Chairman Burke called the meeting to order in the Board Room, second floor of the County Courthouse, 515 Box Butte Ave., Ste 202, Alliance, NE at 9:00 a.m., May 21, 2025, following an opening prayer. Notice of meeting was published May 7, 2025, in the Alliance Times Herald. Affidavit of publication has been received in the office of the County Clerk. Agenda was emailed and posted on the county’s website: boxbuttecountyne.gov, May 20, 2025. Roll call: Mike Sautter, present; Brett Ditsch, present; Steve Burke, present. Martie Burke, County Clerk, recorded the proceedings of the meeting. County Attorney Marissa Curtiss was present. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Chairperson Burke acknowledged that this meeting will follow the open meeting act posted on the North wall of the County Board Room. Ditsch moved to accept the Consent Calendar, seconded by Burke. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. The Consent Calendar included the following items: Agenda – May 21, 2025; Minutes – May 7, 2025; Claims; Elected Officials and Office Reports – Sheriff and Zoning; Correspondence. No public comment on the agenda items (9:05 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.). Commissioners reported on meetings they had recently attended and upcoming meetings. Burke moved to open BOARD OF EQUALIZATION at 9:15 a.m., seconded by Ditsch. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Burke moved to accept the Application for Exemption Form 457 for Senior Services, Inc. presented by Treasurer Valery Bell, seconded by Sautter. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Sautter moved to close BOARD OF EQUALIZATION at 9:18 a.m., seconded by Ditsch. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Road Superintendent Barb Keegan provided a road and equipment report. The Commissioners asked Keegan to move forward with the Red Beard Garage and Towing estimate in the amount of $35,640.95 for work on the 2006 International. Burke moved to declare the 2008 Ford F150 surplus to be sold through Purple Wave, seconded by Sautter. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Burke moved to sign the CR71 Culvert Project Agreement 2025-05, seconded by Sautter. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Burke moved to approve and sign the Grant County Veteran Services Interlocal Agreement 2025-04, seconded by Sautter. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Building and Grounds employee, Lori White, provided an elevator update. Innovative plumbers conducted an elevator sump pump test into the drain identified by Berggren Architects that resulted in the flooding of the basement, as the “drain” was actually a pit. Fuller Construction will provide options at the next progress meeting. USDA Wildlife Specialist Tim Brewer and State Wildlife Services Director Ryan Powers discussed wildlife services provided to the County with a focus on prairie dogs and aerial. No action taken. During the 2025-2026 budget discussion, the Commissioners would like to limit overall budget increases to 4.5% or less which includes a 5% increase in wages for all non-elected officials. Sautter moved to go out for RFP to update the current Zoning regulations to reflect the new components of the updated Comprehensive Plan due in the Clerk’s office by no later than 4:00 p.m. on July 14, 2025, seconded by Burke. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. Burke moved to table the RCI Administrative Agreement 2025-06 until the complete agreement is presented to include Exhibit A, seconded by Sautter. Sautter, yes; Ditsch, yes; Burke, yes. Motion carried. With all agenda items addressed, Chairman Burke adjourned at 11:17 a.m.
/s/ Martie Burke, Box Butte County Clerk Complete minutes, resolutions and agreements are on file in the office of the County Clerk, available for public inspections during regular business hours.
Publish: June 11, 2025
ZNEZ