The Brown County Commissioners met on March 2nd in the Brown County Courthouse for their regular semi-monthly meeting.
Budget Preparation
Caleb Johnson met with the Commissioners to discuss upcoming budget preparation services.
Johnson went over several items with the Commissioners regarding budget preparation, such as time frame and resolutions.
Johnson told the Commissioners his firm was raising the cost of budget preparation from $3,000.00 per year to $3,200.00 per year and offered a two year contract at the increased price.
Johnson said the price would be firm unless there is a major legislation change by Nebraska. It there were major changes he said he would contact the Commissioners to inform them of a potential increase in price.
The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a two year agreement for budget preparation.
Road Abandonment
The Commissioners approved two resolutions for abandoning two roads in Hidden Paradise.
The first resolution abandoned a portion of Trout Road.
The second resolution abandoned a road located on property in Hidden Paradise. The road was never developed.
Road Department
Brown County Highway Superintendent Kenny Turpin gave the Commissioners a report on work performed by the road department since the last Commissioners’ meeting.
Turpin said the crews have been grading roads, hauling magnesium clay to Raven Road, building autogates and raising two roads north of Ainsworth where water was about to run over the roads.
One & Six Year Road Plan
Turpin presented the One & Six Year Road Plan to the Commissioners.
Turpin said with the flooding of 2019, there hasn’t been much accomplished on the One & Six Year Road Plan. Only four projects were completed this past year.
There are currently 46 projects on the One & Six Year Road Plan.
One of the projects calls for overlaying Meadville Avenue with asphalt. It is broken into three 2.5 mile sections at a cost of over $1 million dollars each.
Commissioner Dennis Bauer said with interest rates for bonds at .5% it may be a good time to resurface Meadville Avenue with asphalt instead of patching and armor coating the road.
“It is worth at least looking into it,” said Bauer. “It’s one of the most heavily traveled roads in the county.”
Turpin said that traffic studies conducted show 300 to 400 vehicles per day use Meadville Avenue.
Commissioner Reagan Wiebelhaus agreed Meadville Avenue needs work, but the Hospital bond won’t end until December 2025 and having two bond issues for four years would be an overburden on taxpayers.
Commissioner Buddy Small said it doesn’t cost anything to ask and the Commissioners agreed to discuss potential bond rates with DA Davison at the next meeting.
The Commissioners approved the One & Six Year Road Plan.
Wages
The Commissioners discussed combining future cost of living raises and merit raises so they are done at the same time.
Bauer said most companies and organization don’t do both. He said the Commissioners could look at the cost of living and roll it in with a merit raise and do it once a year.
Weibelhaus said the Commissioners split the two raises several years ago to recognize employees that do an exceptional job.
Weibelhaus said the county has a maximum wage cap and if an employee reaches that point, the only raise they could receive is the cost of living increase.
Cares Act Reimbursement
Trave Hobbs reported to the Commissioners about the reimbursement from the Cares Act for deputies, dispatchers and ambulance. The general fund received $138,643.25 and the ambulance fund received $6,558.00.
Region 24 Emergency Management Mitigation Plan
The Commissioners agreed to pay Brown County’s $3,083.33 portion of the Region 24 Emergency Management Mitigation Plan.
The Commissioners have moved to withdraw from the Region 24 Emergency Management Agency effective at the end of June 2021. However, the Commissioners had previously agreed to the mitigation plan and agreed to pay their portion. The total plan cost is $74,000.00 with a large portion paid by grant funds.
Small said Cherry County is also leaving the Region 24 Emergency Management Agency and has agreed to pay their portion of the mitigation plan.
The next regular meeting of the Brown County Commissioners will be March 16th at 5:15 p.m. in the Brown County Courthouse.
