County Clerk

The Board of Nemaha County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Oct. 30, in the Commissioner’s Room of the Nemaha County Courthouse. The meeting was called to order with Chairman Jason Koch leading the flag salute. Present also were commissioners Ben Glace and Dylan Keim, County Administrator Mike Miller, and County Clerk Mary Kay Schultejans recording the minutes. Pastor Curtis Knapp led those present in an opening prayer to begin the meeting.

Department Reports

Miller shared a proposed letter with the commissioners in response to the Jackson County Commission letter regarding the four-lane expansion of U.S. Highway 75 north of Holton. The board signed the letter of support as presented.

Road and Bridge/Solid Waste Supervisor Adam Kuckelman, along with Office Manager Kathy Haverkamp, advised the board that:

• The guys are still hauling chips at this time.

• He received a letter from Hamm’s, stating that their prices will be increasing by 13 percent at the beginning of 2024.

• The bridge guys are still working on Bridge R-38 at this time.

• The State of Kansas is offering $25,000 to the county for use of county roads to detour a closing on Kansas Highway 9 and V Road beginning after the first of the year to replace a box bridge. The board advised Kuckelman to try to negotiate more than $25,000 from the State if possible.

• He needed a signature on the paperwork for the replacement of Bridge 0-14, which is being replaced by the State on an 80/20 grant. The commissioners approved entering into an agreement with BG Consultants for engineering of Bridge 0-14 in the amount of $63,300. Chairman Koch signed the paperwork as presented.

• He received a right of way easement request from Rural Water District No. 3 for the location of 120th Road and J Road. The commissioners moved to approve the right of way easement request with Rural Water District No. 3. The board signed the request form as presented.

• He has decided not to sell the fork lift on the upcoming Big Iron sale at this time.

Deb Henry and Neal Haverkamp with the Nemaha County Fair Board came before the board to speak to the commissioners about replacing the horse barn at the Nemaha County Fair Grounds.

Discussion was held concerning the county acquiring land from the City of Seneca, so that the county owns all of the property where the fair activities take place. The Fair Board would pay for the cost of the new building, but would ask the county to provide the land and the utilities for the building. The commissioners advised that they are supportive of this plan at this time, but would ask that they keep them updated on the progress of the new building.

County Attorney Brad Lippert came before the board. Lippert requested an executive session with the commissioners. The board held a 10-minute executive session for attorney-client privileges. Present for the executive session were the Board of Commissioners and Attorney Lippert. No action taken by the board following the executive session.

Senior Services/Public Transit Director Tammy Epple came before the board to present to the commissioners her estimated fiscal year 2025 budget for the Transportation Department. Following discussion, the commissioners approved the estimated county grant match for 2025 in an amount not to exceed $97,725.

Also at the meeting:

The board reviewed and approved the minutes from the Oct. 23 meeting.

No one came before the board to speak during today’s open public forum.

Commissioner Glace left the meeting at 9:30 am.

The board reviewed vouchers submitted by the different departments to be paid on Oct. 31. The commissioners approved the warrants and pay vouchers to be paid on Oct. 31 as presented.

The board called and spoke to Glace by phone about the proposal letter for the City of Seneca regarding the Fitness Court. The commissioners approved the letter with a pledge for the Fitness Court in the amount of $2,500 from Nemaha County. This amount is to be paid out of the county’s Parks and Recreation Fund.

The next regularly scheduled meeting was held Monday, Nov. 6. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.