Banner County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Banner County Board of Commissioner Proceedings

                The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session, Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 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 Friday, February 13, 2026. 

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

                The minutes of February 3, 2026, meeting were examined. Anderson moved to approve February 3, 2026, minutes. Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• 2025 Panhandle Public Health District Annual Report – The Board reviewed the report.

Public Comment:

• None

Reports:

• Highway Department – Eric McCoy – Discussion was had. 
• Weed Department – Tim Grubbs – Discussion was had.
• Sheriff – Zane Hopkins – Discussion was had. 
• County Attorney – Mark Kovarik – Discussion was had. 
• Treasurer – Kathy Natale – Discussion was had. 
• Clerk – Katie West – Discussion was had. 
• Assessor – Kacy Krakow – No report.
• Surveyor – Carl Gilbert – Not present.
• Commissioner Reports
  1. Don Lease – Discussion was had. 
  2. Robin Darnall – Discussion was had. 
  3. Laif Anderson - Discussion was had. 

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Road Conditions and Pasture Damage – Paula Brown – Brown discussed her concerns of road conditions and pasture damage. Trompke also expressed her concerns about road conditions and if they could be fixed. Discussion was had on how to correct the damage. 
• Weed Superintendent Pay – Tim Grubbs – Grubbs explained to the Board that he needs to be paid out of two separate funds, from the weed fund and from the road fund. Discussion was had. The Board asked Tim and Katie to work together to figure out a solution and report back to the Board. 
• Discussion & Approval of Emergency Tab on G-works – Kacy Krakow/Tim Grubbs – Krakow is still waiting on a quote from G-works. Krakow and Grubbs explained the use of the tab to the Board. Discussion was had. The Board tabled the discussion and approval of Emergency tab on G-works until March 3, 2026.
• Discussion & Approval of New Patrol Vehicles – Zane Hopkins – Hopkins would like to start a rotation on patrol vehicle to get the best value of the patrol vehicles. Discussion was had on cost of vehicles and the upfit. Leanne Tompke asked what that would do to the residents’ taxes. The Board stated that this would happen on the next budget and it would take about one year for the patrol vehicles to be in service. The Board discussed the costs of the upfit, rotation schedule of vehicle replacement, and how many miles on the patrol vehicles before a replacement is made. No action taken. 
• Void Check number 02509082 (Seneca Companies) – Katie West – Anderson moved to void check number 02509082 for $2,214.00 issued to Seneca Companies. Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. 
• Ordinances 2023-01 Snow Emergency and Ordinance for parking on county roads – Katie West – West explained that Ordinances 2023-01 was never finished and the other ordinance needs to be started. Discussion was had. The Board gave West permission to advertise the ordinances in the Western Nebraska Observer and set a hearing date of March 17, 2026, at 10:00 A.M.
• Signing Bank Documents for Ashley Morris to be a signer – Katie West – West explained that there are some documents that need to be signed by the Board to have Ashley Morris as a signer on the bank accounts for the clerk’s office. Discussion was had. Anderson moved to authorize Ashley Morris on the signature cards at Banner Capitol Bank. Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
• Set Gravel and Borrow Prices – Robin Darnall – Darnall stated that the prices have not changed since 2023.  Discussion was had. No action taken. 
• Employee Wages, Salaries, and Benefits – Robin Darnall – Darnall stated that three courthouse employees did not receive the 3% cost of living increase in January. Discussion was had. The Board instructed West that a corrective action of retro pay from January 1, 2026, to the three courthouse employees needs to be done.  No action taken. 
• Appoint Banner County Planning Commission – Joe Singleton, Tanner Groves, and Paula Brown for 2-year term – Robin Darnall – Anderson moved to appoint Joe Singleton, Tanner Groves, and Paula Brown for a two-year term to the Banner County Planning Commission. Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
• Appoint Grievance Committee Member – Mark Knaub – Mark Kovarik – Discussion was had. Anderson moved to appoint Mark Knaub as the Grievance Committee member.  Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

Claims:

General: Bytes - $2,524.25 – IT Services; Crowne Plaza - $149.95 – Room; Culligan - $19.50 – Water; DAS - $150.00 – Data Processing; Ellison, Kovarik, & Turman - $2,284.10 – Attorney Fees; High West Energy - $487.00 – Lights; Ideal Linen - $102.83 – Janitorial Supplies; MIPS - $2,934.69 – Data Processing and Postcards; NACO - $480.00 – Registration Costs; NE Weed Control - $150.00 – Training ; Peetz - $1,261.08 – Propane; Quadient - $266.88 – Postage; Rapid Fire Protection - $3,455.00 – Fire and Burglar Alarms; US Bank - $626.34 – Office Supplies; Western Nebraska Observer - $1,363.83 – Advertising; Zulty’s - $641.91 – Telephone; Total - $16,897.36

Sheriff: DAS - $44.00 – Dues; Great Plains Uniforms - $642.63 – Law Equipment; NACO - $160.00 – Registration; Shaggy Buffalo - $30.00 – Car Wash; US Bank - $649.53 – Travel, Fuel, Law Equipment and Supplies; Total - $1,526.16

Road: AT&T – 443.20 – Cell Phone; Equipment Blades - $5,049.00 – Carbide Blades; High West Energy - $331.00 – Lights; Ideal - $28.88 – Janitorial Supplies; Kimball Auto Parts - $3,235.73 – Tools, Supplies, Repair Parts; Peetz - $1,007.28 – Propane; Power Plan - $3,366.25 – Repair Parts, Grease, and Oil; Scottsbluff Screenprinting - $235.00 – Decals; US Bank - $573.97 – Shop Equipment, Supplies, and Office Supplies; Verizon - $233.10 – Tracker; WPCI - $62.00 – Drug Test; Wyrulec Company - $5.86 – Lights; Total - $14,571.27

                Lease moved to approve 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 10:56 A.M.

                The next meeting will be held on March 3, 2026, 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

Don Lease II, Vice Chairperson

Laif Anderson, Member

Attest: _____________________________________

                Katie West, Banner County Clerk