[16:32] Are we up? Okay. Good afternoon

[16:34] everybody. Welcome to the Sarpie County

[16:36] Board of Equalization meeting. Today is

[16:39] August 18, 2026. It is uh 3:00.

[16:44] Um, anyone wishing to address the uh

[16:47] board during open public comments or on

[16:50] a specific end agenda item, we ask you

[16:52] to sign in with our the clerk sitting to

[16:54] my left in the front here. And uh if

[16:58] you're interested in the uh Nebraska

[17:01] Opens Meeting Act, we have a copy

[17:03] available if you so request it. Um, in

[17:07] attendance today we have all five

[17:08] commissioners, our um, county

[17:11] administrator, our county assessor, our

[17:14] county treasurer, and our county clerk.

[17:18] If you haven't silenced your phones

[17:19] already, which I haven't.

[17:22] Um, please do so. And let's stand for

[17:24] the pledge of

[17:25] >> allegiance

[17:31] to the flag of the United States of

[17:33] America and to the republic for which it

[17:36] stands. One nation under God,

[17:39] indivisible, with liberty and justice

[17:41] for all.

[17:51] Does anybody wish to come forward and

[17:52] address the board?

[17:55] Okay, not seeing anybody come this way.

[17:58] We'll get right into the consent agenda.

[18:01] Uh we have four items on there today.

[18:04] And unless any of the commissioners want

[18:06] to see that moved, uh an item moved to

[18:10] the regular agenda, I'll take a motion

[18:12] to approve

[18:13] as published.

[18:15] Motion to approve.

[18:17] >> Second.

[18:18] » Second.

[18:18] >> Okay. I have a motion by Commissioner

[18:19] » Okay. I have a motion by Commissioner

[18:19] Warren and a second um by Commissioner

[18:22] Kug. Uh any further discussion?

[18:26] Please vote.

[18:30] >> Motion passed.

[18:32] » Motion passed.

[18:32] >> Okay.

[18:34] » Okay.

[18:34] I did not see ma'am. I did not I don't

[18:37] think your item was on the consent

[18:38] agenda. I think it's on the regular

[18:40] >> Yeah, it is.

[18:43] » Yeah, it is.

[18:43] >> So, just stand by. Okay. Don't leave

[18:45] » So, just stand by. Okay. Don't leave

[18:45] yet.

[18:50] Okay. Um, item 6.1 on the regular agenda

[18:54] are tax corrections

[18:56] 17998 to 18,000.

[19:00] Dan Pitman. Any questions for Dan on

[19:03] these? Motion, please.

[19:05] >> Motion to approve.

[19:07] » Motion to approve.

[19:07] >> Second.

[19:08] » Second.

[19:08] >> Motion by Commissioner Mixon, second by

[19:10] » Motion by Commissioner Mixon, second by

[19:10] Commissioner Burmeister. Any further

[19:11] discussion? Please vote.

[19:18] Motion passed.

[19:19] >> Okay. The last item is 6.2 um homestead

[19:22] » Okay. The last item is 6.2 um homestead

[19:22] exemption rejection form 458R Rachel

[19:26] Bone for lot 640 Le Vista Replat partial

[19:29] 010558063.

[19:33] Uh protest Rachel Bone is the applicant.

[19:42] Annie from the county attorney's office.

[19:45] >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Um the

[19:47] » Good afternoon, commissioners. Um the

[19:47] assessor's office has reached out to

[19:48] Miss Bone. Um they've provided her with

[19:50] the documentation necessary that she'll

[19:52] need to have her physician fill out for

[19:53] the extension for the homestead

[19:55] exemption application. So, if we could

[19:57] table this

[19:59] two weeks, please.

[20:01] >> Two weeks. Okay. Motion to table for two

[20:04] » Two weeks. Okay. Motion to table for two

[20:04] weeks.

[20:04] >> Second.

[20:06] » Second.

[20:06] >> Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner

[20:08] » Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner

[20:08] U.

[20:10] A motion by Commissioner Warren, a

[20:12] second by Commissioner Mixon.

[20:14] Uh, any further discussion?

[20:18] » Please vote.

[20:22] >> Motion passed.

[20:27] » So before we adjourn, uh, Annie, could

[20:30] you come forward? Was her item on the

[20:33] agenda?

[20:35] Yes, it was one of the homestead

[20:36] exemptions on consent.

[20:39] >> Oh, well then I misspoke.

[20:41] » Oh, well then I misspoke.

[20:41] Congratulations, ma'am.

[20:44] >> Okay. Um, all items having been

[20:46] » Okay. Um, all items having been

[20:46] addressed as published, the uh uh Board

[20:49] of Equalization is adjourned.

[20:56] Okay. Welcome to the Sarpie County Board

[20:58] of Commissioners meeting. Today is uh

[21:01] August 18th, 2026. It's 3:05 p.m. Uh, a

[21:06] copy of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act uh

[21:09] is available upon request and uh if you

[21:12] wish to address the board either during

[21:15] um the open comment period at the

[21:17] beginning here or on any specific agenda

[21:19] item, check in uh with our county clerk.

[21:23] Um all five commissioners are present

[21:25] along with our administrator and our

[21:28] county clerk. Uh, commissioners, uh,

[21:30] comments?

[21:34] » No comments. Thank you.

[21:36] >> None. Thank you.

[21:37] » None. Thank you.

[21:37] >> No comment.

[21:38] » No comment.

[21:38] >> No comments.

[21:39] » No comments.

[21:39] >> None. Okay. Um,

[21:44] » None. Okay. Um,

[21:44] nothing, Bonnie.

[21:45] >> No comment. Thank you.

[21:46] » No comment. Thank you.

[21:46] >> Okay, great. Um, does anybody want to

[21:50] » Okay, great. Um, does anybody want to

[21:50] come forward and address the board

[21:51] before I get rolling here?

[21:54] Okay, then we'll get right into the

[21:56] consent agenda.

[21:58] Uh we have uh eight items on the consent

[22:01] agenda today. Unless any of the

[22:03] commissioners want to see one of those

[22:04] items discussed on the regular agenda,

[22:07] I'll take a motion to approve as

[22:08] published.

[22:09] >> Motion to approve.

[22:10] » Motion to approve.

[22:10] >> Second.

[22:11] » Second.

[22:11] >> I have a motion by Commissioner Warren,

[22:13] » I have a motion by Commissioner Warren,

[22:13] a second by Commissioner Kug. Any uh

[22:15] comments?

[22:16] Please vote.

[22:20] » Motion passed.

[22:21] >> Okay. On the uh planning and uh zoning

[22:24] » Okay. On the uh planning and uh zoning

[22:24] agenda, we have two items. I'll read

[22:26] them both in the record. will have one

[22:28] public hearing and two separate votes.

[22:30] Item 6.1 is a hearing in on resolution

[22:34] 232 which is reszoning from AG

[22:36] agricultural farming district to RE2

[22:39] residential states 2 district for a

[22:41] subdivision to be known as lot one RIA

[22:44] Lake Homestead generally located

[22:46] northwest of 111th Street and uh Buffalo

[22:50] Road. The applicant is Linda uh

[22:52] Schulting and the briefer will be Robert

[22:55] Laroko, our planning director. Item 6.2

[22:59] is a on the same uh parcel and property

[23:03] and it's the preliminary plat Robert.

[23:07] Thank you, Mr. Chair. Good afternoon,

[23:08] commissioners.

[23:12] Right. So, um, before you this afternoon

[23:14] is a resoning and preliminary plat for

[23:17] Rio Lake Homestead located northwest

[23:19] 111th and Buffalo Road consisting of

[23:22] 77.62 acres developed with an existing

[23:26] single family residence on the site

[23:27] today. Um,

[23:29] uh, with a number of outuildings and Rio

[23:32] Lake comprises the majority of of this

[23:35] the parcel. Take a look here. Zoom in

[23:38] for you a little bit on the vicinity

[23:41] map. You can see the area that we're

[23:43] specifically platting today is this area

[23:45] here. The majority of the site is Rio

[23:47] Lake. The applicant is proposing the

[23:50] creation of a single 3.721

[23:53] acre lot that comprises the existing

[23:55] residence and the field south and east

[23:58] of the house. There are no new or

[24:00] expanded structures being proposed as

[24:02] part of this request.

[24:05] Um

[24:07] uh based on the size of the lot, the

[24:08] applicant is proposing to reszone the

[24:10] new lot from AG agricultural farming

[24:12] district uh to RE2 residential estates

[24:15] to district. I should note here that the

[24:17] the balance of the parcel that's

[24:20] comprises Rio lake would remain as is

[24:22] and unplatted is not included within the

[24:25] boundary of this plat.

[24:31] get you a look at the plat proposed lot

[24:34] lines here. Um, as I noted, one lot

[24:37] comprising the existing residents. The

[24:40] um, out buildings would remain on the

[24:42] outlot um, which would be allowed. This

[24:45] request was initially recommended for

[24:47] approval uh, by the planning commission

[24:49] at their September 16th, 2025 meeting.

[24:52] As a part of that uh approval, the

[24:55] entire property, we should note, was

[24:56] located within an entire environmentally

[24:58] sensitive area. Um the subdivision would

[25:00] typically need to designate at least 40%

[25:02] of the total site in a protected outlot.

[25:06] And the planning commission's

[25:07] recommendation included a condition to

[25:08] create that outlot prior to bringing

[25:10] that forward to uh the commission or the

[25:14] board, excuse me.

[25:17] The applicant has since submitted an

[25:18] evaluation um signed and sealed by a

[25:21] registered professional engineer that

[25:23] notes that the land that's located

[25:24] within the boundary of the plat isn't

[25:26] actually uh or does not meet the

[25:28] conditions or requirements for an

[25:30] environmentally sensitive area that are

[25:31] outlined in the comprehensive plan. Um

[25:34] so taking a look at that evaluation the

[25:36] department felt that that was accurate

[25:38] and and represented. As you can see, um,

[25:41] the vast majority of the area that's

[25:42] being platted is located within

[25:44] rorowcrop or it's in rorowcrop today.

[25:46] Um, typically wouldn't be considered

[25:47] environmentally sensitive. So, the

[25:50] department is comfortable with that

[25:51] evaluation, agrees that the land does

[25:53] not meet the conditions that are

[25:54] identified in the comprehensive plan.

[25:55] So, um, we've revised our recommendation

[25:58] to remove that condition of approval for

[25:59] you today. Um the with regards to the

[26:03] resoning, the RE2 district is the

[26:05] appropriate zoning district for the

[26:06] residential estates land use designation

[26:10] should note uh just a couple things of

[26:12] note here. The property is located

[26:13] within a flood plane. So any future

[26:15] development that they should go uh go

[26:17] after. It would need to be in compliance

[26:19] with flood plane development regulations

[26:21] including elevation of the structure and

[26:24] um would comply with all other Sarpie

[26:27] County flood plane regulations.

[26:30] Given uh that um staff is recommending

[26:33] the approval of the reszoning from AG to

[26:36] RE2 district along with approval of the

[26:39] preliminary plat of Rio Lake Homestead

[26:42] subject to the conditions noted in the

[26:43] recommendation report. Staff is

[26:45] available for questions at this time.

[26:50] » So this I'm sorry, Robert, this didn't

[26:52] go back to the planning commission on

[26:54] the environmentally sensitive issue.

[26:56] >> It did not. Um

[26:59] » It did not. Um

[26:59] we felt that

[27:01] the the condition of approval um

[27:05] we wanted to they needed to demonstrate

[27:07] that that was environmentally sensitive

[27:09] and since they were able to demonstrate

[27:10] that it wasn't um we're comfortable with

[27:13] allowing the plat to go forward without

[27:14] that condition of approval.

[27:16] >> Thank you.

[27:17] » Thank you.

[27:17] >> So essentially we're just taking one

[27:20] » So essentially we're just taking one

[27:20] farm site and dividing into two separate

[27:22] lots so we can build a second structure

[27:25] second home. Uh I think the purposes of

[27:28] the plat were um just for transfer. Uh

[27:30] so the existing the lot one that's being

[27:32] approved or that's presented here for

[27:34] you today um would remain as is the

[27:37] structure. Um the balance of the parcel

[27:39] would remain unplatted and would just

[27:41] comprise the lake and the out or the out

[27:43] buildings, excuse me.

[27:45] >> Okay.

[27:45] » Okay.

[27:45] >> But I'm not aware of any new structure

[27:47] » But I'm not aware of any new structure

[27:47] that's being proposed.

[27:48] >> Okay. But this would allow a second

[27:51] » Okay. But this would allow a second

[27:51] structure right

[27:52] >> on the outlot. Um no I think

[27:56] » on the outlot. Um no I think

[27:56] in order for them to gain building

[27:58] rights for a new residential use on that

[28:00] outlot, they would need to plat that as

[28:01] well.

[28:02] >> So that lot one's an out lot.

[28:05] » So that lot one's an out lot.

[28:05] >> Uh this lot here, lot one

[28:08] » Uh this lot here, lot one

[28:08] >> is a regular residentially zoned

[28:11] » is a regular residentially zoned

[28:11] >> Okay.

[28:11] » Okay.

[28:11] >> lot. The balance

[28:13] » lot. The balance

[28:13] >> that encompasses the existing home right

[28:15] » that encompasses the existing home right

[28:15] now, right?

[28:16] >> That's correct.

[28:16] » That's correct.

[28:16] >> I gotcha. Okay.

[28:19] » I gotcha. Okay.

[28:19] >> Is the applicant here?

[28:22] » Is the applicant here?

[28:22] Could

[28:28] you state your name for the record,

[28:30] please?

[28:30] >> Randy Kush with Lampern, 14710 West

[28:33] » Randy Kush with Lampern, 14710 West

[28:33] Dodge Road, Omaha, Nebraska. Um, I'm

[28:35] with Lampernerson Civil Engineer on

[28:37] behalf of the applicant. The applicant

[28:39] wasn't able to be here today. Um, but if

[28:41] you if I might add um just related to

[28:44] the reasoning for this plat um the

[28:46] applicant is basically setting up for uh

[28:50] estate planning. Um, there are some

[28:52] family that live in that house currently

[28:55] and as that property would move into a

[28:57] trust, they're just trying to plan that

[28:59] ahead so that there won't be hiccups

[29:01] with how that property transfer would

[29:03] happen in the future and make that messy

[29:04] through any sort of inheritance process.

[29:07] So, the intent is simply to pull that

[29:10] lot, pull that house out of the larger

[29:13] area of the lot um to make that transfer

[29:17] easier in the future.

[29:19] Okay.

[29:21] Great. Thank you. Any questions?

[29:24] Okay. Anybody else want to address the

[29:26] uh the board on this?

[29:29] >> Okay. Then I'll close the public

[29:30] » Okay. Then I'll close the public

[29:30] hearings and uh we'll take a motion on

[29:32] the the first item which is the uh

[29:36] reasonzoning.

[29:37] >> Motion to approve.

[29:38] » Motion to approve.

[29:38] >> Second.

[29:39] » Second.

[29:39] >> Um motion by Commissioner Warren, second

[29:41] » Um motion by Commissioner Warren, second

[29:42] by Commissioner Kug. Uh any further

[29:44] discussion?

[29:45] Please vote.

[29:49] Motion passed.

[29:51] >> Okay. Uh on the preliminary plot.

[29:56] » Okay. Uh on the preliminary plot.

[29:56] >> Motion to approve.

[29:57] » Motion to approve.

[29:57] >> Second.

[29:58] » Second.

[29:58] >> Motion by Commissioner Clug, second by

[30:00] » Motion by Commissioner Clug, second by

[30:00] Commissioner Burmeister. Any discussion?

[30:04] >> Please vote.

[30:07] » Please vote.

[30:07] >> Motion passed.

[30:08] » Motion passed.

[30:08] >> Okay. Two items on the regular agenda.

[30:10] » Okay. Two items on the regular agenda.

[30:10] The first item is a public hearing and

[30:11] resolution 224. Sarpie County 1 and six

[30:15] uh year road program for 2027 through uh

[30:19] 2032.

[30:21] Scott Bovvic uh deputy chief

[30:24] administrative officer and probably Zack

[30:27] Kergen Raider

[30:29] County Engineer. Scott,

[30:32] [cough]

[30:38] thank you. Commissioners, um, as you

[30:40] know, each year the county is required

[30:42] to hold a public hearing on the one and

[30:45] six year row program and then adopt the

[30:47] one and sixy year row program the week

[30:49] before the budget hearing which is next

[30:51] week for you. Um, so this year um, we're

[30:54] here to to talk through this, hold a

[30:56] public hearing, answer any questions you

[30:57] have, and then um, have the budget next

[31:00] week. And so, um, if you remember back

[31:03] in spring of 2024, the county board held

[31:06] a retreat and we talked about what we

[31:08] called the next wave of construction of

[31:09] road projects. At that time, the

[31:12] [clears throat] board started talking

[31:13] about key projects, also talking about

[31:17] uh, building towards a uh, bond issue in

[31:21] middle of 2026 to help finance the

[31:23] construction of those projects. And so,

[31:25] two years later, here we are. Um,

[31:27] exciting time. I know you know already

[31:29] know about the uh bond issue and um the

[31:32] the uh great rate that we got on that

[31:35] and can answer questions as we go

[31:36] through. So this one and six program is

[31:40] 325 million. It's over the next six

[31:42] years. It's funded from ongoing existing

[31:44] revenue sources along with the $200

[31:46] million bond issue which the proceeds of

[31:48] that will be delivered in the beginning

[31:50] of September.

[31:52] At the March 2024 retreat, the board

[31:55] directed staff to change our debt limit

[31:58] policy to authorize uh debt service,

[32:00] annual debt service up to 100% of

[32:02] highway allocation. We match, we meet

[32:04] that with this bond issuance. And then I

[32:07] would just remind the board of two

[32:09] things. Any state and federal funds that

[32:11] we obtain that we should be aggressive

[32:13] and trying to obtain will either offset

[32:15] or supplement this program. And then the

[32:18] last thing is as we're walking through

[32:20] this these key projects, you'll see that

[32:22] the next 24 months are very intense on

[32:25] construction. Um about 200 million of

[32:27] the 325 million is construction outlay

[32:30] in the next 24 months.

[32:34] Here's a list of the key projects. We'll

[32:36] walk through each of them briefly.

[32:38] Obviously, signature project that's

[32:40] under construction right now, the South

[32:41] Sarpie Expressway. Uh 82 million is

[32:44] allocated to the expressway. that

[32:46] includes construction engineering of the

[32:48] current uh stretch of the project. Then

[32:51] we also have money set aside for ongoing

[32:53] planning design of future segments of

[32:56] the corridor. We also think it's

[32:58] important to have money allocated for

[32:59] interim improvements as those come up

[33:01] along the um entire uh Platview existing

[33:05] Platview Road corridor. Another emerging

[33:09] project, the interchange project. Uh

[33:11] getting a new interchange is probably

[33:13] once in a 20 to 30 year kind of thing.

[33:16] Um we're benefiting from that. This

[33:18] project is the interchange is underway.

[33:20] Our responsibility was to get paved

[33:21] roads to that. So if you look at the

[33:24] map, those orange uh um segments called

[33:27] out will actually attach that

[33:28] interchange to other existing pavement

[33:31] and that part of the county. Greta's a

[33:33] partner on this. In terms of funding, we

[33:36] expect uh most the majority of that to

[33:39] be completed in spring of 2028, 24

[33:41] months away.

[33:43] >> Can I ask a question about that?

[33:45] » Can I ask a question about that?

[33:45] >> So, how how long we'll use arterial

[33:48] » So, how how long we'll use arterial

[33:48] street improvement program uh funding to

[33:51] pay for some of that or

[33:53] >> and how how many years do we collect

[33:55] » and how how many years do we collect

[33:55] that?

[33:56] >> Um we collect [clears throat] arterial

[33:57] » Um we collect [clears throat] arterial

[33:57] street improvement program funding, ASIP

[33:59] fees in areas that are our planning

[34:02] jurisdiction. So that is a a part of our

[34:04] funding, but it's a small part. What um

[34:07] is a larger part of the funding for this

[34:10] is direct contributions from development

[34:12] as they come in. And so if you look at a

[34:15] a total spend of 38 million, I estimate

[34:18] that the county's net cost once all

[34:20] those developments happen and contribute

[34:23] that our net cost will be about 15

[34:25] million.

[34:26] >> Okay. So, we're really pioneering these

[34:27] » Okay. So, we're really pioneering these

[34:28] roads out in that part of the county.

[34:29] >> And that's as long as it stays in an

[34:31] » And that's as long as it stays in an

[34:31] extr territorial zoning jurisdiction and

[34:34] not annexation. Correct.

[34:36] >> Uh in our ETJ, not in or in our

[34:39] » Uh in our ETJ, not in or in our

[34:39] jurisdiction, not in a city's ETJ, but a

[34:41] lot of this area is in the city's ETJ.

[34:44] So, the ASUP fees that we collect across

[34:46] the county is very minimal because we

[34:48] have limited jurisdiction.

[34:49] >> And I'd want to show you a map to kind

[34:51] » And I'd want to show you a map to kind

[34:51] of talk through that a little bit, but

[34:53] but uh in in our jurisdiction, we do

[34:54] collect those ASA fees. And I will say

[34:57] um we've had partnerships with the city

[34:59] of Pilion, city of Gretna, city of um

[35:02] Springfield when they've had unique

[35:04] developments come in that they have

[35:05] shared that ASIF uh revenue, their ASIP

[35:08] revenue with the county and that helps

[35:10] to partnerships.

[35:12] >> Thank you.

[35:13] » Thank you.

[35:14] >> And um this is actually a great example

[35:16] » And um this is actually a great example

[35:16] of that. So, uh, some of these roads in

[35:18] this area that's in the area being

[35:21] developed with the first phase of the

[35:23] sewer agencies area, the city of

[35:25] Springfield, um, the fees, ASAP fees

[35:27] they collected from the Facebook

[35:29] developments, they collected, they

[35:31] remitted those to the county to help pay

[35:33] for some of this road network. Um,

[35:35] Pilion and and Greta also have portions

[35:38] of this. Again, 38 million and we expect

[35:40] this to be completed by summer of 2028.

[35:44] Package one under construction. Package

[35:46] two started construction this summer and

[35:48] package three should be out to bid this

[35:50] fall to be constructed over the next 24

[35:52] months.

[35:55] Another uh key project for the Serpy

[35:58] County and some of our partners is 168th

[36:01] Street corridor highway 370 to Harrison

[36:03] Street. Uh Zach and Shane Swope with our

[36:06] consultant talked to you a few weeks ago

[36:08] about this. MAPA has allocated $27

[36:10] million towards this project. We've also

[36:13] re received a determination from

[36:15] Nebraska Department of Transportation

[36:17] that this can be a categorical exclusion

[36:19] from the environmental standpoint.

[36:20] That's the lowest level. So that's

[36:22] really two uh things to jumpstart this

[36:24] project. Also Omaha, City of Omaha has

[36:28] received money from MAPA to look the

[36:30] design of the Harrison Street corridor.

[36:32] So, we're working with them, uh, the

[36:34] city of Omaha, Douglas County, MAPA to

[36:37] make sure that we have alo money

[36:39] allocated for 168th Street and Harrison

[36:41] Street going forward to key corridors.

[36:44] >> So, if you get federal funding, then you

[36:46] » So, if you get federal funding, then you

[36:46] got to go through the NEPA process. Is

[36:48] that right?

[36:49] >> We do have to go through the NEPA

[36:50] » We do have to go through the NEPA

[36:50] process and an environmental impact

[36:53] statement is the highest threshold. Then

[36:55] there's an environmental assessment and

[36:56] then there's a categorical exclusion

[36:58] which essentially means they don't feel

[37:00] like there's any real environmental

[37:02] threats and so that is a benefit of the

[37:05] state.

[37:06] >> So it still costs money though, right?

[37:07] » So it still costs money though, right?

[37:08] You still need an engineering firm to

[37:09] come out and validate that.

[37:12] >> It still costs money and that's just

[37:13] » It still costs money and that's just

[37:13] part of being compliant with federal

[37:15] funds. But now that NDOT is the final

[37:17] arbiter of what the environmental issues

[37:19] are, we think it'll cost us less and go

[37:22] quicker

[37:22] >> because there'll be less environmental

[37:24] » because there'll be less environmental

[37:24] issues.

[37:24] >> Oh, sort of related but unrelated. On

[37:27] » Oh, sort of related but unrelated. On

[37:27] 132nd Plat B Road, we're going through

[37:29] the NEPA process now. Is that for

[37:31] environmental or

[37:32] >> Yep. Yeah. And I believe you get federal

[37:35] » Yep. Yeah. And I believe you get federal

[37:35] money or No,

[37:36] >> that is federally funded um through the

[37:39] » that is federally funded um through the

[37:39] uh Congressional Community Funding Act,

[37:41] but it does follow federal regulations.

[37:44] Olsen is the engineer on that. They

[37:46] they've they're doing the environmental

[37:48] review.

[37:48] >> I saw that.

[37:49] » I saw that.

[37:49] >> Again, categorical exclusion is um you

[37:53] » Again, categorical exclusion is um you

[37:53] know, the the easiest to obtain and

[37:54] that's why when we're thinking about

[37:56] going for federal funding, sometimes

[37:58] it's best to go to those areas where you

[38:00] have the least amount of potential

[38:02] environmental impact.

[38:03] >> Sure.

[38:04] » Sure.

[38:04] >> Thank you.

[38:08] » Northwest Road Network, um which

[38:10] includes Harrison Street that we're

[38:12] working on. This is the that rural area,

[38:15] but it's growing. The Greta High School

[38:17] site um is there working through all

[38:20] those those projects. The last project

[38:22] will be bid um this fall, 225th Street,

[38:25] and that should be completed uh by the

[38:27] end of 2028.

[38:31] And then we think it's important to make

[38:33] sure that the one row program includes

[38:35] money for maintenance and also

[38:37] contingencies, especially when we have

[38:39] such a large amount of capital that

[38:41] we're going to be spending. And so we do

[38:42] allocate 1.5 million a year for bridge

[38:44] program concrete 500,000 for panel

[38:48] repair asphalt overlay arterial streets

[38:51] as you know when developments come up

[38:53] you don't always expect them we need to

[38:54] have some money set aside so we can

[38:56] partner with them when those emerge and

[38:58] then we are carrying a $3 million a year

[39:00] construction contingency should bids

[39:02] come in high or uh project uh you know

[39:04] emergency come up we have some money in

[39:06] there to to utilize

[39:10] and then I do think Um it's important to

[39:13] recognize the team. It takes a team to

[39:15] really deliver $325 million worth of uh

[39:20] road projects. And so um Zach and his

[39:23] team here, they do a great job. A lot of

[39:25] behind thes scenes stuff, a lot of out

[39:26] on site um working with contractors,

[39:29] working with engineering firms. Um and

[39:32] then uh the other team that that helps

[39:34] the rest of the folks GIS one of the

[39:37] great things about this program if you

[39:38] remember years ago we actually had a

[39:40] consultant help us build this document

[39:42] and then over time the GIS department

[39:45] Eric Kriner was able to bring that

[39:46] inhouse. So no cost to us and and Eric

[39:49] has a database. We just plug the numbers

[39:50] in and it it develops the document. So

[39:52] very very streamlined there. And then um

[39:55] obviously you know government partners

[39:56] who we need to continue to work with

[39:58] over the coming years on funding

[40:00] partnerships

[40:02] uh and then private partners. We really

[40:04] have a good relationship with the

[40:06] development community, engineering

[40:08] firms, construction firms. So things um

[40:11] really come together for us to be able

[40:12] to to deliver all these projects for

[40:14] you. Um with that I'm happy to answer

[40:18] any questions. It is a public hearing.

[40:20] Um

[40:21] >> just a couple comments. Okay. When I was

[40:24] » just a couple comments. Okay. When I was

[40:24] looking through the uh the uh it was

[40:27] like 30 projects or so.

[40:28] >> Mhm.

[40:29] » Mhm.

[40:30] >> I was glad to see that we're taking a

[40:32] » I was glad to see that we're taking a

[40:32] look at Giles Road. Uh I think that's in

[40:34] Commissioner Klug's area.

[40:37] >> But I travel it. And uh the other day I

[40:40] » But I travel it. And uh the other day I

[40:40] was uh

[40:42] uh coming from 132nd, which we're also

[40:46] redoing that with two roundabouts. So

[40:48] that's really good because that's a

[40:50] that's a real mousetrap in there. But

[40:53] and I got across Highway 50, 144th

[40:56] Street, and the traffic was blocked all

[41:00] the way to the next

[41:02] 156th Street. And you know, it was rush

[41:05] hour traffic, but that that road is way

[41:08] way um underdeveloped. It needs to be

[41:11] expanded into an arterial. And so it

[41:14] looks like we're going to do a study. Is

[41:16] that what I saw? I think we have 250,000

[41:19] in this year's budget to look at the

[41:20] Giles corridor from Highway 50 to

[41:23] Highway 631.

[41:25] Um there's some development as you know

[41:27] that's occurred on there obviously when

[41:29] we finish the Connect Sarpie project.

[41:31] It's a changing corridor. So we think

[41:33] it's important to get eyes on that and

[41:35] figure out pedestrian improvements uh

[41:38] signalization and then you know any

[41:40] expansion um efforts that we need. So

[41:42] that is in there and once we approve

[41:44] this we'll start the process of getting

[41:46] an engineering firm on board to study

[41:48] that and then yes 132nd in Giles you

[41:52] know we we build we're building a lot of

[41:54] new and replacing a lot of bridges but

[41:56] we also have to look at capacity of

[41:58] existing areas and 132nd in Giles is a

[42:02] an area that we need to get some you

[42:04] know get a expansion done on

[42:06] >> and then uh swinging to the east a

[42:08] » and then uh swinging to the east a

[42:08] little bit. It wasn't in the one and

[42:10] six, but at some point I think we need

[42:12] we've done a really good job of

[42:14] protecting the north south arterials and

[42:16] getting out in front of things out in

[42:17] western part of the county and gyms area

[42:20] out there with the growth and new school

[42:23] and all that stuff going out there. So

[42:25] that's good. But we're I mean and I I

[42:29] don't know if there's a path forward,

[42:30] but we got to try to find a way to

[42:32] correct the sins of the past. If you

[42:34] come down 60th Street, which is a major

[42:37] arterial in Douglas County, and you get

[42:39] to Harrison Street, the road disappears

[42:42] until you get to 370.

[42:44] And uh we've got to find a way because

[42:47] so what happens as a result of that. All

[42:50] these people that are compressed in the

[42:52] Pilion and Western Belleview area have

[42:56] no choice but to go east and west, to go

[42:58] north. And that's just not good for

[43:00] traffic flow. It's not good for uh you

[43:03] know commutes. It's so I think we need

[43:06] to look take a look at trying to find a

[43:09] way to extend Giles Road east and west

[43:12] out of the Vista to connect uh to

[43:14] Belleview and north and south figure out

[43:17] a quarter. It's going to be hard now

[43:19] because there's developments in there.

[43:20] you can't move the developments, but

[43:22] something I would think that kind of um

[43:27] uh runs parallel to the Papio uh Creek

[43:31] uh till you get down to Corn Husker and

[43:33] then maybe can tie back in somehow. Um

[43:36] I I don't know what it looks like, but

[43:38] we need to look at it at least because

[43:41] this it's long past too. I know

[43:43] Commissioner Mixon and I talk about it

[43:45] all the time. How did we ever let this

[43:47] happen? you know,

[43:48] >> it was a future or was a past county

[43:51] » it was a future or was a past county

[43:51] board that let it happen. I mean,

[43:54] unfortunately, but

[43:56] >> I mean, way in the past because

[43:59] » I mean, way in the past because

[43:59] this is it's so critical to look at our

[44:04] roads and then protect that right away.

[44:08] Um, Giles could have easily had been it

[44:11] could have been protected, but they let

[44:14] the developer crisscross it with houses

[44:17] on the furthest part of it down on the

[44:19] west part

[44:20] >> and it just it just took the took the

[44:23] » and it just it just took the took the

[44:23] rideway away.

[44:25] Um,

[44:27] and that

[44:29] because I come up to

[44:31] um I'll come up to Brian High School and

[44:34] I can look west and I can see Giles Road

[44:38] on the other side. And uh it's very

[44:41] frustrating because yes, you're either

[44:43] going down to you're either going north

[44:46] to Harrison or you're going south down

[44:49] to Corn Husker to get any farther west.

[44:52] And and I I I'm glad you bring that up

[44:55] also, Don. The point of uh 60th Street

[44:59] and then obviously we have 66 there, but

[45:04] we we also have uh we have where we need

[45:07] to kind of get 66 punched through.

[45:11] Either that or we come around from the

[45:13] other side and do something. But I think

[45:16] those are I think those are very smart

[45:19] and strategic plans. So,

[45:21] >> yep. And then something we can look at.

[45:23] » yep. And then something we can look at.

[45:23] >> Just one last question. It's kind of

[45:25] » Just one last question. It's kind of

[45:25] financial related. So, we're bonding 200

[45:28] and some million.

[45:29] >> Yep.

[45:30] » Yep.

[45:30] >> How how much wiggle room do we have if

[45:32] » How how much wiggle room do we have if

[45:32] we wanted to accept more risk and bond

[45:34] more roads? Well, one of the So, um, one

[45:39] of the reasons why we've retained our

[45:41] AAA bond rating and got the best rate

[45:45] was as part of that process working with

[45:47] Moody's, we did they did ask us if we

[45:49] have any plans for future bonding, not

[45:51] just roads, but other things, we told

[45:53] them not not for two or three years. And

[45:55] so, that um I think was a a factor in

[45:58] making them comfortable with us

[46:00] retaining that um retaining that rating.

[46:03] Um, we're we're always going to continue

[46:05] to look at where are the other sources

[46:07] of funding we can go to. I think um

[46:10] there's money out there from other

[46:13] funding sources that we need to go be

[46:16] aggressive in obtaining those and build

[46:18] that package for what we'll call the

[46:20] next wave, you know, the 2028 2029 wave.

[46:23] But, um, you know, we we would have to

[46:25] talk offline about, you know, how do we

[46:27] access more bonding? I think at this

[46:30] point we've got this bond issue 200

[46:32] million. We have three years to spend

[46:34] it. We're going to spend it. So we need

[46:36] to talk about what happens in year four

[46:38] or five and where's how do we amass the

[46:42] you know the pot of funds out there to

[46:44] do the next wave of projects.

[46:46] >> Yeah. I mean, with 200 million in

[46:48] » Yeah. I mean, with 200 million in

[46:48] bonding, we're obviously not risk

[46:51] adverse, but I think we got to look for

[46:54] ways to be even more aggressive because

[46:57] all you have to do is look at the

[46:58] landscape what's going on out around

[47:00] Gretina and the the whole county is

[47:04] about ready to blow up now that we've

[47:05] got sewers in most places.

[47:09] uh this area um what east of Highway 50

[47:12] all the way to Belleview to 75 is gonna

[47:15] it's going to grow. It's gonna bring in

[47:18] more and more of a t broaden the tax

[47:20] base. So I

[47:21] >> if there's ways that we can get out in

[47:23] » if there's ways that we can get out in

[47:23] front of it and not have to wait until

[47:25] it's assured. I think the risk is a is a

[47:28] is a it's calculated. And and I would

[47:32] say too, part of the Moody's rating was

[47:35] a commitment not to go get more bonds in

[47:37] the next 24 months, but it but they also

[47:39] told us you're in a healthier financial

[47:41] position than you were the last time you

[47:43] got bonds four years ago. And that's

[47:45] because they see and they understand how

[47:47] when we pioneer a road and and maybe the

[47:50] interchange roads are a good example. uh

[47:53] when we pioneer 40 million of roads, but

[47:56] then all of this area is going to

[47:58] develop and directly contribute to our

[48:01] project that our net cost is 15 million.

[48:04] It just makes really good financial

[48:05] sense. And when we talked to them the

[48:07] first time we did our first bond rating,

[48:09] we talked about the connect project and

[48:11] we actually drew an area and said this

[48:14] area is worth two billion today. And so

[48:16] we were able to go back to them and do

[48:19] that snapshot in 2026 and go now it's 4

[48:22] billion. And so they they they're

[48:24] speaking that language with us. But I

[48:26] think challenge the board and challenge

[48:29] us to go find partners that can bring

[48:32] money to the table and then when we need

[48:34] to go get the next bond issue, maybe

[48:36] that's matching money because we've been

[48:38] able to bring in 50 or $100 million from

[48:41] other sources. So but we'll keep working

[48:43] on that and talking about it and I

[48:46] appreciate it. Before we uh

[48:49] um ask the public to come forward, did

[48:51] you want to add anything, Zach, from the

[48:53] county engineers office?

[48:55] >> Nope, I don't think so. We have a lot of

[48:56] » Nope, I don't think so. We have a lot of

[48:56] new projects on there.

[48:59] >> Okay, Scott.

[49:02] » Okay, Scott.

[49:02] [clears throat]

[49:03] Regarding all the partnerships and then

[49:05] obviously when we have developers

[49:08] contributing back, do you have an

[49:10] estimate? I mean, you had a few of them

[49:12] where you said, "Okay, it's 38 million,

[49:15] but we're it might be our net is 15."

[49:19] Okay. So, all the money that we have in

[49:22] the in the bond issue and everything,

[49:24] when we start getting that money back,

[49:26] do you have an estimate for all that's

[49:28] out there of how much potential could be

[49:32] coming back? And then when that money

[49:35] comes back, does it come back into this

[49:37] program?

[49:39] I don't have an actual number, but when

[49:41] Dan Takes and I generate our our cash

[49:44] flow for the next 20 years years, um, we

[49:47] do have estimates for how much we expect

[49:50] to get each year. I could look at that

[49:51] and tell you as a general rule, I'd say

[49:53] if we're spending 325 million, a

[49:56] conservative estimate would be a third.

[49:58] So 100 million or so is going to be

[50:00] direct financial contributions from the

[50:02] development. And then yes, it goes back

[50:03] into this um pot of money to use for

[50:06] projects or pay for debt or um you know

[50:09] just have cash in there for pay as you

[50:11] go projects

[50:12] >> because what what I'm seeing is what

[50:14] » because what what I'm seeing is what

[50:14] you're showing the total expend

[50:17] >> but that's not the net

[50:19] » but that's not the net

[50:19] >> you're not seeing the revenue side right

[50:21] » you're not seeing the revenue side right

[50:21] and that revenue you have direct

[50:22] contributions from development is a very

[50:24] important part of that

[50:26] >> maybe 8 to 10 million a year and then

[50:28] » maybe 8 to 10 million a year and then

[50:28] the highway allocation is the other

[50:30] important part that's about you you

[50:32] know, 18 to 20 million a year.

[50:34] >> Those those would be good numbers to

[50:36] » Those those would be good numbers to

[50:36] get.

[50:36] >> Okay. We can show that

[50:37] » Okay. We can show that

[50:37] >> what's coming back.

[50:38] » what's coming back.

[50:38] >> Yeah. And we we just can we budget those

[50:41] » Yeah. And we we just can we budget those

[50:42] direct contributions from developments

[50:43] conservatively because we don't know

[50:45] when a property is going to develop or

[50:47] not, but um it's definitely an important

[50:49] part of our financing.

[50:50] >> Yeah. I' I'd rather keep the

[50:51] » Yeah. I' I'd rather keep the

[50:52] conservative number. I want to get some

[50:54] >> I've beat it every year.

[50:56] » I've beat it every year.

[50:56] >> [laughter]

[50:58] » [laughter]

[50:58] >> So, is it is anyone from uh from the

[51:02] » So, is it is anyone from uh from the

[51:02] county planning to attend the Gross

[51:05] Sarpies economic development conference

[51:08] coming up in October?

[51:10] >> Yes, I think I'm manning a round table.

[51:13] » Yes, I think I'm manning a round table.

[51:13] >> Yep. We've got um got plans for that so

[51:16] » Yep. We've got um got plans for that so

[51:16] that we have representation um people

[51:18] can speak to planning and roads issues.

[51:20] Yeah, it might be good if the board

[51:22] maybe get could get get an invite to

[51:25] that and uh at least one or two of us

[51:27] could go because I think it would be

[51:29] pretty good to mix it up with the

[51:32] developers and see what they're

[51:33] thinking.

[51:34] >> Yeah.

[51:36] » Yeah.

[51:36] >> Okay,

[51:36] » Okay,

[51:36] >> good.

[51:37] » good.

[51:37] >> Thanks, Scott. As public hearing,

[51:39] » Thanks, Scott. As public hearing,

[51:39] anybody want to address the board on

[51:40] this uh plan one and six?

[51:44] >> No. Okay, then I'll close the public

[51:46] » No. Okay, then I'll close the public

[51:46] hearing and we'll take action on it next

[51:48] week.

[51:51] Right.

[51:52] >> Today.

[51:52] » Today.

[51:52] >> Okay. Today.

[51:54] » Okay. Today.

[51:54] >> All right. Uh, last item on the board is

[51:56] » All right. Uh, last item on the board is

[51:56] a resolution

[51:58] today.

[51:58] >> Oh, we do it today.

[51:59] » Oh, we do it today.

[51:59] >> Yeah.

[51:59] » Yeah.

[52:00] >> Oh, I thought we were doing it next

[52:01] » Oh, I thought we were doing it next

[52:01] week. Today's the hearing and the vote.

[52:03] >> Second.

[52:04] » Second.

[52:04] >> Okay. Who was the motion? Dave. Motion

[52:07] » Okay. Who was the motion? Dave. Motion

[52:07] by uh Commissioner Clug, second by

[52:09] Commissioner Burmeister. Any further

[52:11] discussion?

[52:12] Please vote.

[52:15] >> Motion passed.

[52:16] » Motion passed.

[52:16] >> Okay. The last item is resolution 222

[52:19] » Okay. The last item is resolution 222

[52:19] establishing the A911 search charge for

[52:21] the 2027 calendar year in the amount of

[52:24] $1 per month per telephone number

[52:27] commencing January 1st, 2027. Dan

[52:29] Toleus, chief financial officer.

[52:32] >> Good afternoon, commissioners. Uh, as

[52:34] » Good afternoon, commissioners. Uh, as

[52:34] you just read into the record, uh, this

[52:35] establishes the search charge for

[52:37] calendar year 2027 in the amount of $1

[52:40] per month per telephone number. Uh this

[52:43] is the uh maximum amount that's

[52:46] allowable by statute and it is

[52:47] consistent uh the dollar per month per

[52:50] telephone number is consistent with the

[52:52] uh search charge in prior years as well

[52:54] and this is action that the board takes

[52:56] annually by September 1 to set this

[52:58] every year. So happy to answer any

[53:00] questions that you might have for me.

[53:04] >> Motion to approve.

[53:05] » Motion to approve.

[53:05] >> Second motion by uh Commissioner Warren,

[53:08] » Second motion by uh Commissioner Warren,

[53:08] second by Commissioner Clue. Any further

[53:10] discussion?

[53:14] Please vote.

[53:17] >> Motion passed.

[53:18] » Motion passed.

[53:18] >> Okay. We don't we have no need for an

[53:20] » Okay. We don't we have no need for an

[53:20] executive session and all agenda items

[53:22] having been addressed as published. The

[53:24] board of commissioners is adjourned.

[53:27] Thank you for coming.

Board Meetings - Aug 18 2026

Transcript