Submitted by Nicole Lee

County Clerk

The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in regular session on Monday, Oct. 12, with the following members present: Chairman Lucas Heinen, Commissioner Richard Tesoriero and Commissioner William Pollock. Also present was Brown County Clerk Nicole Lee. County Counselor Austin Parker was present for a portion of the meeting. Chairman Heinen opened the meeting at 1 p.m. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer led by Commissioner Heinen.

Department Reports

County Counselor Parker discussed the following topics with the commissioners: employee health insurance, truck routes, contract concerning detainees and Amberwell Hospital, and Noxious Weed spray contract.

Craig Jeshcke and Nate Schultejans were present to discuss a proposal for fall treatment of noxious weeds along county roadways. Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Roberts was also present.

Road and Bridge Superintendent Jerry Hisle was present to discuss his department’s two-week look-ahead and review the previous two-week look-ahead.

Nancy Gafford presented the Brown-Nemaha Solid Waste Management Review report from the Aug. 6 meeting held in Sabetha. Topics discussed were household hazardous waste process, wood pallet disposal and e-waste flyers. The commissioners accepted the 2026 Solid Waste Management annual review as presented.

The commission was presented with the following five Internal Property Use Agreements from the Extension Office for use of the courthouse outside normal business hours:

• Extension Annual Meeting – Nov. 2 at 6 p.m.

• Annual 4-H Foundation Meeting – Nov. 10 at 6:30 p.m.

• Annual 4-H Council Meeting – Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.

• December Fair Board Meeting – Dec. 14 at 6 p.m.

• Extension Joint Board Meeting – Jan. 6, 2027, at 7 p.m.

The board agreed to approve the five agreements.

Also at the meeting:

The commission approved the Oct. 5 meeting minutes with one correction.

The board approved the motion to authorize the County Counselor to file a petition for the disposal of impounded vehicles no longer needed as evidence, in accordance with applicable state statutes.

The commission recessed into a five-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing compensation of non-elected personnel, to protect the privacy interests of the employees. Parker and Lee remained present. The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken following the executive session.

The board recessed into another five-minute executive session for the purpose of discussing compensation of non-elected personnel, to protect the privacy interests of the employees. Parker and Lee remained present, and Interim Appraiser Kerri Koch participated by phone. The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken following the executive session.

The commissioners agreed to amend the compensation of Interim Appraiser Koch to $7 per parcel, equivalent to $61,355 annually, for 20 hours per week through December 2026, pending approval of a Memorandum of Understanding between Brown County and Nemaha County.

The commissioners approved the Rescue Squad Medical Clearance and Return-To-Duty Policy with the addition of the word “significant.”

The board agreed to set a special meeting for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, for the purpose of receiving a noxious weed fall treatment proposal.

The commission recessed into a 10-minute executive session for the purpose of interviewing an applicant for a Road and Bridge Crewman, to protect the privacy interests of non-elected personnel. Road and Bridge Superintendent Hisle, Lee and the applicant remained. The meeting returned to regular session with no action taken following the executive session.

The commissioners agreed to hire Bryan Ptomey as a full-time Road Crewman at $24 per hour with a tentative start date of Monday, Nov. 2.

Benefits Consultant Greg Watkins was present to discuss 2027 Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance renewal and other options for the county. Consultant Jessica Hawkins was present via Zoom.

The commissioners approved the Oct. 12 claims as follows: General, $42,309.31; Road and Bridge, $20,068.10; Employee Benefits, $130.10; Election, $17.29; Appraiser, $132.10; Noxious Weed, $46.46; Diversion, $942.23; 911 SB50, $50; CCR, $324.06; ACC, $6,074.52; JJCR, $8,080.43; Services for Elderly, $107.46; and Solid Waste, $11,355.28. The total was $89,637.34.

The board approved accounts payable.

The next regular meeting was held on Monday, Oct. 19. These minutes were not available at The Herald’s press time.

October 14 Special Meeting

The Board of Brown County Commissioners met in a special session with the following members present: Chairman Heinen, Commissioner Tesoriero and Commissioner Pollock. Also present were County Clerk Lee, Emergency Management Coordinator Brandon Roberts, Craig Jeshcke, and Nate Schultejans. Chairman Heinen opened the meeting at 1 p.m. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer led by Commissioner Heinen.

Schultejans presented the commission with a Roadside Noxious Weed Control Contract for fall 2026. The contract covers approximately 76 road miles at a cost of $4,500. The designated area, as shown on Exhibit A (Brown County Road Map), will be treated during the contract period of Oct. 14 through Nov. 14.

The board approved the Roadside Noxious Weed Control Contract with Schultejans for approximately 76 road miles at a cost of $4,500.