Banner County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting

Banner County Board of Commissioners Proceedings

                The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on Tuesday, July 21, 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 County Clerk's office.  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 meeting agenda is kept current and available during regular business hours in the County Clerk's office.  A copy of the agenda was sent to the Commissioners on Monday, July 20, 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 that 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 June 29, 2026, special meeting were examined. Lease moved to approve the minutes of June 29, 2026, special meeting. Anderson seconded the motion.  Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, no; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. Lease moved to approve the minutes of July 7, 2026, meeting. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• None

Public Comment:

• Eddie Shaul – Shaul expressed his support for Robert Brenner as County Attorney. 
• Kathy Van Pelt – Van Pelt expressed her support for Robert Brenner as County Attorney. 

Reports:

• Highway Department – Eric McCoy – Not present.
• Weed Department – Tim Grubbs – Discussion was had. 
• Sheriff – Zane Hopkins – Discussion was had. 
• County Attorney – Mark Kovarik – Discussion was had. 
• Clerk – Katie West – Discussion was had.
• Assessor – Kacy Krakow – Nothing to report. 
• Surveyor – Carl Gilbert – Not present. 
• Commissioner Reports
  1. Don Lease – Nothing to report. 
  2. Robin Darnall – Discussion was had. 
  3. Laif Anderson – No Report.

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Legislative Updates – Adrian Smith – Valerio Jansante – Jansante gave updates on what Adrian Smith has been working on. 
• Lumen Account Review – Commissioners – West presented to the Board the information from Lumen and explained the options available. Discussion was had. Anderson moved to approve the new Lumen Contract at $588.00 per month with an upgraded service and a one-time fee of $775.00. Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
• Move Fair Fund (1000) to General Fund (0100) – Commissioners – Anderson moved to move the fair fund, 1000, to the general fund, 0100. Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
• Handbook Updates – Handbook Committee – Krakow presented to the Board the possible updates to the handbook.  The Board reviewed the possible updates. Anderson moved to accept the changes to the Employee Handbook, retroactive to June 29, 2026.  Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. Discussion was had. 
• Accept resignation of Mark Kovarik, County Attorney, and declare a vacancy in the office of County Attorney – Commissioners – Lease moved to accept the resignation of County Attorney, Mark Kovarik, to be effective July 30, 2026, and declare a vacancy will exist beginning on July 31, 2026, subject to the possible notification of withdrawal of the resignation prior to July 31, 2026. Anderson seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
• Accept resignation of Kacy Krakow, County Assessor and Janitorial, and declare a vacancy in the office of County Assessor and Janitorial – Kacy Krakow – Lease moved to accept the resignation of County Assessor, Kacy Krakow, to be effective August 21, 2026, and declare a vacancy will exist beginning on August 22, 2026, subject to the possible notification of withdrawal of the resignation prior to August 22, 2026. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
• Discuss and Make Appointment of County Attorney – Robin Darnall – “Before we start this, I need to publicly declare that Mr. Brenner is indeed my brother-in-law by marriage. However, with the disclosure, I need to announce that publicly and please refer that in the minutes. Where he does not live in my household. I do not have financial interest in the Brenner Law Office. I am still able to converse and decide being included in the decision. Thank you, Bob.”  - Robin Darnall.  Robert Brenner stated his qualifications, experience, and reasons for seeking the Banner County Attorney position.  Discussion was had. Anderson moved to appoint Mr. Robert Brenner to be the County Attorney, as he resides in the county, pays taxes within this County, and he has a vested interest in this county, with an effective start date of July 31, 2026. Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, no; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

Claims:

General: Aging Office of Western NE - $514.00 – Dues; Banner County Court - $196.00 – PO Box Renewal; DAS State Accounting - $150.00 – Data Processing; Ellison, Kovarik, & Turman - $946.75 – Attorney Fees; High West Energy - $625.77 – Lights; Level 3 - $771.47 – Internet; Menards - $277.98 – Weed Equipment Supplies; Panhandle Area Development Dist. - $593.12 – Dues; Panhandle District Association - $350.00 – Officials Dues; Sandberg Implement - $18.01 – Weed Supplies; Total - $4,443.10

Sheriff: DAS State Accounting - $44.00 – Data Processing; Shaggy Buffalo Car Wash - $60.00 – Vehicle Maintenance; Sunset Law Equipment - $363.60 – Law Enforcement Supplies; Transwest Ford - $232.31 – Car Repair; Zane Hopkins - $19.99 – Meal Reimbursement; Total - $719.90

Road: Ace Hardware - $371.11 – Shop Tools; American Tower Corp - $53.05 – Tower Lease; Equipment Blades - $5,058.78 – Grader Blades; High West Energy - $319.00 – Lights; Menards - $45.66 – Shop Supplies and Parts; Power Plan - $8,945.43 – Repair Parts and Labor; Scottsbluff Screen printing - $36.00 – Decals; Terry Brown - $1,830.00 – Gravel/Mix; Verizon - $466.20 – Trackers; Vistabeam - $87.95 – Internet; Total – $17,213.18

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

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Budget Workshop – Commissioners – The Board went over the County Board and miscellaneous general funds. The Board would like to review the road, weed, and surveyor budget on August 4, 2026.  The Board would also like to review the budgets of the sheriff, clerk, assessor, treasurer, and county attorney on August 18, 2026.

Chairperson Darnall adjourned the meeting at 10:07 A.M.

The next meeting will be held on August 4, 2026, at 8:45 A.M. or at the call of the clerk. An agenda for the matters to be considered on 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