HITCHCOCK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TRENTON, NEBRASKA AUGUST 18TH, 2025
HITCHCOCK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TRENTON, NEBRASKA AUGUST 18TH, 2025
A meeting of the County Board of Commissioners of Hitchcock County, Nebraska was held at the Hitchcock County Courthouse Commissioner’s Room, 229 East D Street, Trenton, Nebraska on Monday the 18th day of August 2025 commencing at 9:00 o’clock a.m. Present were Chair Paul Nichols, Commissioner Christopher Baker and County Clerk Margaret Pollmann. Commissioner Ron Wertz was absent due to a family emergency. Notice of the meeting was given in advance thereof by publication on August 14th, 2025 in Scoop Media News, the designated method for giving notice. Board agendas are posted on the County’s website www.hitchcockcounty.ne.gov. Notice of the meeting was given to the Chair and all members of the Board. All proceedings hereafter shown were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public. The Open Meetings Act was available for review and Chair indicated the location of such copy in the room where the meeting was being held. Chair Nichols called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. Member Nichols moved to approve the consent agenda consisting of the following items: Approval of the August 18th, 2025 agenda and approval of the August 4th, 2025 meeting minutes. Member Baker seconded the motion and after consideration a roll call vote was had as follows: Nichols, Yes; Wertz, Absent; Baker, Yes. Motion carried. Member Baker moved to approve the following claims. Member Nichols seconded the motion and after consideration a roll call vote was had as follows: Baker, Yes; Nichols, Yes; Wertz, Absent. Motion carried.
GENERAL FUND:
General Fund Payroll – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$53,424.14
Baliegh Abbott, – – – – – – – – – – – -mileage/communications – – – – – – – -$127.80
Quality Farm & Ranch Center, – – – – – – – -supply – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$91.98
AFLAC, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -suppl. ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – -$920.43
Applied Connective Technologies, – – – -IT services – – – – – – – – – – -$3,070.45
BC&BS, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -dental ins. – – – – – – – – – – – -$1,581.55
BC&BS, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -health ins. – – – – – – – – – – -$28,181.63
Clerk, District Court, – – – – – – – – – – – – – -adv. costs – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$36.00
Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., – – – – -suppl. ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – -$336.02
Community 1st Bank, – – – – – – – – – – -FICA/OASI/Fed. – – – – – – – – -$17,481.81
Kimberly Cook, – – – – – – – – – – – -mileage/communications – – – – – – – -$221.60
Curbs & All, LLC, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -lawn care – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$650.00
CVSOAN, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -registration – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$60.00
Adreanna Dunn, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -mileage – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$380.10
Eakes Office Solutions, – – – – – – – – – – – – – -supply – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$104.04
Farmers Coop Grain & Supply, – – – – – – – – -fuel – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$1,719.19
Fresh Foods, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -supply – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$343.99
Goodwin Siegfried, LLC, – – – – – – – – -ct. appt. counsel – – – – – – – – – – -$187.50
Great Plains Communications, – – – – – – – -service – – – – – – – – – – – – -$1,202.73
Hitchcock Co. Court, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -costs – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$68.00
Planning Commission 8-1-25 meeting, per diem & mileage – – – – – – – – -$188.00
Linda Kerchal, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -mileage – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$28.70
Lincoln Co. Clerk, – – – – – – – – – – -annual probation costs – – – – – – – -$3,667.24
MASA, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -suppl. ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$50.00
McCook Gazette, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -publication – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$12.03
Mousel Brooks Schneider Mustion & Shifflet, – -ct. appt. counsel – – – -$634.84
NE Dept. Rev., – – – – – – – – – -state employment tax withholding – – -$2,678.05
Neopost Postage, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -lease – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$50.00
New York Life, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -life ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$75.00
O’Brien Electric Inc., – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$724.66
Point C., – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -deductible funding/admin. fees – – – – -$8,132.00
Prairie States Comm Inc., – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$1,965.60
Quadient Leasing USA, Inc., – – – – – – – – – -lease – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$214.59
Retirement Plans Division Amertias, – -retirement – – – – – – – – – – – -$8,839.66
Rippen Oil LLC, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair/fuel – – – – – – – – – – – – -$879.00
Carrie Sandman, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -mileage – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$322.00
Scoop Media LLC, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -publications – – – – – – – – – – – – -$632.06
TKO Pest Control, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – service – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$85.00
Total Turf Co. Inc., – – – – – – – – – – – – -sprinkler repair – – – – – – – – – – – -$107.80
Trails West Texaco, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -fuel – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$100.00
Dennis G O’Brien, – – – – – – – – – – – – -coroner transport – – – – – – – – – – -$514.30
VSP Insurance Co., – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -vision ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$461.72
Ron Wertz, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -mileage – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$213.50
20/20 Technologies, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$193.16
ROAD FUND:
Road Fund Payroll – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$15,250.29
AKRS Equipment, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$248.59
AFLAC, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -suppl. ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – -$289.60
BC&BS, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -dental ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – -$293.27
BC&BS, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -health ins. – – – – – – – – – – – -$5,710.22
Bosselman Energy Inc., – – – – – – – – – – – – -supply – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$64.39
CK Distributors, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$410.62
Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., – – – – -suppl. ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$28.09
Community 1st Bank, – – – – – – – – – – -FICA/OASI/Fed. – – – – – – – – – -$3,978.68
Dan’s R Us Sanitation, – – – – – – – – – – – – – -service – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$27.35
Farmers Coop Grain & Supply Co., – – – – – -fuel – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$5,146.71
Great Plains Communications, – – – – – – – -service – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$399.31
JA Automotive & Repair LLC, – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$172.82
Lakeside Sand & Gravel LLC, – – – – – – – – -gravel – – – – – – – – – – – – -$16,762.02
Mead Truck Repair LLC, – – – – – – – – – -dredge repair – – – – – – – – – – -$1,413.04
Moorhous Inc., – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -dredge repair – – – – – – – – – – – -$105.98
NE Dept. Rev., – – – – – – – – – -state employment tax withholding – – – – -$617.16
NE Machinery Co., – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$810.73
Point C, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -admin. fees – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$33.00
Quality Urgent Care, – – – – – – – – – – – – -DOT testing – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$95.00
Retirement Plans Division Ameritas, – -retirement – – – – – – – – – – – -$2,039.43
Rippen Oil LLC, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -fuel/repair – – – – – – – – – – – -$1,540.10
SW Farm & Auto Supply, – – – – – – – – – -repair/supply – – – – – – – – – – -$1,982.34
Stratton Auto Parts, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -oil – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$18.87
Titan Machinery, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$812.26
US Bank, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -repair – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$30.75
Van Diest Supply Company, – – – – – – – – -chemicals – – – – – – – – – – – – -$2,112.70
Village of Culbertson, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -utility – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$52.00
VSP Insurance Co, – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – -vision ins. – – – – – – – – – – – – – -$48.24
Two propane quotes for the 2025/2026 winter season were received Farmers Coop Grain and Supply – $1.27 per gallon pay as you go Bosselman Energy Inc. – Mike Hedke and John Walker present – $1.36 per gallon pay as you go County Attorney D. Eugene Garner joined the meeting. Shane Rippen and Theodor Rippen were present to visit with the Board regarding Road 370 Attorney Garner made the Board aware that he had recently had communications with their attorney regarding said road. Attorney Garner informed the Board of his ethical duty to not communicate with individuals known to be represented by legal counsel except through said counsel and advised against the Board communicating with said individuals without their legal counsel being present. The Board inquired about discussing the matter at this time since it was on the agenda and the parties were present. Mr. Garner again advised he cannot communicate with the parties without their counsel present and advised again that the board not meet with them without counsel present. At that point Attorney Garner excused himself from the meeting. Red Willow County Commissioner Randy Dean was present to listen in on West Central Nebraska Development District’s presentation on grant opportunities for comprehensive plans. Attorney Garner rejoined the meeting. Sheriff Deputy Tom Jones met briefly with the Board on various items related to the Sheriff’s department included but not limited establishing a K-9 Fund. Chair Nichols advised as to the filing of the annual inventory and completion of the 911 PSC and 911 Emergency Services fund budgets. Sheriff Ryan King met with the Board on budgetary items and submitted the 911 Emergency Services Fund and 911 PSC Fund budgets. Taylor Provost, Economic Development Specialist with West Central Nebraska Development District met with the Board regarding a grant for updating the County’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations. Zoning Administrator Mike Erickson joined the meeting. Member Baker moved to hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 for the purpose of submission of a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Grant for updating Hitchcock County’s Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations. Member Nichols seconded the motion and after consideration, a roll call vote was had as follows: Baker, Yes; Nichols, Yes; Wertz, Absent. Said hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioners Room, Hitchcock County Courthouse, 229 East D Street, Trenton, Nebraska. Commissioner Ron Wertz joined the meeting at 11:50 a.m. Budget preparation assistant Daniel D. Miller CPA joined the meeting for work on the 2025/2026 County budget. Member Wertz moved to accept the quote of Farmers Coop Grain and Supply in the amount of $1.27 per gallon on a pay as you go basis. Member Nichols seconded the motion and after consideration a roll call vote was had as follows: Wertz, Yes; Baker, Yes, Nichols, Yes. Motion carried. Member Nichols moved to designate MIPS as the printing service for the joint public hearing postcards if necessary. Member Wertz seconded the motion and after consideration a roll call vote was had as follows: Nichols, Yes; Baker, Yes; Wertz, Yes. Motion carried. Member Nichols moved to execute the FEMA Small Permanent Work Project Certifications and Acknowledgements relating to Valley Drive and Road 718. Member Baker seconded the motion and after consideration a roll call vote was had as follows: Baker, Yes; Nichols, Yes; Wertz, Yes. Motion carried. Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. §23-122 et seq. Hitchcock County job titles and current salaries are being published. ANNUAL SALARIES Commissioner $26,265.63; County Clerk $59,885.63; County Attorney $59,885.63; County Sheriff $71,442.50; Chief Deputy Sheriff $68,640.00; Deputy Sheriff(s) $59,280.00/ $46,080.00; County Treasurer $59,885.63; County Assessor $59,885.63; Veteran’s Service Officer $25,995.84. HOURLY WAGES Chief Deputy Clerk $24.61; Deputy Clerk $22.00; Attorney Legal Assistant $22.84; Chief Deputy Treasurer $24.00; Treasurer Clerical $20.00; Chief Deputy Assessor $24.00; Extension Office Manager $20.00; Road Maintenance $23.00/$29.10; Part Time Road Maintenance $18.00/$23.00; B&G Maintenance/Janitorial $19.77; Weed Superintendent/NIRMA Contact/Zoning Admin. $25.00; Dispatcher Jailer $18.00/$23.00; Planning Commission Secretary $14.34. Chair Nichols advised as to Bureau of Reclamation land transfers. Member Wertz offered Resolution #25-14 establishing a K-9 Fund (2430) and moved for its’ adoption. Member Baker seconded the motion and after consideration the roll was called thereupon as follows: Wertz, Yes; Nichols, Yes; Baker, Yes. Said resolution having been consented to by a majority of all members elected to said County Board, was by the Chair declared passed and adopted. A true, correct and complete copy of said resolution is on file in the office of the County Clerk and on the County’s website www.hitchcockcounty.ne.gov. The following inventories were received and acknowledged: Attorney, Treasurer, Emergency Management, Road Districts 1, 2 and 3. Member Baker moved to adjourn at 1:50 p. m. and to meet for the next regular meeting on Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Member Nichols seconded the motion and after consideration a roll call vote was had as follows: Wertz, Yes; Nichols, Yes; Baker, Yes. Motion carried. ATTEST: Paul Nichols, Chair, Hitchcock County Board of Commissioners Margaret M. Pollmann, County Clerk PUBLISHED: AUGUST 21, 2025; SMN:ZNEZ