**This is a condensed version of the Banner County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes. These minutes are not the official/approved version. A draft/unapproved copy of the Banner County Board of Commissioner meeting minutes is available for public viewing 10 days post meeting date at the Banner County Clerk’s office. For a complete and/or approved version of the Banner County Board of Commissioner meeting minutes, please contact Katie West, Banner County Clerk, during regular business hours.**
**Please view all 2024 Resolutions under the Resolutions 2024 tab on this website.
BANNER COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS
The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, April 16, 2024 at 4:45 p.m. in the courtroom of the Banner County Courthouse.
Notice of the meeting was published in the Western Nebraska Observer. A copy of proof of publication is on file in the office of the Banner County Clerk. Meeting notices posted in Harrisburg, Nebraska at: Post Office, Banner County School, and the Banner County Courthouse.
The agenda for the meeting was kept current and was available during the regular business hours at the office of the Banner County Clerk. A copy was emailed to each board member on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Chairperson Darnall called meeting called to order at 4:46 p.m.
Clerk West took roll call, showing all Board members present.
Chairperson Darnall announced a copy of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in the back of the courtroom by the entrance.
Lease led prayer.
Pledge of Allegiance was said.
Consent Agenda:
Approval of Agenda: Motion by Anderson to approve agenda. Second by Darnall. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Adopt April 2, 2024 Minutes: Motion by Lease to adopt April 2, 2024 minutes. Second by Anderson. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall no; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Correspondence:
Men’s Health Month: Anderson read proclamation acknowledging May as Men’s Health Month.
4th Annual Tyler Vanderheiden Memorial Run/Walk: Clerk West will display the poster in support of the Tyler Vanderheiden memorial run/walk to be held in North Platte, NE May 25, 2024.
Nebraska Intergovernmental Risk Management (NIRMA): Lease asked Clerk West to update Shawna Lammers with NIRMA on the equipment list for Banner County insurance certificates.
Claims: Motion by Anderson to approve claims as presented. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
General: A & A Porta Potties $150.00 - porta potties; Banner County Court $68.00 - county court fees; Banner County District Court $36.00 - district court fees; Bytes $2,249.00 - information technology; Department of Administrative Services (DAS) $150.00 - data processing; Eakes $479.26 - office supplies; Ellison, Kovarik, & Turman $2,164.28 - attorney fees; Gering Valley Plumbing & Heating $495.00 - shop bathroom; High West Energy $482.95 - lights; Hullinger Lock $417.00 - door lock; Ideal Linen $98.88 - janitorial supplies; Jean Bauer $150.00 - training; Level 3 $771.47 - internet; Menards $73.14 - shop bathroom; Multi-County Information and Programming Services (MIPS) $1,628.66 - data processing; Natural Resources District (NRD) $40.62 - water; Panhandle District Association $350.00 - dues; Quadient $166.52 - postage; Scottsbluff Detention Center $3,060.00 - prisoner boarding; Region 22 Emergency Management $2,321.65 - civil defense; Scottsbluff Treasurer $25.00 - postage; Leonard Tabor $96.00 - attorney fees; United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) $1,931.34 - predatory animal control; Western Nebraska Observer $572.99 - advertising; Holiday Inn $290.62 - weed superintendent training.
Sheriff: Al’s Towing $300.00 - tow; Department of Administrative Services (DAS) $22.00 - data processing.
Roads: Vistabeam $87.95 - internet; Verizon $233.10 - GPS trackers; Power Plan $1,254.61 - oil and repair parts; Panhandle Co-op $5,117.80 - grease, oil, and fuel; Natural Resources District $33.72 - water; Kimball Auto $561.16 - shop supplies; Ideal Linen $27.76 - janitorial supplies; Hullinger Glass $8.25 - keys; High West Energy $326.00 - lights.
Public Comments: None
Items of Business Before the Board:
Surveyor Report: Carl Gilbert reported plans to start surveying this week with the corner rehabilitation contract with Nebraska Department of Transportation. This contract was signed last year by the Board. Project will start on highway 88 east and end in Harrisburg, to include all section corners and quarter corners along the highway. Board approved last fall for Gilbert to contract separately with a wind farm company for surveying. It is a different wind farm company now, this one is out of Iowa , the last one was out of Denver. Resolution is still in place, and new wind farm company is willing to pay Gilbert for surveying services. Gilbert will try and catch surveying work that needs done for Banner County while on the west side of the county.
Lumen County Road Permit: Tim Grubbs stated permits with Lumen will expire regarding installing the fiber optics cable. Lumen would like to extend the dates on the permits to finish the project. Estimation to finish is July 2024 and permits currently expire end of April 2024. Discussion. Grubbs will contact Lumen and have an extension for the permits put in place.
Appoint Interim Road Foreman: Motion by Anderson to table the appointment of interim road foreman until May 7, 2024 Board meeting. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Mental Health Month Proclamation: Anderson read May Mental Health Month Proclamation. Motion by Anderson to make May mental health month. Second by Lease. Darnall suggested the safety committee put together a training in May for all county employees, stressing the importance of mental health in all employees. Lease suggested checking with NIRMA. Anderson will check with Region 1 Behavioral Health. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Advertise Road Department Operators: Anderson suggested advertising to hire equipment operators. Commissioners will interview. Motion by Anderson to authorize Mossberg to run an advertisement for equipment operator position for Banner County Road Department at $17/hour with benefits in the Western Nebraska Observer and online with Indeed. Second by Lease. Roll call vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
Commissioner Report: Darnall updated the county on the emergency management with the recent blizzard. For this blizzard, an emergency operations center (EOC) was set up in Scottsbluff. Darnall was not contacted to respond to the EOC as specified in the Local Emergency Operations Plan. Darnall explained how a response should be activated in a disaster situation. Darnall reassured everyone that Banner County will not be overlooked again. Senator Brian Hardin contacted Darnall shortly after the blizzard asking what he could do to help Banner County. Darnall also stated the Banner County Courthouse is the EOC for a disaster in Banner County and is also considered a tornado shelter. West suggested asking Banner County School students in need of community service hours to help clean the basement to prepare it for a shelter. Darnall will continue to work with Region 22 Emergency Management to ensure the emergency plans for Banner County are followed next time. Darnall reported the Scottsbluff Planning and Zoning Commission approved the special use permit on April 19, 2024 for the solar panel project in Scottsbluff County. Scottsbluff County Commissioners will meet on May 9, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. to approve or deny the special use permit for the solar panel project.
Adjournment: Motion by Lease to adjourn at 5:45 p.m. Second by Anderson. Roll cal vote: Lease yes; Darnall yes; Anderson yes. Motion carried.
The next regular meeting will be held May 7, 2024 at 8:45 a.m. or at the call of the Clerk. An agenda of the matters to be considered at such date and time is kept continually current and is available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Banner County Clerk in the Courthouse in Harrisburg, Nebraska.
