Banner County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Banner County Board of Commissioner Proceedings

                The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session, Tuesday, November 4, 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, November 3, 2025. 

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

                Lease led prayer.

                The Pledge of Allegiance was said. 

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

                The minutes of October 21, 2025, minutes were examined.  Anderson moved to approve October 21, 2025, minutes. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, no; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• Public Service Request – Vistabeam – Discussion was had. The Board would like this to go onto the next agenda.

Public Comment:

• Kathy Natale – Natale gave the Board a report on personal property delinquent tax list. Natale also informed the Board that distress warrants went out November 3, 2025.

Reports:

• Commissioners –
  1. Don Lease – PADD, OHD, PPHD, Buildings and Grounds – Nothing to report for PADD, OHD, and PPHD.  Lease is trying to get ahold of Schank to get a start date for the courthouse roof.
  2. Robin Darnall – Region 22 Emergency Management, Budget, Website – Nothing to report. Region 22 meeting is the first week of December.
  3. Laif Anderson – Office of Aging, Region 1 Behavioral Health – Nothing to report, meetings are later.

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Highway/Road Superintendent – Robin Darnall – Anderson moved to go into executive session at 8:53 A.M. for evaluation of job performance of a person and if such person has not requested a public hearing to include Robin Darnall, Don Lease II, Laif Anderson, and Mark Kovarik.  Lease 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 members if a closed session is clearly necessary for the protection of 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 close. Closed sessions may be held for not being 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 out of executive session at 9:39 A.M with no decision made. Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Wages and Salaries – Commissioners – Darnall would like the Board to review information with the Wages and Salaries Study.  Discussion was had. The Board would like this item on the next agenda.
• Interlocal Agreement with Banner County School – Commissioners – Lease would like the current interlocal agreement reviewed.  Discussion was had. The Board would like Kovarik to make necessary changes and present the agreement to the Board when done.
• Year-End Certification of Highway Superintendent – Katie West – Lease read Resolution 25-26. Lease moved to accept Resolution 25-26: Signing of the Year-End Certification of County Highway Superintendent 2025. Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. See attached.
• Accept Quote for Bytes Onboarding and Managed Services for Livestream – Katie West – West explained the quote to the Board. Discussion was had. Anderson moved to accept the Bytes quote number AAAQ5429-01 for $555.00.  Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Property Fraud Alert information – Kacy Krakow – Krakow explained that Taylor and herself have been researching.  Discussion was had. Darnall would like to put the information on Facebook and the website. No action taken.
• 2025 Public Safety Tax Statement Reporting Form – Kathy Natale/Robin Darnall – Natale explained what the mistake was on the original form.  Discussion was had. Anderson moved to sign the 2025 Public Safety Tax Statement Reporting Form in accordance with statute 77-1701, authorizing Kathy Natale to sign. Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. 

Claims:

General: Aflac - $365.19 – Employee Benefits; Aflac Dental - $764.88 – Dental; Banner Capital Bank - $3,781.70 – HSA; Bytes - $2,399.75 – IT Services; Comfort Inn - $440.00 – Elections training; Consolidated Electrical - $248.29 – Generator Repair; Culligan - $39.00 – Water; Hometown Leasing - $138.64 – Copier; Integrated Pest - $210.00 – Pest Control; Kimball County Treasurer - $2,092.96 – Extension Office; MIPS - $1,718.86 – Data Processing; NE Association of County Officials - $1,222.48 – Dues; NE Child Support - $193.99 – Child Support; North Platte NRD - $47.52 – Water; Pack Rat - $90.00 – Trash; Scottsbluff Detention Center - $1,980.00 – Prisoner Board ; Thompson Reuters - $1,260.00 – Attorney Book; Triad Benefits - $11,281.49 – Health Insurance; US Bank - $1,319.25 – Rooms and Office Supplies; VSP - $217.13 – Vision; Zulty’s - $642.06 – Telephone; Total - $30,453.19

Sheriff: Caleb Scott - $31.04 – Meals; Galls - $70.99 – Law Equipment; LMT Defense - $1,280.00 – Law Equipment; Sunset Law Enforcement - $1,041.22 – Law Equipment; TGS MFG - $750.00 – Law Equipment; US Bank - $432.62 – Fuel, Training, and Supplies; Comfort Inn - $1,097.00 – Rooms; Total - $4,702.87

Roads: AT&T - $48.48 – Phone; Diffendaffer-Sandberg Living Trust - $80.00 – Gravel; Lois Dillinger - $560.00 – Gravel; Hotsy - $1,636.04 – Repair Parts and Labor; Integrated Pest - $75.00 – Pest Control; Menards - $72.96 – Repair Parts; North Platte NRD - $33.72 – Water; PT Hose & Bearing - $45.00 – Signpost; US Bank - $64.84 – Office Supplies; Aflac - $597.80 – Employee Benefits; Banner Capital Bank - $1,041.68 – HSA; Colonial Life - $29.48 – Dental; First Concord - $75.00 – HRA; Triad - $2,835.77 – Health Insurance; VSP - $51.08 – Vision; Total - $7,246.85

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

                Chairperson Darnall adjourned the meeting at 10:52 A.M.

                The next meeting will be held on November 18, 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 of Harrisburg, Nebraska. 

Banner County Board of Commissioners

Robin Darnall, Chairperson

Laif Anderson, Vice Chairperson

Don Lease II, Member

Attest: _____________________________________

                Katie West, Banner County Clerk