Submitted by Nicole Lee

County Clerk

The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Sept. 21, with the following members present: Chairman Lucas Heinen, Commissioner Richard Tesoriero and Commissioner William Pollock. Also present was Brown County Clerk Nicole Lee. Chairman Heinen opened the meeting at 1 p.m. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer led by Commissioner Pollock.

Department Reports

The commission discussed with Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Roberts the required Noxious Weed certification, the process of a voucher system, and possible contracting for required spraying.

The board recessed into a 10-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing the duties and compensation of non-elected personnel, to protect the privacy interests of the employee. Roberts and Lee remained present. The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The commissioners agreed to appoint Roberts as Noxious Weed Director effective Nov. 9, for approximately 16 hours per week. This will make Roberts a full-time employee with duties as Emergency Management Coordinator and Noxious Weed Director.

Treasurer Betty Spiker was present to discuss a $15,000 payment received with no instruction on what delinquent accounts to distribute to. Spiker stated that she would apply the payment in the same manner as other payments received, first to the delinquent personal property balances and then to other delinquent real estate parcels.

Treasurer Spiker requested a 10-minute non-elected personnel executive session. The board recessed into a 10-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing the duties and compensation of non-elected personnel, to protect the privacy interests of the employees. Spiker and Lee remained present. The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The commissioners approved an updated Salary and Wage Scale for the Treasurer’s Department, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

Also at the meeting:

The board approved the Sept. 14 meeting minutes as presented.

The board approved the Sept. 16 payroll as follows: General, $102,953.16; Road and Bridge, $13,226.52; Technology, $400.50; Appraiser, $11,022.88; Noxious Weed, $5,169.51; ACC, $15,360.82; JJA Core, $14,158.18; Services for Elderly, $3,264.50; Solid Waste, $6,263.16; Special MVT, $5,200.27; Employee Benefit FICA, $10,941.45; and Employee Benefit KPERS, $14,017.41. After State Unemployment and Worker’s Compensation of $198.93 and Insurance of $12,403.57 were taken out, the total was $189,375.86.

The following bid was received for the 1993 Case 580SK backhoe: Jerry Hisle Jr. — $5,060. The board agreed to accept the bid of $5,060 from Jerry Hisle Jr. on the 1993 Case 580SK backhoe.

The commissioners recessed into a 10-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing non-elected personnel matters to interview an applicant and discuss potential wages and terms of employment, to protect the privacy interests of the applicant. Nemaha County Appraiser Kerri Koch and Lee remained present. The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The board agreed to extend the executive session for an additional 10 minutes The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The board agreed again to extend the executive session for an additional 10 minutes The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken by the board following the executive session.

The commission agreed to hire Koch as the part-time Interim Brown County Appraiser effective Sept. 21, at an annual salary of $61,355 (approximately 8,765 parcels at $7 per parcel), with no benefits except for KPERS and with conference, lodging, and education costs split evenly with Nemaha County.

The board agreed to adopt Resolution 2026-22 appointing Koch as Interim Brown County Appraiser.

The board agreed to sign the contract for the guardian ad litem attorney flat fee services of Elizabeth Olson for $3,250 per month effective Jan. 1, 2027.

The board agreed to sign the contract with Judd L. Herbster for flat fee for legal services of $4,000 per month, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

The board also agreed to sign the contract with attorney Michael W. Riley for flat fee legal services of $4,000 per month, effective Jan. 1, 2027.

The commissioners were presented with notice from the City of Sabetha of an Oct. 5 public hearing regarding a proposed property tax exemption for Triple C Manufacturing, Inc.

The board agreed to amend the original Property Use Agreement from Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau for the Maple Leaf Festival to allow vendors use of the Courthouse restrooms from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The next regular meeting was held Wednesday, Sept. 30. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.