[2:20] There we go. Good morning. Welcome to the Lancaster County Board of

[2:24] Commissioners meeting for Tuesday, September 1st, 2026.

[2:28] Um, I am your chair. My name is Christa Yokum. To my left is Vice Chair Chelsea

[2:33] Johnson. To her left, Commissioner Matt Schulty. and to my right, Commissioner

[2:38] Sean Flower Day. Please rise and recite the pledge of allegiance with us.

[2:45] » I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the

[2:51] republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[2:58] justice for all.

[3:06] Mr. Clerk, please start the meeting. >> This meeting is subject to the Nebraska

[3:10] Open Meetings Act. Written materials to be discussed at today's meeting can be

[3:13] viewed at the county's website at lancaster.n.gov.

[3:16] Printed copies are available upon request. Brings us to item one, minutes

[3:20] 1a, approval of the minutes of the board of commissioners meeting held in August

[3:23] 25th, 2026.

[3:27] » I move approval of the minutes. >> Second.

[3:29] » We have a motion and a second to approve the minutes. Please call the role.

[3:33] » Flower, >> yes.

[3:34] » Schulty, >> yes.

[3:35] » Johnson, >> yes.

[3:36] » Yokum, >> yes.

[3:38] » Motion carries. 1B, approval of the minutes of the board of commissioners

[3:42] budget meeting held on August 25th, 2026.

[3:47] » Move approval. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to

[3:50] approve the minutes of the budget meeting. Seeing no discussion, please

[3:54] call the role. >> Shelty,

[3:55] » yes. >> Johnson,

[3:56] » yes. >> Flick,

[3:57] » yes. >> Yokam,

[3:59] » yes. >> Motion carries. Item two, claims.

[4:02] Approval of the claims processed through August 28th, 2026.

[4:07] » Approval. >> Second.

[4:09] » We have a motion and a second to approve the claims. Please call the role.

[4:12] » Johnson? >> Yes.

[4:14] » Flare? >> Yes.

[4:15] » Shelty? >> Yes.

[4:16] » Yokum? >> Yes.

[4:18] » Motion carries. Item three, consent items. These are routine business items

[4:22] expected to be adopted without dissent. Any individual item may be removed for

[4:26] special discussion and consideration by commissioner of any member of the public

[4:29] without prior notice. Unless there is an exception, these items will be approved

[4:33] as one single vote of the board of commissioners. These items are the

[4:36] approval of amendments to the following county contracts. C-25-0680

[4:41] with Clyde Malone Community Center for the CEO Initiative Program to extend the

[4:44] contract term. C-25-0681 with the Clyde Malone Community Center

[4:49] for the Therapy Program to extend the contract term. C-25-0531

[4:53] with Centerpoint for the Square One program. Uh C-23-0692

[4:58] with Ferguson Enterprises LLC for ice melt. C-26-0247

[5:03] with Vermer Equipment of Nebraska Incorporated doing this is as vermer

[5:07] high plains for repair services for construction for purpose-built

[5:10] equipment. B grant contracts with the following uh Blue Valley Behavioral

[5:14] Health for the diversion evaluation program in the amount of $4,698.

[5:19] Pine Lake Behavioral Health for the Diversion, Evaluations, and Outpatient

[5:22] Therapy Program in the amount of $5,000. The YWCA of Lincoln for the catch life

[5:26] skills program in the amount of $44,854. C grant contracts with the following.

[5:32] The YWCA of Lincoln for the catch life skills program in the amount of $12,500.

[5:37] YWCA of Lincoln for the girls circle program in the amount of $20,000. And

[5:40] finally, D receive and place and file the 2026 annual inventory of county

[5:45] personal property for the county engineer.

[5:50] Move approval. >> Second.

[5:52] » We have a motion and a second to approve the consent items. Seeing no discussion,

[5:56] please call the role. >> Johnson,

[5:58] » yes. >> Flowering,

[5:59] » yes. >> Shelty,

[6:00] » yes. >> Yokam,

[6:01] » yes. >> Motion carries. Item four, public

[6:06] hearings. The first public hearing is regarding the vacation of a portion of a

[6:09] public rideway generally located on Theer Street and North 149th Street,

[6:13] East 300T, Village of Prairie Home.

[6:27] We I'm sorry. We need a motion to come out of the um recess that we had for

[6:32] this public hearing. We started this a couple of weeks ago.

[6:35] » So moved. >> Second.

[6:36] » We have a motion and a second to come out of the to end our recess and resume

[6:41] the public hearing. Please call the role.

[6:44] » Flowerick. >> Yes.

[6:45] » Shelty. Yep. >> Johnson.

[6:47] » Yes. >> Yokam.

[6:48] » Yes. >> Motion carries.

[6:52] » Do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give is the

[6:55] truth and nothing but the truth? >> I do. Uh John Barry, Lancaster County

[6:58] Engineering. You know, as as Morgan had said, this is the kind of continuation

[7:02] of the public hearing we had a few weeks ago. So, just as a really quick

[7:05] refresher, Bayer Street is is a street located in uh the unincorporated village

[7:10] of Prairie Home. It's a street that looking back at old aerial maps hasn't

[7:15] been used as a street since the 1940s. Currently, it's full of grass, weeds,

[7:19] and it has a few looks like little metal buildings on it. So, Lancaster County

[7:24] Engineer is requesting that this street at this time be vacated.

[7:30] » Just a followup question from last time. I understand that there were some uh

[7:34] concerns around access uh if we did move forward with vacation.

[7:40] Just are any updates in terms of communication between the engineers's

[7:44] office and the land owner who brought those concerns forward?

[7:48] » I have not heard anything. Nobody's directly contacted me. I don't believe

[7:51] anybody's contacted Pam is Dingman, county engineer. So,

[7:56] » they could have contacted though the planning department too or somebody

[7:59] else, right? Not aware of that. Right. >> Absolutely.

[8:01] » Yeah. Okay.

[8:08] » Any other questions for John? I mean, I guess I'll just respond. I I drove

[8:13] through I drove down the alley. I went down to the end of the street and saw

[8:17] it. Sure does not look like the road continues there at all. But, um,

[8:21] overall, can we comment on the other the Are we open for the second item, too?

[8:26] Can I talk about that one as well? The >> Do we need

[8:31] » Yeah, I mean, they're the same town. If you want you can do a second one as well

[8:37] at the same time. It's just easier to keep.

[8:41] » Yeah, it is easier to keep them separate.

[8:43] » I would say I have been contacted by the land owner one of the land owners as you

[8:47] guys remember there was this land is being divvied up due to a recent death

[8:53] in the family. I've been contacted by one of the land owners over there. I'm

[8:58] until we have a very clear way to allow the land all the land owners to continue

[9:02] to have all future aspect future potentials on this one that they

[9:07] currently do. I'm not super inclined to vacate this particular one um because I

[9:14] want to make sure that hey if there's I know there's interest in developing some

[9:19] of the land to the east so I don't want to shut down that opportunity for the

[9:22] land owners. You'll need to swear him. Do

[9:26] » you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the

[9:28] truth and nothing but the truth? >> I do.

[9:31] » Um, if it's the case, if you vote this down

[9:36] and we we would have to start the whole process over again. Mhm.

[9:41] » So, it would be better to table it um for a certain period of time so that we

[9:48] can um work this out with the land owner and come back. It would be a better

[9:54] solution than to to vote not to vacate the piece of ground. Thanks for that. I

[9:59] appreciate that advice and I'm totally open to that. I'm not saying never. I

[10:02] just want to make sure that like I said, one of the land owners is interested in

[10:07] development. That was one of the opportunities that was presented to us.

[10:10] I want to make sure that hey, if they want to try and put some housing on the

[10:15] east side of Prairie Home. I mean, there's a

[10:19] there's a neighborhood kind of already there. Like, it seems very reasonable

[10:22] that that could be something that could be done in the future. Whether or not

[10:25] they actually do it in this near future, I don't know. But I want to at least

[10:30] keep that option available for them because currently they have that option

[10:33] and I I don't want to shut that down. Can I I know I had suggested that we not

[10:39] talk about the two together, but now I feel like I want a little clarification

[10:44] because it has been over a week um between the two properties and I'm

[10:48] getting the stories on both of them a little muddled in my head. So um

[10:53] » I move that we come out of recess on item B, however that's referred to in

[10:59] our >> regarding the uh vacation of the public

[11:03] right away and the wait. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. Wade Avenue.

[11:08] Do we have a second for that? >> Second.

[11:11] » Thank you. Um, please call the role. >> Shulty,

[11:14] » yes. >> Johnson,

[11:15] » yes. >> Flard,

[11:16] » yes. >> Yokum.

[11:17] » Yes. So, that's what I would like is a little bit of clarification between the

[11:21] two properties just so that we're we know which what we're talking about.

[11:26] So, John, um, for Commissioner Yokum, could you please slide both exhibits up

[11:31] on the because she's she's having trouble figuring out how they fit

[11:34] together, which I I understand

[11:39] a little higher. >> So, when we see um the unopened road and

[11:45] the alley, hopefully hopefully, Commissioner Schultzy, you didn't drive

[11:48] down this. >> I did not drive down that one. I drove

[11:50] down the wider one. >> I'm I'm thankful for that today. And

[11:53] there should be one thing you're thankful for. Um, and so the other road

[11:58] would be located right here and it's highlighted on the bottom of this map.

[12:03] And we could probably fold them together and and make a paper doll of them.

[12:07] » Okay. >> For you, but I think that gives you a

[12:09] better photo of what's happening.

[12:15] » Yeah, it's not ideal, but it is helpful. >> Hold on. I I can get closer.

[12:20] The alleyway I think makes a lot of sense because it does have a major turn

[12:25] off or has a not a turn. There is the option to exit a major road into this

[12:30] alleyway that clearly is not a road. Um my car made it through. I do think there

[12:35] was some question as to whether or not you guys as engineers might come through

[12:38] and level it out one last time or something like that. I think that from

[12:43] my opinion that would be a good option to do. Um but I I mean I'll leave that

[12:48] ultimate to I do think removing that apron makes a lot of sense there too to

[12:52] shut down the alleyway. >> Commissioner Yokum does that that is

[12:56] helpful. Thank you. >> These are my old time engineering skills

[12:59] [laughter] >> regarding the street one. Um,

[13:05] my recollection from our hearing last week ago, I think it was, um, is that

[13:13] there was concern that the property to the east would be completely blocked off

[13:19] from having public access. And there was discussion around our

[13:25] kind of legal obligation to ensure that every

[13:30] landowner would have access to a road. So that's where my question was coming

[13:34] from was just around being able to provide,

[13:39] you know, kind of meet our obligations in that program.

[13:45] So right now there's properties that make up several lots that all are under

[13:51] a single ownership. As county engineer, you know, we're not aware of when people

[13:56] are transferring ownership or u when people pass. We have no idea how they

[14:01] pass their land on. So I I don't really have any opinions on that. Again, if you

[14:08] would like to wait um so that we can track down uh the person or the actual

[14:15] owners of the land, you know, we also don't know uh if the person that came

[14:20] and spoke was representing every family member. And when you're going to deal

[14:24] with multiple family members, in this case, I think there's at least six,

[14:28] maybe more. Uh we're gonna need a little time to track that down. Um we

[14:34] if you'd like to delay the vote on that, I'm fine with that.

[14:37] » Have a vote on it today. >> So I think that you have a little time

[14:43] out then. >> And I think a lot of this has to do with

[14:46] planning too, not just engineering, right?

[14:49] because it has to do with planning and engineering because when we say access

[14:52] to that property, at least I mean a very general access, but planning department

[14:58] has very specific regulations on what kinds of access they can have to land

[15:02] that allows them to develop it. >> It's not just

[15:06] it has to be a road a road, not just they have access.

[15:12] » Go ahead. >> Do you saw me swear or affirm the

[15:15] testimony about to give us the truth and nothing but the truth?

[15:17] » I do. Um, commissioners, I also just wanted to add as well, um, if the

[15:20] concern is allowing potentially that property owner to the east to have

[15:24] access to a public ride ofway. Um, John and George both reached out to our

[15:30] office to discuss the ability for the board in their discretion to distribute

[15:35] that land upon vacation, [clears throat] excuse me. Um, you know, so

[15:39] traditionally we discussed that it was usually split between the adjacent land

[15:43] owners. um looking back at the statute 3917253

[15:48] um gives some pretty wide discretion to the board. There doesn't seem to be any

[15:51] limitation on how you choose to distribute that vacated land. So if your

[15:56] concern is about allowing them to have that access after conversation um and

[16:01] and it's not really a discussion about development, but it's more discussion

[16:05] about access and that's where you land. there's a way to distribute it that

[16:09] allows them to still be able to access that road um without violating any other

[16:15] issue. Um so there there's both case law and um statute that support that. So you

[16:22] have pretty wide discretion to decide where you want it to go.

[16:26] » Okay.

[16:30] Any other questions for anyone who's standing before us before I ask for any

[16:34] other members of the public wishing to speak?

[16:39] Is there anyone else present wishing to speak on this during this public

[16:42] hearing?

[16:53] » Do you solemnly swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give is the

[16:55] truth and nothing but the truth? >> I do.

[16:57] » Can you please state your name and sign in?

[16:58] » Yeah. Be Travis Jones.

[17:12] uh as you're aware most likely I was here

[17:16] last month to speak on this behalf and uh after the meeting I did go ahead and

[17:21] I went upstairs and talked to I believe it was Stephen Hendrickson from the

[17:26] planning department had a good conversation with him about going

[17:30] forward and got some information from him. And then I did reach out to uh Mr.

[17:36] Barry here about 4 days after the meeting asking what we should do to

[17:40] proceed forward and he told me that it's up to you guys and there's nothing we

[17:45] can do in the meantime. So I did try to reach out to the department of

[17:49] engineering to get some clarification on how we could solve this ahead of time.

[17:53] So I just wanted to state the record on that. Uh as you're aware with this here

[17:59] though, it will landlock this piece here and

[18:03] We don't want to restrict access to that.

[18:07] I drove by it this morning and there has been some I'm going to say

[18:14] development on that part. The person that lives there looks like they are

[18:19] bringing in some project material. Uh, I did talk to one of the other neighbors

[18:25] in Prairie Home here this morning and he said that the day after the meeting last

[18:29] month, rock trucks started hauling rock to that spot. I'm assuming it was not

[18:34] the Department of Roads and there is a giant pile of rock kind of right in the

[18:37] corner there. So, I'm hesitant to delay this much further because it looks like

[18:44] he's trying to put in a retaining wall of some sort and bringing in loads of

[18:47] rock. Are you talking about the land owner just north of the

[18:51] » correct the house owner that's right here?

[18:54] » I mean there's some pretty permanent stuff in there already. Right

[18:57] » to to the north he's got a house and uh and then I think on this easement here

[19:02] or the the the public rideway there is uh I'm going to say like some old fuel

[19:08] barrels, logs. He is a landscaper. I think he's piled up some extra dirt and

[19:13] sand and some extra plants that he's had throughout the years and just kind of

[19:17] filled in the area with what he had sitting around. I guess I don't think

[19:22] there's anything permitted as far as I'm aware. There's a small very small shed

[19:29] maybe like 10 foot by 10 foot or something on the part of the easement or

[19:34] part of the roadway. Uh and and I did talk to my uncle. I talked to him after

[19:40] the meeting that is going to inherit the ground and he did state that he would

[19:45] like it opened up so he has public access and he can access his farm but we

[19:49] were waiting to do that until after the estate is settled which will be in

[19:54] November the end of November. Uh I brought my aunt with me uh who is part

[20:00] of the estate as well to to support I guess to

[20:06] not have this closed to have it opened up in in all honesty.

[20:10] » So I just want to make sure I understand what you're saying. So you're saying

[20:12] that the landowner on the north appears to be putting gravel that could

[20:16] potentially make be converted. He thinks he might be able to convert that even

[20:19] though he clearly doesn't own it and couldn't

[20:22] » I don't know what his plans are. I have not spoken to him, but he has started

[20:27] some work there. I don't know. He's got a couple of retaining walls. Uh,

[20:34] go back to this picture here. He's got these retaining walls here.

[20:38] » Yeah. >> That's not on the It's all honesty, I

[20:42] think, would be on the county roadway to begin with, and then he's piling up a

[20:45] whole bunch of gravel right in here currently.

[20:48] » Okay. So, I I'm hesitant to let it go much further because I think it'll just

[20:53] continue to compound. >> Yeah.

[20:58] » Okay. Thank you. The engineer isn't planning. You guys don't have a pile of

[21:03] rock that you guys have put in there, have you?

[21:05] » To do anything on this on the road there?

[21:08] » I don't believe so. Um, talking with Pam, we do not. Um, the county does, we

[21:13] went out there a few months ago, stake some of the rideaway points. We do have

[21:16] some plans to regrade the existing roads.

[21:18] » Sure. >> Take care of some ditches and just do

[21:20] some dirt work there, but as far as I know, we haven't done any piling of

[21:24] rock. >> Okay.

[21:25] » And things like that. >> Thanks, John.

[21:28] » Well, I wasn't sure. I saw the stakes and I know that the plan was, but I

[21:32] didn't think that they were moving on that quite yet. So

[21:35] » yeah, >> when we last had the hearing, uh, we

[21:38] discussed kind of like the default plan would be to basically split it in half

[21:43] and with half going to the northern property owner and half going to the

[21:47] southern property owner. Um, that would not address your concerns. Is that

[21:54] correct? >> Correct. After talking to Steve

[21:58] upstairs, Stephen upstairs, he stated that would give us access, but that

[22:04] would limit any potential future developments on that property without a

[22:08] piece adjoining it being purchased. So, a

[22:12] roadway could be built. An easement does not allow access for

[22:16] I believe any sort of houses in case he wanted to build an acreage. Not certain

[22:20] on that, but I know if there was some sort of development with more than one

[22:23] house, it for sure would prevent anything from happening back in there.

[22:28] Uh I'm not certain on a single house, but I assuming that would be the case as

[22:32] well because there would not be a public address to that.

[22:38] And once it gets split up, my uncle will not have access to his farm. and he was

[22:45] requesting to have it opened up, but he was waiting till after.

[22:50] » He owns it, >> correct? And

[22:52] » right, >> we're we're moving along a little

[22:55] faster. Just odd how things work out, I guess.

[22:57] » Yeah. >> Okay.

[23:03] » Thanks. [snorts] >> Is there anyone else from the public

[23:07] wishing to speak on this in during this public hearing?

[23:16] Seeing none here

[23:19] » to talk about the Avenue. >> Is there anyone? Thank you. Yeah. Um we

[23:24] we also have the hearing for the property on Weight Avenue open. Is there

[23:29] anyone here to speak on that? >> Thank you, John. [snorts]

[23:40] You have anything more to say on that one?

[23:42] » Not really. Again, this is a roadway that that is the commission Schulty went

[23:46] down. It's basically grass. It has two little ruts in it. People have been

[23:50] using it to do whatever they do. The alley strictly is grass. It doesn't

[23:55] appear, I think through the last hearing people came and talked about it that

[23:58] it's actually used to access any of the property property currently. So, and

[24:03] Miss Dingman did recommend or did talk about removing the access onto um 148th

[24:09] Street that return and possibly even adding some little signs or something

[24:14] saying something like that. >> Thank you. Questions for John? Is there

[24:19] anyone else wishing to Is there anyone wishing to speak on this public right

[24:23] away on Weight Avenue? Please come forward and you'll need to swear in and

[24:29] state your name and sign in on our sheet if you would please.

[24:33] Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the

[24:36] truth and nothing but the truth? >> I do. Hi, my name is Malcolm Carney. I

[24:41] was here last month to speak on the same topic

[24:46] and I just want to pretty much say the story again just because there's new

[24:49] faces. Um, I own the property here. Um, I'm currently mowing for my neighbor

[24:55] here. She broke her foot and she couldn't be here today. Um, when mowing

[25:00] her side of the property, um, the ruts are definitely a problem. I broke the

[25:05] front, uh, axle off my lawn mower cuz I wasn't paying attention. Uh, there is a

[25:10] lot of traffic that goes up and down there that, uh, is not, I say, good

[25:15] traffic. We have rats from tire marks. Another neighbor stated that they go up

[25:20] and down there when it's wet for fun, which it's fun for them, not so fun for

[25:26] the guys taking care of it. Uh, I'm sure the county doesn't want to deal with

[25:29] ruts from people just out having fun either. Um, yeah. Other than that, I'd

[25:34] like to see it closed down. Um, yeah, then there's no way you'd be getting a

[25:39] vehicle down that road anytime soon since the trees have been there more

[25:44] than a few days. So, [laughter] but yeah, I'd love to see that get

[25:48] closed down, maybe restrict access to the public driving through there,

[25:51] tearing things up, having problems. Like I said last time, um I had somebody

[25:55] break in through that access point. They jumped the fence and they were parked

[25:59] along that road. Uh and that's how they entered my property. Um so one less way

[26:05] for someone to get public access in jumping a fence and stuff like that. Be

[26:09] very much grateful. So thank you. >> Thank you for your testimony.

[26:15] » Is there anyone else wishing to speak?

[26:21] Seeing none, >> I'll make a couple comments. So, I

[26:23] stated at the beginning I was opposed to that one and a support of this one. I

[26:27] still generally in the same place. I would like to see us vacate, wait, and

[26:31] divide it equally between the the adjacent properties. The one that's on

[26:36] the right now, what I would be most interested in is a six-month uh to table

[26:41] that idea and give it six months for the ownership to transfer. And then at that

[26:46] point, I'd be interested in asking our attorneys or the county engineer,

[26:50] whoever, to come back to us with a recommendation that does allow for

[26:55] development still to happen on the east side of that.

[27:01] » Please, >> I advise us how we should proceed on

[27:04] this because we're not making a decision now in the public hearing. Um, but

[27:08] again, >> but I I understand your

[27:10] » um Yes. So regarding withholding, so current county resolution R1940 is what

[27:16] sets our policy on those road vacations. So generally it's

[27:21] generally it's recommended that we make a decision at the next meeting. Um or we

[27:26] are allowed to wait for as soon thereafter as practical. Um I'm not sure

[27:33] that's going to be in your discretion to kind of determine what um you deem to be

[27:37] as practical. if you want to. I I wouldn't personally recommend we wait

[27:41] for the court system to figure out probate. I think there's conversations

[27:44] that could be had with the property owner um make some decisions prior to

[27:48] that. So, I would recommend not six months. I think you can you can delay a

[27:51] little bit longer, but I would I would wait not that long.

[27:54] » Why? >> Um you it's just not it's not requ.

[28:02] » Well, I mean then that would be going against our own county policy. we have

[28:04] it written in our own resolution that we do at the next meeting or assume

[28:07] thereafter is practical. >> That's fine. Bring it forward at the

[28:10] next meeting, but at the next meeting then we can delay it for six months.

[28:14] Like if we if you put an item on our agenda next week and we could all vote

[28:18] for six months to delay it, >> but that's still delaying the vacation

[28:23] or the abandonment of the rideway. It's not

[28:28] it's not withh you're withholding the actual vacation itself, not the

[28:31] resolution, if that makes [snorts] sense. You're saying our uh You're

[28:34] saying that our policy is to make a decision yes or no either at the next

[28:39] meeting or as soon as practical. >> Uhhuh.

[28:42] » Yes. >> Thank you.

[28:53] I still think a delay would be appropriate in this. I also think that

[28:57] asking for a recommendation from our attorneys of planning that allows for

[29:00] development to happen further east on a is a good idea.

[29:04] » I have a procedure question if you would please. So

[29:10] at this point our options are to close this public hearing.

[29:14] » Yes. >> And is item C is a separate public

[29:18] hearing? Yes. So I just want to be clear on that.

[29:20] » Yes. [laughter] >> Yeah. We're not

[29:23] » okay. None of none of what was just discussed will be voted on today. No,

[29:27] » no matter what, because it's just the action items aren't there. Yeah.

[29:30] » Right. >> Do we have a motion to close the public

[29:34] hearing for item A and item B? >> So moved.

[29:39] » Second. >> We have a motion and a second to close

[29:41] the public hearing on item A and item B. These are the vacations on the Walt

[29:45] Avenue. Please call the role. >> Johnson,

[29:49] » yes. >> Flick,

[29:50] » yes. >> Shulty,

[29:51] » yes. >> Yokum,

[29:52] » yes. Motion carries. >> We will now open the public hearing

[29:55] regard regarding amending the Lancaster County zoning and subdivision fee

[29:59] schedules.

[30:06] » Do you solemnly swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give is the

[30:09] truth and nothing but the truth? >> I do.

[30:12] » David Kerry, director of the Planning and Development Services Department, 555

[30:15] South 10th Street. Uh thank you for some of your time today, commissioners. Um

[30:19] what I have before you uh is also what we uh briefed you on last Thursday at

[30:24] the staff meeting. Uh is a proposal to increase the um planning and development

[30:29] services department uh application fee schedules for both uh 2026 and 2027

[30:35] fiscal years. Um the proposal is a 2.4% increase each year. That number is based

[30:43] on the Midwest region consumer price index uh from January. It's a little bit

[30:47] more elevated now than um but what the purpose is behind the incremental

[30:52] regular updates is to keep these increases smaller instead of waiting

[30:56] five or more years and then they become 10% 12% 15% increases which is a little

[31:01] bit harder to for applicants to uh handle all at once. So that is the the

[31:06] process that we've been taking for several years now. Um and so the

[31:09] proposal uh this amount um would approximate around $28,000 based on last

[31:16] year's full amount of revenues coming into the department for uh reimbursement

[31:20] into the general fund for the county. So um that is our practice is we take these

[31:25] revenues and um they do go back to the general fund for both the city and the

[31:29] county. Um the city uh council uh on the city side of this and the city budget

[31:35] approval did approve uh a comparable uh schedule of fee increases last Monday

[31:40] when they approved the budget. Uh so that is in place now for the city uh

[31:44] going into the beginning of the city fiscal year starting today, September

[31:48] 1st. Um, I think I would just uh falize my comments by saying that this amounts

[31:54] to uh overall for both the city and the county about $5,400 more in year one and

[32:00] then another additional 5,400 million million,000

[32:04] uh in year two. Um, so that's the approximate amount of increased revenue

[32:07] that this would result in. So with that, I will see if you have any questions.

[32:12] » I have no problem with it. Maybe you said uh why where' we get 2.4%

[32:18] Where did we get it? >> Yeah, just where I think you're doing it

[32:20] the right thing. I have no problem with these. Why that?

[32:24] » 2% or 3% or whatever. >> Yeah, the 2.4% is literally the January

[32:28] Midwest region CPI. >> Got it. Thank you.

[32:30] » That's exactly what it is. >> Thank you.

[32:33] » Now, these incremental um changes make sense rather than a large uh change all

[32:39] of a sudden. >> I think they make sense. You said

[32:43] comparable. So, is it the exact same fee schedule between the county and the

[32:46] city? It is not the exact same. The the difference there the different one

[32:50] difference I think we're all aware of is the um the appeal to final action from

[32:54] the planning commission. Um two years ago the city council determined they

[32:58] would were not going to include that in their fee schedule and uh two years ago

[33:02] the county board did agree to do that. >> So that's where if someone has a problem

[33:06] with a zoning action inside the city's jurisdiction which includes the three

[33:10] miles and they file an appeal, they don't have to pay a fee. But if they

[33:16] live still outside the settlements but just a little further away from the

[33:20] city, then they do have to pay a $160 fee.

[33:24] » Correct. >> Okay. I think we should eliminate that

[33:28] fee. There's no no there's a it's an imaginary boundary that exists between

[33:33] the three mile jurisdiction and outside the three-mile jurisdiction.

[33:36] I think it it shows some urban versus rural distinction. We feel like the

[33:41] urban people, the urban people shouldn't have to pay it, but the rural people do.

[33:44] Like that doesn't make any sense to me. So I think we should

[33:46] » I think the urban people should pay it too. I was

[33:48] » I think that [laughter] we are right and the city is wrong.

[33:51] » Right. Right. I don't I don't disagree that I wish there was consistency. I

[33:54] just think they're wrong. >> Yeah.

[33:57] » Well, we only have we only have control over what we have control of. And right

[34:00] now we are creating the distinction by having the fee. No, they created the

[34:03] distinction last year

[34:09] » and this came about because there were some many people when they filed there

[34:14] is a legitimate reason clearly but we had some that were somewhat frivolous

[34:18] that took up a lot of staff time um and and and that sort of resources.

[34:23] » What kind of >> how this came

[34:25] » was how this came about. >> I don't remember any frivolous ones. It

[34:30] actually was before you were here, but I don't want to get into one one that was

[34:34] » I don't want to name anyone. There was one that was

[34:37] » when you read it, it was gibberish. I mean, it just it just wasn't it just

[34:40] wasn't sens like it wasn't it and it did actually take up some

[34:46] time. So like to this day, I'm not sure anybody

[34:50] was sure what that what what that appeal was trying to accomplish.

[34:57] I just have a lot of respect for our urban neighbors and I think our our

[35:01] rural neighbors and I think our rural neighbors shouldn't have to pay

[35:04] something that the urban people don't

[35:13] » and I would also add this was a new fee couple years ago. This is one that was

[35:17] added. I oppose it then. I oppose it now and I will continue to oppose it because

[35:21] it's unfairly charging rural residents.

[35:28] » Any other um questions or comments for David Kerry? Is there anyone else

[35:34] wishing to speak on this specific item on the uh zoning and sub subdivision fee

[35:40] schedules? Any members of the public?

[35:45] Seeing no one, we could um entertain a motion to close this public hearing.

[35:51] » So moved. >> Second.

[35:53] » We have a motion and a second to close this public hearing. Please call the

[35:56] role. >> Johnson,

[35:59] » yes. >> Flower,

[36:01] » yes. >> Shulty,

[36:02] » yes. >> Yokum,

[36:03] » yes. >> Motion carries.

[36:06] » I'm not sure that was a public hearing. I think that was just a public hearing

[36:08] action item. >> No,

[36:09] » no, that was the public hearing. Next is the action item.

[36:13] » Yes, Commissioner. >> You're right. You're right. I'm wrong.

[36:15] » Yep. >> 5A, the public hearing action item on

[36:18] the resolution in the matter of adopting the Lancaster County zoning and

[36:22] subdivision fee schedules.

[36:26] » Uh, I'll second. Do you do you want to make a motion to break out anything or

[36:30] just going to vote to do? >> Yeah.

[36:33] » We have a motion and a second to adopt the zoning and subdivision fee

[36:37] schedules. Please call the role. >> Wait, wait, no. I'm making a motion.

[36:42] » Okay. >> That's what you just say. Yeah, he just

[36:44] asked me that. >> I want to I want to make a motion to

[36:47] strike the fourth line appeal of final action.

[36:59] Seeing no second, motion dies, >> we'll go back to our original motion

[37:06] uh to to adopt the z the zoning and subdivision fee schedules. Please call

[37:11] the role. >> Flick. Yes.

[37:13] » Shulty. >> No.

[37:15] » Johnson. >> Yes.

[37:16] » Yokum. >> Yes.

[37:17] » Motion carries. >> Commissioners, that brings us to new

[37:21] business item 6A. A purchase and sale agreement with New Generation Properties

[37:25] LLC. A Edgie Partners LLC and RH Rogers Investment Code. Purchase real estate

[37:31] described as lots 1 through 12, Block 90, Original Lincoln, Lancaster,

[37:35] Nebraska. Commissioner, do you mind if I talk about this one a little bit?

[37:39] » Please. Um, I'm really excited for this item. This is a big deal. This is a huge

[37:45] deal. In fact, I think the media here are expecting to cover the budget sto

[37:50] the the budget finalization here, but they're going to get two stories at it

[37:53] today. Um, I'm looking at all of you right now. Uh,

[37:57] this is the this is the county purchase of the block for the Lancaster County

[38:03] Convention Center. We have come to an agreement with the land owners. I want

[38:06] to thank the land owners. uh they have been excellent to work with through this

[38:10] process. I want to thank the legal teams on both sides. They have done really

[38:13] diligent work for months now to get this all lined up. The county attorney's

[38:18] office, um our staff here, Kent, your whole team have been really great to

[38:23] work with. Um and I'm very very excited to move this forward. So, I will make a

[38:28] motion to approve item 6A, the purchase of block six of 90.

[38:33] » Second. We have a motion and a second to approve. Is there any further

[38:38] discussion? >> Yeah, I'd like to say a couple things. I

[38:40] had the chance to travel with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce to a couple

[38:44] other capital cities uh over the last couple years, specifically Boise and

[38:48] Madison. I've also just personally been through De Moine

[38:53] that all three of them have a public convention publicly funded in various

[38:58] ways convention centers in their capital city. And I just think it's it's helped

[39:03] those communities so much to be able to have a place for conventions to happen

[39:07] in the shadow of their capital, allow participants to be able to go over to

[39:11] the capital, advocate for their positions, um learn more about the

[39:15] process, be engaged in the state um state system. I really like this. I'm

[39:21] very supportive. I understand there are people that have questions and um I

[39:27] think one of the big questions I still get asked is why did we land on this

[39:30] location and the location is a very good location because it's very close to the

[39:34] capital most people expected it to be closer to the hay market but after a

[39:39] significant study um that that the team that

[39:43] » what's the group called >> Assemble Lincoln

[39:45] » Assemble Lincoln thanks that Sean Flower and Assemble Lincoln studied very hard

[39:50] and they determined that they're just is not a real viable place in the hay

[39:54] market and this is the best place for it. It's near the capital. It's going to

[39:58] expand the down the whole downtown. It's going to expand out and to to meet this

[40:04] create some more restaurant opportunities and things like that in

[40:06] this area. So, I think it is a great location. I'm excited about it. I also

[40:11] recognize that while we're buying the land, we are still waiting for the

[40:14] turnback tax to be signed, right? Um, we expect that I should say I expect that

[40:20] it will be signed still at some point. Um, exactly when is to be determined.

[40:25] Um, but I am very very much looking forward to the Capitol City Convention

[40:29] Center. >> Well said. I I appreciate your support

[40:32] in this. You've you've been a real advocate for this project. Um, this is a

[40:35] really exciting next step. It's not the it's not the whole the whole battle won,

[40:39] but this is a really really exciting next step. and to have this land secured

[40:43] and to be moving forward with this project is it's a really really good

[40:46] feeling after having worked on it for a long time. The funny thing about this

[40:50] site, so Assemble Lincoln did their whole we did our whole analysis of many

[40:55] many many sites started with over 1500 sites, narrowed it down to one in the

[40:59] end through our whole process. Um, and the when we finalized it, it wasn't

[41:05] until after that fact that we while talking with the city historian, we

[41:09] found articles from uh I think it was 1990 when the city council then had done

[41:14] a study and chose the exact same block. >> Oh, really?

[41:18] » I will get you I will get you those articles so you can see it. This block

[41:21] has been picked twice generationally separate. We were totally unaware that

[41:26] that had even happened previously. This location has been chosen twice to be the

[41:30] site of a convention center and recommended to the public at large. So,

[41:33] I'm I'm I'm really really excited about this.

[41:37] » Kent, do you or your team want to say anything? You don't have to. Just if

[41:40] anybody wants to. >> Sorry.

[41:42] » It's okay.

[41:51] » You don't need to be sworn in. We're not in a public hearing, so we would welcome

[41:55] your comments. >> Well, thank you so much. Uh it's an

[41:57] honor to be here. Kent Serest representing the block 90 property

[42:03] owners and there's three that were mentioned already. New Generation

[42:06] Properties. Uh Lawrence Smith, vice president of Speedway Properties, which

[42:12] is an affiliated organization. She's here today uh representing that group.

[42:18] And we have Kelly Heirs with the First Bank and Trust Company of Mindon who

[42:23] represents the other two property owners on block 90. It's been a long journey,

[42:30] but yet we got so many more steps to go that will be equally exciting when they

[42:36] can occur as well. Uh, Sambble Lincoln, uh, Senator Elliott Boar,

[42:43] the other seven members, Commissioner Sean,

[42:47] thank you for all of that extra extra extra effort. The the commissioners

[42:53] themselves, you've been actively involved and that's been so much

[42:57] appreciated. U, the Block 90 property owners have stayed in there. We had the

[43:04] and still do have the Capital City Convention Center Coalition, which are

[43:08] the property owners around who want to see this go forward. Uh we had DLA

[43:14] Rotary Club number 14 as a major sponsor and I'm probably forgetting many other

[43:20] key stakeholders that have been involved in this decision process. Uh, we are

[43:26] obviously hopeful as Commissioner Schulty just mentioned that the I'll get

[43:33] to see if I can say all these words. The Convention Center Facility Finance

[43:37] Assistant Act Board will approve your application that you made several months

[43:44] back along the way. And I too want to thank uh Abby Montgomery, David Durban,

[43:51] Daniel, and team for sticking with us and working through this. And with that,

[43:58] I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have.

[44:01] » I just want to say thanks to everybody on both sides who worked with it. It was

[44:04] a heavy lift and it took a long time, but I'm real pleased to be here.

[44:07] » Yeah. >> From that list of names that you read,

[44:09] that shows that how much the community's invested in this already um and eager to

[44:14] see this happening. Thank you for your role.

[44:16] » Yes, thank you. >> I um as you we were talking about

[44:19] location and I see people from the chamber and visit Lincoln here in our

[44:23] audience. I'm envisioning there can be activity happening in the Hay Market.

[44:27] There can be a concert or something happening while there's a two or three

[44:31] day conference happening in another part of our community. Um so I really do

[44:35] appreciate this location for those kinds of opportunities. Then this you said

[44:40] people may be here to hear about our budget. Um, but it's also hard for me to

[44:44] separate this from our budget because this is the way we think about budget.

[44:48] We think about the things we have to do. This is the way this board has thought

[44:52] about our our budget all along, the things we must do in our county, but

[44:57] also what's the future and this really represents the future and and some

[45:01] diversification for us. So, um, I really appreciate this.

[45:06] » Anyone else wishing to speak on this topic?

[45:08] » This [clears throat] is exciting. Thank you for all of your hard work to make it

[45:12] happen. >> Um, please call the roll.

[45:16] » Johnson, >> yes.

[45:17] » Flower, >> yes.

[45:18] » Schulty, >> yes. Yokum,

[45:20] » yes. >> Motion carries.

[45:25] » Brings us to item 6B, a resolution recognizing the month of September 2026

[45:30] as Mash National Preparedness Month.

[45:40] Good morning. Jim David Saber, director, Lincoln Lancaster County Emergency

[45:43] Management. When it comes to planning and preparedness, that's a message that

[45:47] I share with everybody, every opportunity I get. But I certainly

[45:50] welcome the county board's consideration of the resolution before you this

[45:54] morning. Um, anything I can do to emphasize that, uh, to leverage that

[45:59] moving forward so people make simple plans to minimize the chance that

[46:03] they'll be negatively impacted. The graphics that I'm showing are the ones

[46:06] that have been adopted by the Department of Homeland Security to promote this

[46:11] year's uh theme of Americans stand ready. And then as we work our way

[46:16] through the month, there are weekly themes. It's not new information. It's

[46:21] just emphasizing, reinforcing the information that's already out there.

[46:25] So, as I said, I I try to promote simple information, give people good

[46:29] information that allows them to make good decisions that will hopefully uh

[46:33] end in good results. So, I I appreciate your consideration of the resolution

[46:38] before you this morning. >> Again, this is important to our

[46:43] community, isn't it? >> Absolutely.

[46:44] » Any questions for Thanks.

[46:49] » We have a motion. >> Move approval.

[46:51] » Second. We have a motion and a second to approve this resol important resolution.

[46:56] Please call the role. >> Johnson,

[46:57] » yes. >> Flower,

[46:59] » yes. >> Schulty,

[47:00] » yes. >> Yokum,

[47:01] » yes. >> Motion carries.

[47:06] » 6 C. A resolution in the matter of authorizing the county clerk to issue

[47:10] payments while the county board is adjourned.

[47:12] » Move approval. >> Second.

[47:14] » We have a motion and a second to approve. Please call the role.

[47:17] » Flower? >> Yes.

[47:18] » Shelton? >> Yes.

[47:19] » Johnson? >> Yep.

[47:20] » Yokam. Yes. >> Motion carries.

[47:24] 6 D. Resolution in the matter of approving the Lancaster County fiscal

[47:28] budget for fiscal year of July 1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027.

[47:33] All right. Dennis Meyer, Lancaster County Budget and Fiscal Officer.

[47:38] Today is just kind of I'd like to say our final step, but we've still got a

[47:45] couple couple more. But, um, today the resolution is to adopt the budget.

[47:52] And, um, I'm going to pull the resolution up here

[48:01] so that you can kind of see in this resolution, we kind of note changes from

[48:08] the budget hearing that was held last week. So, last week at the budget

[48:12] hearing, we talked about a lot of different things. The one item that came

[48:17] up was the discussion of the allowable growth piece. Moving from 4 point or

[48:24] moving from my projection of 1.6 to 2.26% 26%

[48:31] which then would allow the county to bump up to um a 3.99%

[48:40] increase [snorts] in property tax, which would still

[48:46] leave us out of what I always refer to as the pink postcard meeting. And I know

[48:50] me and Christa kind of talked a little bit about pink postcard. Just to remind

[48:54] everybody, uh that is the joint public hearing for any school, city, or county

[49:03] that um does not levy within a 2% plus growth number. Um there's a there's

[49:10] another hearing for that. This would keep us out of that. So, um that was

[49:16] kind of the goal from the beginning. The adoption of this budget maintains that

[49:21] goal. So, what's on here is um increasing the general fund property tax

[49:29] by 402,000 and from last week's discussion was increasing the

[49:33] contingency piece um knowing that we've got the spending

[49:38] authority there as the board figures out what what they actually want to do with

[49:45] that.

[49:50] » Any questions? I think you and your team should be

[49:53] really proud of this was another heavy lift and it's taken, you know, half a

[49:58] year to build this thing and you've done a really excellent job. I'm really

[50:01] pleased with this. I think we can all hold our head high not having to go to

[50:05] the pink postcard meeting. I think we can all [snorts] hold our head high

[50:09] knowing that we've been responsible stewards of, you know, taxpayer

[50:14] resources. So, I'm I'm I'm very pleased with this budget. It's it it feels a lot

[50:18] better to be where we're at now with this budget than what we did a year ago.

[50:22] » Absolutely. >> I Dennis, I did talk to you about one

[50:27] little change I wanted to make. I'm just curious. So, I I want to make sure that

[50:32] the traffic study, transportation traffic study is paid not paid for out

[50:37] of the building fund, which was where it was originally proposed to come out of.

[50:41] Said I'd rather be paid for out of the contingency fund. How should I do that

[50:45] before we make a motion? And how would you like me to address that particular?

[50:49] » Well, I I think I think for the from my standpoint, I think it can be done

[50:54] either way. The the reason we're setting it up this way is that

[51:00] » discussions can still be held by the county board on what they want to do

[51:04] with that. >> Um,

[51:06] » we already have the spending authority in the contingency fund. So, if it's

[51:09] there, we can do it whenever. >> Okay.

[51:11] » Which I'm not saying don't. I'm just Yeah,

[51:14] » you can do it now. You can do it next week. You can do it whenever. I and the

[51:16] reason I just I didn't I wasn't didn't have a chance to be here Thursday to

[51:19] really make my case for that. But the reason I want to do it is our building

[51:22] fund. We've got some major things pending with our building fund. Uh

[51:26] specifically around some of the engineer facility study stuff we've been talking

[51:30] about of needing to upgrade or replace some buildings that are

[51:37] very old and can't even hold the equipment we're about ready to buy

[51:41] because they were built so long ago. They're not large enough. So, I really

[51:45] want to protect that building fund so that we can um

[51:50] so we can be able to make some adjustments to those facilities so we

[51:54] can rightly store our equipment. So, that's that's where my interest in that

[51:58] comes. >> Yeah. And and and from my standpoint, I

[52:02] think that discussion can take place um throughout this budget year. Okay.

[52:09] » And so, I don't think it has to be a final decision right now. Yeah. Okay.

[52:17] So, that will come up then when like >> um

[52:21] » I stay ahead of it because it's easy to lose track of

[52:23] » Yeah. I mean I I think um what what I would say is we still have to to hold a

[52:29] hearing to set our final property tax request. What I would say it would come

[52:34] up uh and that's got to be all done before September 30th. So, I would say

[52:38] it would probably it could very well happen in uh in October. [clears throat]

[52:43] » Okay. I I mean I'm very excited about this

[52:47] budget for the most part. I think it does a lot of things. It does keep us in

[52:51] the right in the right lane as far as the the growth cap and stuff like that.

[52:55] One area that I am concerned about and has continued to come up over and over

[52:58] is the engineers budget and questions as to whether or not that budget is growing

[53:03] fast enough to keep up with demand to accomplish our strategic plan of paving

[53:07] some roads uh that need to be paved. I think there's legitimate concerns as to

[53:14] how much is the budget actually growing because we are rolling over a bunch of

[53:19] incumbrances. So, it's easy for us to say, "Hey, well, we're giving them more

[53:22] than they had last year, but a million of that is actually just we're rolling

[53:26] our spending authority forward forward to this year." A big chunk of that is.

[53:31] And so, I have a lot of concerns around that particular piece of the budget. I'd

[53:35] really like for us in future budgets to look at prioritizing that piece from our

[53:41] strategic plan. Uh, as well, I am going to vote for this budget, but I do want

[53:46] to be very clear. we do need to prioritize some of the roads and roads

[53:51] issues um in future budgets and specifically next year. Um so I I I

[53:58] recognize there's been a big a lot of conversation around the engineers

[54:01] budget. I know you can slice it multiple different ways, but I do think we are

[54:06] not at the end of the day we are not growing it fast enough to be able to

[54:10] accomplish what's in our strategic plan. That is for sure.

[54:15] Any other questions or concerns?

[54:20] We have a motion. >> I move approval.

[54:23] » Second. >> We have a motion and a second to approve

[54:26] the Lancaster County fiscal budget for fiscal year um July 1, 2026 through

[54:31] 2027. Please call the role. >> Shelty,

[54:35] » yes. >> Johnson,

[54:36] » yes. >> Flardy,

[54:37] » yes. >> Yokum,

[54:38] » yes. >> Motion carries.

[54:42] 6E. a resolution accepting maintenance responsibilities for certain roads

[54:46] located within the Miller Edition. >> Uh good morning again, John Barry,

[54:51] Lancaster County Engineering. Justin Mueller, who is one of the developers

[54:55] for Mueller Edition, came to us probably two to three years ago requesting that

[54:59] the county take over maintenance of this subdivision. Um the subdivision was was

[55:04] originally platted in 2014. Uh you as a board in 2023 passed a resolution about

[55:10] new roadways and subdivisions being private. So unfortunately or

[55:14] fortunately, this one is one of those that's grandfathered in. Um this

[55:18] subdivision is a little bit unique in that the roads here are concrete, you

[55:22] know, so they spend some money to get this right. Um generally when we get a

[55:26] request to go out and the county to take over maintenance, usually the county

[55:30] surveyor, myself or or whoever it was at that time, also we get the road

[55:34] superintendent and we get a couple of our engineers. We go out and we do

[55:38] inspections of the roadways. We just look at the roads. We look at the

[55:41] culverts. We look at any obstructions that are in that roadway. We look at

[55:45] ditches. We do we have a little list of of what we take take. We then send that

[55:50] list to whoever the applicant is. In this case, Mr. Mueller. Um it's taken

[55:54] him about two to three years to go through his list and repair all those

[55:59] items. A couple of weeks ago, Roger Hooenfeld, who is our district

[56:03] superintendent, and myself, we went out and we looked at this subdivision. Um it

[56:07] appears that everything has been completed and now we are he is

[56:11] requesting that Lancaster County take over maintenance of this.

[56:21] [snorts] >> Any questions, comments?

[56:25] » I move approval. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to

[56:29] approve. Please call the role. >> Johnson,

[56:32] » yes. >> Flower,

[56:33] » yes. >> Shelty,

[56:34] » yes. Yokum. >> Yes.

[56:37] » Motion carries. 6F. Recommendations from the purchasing

[56:42] agent on behalf of the county engineer to award and execute purchase orders for

[56:46] the following. Nebraska Machinery Co. for one CAT 4207 backhoe in the amount

[56:52] of $168,32. Nebraska Machinery Company for two 953

[56:58] track loaders in the amount of $673,770. Midwell Turf and Irrigation Co. for one

[57:04] Toro Groundmaster 4000D in the amount of $99,259.95.

[57:10] Bobcat of Lincoln for two Bobcat 185LE air compressors in the amount of

[57:14] $68,700. Anderson Ford for two 2027 or newer Ford

[57:20] F-150 4x4 Super Cab pickup trucks in the amount of $90,984.

[57:26] Anderson Ford for one 2027 or newer Ford F350 4x4 regular cab pickup truck in the

[57:31] amount of $71,671. And finally, truck center companies for

[57:36] four 2026 or newer cab chassis only with accessories in the amount of 5,800,

[57:43] excuse me, $584,94.

[57:47] Pam Dingman, Lancaster County Engineer. Uh so to just start at the top of this

[57:53] list of seven, um our uh our current uh and we call this our little backhoe.

[58:00] This is our little rubber tired low uh load uh backhoe um pad has experienced

[58:06] engine failure and so it was about 20 years old. So this replaces that

[58:10] machine. Um the Nebraska machinery for the track loaders, our two track loaders

[58:15] in this case are from 2005. Um so this will replace those.

[58:21] um our uh Toro groundmaster mower. And so we have 12 facilities as well as we

[58:29] mow uh our own main campus um to include the area around the sheriff's building

[58:34] and the extension building. Uh we had bought a mower about 10 years ago as

[58:40] surplus from parks. We looked for a surplus mower. Again, um recently, uh

[58:46] while looking at 98 Street, um on the PES property, I noticed they had about

[58:52] 10 of these new mowers. And I have to say, I was like super envious. Um in in

[58:57] this case, we were not able to find a used mower. So, uh this would replace uh

[59:02] that uh mower, which is um no longer in good running condition. Uh the Bobcat uh

[59:09] for the two air compressors replaces two air compressors uh that are from the

[59:13] 1990s. The um Anderson Ford replaces two

[59:19] trucks. Uh we had bought uh surplus police uh vehicles from LPD because they

[59:27] um they put those up for internal sale at a much lower mileage rate. Um they

[59:33] still have some good miles left in them. Uh however, we had one last month that

[59:37] started on fire, which is not awesome, and another one that has a failing

[59:42] engine. Uh these two trucks will replace those for our inspectors. It's very

[59:46] important for them to be able to get out to site in a timely way. Um and then, um

[59:52] the Ford uh 350 is for our grading crew, and it replaces um a truck that also is

[1:00:00] having extreme mechanical issues. We have not been having good luck with

[1:00:03] these trucks lately. And then lastly, um the truck center

[1:00:07] trucks for uh 2026 or newer chassis only. And so uh you'll be re you'll be

[1:00:15] seeing a another item to upfit these trucks with plows and all the gear that

[1:00:21] they need in order to uh move rock and snow. So, um we are going with a

[1:00:28] different upfitter in the future because we have had a lot of delivery issues

[1:00:33] with the seven trucks. Uh three of which we ordered in uh four of which we

[1:00:38] ordered in 2024 and three of which we ordered in 2025

[1:00:42] uh have still yet to be delivered to us. Um, that being said, I am very concerned

[1:00:48] about our truck fleet going into the winter and I'm hopeful that we can um

[1:00:53] get some trucks delivered so that we can start um uh not worrying about the

[1:00:58] mechanical issues of our trucks as much as we have the last couple years.

[1:01:07] » Sounds good. Thanks for doing what you can to keep our roads in good condition

[1:01:13] and make some improvements, too. I move approval.

[1:01:16] » Second. We have a motion and a second to approve. Please call the role.

[1:01:21] » Johnson, >> yes.

[1:01:22] » Flity, >> yes.

[1:01:23] » Shulty, >> yes.

[1:01:24] » Yogurt, >> yes.

[1:01:26] » Motion carries. 6G,

[1:01:31] authorizing Daniel J. Z, Chief Deputy County Attorney, to sign an engagement

[1:01:35] letter with Great Plains Appraisal Service for Appraisal Services.

[1:01:39] » Move approval. >> Second. We have a motion and a second to

[1:01:42] approve. Please call the role. >> Flower,

[1:01:45] » yes. >> Shelton,

[1:01:46] » yes. >> Johnson,

[1:01:47] » yes. >> Yokum,

[1:01:48] » yes. >> Motion carries. 6H, a memorandum of

[1:01:52] understanding with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services

[1:01:55] and the Lancaster County Attorney's Office regarding death information

[1:01:58] reporting. >> Move approval.

[1:02:02] » Second. >> We have a motion and a second to

[1:02:05] approve. Please call the role. >> Shelton,

[1:02:07] » yes. >> Johnson,

[1:02:08] » yes. >> Flowy,

[1:02:10] » yes. >> Yum.

[1:02:11] » Yes. Motion carries. Brings us to item seven, which is

[1:02:16] reserved for exec session.

[1:02:20] » Uh, I would move we go into executive session at 10:02

[1:02:25] for the purpose of receiving legal advice and to protect the public

[1:02:28] interest. >> Second.

[1:02:30] » We have a motion and a second to go into executive session for legal advice and

[1:02:34] to protect the public interest at 10:02 a.m. Please call the role.

[1:02:39] » Johnson, >> yes. Flower Day,

[1:02:41] » yes. >> Shelty,

[1:02:42] » yes. >> Yokum,

[1:02:43] » yes. >> Motion carries.

[1:02:46] » We are now in executive session for

[1:57:10] move we come out of executive session at 10:57 a.m.

[1:57:13] » Second. >> We have a motion and a second to come

[1:57:15] out of executive session at I don't have my time stamp for me. At 10:57 a.m.

[1:57:22] Please call the role. >> Johnson,

[1:57:25] » yes. >> Flower,

[1:57:26] » yes. >> Schulty,

[1:57:28] » yes. >> Yokam,

[1:57:29] » yes. >> Motion carries.

[1:57:32] The next item is item eight, public comment. Members of the public wishing

[1:57:36] to speak on items relating to county business not on the agenda may do so at

[1:57:39] this time. >> Are there any members of the public

[1:57:41] wishing to speak on items not on the agenda?

[1:57:45] » Seeing none, we may entertain a motion to adjurnn.

[1:57:49] » Move we adjourn. >> We have a motion and a second to

[1:57:53] adjurnn. Seeing no discussion, please call the role.

[1:57:56] » Flower, >> yes.

[1:57:57] » Schulty, >> yep.

[1:57:58] » Johnson, >> yes.

[1:57:59] » Yokum, >> yes. Motion carries

[1:58:12] at the back of the room. The first item on our agenda is approval

[1:58:16] of the minutes for the board of equalization meeting held Tuesday,

[1:58:19] August 18, 2026. >> Move approval.

[1:58:23] » Second. >> We have a motion in a second. Please

[1:58:26] call the role. >> Flower.

[1:58:28] » Yes. >> Schulty.

[1:58:29] » Yeah. Johnson. Yes. Yokum.

[1:58:35] » Motion [snorts] carries. Do you have an agenda? Okay. Next item on the agenda is

[1:58:40] additions and deductions to the tax assessment rules.

[1:58:43] » Approval of the additions and deductions to the tax assessment rules.

[1:58:47] » Second. >> I got it.

[1:58:49] » We have a motion and a second. Please call the role.

[1:58:52] » Shulty. >> Yeah.

[1:58:53] » Johnson. >> Yes.

[1:58:54] » Flower. >> Yes.

[1:58:55] » Motion carries. Next item is appeal of the 2026 special

[1:59:01] green belt valuation.

[1:59:06] » Move approval. >> Uh,

[1:59:07] » we got >> Oh, sorry.

[1:59:09] » Please come. >> Sorry.

[1:59:10] » Yep. >> I didn't I was I was just reading it.

[1:59:12] » Yeah. >> The number of times I've done that.

[1:59:16] » Hi, Brian Grim, Lancaster County Assessor Register of Deeds. I was

[1:59:19] looking through the information on this and I just kind of wanted to make a

[1:59:22] clarification. uh the property owner didn't believe that the improvement

[1:59:27] value could go up if his land value goes down. That's why they were protesting

[1:59:31] this and I want to clarify how that happens.

[1:59:36] If you use a straight market regression analysis or a cost approach that would

[1:59:41] be very valid, but we use a sales comp approach which makes adjustments. So

[1:59:47] anytime you have a change on that subject, the

[1:59:52] three comps also make adjustments. So in this case, what it did, and it's treated

[1:59:57] the same way on this property as every other property in Lancaster County, it

[2:00:02] made more adjustment on the improvement side. And then what it does is through

[2:00:06] the calculation process, it's weighted. It moved the improvement up a little bit

[2:00:11] more than what it was. and then it splits off the land from the

[2:00:15] improvement. So just wanted to make a clarification is that's how how that can

[2:00:20] happen.

[2:00:24] » So you're you're just telling us you're not making any adjustment to the

[2:00:29] recommendation. No, that I would say the the value that

[2:00:34] the county put on it was was equalized because if they would have had that

[2:00:38] special valuation at the beginning of the year, this is exactly how it would

[2:00:42] have been calculated. >> Okay.

[2:00:45] » All right. Thank you.

[2:00:55] So, >> so do we are you recommending

[2:00:59] that we approve the appeal or deny the appeal

[2:01:03] » because it's an appeal? Those always those can throw me off sometimes.

[2:01:10] » What I would recommend at this point is to deny the pe the appeal.

[2:01:14] » Deny the appeal. >> Yes.

[2:01:20] And you just sounds like you've been talking to him. You feel like the

[2:01:23] landowner understands your position on that.

[2:01:27] » I am not 100% certain if the land owner if if or the property owner if they

[2:01:33] understand the process of how it was arrived. Yes, he did receive green belt

[2:01:39] status. So his land value went down >> down. But then when you recalculate that

[2:01:45] and you're going through that calculation process, the three comps and

[2:01:50] they're the same comps, but they start making different adjustments because the

[2:01:54] overall value has changed. So now it's compensating a little bit more on the

[2:01:59] improvement side. >> Oh, okay. So it just fixed the

[2:02:03] » Yep. So, it's going for that an overall weighted a total overall value and then

[2:02:08] it splits that land value out >> it when we've lowered their valuation.

[2:02:13] » It It's probably pretty uncommon. >> Okay. So, I would

[2:02:18] move to deny the appeal. >> Second.

[2:02:21] » Have a motion and a second. Uh, any discussion?

[2:02:25] » See none, please call the role. Johnson, >> yes.

[2:02:28] » Flower Day, >> yes.

[2:02:29] » Schulty, >> yes.

[2:02:30] » Motion carries. The next item is a public hearing. Motor

[2:02:34] vehicle tax exemption applications for Lincoln Christian Fellowship, Neighbors

[2:02:39] United, Women and Community Service Incorporated, Sisters of Mary, Queen of

[2:02:43] Mercy, the Bridge Behavioral Health Incorporated, and the American Legion.

[2:02:48] Are there any members of the public here wishing to speak on these motor vehicle

[2:02:52] tax exemption applications?

[2:02:57] Seeing none, uh, >> you can just close the hearing.

[2:03:02] » We'll close the public hearing. >> So, the next item is item five, the

[2:03:06] public hearing action item for the motor vehicle tax exemption applications.

[2:03:10] » Move approval. Move approval of the motor vehicle tax exemption

[2:03:13] applications. >> Second.

[2:03:15] » We have a motion and a second. Please call the role. Johnson,

[2:03:18] » yes. >> Flower,

[2:03:20] » yes. >> Schulty,

[2:03:21] » yes. >> Motion carries. The next item is public

[2:03:24] comment. Members of the public wishing to speak on items relating to county

[2:03:27] board of equalization business not on the agenda may do so at this time. Are

[2:03:32] there any members of the public wishing to make comment?

[2:03:39] None. We can our next agenda item. Next item is adjournment.

[2:03:44] » Approval or move to adjourn. Second. >> We have a motion and a second. Please

[2:03:49] call the role. Flower. >> Yes.

[2:03:51] » Shulty. >> Yeah.

[2:03:52] » Johnson. >> Yes. Motion carries.

Lancaster County Board of Commissioners Meeting September 1, 2026

Transcript