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, August 18, 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, August 17, 2026.  
    Chairperson Darnall called the meeting to order at 9:00 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. Lease moved to approve the agenda. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
    The minutes of July 21, 2026, meeting, and August 4, 2026, meeting were examined. Lease moved to approve the minutes of July 21, 2026, meeting and August 4, 2026, meeting. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 
Correspondence:

• Bridge Load Posting Responsibilities and Confirmation Requirements – NE Department of Transportation – The Board reviewed the information and asked if a copy could be sent to Eric McCoy.
  Public Comment: None
  Reports: 
• Highway Department – Eric McCoy – McCoy informed the Board that the chip/seal of the parking lot will be next week. Discussion was had.
• Weed Department – Tim Grubbs – Discussion was had.
• Sheriff – Discussion was had.
• County Attorney – Robert Brenner – Discussion was had.
• Treasurer – Kathy Natale – Discussion was had.
• Clerk – Katie West – Discussion was had.
• Assessor – Kacy Krakow – Discussion was had.
• Surveyor – Not here.
• Commissioner Reports –
  • Don Lease – Discussion was had. There is a meeting for R.E.P.I. at 233 South Chestnut, Kimball, Nebraska on August 19, 2026, at 4:00 P.M.
  • Robin Darnall – No Report.

  • Laif Anderson – Discussion was had.

    Items of Business Before the Board:

    • Interview and Appoint Applicant for Assessor Position – Commissioners – Lease moved to appoint Taylor Martinez as acting assessor beginning Monday, August 24, 2026, to assume assessor salary. Anderson seconds the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
    • Engagement Letter from Dana F. Cole & Company Covering Audit for 6/30/2026 – Commissioners – Discussion was had. Anderson moved to sign the engagement letter for Dana F. Cole & Company for audit the financial audit for Banner County and authorized the Chairperson to sign, June 30, 2026.  Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
    • Appoint Grievance Committee Member – Commissioners – Darnall stated that Mark Kovarik was on the Grievance Committee and his position needs to be replaced. Discussion was had. Lease moved to appoint Robert Brenner as a member for the Grievance Committee of Banner County. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
    • Discuss and Approve Salary for Road Superintendent – Commissioners – Darnall would like to have evaluations done before a raise is given and see if the budget would have the funding to do so. McCoy is currently at $29.00 per hour. Discussion was had. Anderson moved to table Discuss and Approve Salary for Road Superintendent until September 15, 2026.  Lease seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
    • Review 2026 Inventory – Katie West – Lease moved to approve the inventory reports as presented.  Anderson seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Lease withdrew his motion. Anderson withdrew his second. Lease moved to table Review 2026 inventory until September 1, 2026. Anderson seconded the motion. No action was taken.
    • Discussion and Approval of Change Permit to occupy road right-of-way in Banner County – Don Lease – Discussion was had. Darnall called no action as it does not conform to the Open Meetings Act. We did not have a list of the changes was not available to the public prior to the meeting. No action.
    • Accept Resignation of Katie West (Clerk, Register of Deeds, Election Commissioner, and Clerk of District Court) and declare vacancy in the office of each – Katie West – West read her resignation letter. See attached. Lease moved to accept the resignation of Katie West as clerk, register of deeds, election commissioner, and clerk of the district court and declare a vacancy in the office of each. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. Discussion was had. Darnall added to the agenda to receive applications until August 28, 2026, at noon for all positions and to be interviewed and appoint for that official position on September 1, 2026.
    • Claims:
      General: Banner County Court - $17.00 – County Court Cost; DAS - $194.00 – Data Processing; Ellison, Kovarik, & Turman - $3,727.85; High West Energy - $863.77 – Lights; Holiday Inn - $279.90 – Lodging; Ideal - $149.26 – Janitorial Supplies; Integrated Pest Management - $210.00 – Pest Management; Kimball County Treasurer - $2,126.57 – Extension Office; Level 3 - $771.47 – Internet; Pack Rat - $45.00 – Trash; Quadient Finance - $300.00 – Postage; Quadient, Inc - $266.88 – Postage Machine Lease; Region 1 Behavioral Health - $2,745.00 – Tax Match; Scottsbluff Region 22 - $2,845.06 – Emergency Management; Secretary of State - $20.00 – Material; Western NE Seed & Chemical - $446.00 – Chemical; Scottsbluff ROD - $150.00 – ROD Training; Total - $16,157.76
      Sheriff: AT&T - $254.24 – Cell Phone; Banner Capital Bank - $20,384.81 – Annual Payment; DAS - $44.00 – Data Processing; Zane Hopkins - $10.19 – Meal Reimbursement; Total - $20,693.04
      Road: Ace Hardware - $32.94 – Shop Supplies; American Tower - $53.05 – Tower Lease; Aulick Industries - $5,481.92 – Repair Parts and Labor; Eric McCoy - $17.00 – Title Reimbursement; First Concord - $150.00 – HRA; Frank Parts - $42.32 – Repair Parts; Ideal - $30.92 – Janitorial Supplies; Legacy Coop - $233.26 – Grease & Oil; Nebraskaland Tires - $2,022.36 – Tires and Labor; Parsons Trucking - $600.00 – Rental; Vistabeam - $87.95 – Internet; Total - $8,751.72
          Lease moved to approve the claims 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

      • Assessor, Clerk, County Attorney, Sheriff, Treasurer – The Board reviewed the budgets for the assessor, clerk, County Attorney, Sheriff, and Treasurer.

        Chairperson Darnall adjourned the meeting at 10:54 A.M.
            The next special meeting will be held on August 31, 2026, at 9:00 A.M. The next meeting will be held on September 1, 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

/s/ Robin Darnall, Chairperson

/s/ Don Lease II, Vice Chairperson

/s/ Laif Anderson, Member

Attest: Taylor Martinez, Banner County Assessor