Banner County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Banner County Board of Commissioner Proceedings

                The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 8:45 A.M. in the courtroom of the Banner County Courthouse. Notice of the meeting was given by publication in the Western Nebraska Observer.  A copy of the proof of publication is on file in the office of the County Clerk.  Notices were also posted in the Harrisburg, Nebraska Post Office; the Banner County Public School; the office of the County Clerk; and the front window of the Banner County courthouse.

                The agenda of the meeting is kept current and is available during the regular business hours in the office of the County Clerk.  A copy of the agenda was sent to the Commissioners on Monday, April 14, 2025. 

                Chairperson Darnall called the meeting to order at 8:45 A.M. Chairperson Darnall stated the Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted by the back door of the courtroom.  County Clerk Katie West took roll call showing: Don Lease, present; Robin Darnall, present; Laif Anderson, present. 

                Lease led prayer.

                The Pledge of Allegiance was said. 

                The agenda was examined.  Anderson moved to approve the agenda.  Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

                 The minutes of April 11, 2025, meeting were examined.  Anderson moved to approve the minutes of April 11, 2025, meeting. Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• ICE Letter – Robin Darnall – Sheriff Zane Hopkins wrote a letter to finalize Banner County not being a sanctuary county.  Discussion was had.

Public Comment:

• Jim Milner, Harrisburg, Nebraska, wondered if the school could borrow the county’s dump truck to haul a load of gravel.  Milner would drive the dump truck, and the school would pay for the fuel.  The Board stated that the county would have to have an interlocal agreement with the school to allow that to happen and it would have to be an agenda item.

Reports:

• Don Lease – Discussion was had on PADD and OHD.  PPHD has not had a meeting this month.  Discussion was had on building and grounds.
• Robin Darnall – Discussion was had on Region 22 Emergency Management.  Darnall discussed Budget and the Website.
• Laif Anderson – Discussion was had on Office of Aging and Region 1.  Discussion was had on Road Department.

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Bytes Contract – Commissioners – West gave the Board the Bytes contract.  The Board reviewed the contract.  Anderson moved to approve the Bytes contract for one year authorizing the Chairperson to sign.  Darnall seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, no; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Groundskeeping Maintenance – Jim Milner – Milner discussed fixing the front water hydrant and what it will take to have a sprinkler system installed.
• Groundskeeper Position Interviews – Commissioners – The Board interviewed Jacob Parsons. Anderson moved to hire Jacob Parsons at $13.50 per hour for the courthouse groundskeeper.  Lease seconded the motion.  Discussion was had. Lease amended the motion to include temporary part-time at a maximum of 30 hours per week.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Highway Superintendent Interviews – Commissioners – The Board interviewed Jay Dove and Pat Parsons. Darnall called for recess at 10:11 A.M. The meeting was back in session at 10:14 A.M. The Board interviewed Eric McCoy and Allen Sutton. Discussion was had. Anderson moved to offer Eric McCoy part-time highway superintendent position starting at $27.50 per hour.  Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, no; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Resolution 25-10 – Highway Superintendent Resolution – Tabled until May 6, 2025.

Claims:

General: Banner County Court - $117.00 – CC Costs; Bytes - $2,202.86 – IT Managed Services; DAS - $300.00 – Data Processing; Ellison, Kovarik, & Truman - $2,168.40 – Attorney Fees; High West Energy - $363.00 – Lights; Ideal Linen - $205.66 – Janitorial Supplies; Integrated Pest - $210.00 – Pest Control; Level 3 - $771.47 – Internet; Menards - $209.91 – Courthouse & Garage Repairs; MIPS - $135.34 – Jury List & Receipts; Motorola - $1,106.03 – Radios; Norfolk Lodge & Suites - $375.00 – Weed Dept Room; Pack Rat - $45.00 – Trash; Panhandle Weed Management - $500.00 – Fees; Peetz - $840.00 – Propane; Western NE Observer - $585.76 – Advertising; Jean Bauer - $150.00 – ROD Training

Sheriff: Galls - $78.69 – Law Equipment; Comfort Inn - $218.70 – Lodging

Road: AT&T - $46.39 – Cell Phone; B&C Steel - $99.00 – Building Repairs; Harold Brown - $2,600.00 – Gravel; High West Energy - $367.00 – Lights; Ideal Linen - $57.76 – Janitorial Supplies; Ideal/Bluffs Facility - $133.05 - Janitorial Supplies; Inland - $333.46 – Repair Parts; Kimball Auto - $1,591.64 – Shop Supplies, Tools, Parts; Legacy Coop - $1,706.10 – Grease & Oil; NMC Cat - $2,961.58 – Repair Parts & Labor; Parsons Trucking - $7,125.00 – Custom Hauling; Peetz - $539.58 – Propane; Power Plan - $363.07 – Repair Parts; Sandberg Implement - $8.80 – Repair Parts; Verizon - $233.10 – GPS Trackers; Vistabeam - $87.95 – Internet; Western NE Observer - $260.00 – Advertising

                Anderson moved to approve the claims.  Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. 

                Darnall called to adjourn the meeting at 11:23 A.M. 

                The next regular meeting will be held May 6, 2025, at 8:45 A.M. or at the call of the clerk. An agenda for the matters to be considered at such date and time is kept continually and is available for public inspection during the normal business hours at Banner County in the courthouse in Harrisburg, Nebraska. 

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Robin Darnall, Chairperson

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Laif Anderson, Vice Chairperson

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Don Lease II, Member