Banner County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Banner County Board of Commissioners

Banner County Courthouse, Harrisburg, Nebraska

Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 8:45 a.m.

Livestream Banner County Commissioner Meetings at:

https://www.youtube.com/@BannerCountyCourthouse

1. Call to Order
2. Roll Call
3. Nebraska Open Meetings Act:  Copy of Nebraska Open Meetings Act is posted in back of courtroom by entrance.
4. Prayer
5. Pledge of Allegiance
6. Approval of Agenda
7. Approval of Minutes:  September 30, 2025, Budget Hearing; September 30, 2025, Property Tax Hearing
8. Correspondence:
9. Public Comments:  Banner County Board of Commissioners will receive public comments on items discussed at this meeting, or suggestions for items of discussion at a future Banner County Board of Commissioners meeting.  Board will not act and/or respond to comments presented this date.  You will have three (3) minutes after stating your name and address for the public record.
10. Reports:
    1. Commission:
       1. Don Lease:  Panhandle Area Development District (PADD); Office of Human Development (OHD); Panhandle Public Health District (PPHD); Building/Grounds, Groundskeeper position; Next Era Energy
       2. Robin Darnall:  Region 22 Emergency Management; Budget; Legislative Discussion
       3. Laif Anderson:  Office of Aging; Region I Behavioral Health
11. Items of Business Before Board:
    1. Resolution Supporting Heartland Expressway
    2. Appoint Commercial Scale Clean Energy Committee
    3. Red Book Phonebook
    4. Laptop Purchase for Courtroom
    5. Website
    6. NACO (Nebraska Association of County Officials) Voter Registration
    7. Equipment Leases for Mini Excavator and Motor Grader
    8. EMS/Fire/Sheriff Dispatch
12. Claims
13. Adjournment

Next regular Banner County Board of Commissioners meeting:  Tuesday, October 21, 2025 - 8:45 a.m.

*Notice of changes to agenda by County Clerk (Additions may not be made to this agenda less than 24 hours before the beginning of the meeting unless added as an emergency item).

**Agenda shall be kept continually current and is available for public inspection at Banner County Clerk’s office during regular business hours.

***Chairperson of Board may call agenda items out of order as items and times are approximate and may vary; however, public hearings as noted will be called at times noted by that agenda item. Banner County Board of Commissioners may discuss, consider, and take all necessary action on agenda items listed. Banner County Board of Commissioners reserves the right to convene in Executive Session pursuant to Section 84-1410 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska.

Quick Links

• Meeting Agenda

Minutes

Banner County Board of Commissioner Proceedings

                The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session, Tuesday, September 16, 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, September 15, 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 September 2, 2025, were examined. Anderson moved to approve the minutes of September 2, 2025, regular meeting. Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, abstain; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. Lease moved to approve the minutes of September 2, 2025, budget meeting. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• Department of Water, Energy, & Environment – State of Nebraska – Informative letter on flood insurance.
• Renewable Energy Development – Center for Rural Affairs – Informative letter on zoning and decommissioning of renewable energy sources. 

Public Comment:

• None

Reports:

• Highway Department – Eric McCoy – Discussion was had.
• Weed Department – Tim Grubbs – Discussion was had.
• Sheriff – Zane Hopkins – Not present.
• County Attorney – Mark Kovarik – Discussion was had.
• Treasurer – Kathy Natale – Discussion was had.
• Clerk – Katie West – Discussion was had.
• Assessor – Kacy Krakow – Nothing to report.
• Surveyor – Carl Gilbert – Not present.
• Commissioners –
  1. Don Lease – Discussion was had.
  2. Robin Darnall – Discussion was had.
  3. Laif Anderson – Discussion was had.

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Ratify Actions taken by Board on September 2, 2025 – Commissioners – Anderson moved to ratify the actions taken by the Board on September 2, 2025, meeting.  Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, abstain; Anderson; yes. Motion carried.
• Banner County Advisory Board Resident for KCTS – Christy Warner – Warner introduced herself and explained the Kimball County Transit Services and the board for the service. Discussion was had.
• Highway Superintendent Wages and Evaluation – Commissioners – Discussion was had. Lease moved to go into executive session at 10:51 A.M. for evaluation of job performance of a person to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting. Darnall seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. Executive session: Statute 84-1410 (1) Any public body may hold a session by the affirmative vote of a majority of its voting members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of the public interest or for the prevention of needless injury to the reputation of an individual and if such individual has not requested a public meeting. The subject matter and the reason necessitating the closed session shall be identified in the motion to close.  Closed sessions may be held for not be limited to, such reasons as (d) Evaluation of the job performance of a person when necessary to prevent needless injury to the reputation of a person and if such person has not requested a public meeting. Lease moved to come out of executive session at 1:05 P.M. with no decisions made. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. Lease moved to increase the Highway Superintendent hourly wages to $29.00.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, no; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Consideration to purchase laptop for livestream and court use – Don Lease – Ashley Morris explained the credentials needed and the different quotes presented to the Board. Discussion was had. Darnall moved to purchase the 15.6-inch laptop from Staples for $800.63 without a warranty. Anderson seconded the motion.  The funds are taken out of general miscellaneous.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Void check #’s 02505136 and 02508105 – Katie West – Lease moved to void check number 02505136 to Midwest Radar and Equipment for $40.00 and check number 02508105 to Zane Hopkins for $185.63. Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Pritchard and Abbot Contract – Kacy Krakow – Krakow presented the Board with the Pritchard and Abbot Contract. Discussion was had. Lease moved to accept the Pritchard and Abbot Contract for $7,900.00 for 2026 and $7,900.00 for 2027 authorizing the Chairperson to sign.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Adobe Update and Quote Approval - Kacy Krakow – Krakow presented the quote to the Board. Discussion was had. No action was taken.
• Generator Service Contract – Don Lease – Tim Grubbs explained the issues the generator was having. Discussion was had. Anderson moved to approve the service contract with 3E Kohler for $500.00 per year. Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Consideration of NRIN (NE Regional Interoperability Network) Membership – Don Lease – Lease explained the agreement.  Discussion was had. Anderson moved to accept the Interlocal Agreement with Nebraska Regional Interoperability Network. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Resolution Supporting Heartland Expressway – Don Lease – Lease explained the program to the Board.  Discussion was had. Tabled until October 7, 2025, meeting. 

Claims:

General: Banner County Court - $34.00 – CC Cost; Bytes - $5,349.75 – IT Management and Rack Install Labor; DAS - $150.00 – Data Processing; Eakes - $396.40 – Copier Contract; Ellison, Kovarik, & Turman - $2,168.40 – Attorney Fees; High West Energy - $612.00 – Lights; Ideal - $102.83 – Janitorial Supplies; Level 3 - $771.47 – Internet; Menards - $32.39 – Janitorial Supplies; Norfolk Lodge & Suites - $375.00 – Room for Weed Training; Pack Rat - $45.00 – Trash; Peetz - $125.00 – Propane Line Check; Pine Bluff’s Sinclair - $73.56 – Fuel; Region 1 - $2,745.00 – Dues; Scottsbluff Detention Center - $1,400.00 – Prisoner Board; Snell Services - $796.00 – Generator Repair; Western NE Observer - $398.00 – Advertising; Jean Bauer - $150.00 – ROD Training; Total - $15,724.80

Sheriff: AT&T - $223.04 – Cell Phone; Police Officers Association of NE - $28.00 – Handbook; Rich’s Wrecking - $100.00 – Car Repair; Shaggy Buffalo - $30.00 – Car Wash; Pine Bluff’s Sinclair - $412.09 – Fuel; DAS - $44.00 – Data Processing; Total - $837.13

Road: AT&T - $36.42 – Cell Phone; BC Steel - $49.60 – Supplies; Harold Brown - $520.00 – Gravel & Borrow; Bulter - $2,106.26 – Storm Repair Equipment; High West - $270.00 – Lights; Kimball Auto - $1,609.42 – Supplies, Equipment, Parts; Legacy Coop - $4,834.40 – Oil & Grease; Nebraskaland Tires - $318.39 – Tires; NMC Cat - $631.69 – Parts; Pack Rat - $160.00 – Trash; Pine Bluff’s Sinclair - $4,283.58 – Fuel; Platte River Glass - $797.58 – Storm Repair Equipment; Power Plan - $1,614.82 – Repair Parts; Print Express - $280.30 – Order Books; Rich’s Wrecking - $150.00 – Repair Parts; Vistabeam - $87.95 – Internet; WPCI - $62.00 – Drug Test; Ideal Linen - $28.88 – Janitorial Supplies; Western NE Observer - $220.00 – Advertising; Total - $18,061.29

                Anderson moved to approve the claims excluding claim number 02509118 to Snell Services Inc. for $796.00. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

                Chairperson Darnall adjourned the meeting at 2:02 P.M.

                The next meeting will be held on October 7, 2025, at 8:45 A.M. or at the call of the clerk. The Joint Public Hearing will be on September 23, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.; the Budget Hearing will be on September 25, 2025, at 9:00 A.M.; and the Property Tax Hearing will be September 25, 2025, at 9:30 A.M. 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. 

Banner County Board of Commissioners

________________________________________

Laif Anderson, Vice Chairperson

________________________________________

Don Lease II, Member

Attest: ____________________________________                                                     

                Katie West, Banner County Clerk