Banner County Board of Equalization Regular Meeting

Banner County Board of Commissioner Proceedings

                The Banner County Board of Commissioners met in a regular session, Tuesday, August 5, 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 Friday, August 1, 2025. 

                Chairperson Darnall called the meeting to order at 8:46 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 July 1, 2025, meeting were examined.  Anderson moved to approve the minutes of July 1, 2025, meeting. Lease seconded the motion. Discussion was had. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, no; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. The minutes of the July 15, 2025, meeting were examined. Lease moved to approve the July 15, 2025, minutes.  Darnall seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, no; Anderson, abstained.  Motion failed. The minutes of July 15, 2025, budget workshop meeting were examined. Lease moved to approve July 15, 2025, budget workshop minutes.  Darnall seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, abstained. Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• County match for fiscal year 2025-2026 – Region 1 – Discussion was had.
• PADD Newsletter – Information only.
• NRIN Interlocal Agreement Request – Mark DeKraai – Discussion was had. The Board would like this as an agenda item at the next meeting.
• FEMA Advisory – Lauren Franken – Information only.

Public Comment:

• Sharon Sandberg – Sandberg asked if she could explain the levy request for the museum or if the Board would like her to wait until the agenda item.  The Board would like her to wait until the agenda item.
• Pat Parsons – Parsons would like the Board to know that his contracted services are still available.  The Board informed him to get in contact with Eric McCoy.

Reports:

• Highway Department – Eric McCoy not present.
• Sheriff Report – Zane Hopkins – Discussion was had on ALERT training and camera footage.
• Commissioners –
  1. Don Lease – Discussion was had on a Veteran’s Memorial, bids for the courthouse roof, PPHD, OHD, and PADD.
  2. Robin Darnall – Discussion was had on Region 22 Emergency Management, budget, and the website.
  3. Laif Anderson – Anderson had nothing to report, meetings are August 14, 2025.

Items of Business Before the Board:

• County Annual Certification of Program Compliance and Resolution – Katie West – The Board reviewed the information. Darnall moved to accept   resolution 25-18: County Annual Certification of Program Compliance. Darnall read resolution 25-18: County Annual Certification of Program Compliance. Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Resolution 25-14 – Creating the General Sinking Fund – Commissioners - Anderson moved to accept Resolution 25-14: Creating the General Sinking Fund.  Anderson read resolution 25-14: Creating the General Sinking Fund. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. See attached.
• Resolution 25-15 – Creating the Law Enforcement Special Fund – Commissioners – Lease moved to accept Resolution 25-15: Creating the Law Enforcement Special Fund.  Lease read Resolution 25-15: Creating the Special Law Enforcement Fund. Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried. See attached.
• Resolution 25-16 – Creating the STOP Program Fund – Commissioners – Darnall moved to accept Resolution 25-16: Creating the STOP Program Fund. Darnall read Resolution 25-16: Creating the STOP Program Fund.  Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.  See attached. 
• Resolution 25-17 – Final Allocation of Levy Authority to all Political Subdivisions – Katie West – Sharon Sandberg, Harrisburg, Nebraska stated that the Historical Society had a meeting after the storm and would like to change the request amount from $20,000.00 to $11,000.00.  Historically the museum asked for $10,000.00 but with the damage they would like to have $11,000.00.  Anderson moved to accept Resolution 25-17: Final Allocation of Levy Authority to all Political Subdivisions.  Anderson read Resolution 25-17: Final Allocation of Levy Authority to all Political Subdivisions.  Darnall seconded the motion.  Discussion was had. Darnall withdrew the motion.  Darnall moved to table Resolution 25-17: Final Allocation of Levy Authority to all Political Subdivisions to the next regular meeting. Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Engagement Letter for County Audit – Katie West – Anderson moved to approve the engagement letter from Dana Cole for the County audit authorizing the Chairperson to sign. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Move August 19, 2025, Meeting date and Budget Workshop – Katie West.  West explained that there will be Trial to Court and Jury Trial from August 18, 2025, through August 21, 2025. The Budget Workshop moved to August 18, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. and the Banner County Commissioner’s meeting will be August 19, 2025, at 5:30 P.M.
• Inventory – Katie West – West presented the Board with the inventories from all the county departments.  The Board reviewed. Lease moved to accept the inventory reports from the Treasurer, Assessor, Banner County Court, Building and Grounds, Surveyor, County Attorney, County Clerk, Election Commissioner, District Court, and Register of Deeds, Sheriff, and the Road Department.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Interfund Transfer Resolution (#1) – Kathy Natale – Discussion was had. Darnall read Resolution 25-19: Authority to Transfer Funds. Darnall moved to approve Resolution 25-19: Authority to Transfer Funds.  Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. See attached.
• Interfund Transfer Resolution (#2) – Kathy Natale – Discussion was had. Darnall read Resolution 25-20: Authority to Transfer Funds.  Darnall moved to approve Resolution 25-20: Authority to Transfer Funds. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.  See attached. 

Claims:

General: VSP - $217.13 – Vision; Aflac - $497.33 – Employee Benefits; Aflac Dental - $710.70 – Dental; Aging Office of Western NE - $514.00 – Dues; Banner Capital Bank - $3,781.70 – HSA; Bytes - $2,454.75 – IT Services; Culligan - $32.50 – Water; Eakes - $14.48 – Office Supplies; Hometown Leasing - $1; Ideal - $102.83 – Janitorial Supplies; Kimball County Treasurer - $1,693.32 – Extension Office; MIPS - $1,718.86 – Data Processing; NE Child Support - $193.99 – Child Support; North Platte NRD - $95.87 – Water; Panhandle Area Development Dist. - $593.12 – Dues; Postmaster - $192.00 – PO Box Fee County Court; Region 1 Office of Human Development - $1,642.50 – Dues; Triad Benefits - $11,281.49 – Health Insurance; US Bank - $1,048.45 – Weed Supplies, Office Supplies, Flags; Zultys - $641.55 – Telephone; Van Diest Supply Co. - $1,252.80 – Weed Chemical; Payroll - $31, 098.40 Total - $59,916.41

Sheriff: US Bank - $134.98 – Office Supplies, Fuel, Law Equipment; AT & T - $223.04 – Telephone; Kimball Auto Parts - $56.04 – Parts; Jones Automotive - $6,117.27 – Upfit Charger; Total - $6,531.33

Road: Dept of Correctional Services - $300.00 – Equipment; Kimball Auto Parts - $2,088.53 – Supplies, Tools, Parts; Menards - $10.68 – Building Repairs; NMC Cat - $1,782.00 – Repair Parts; North Platte NRD - $31.42 – Water; Pomp’s - $7,478.01 – Tires; Print Express - $454.90 – Time Books; RAKA Rentals - $2,275.63 – Mini Ex Rentals; US Bank - $226.59 – Fuel and Lodging; VSP - $60.77 – Vision; Triad Benefits - $5,671.54 – Health Benefits; Ideal - $28.88 – Janitorial Supplies; First Concord - $478.76 – HRA; Colonial Life - $29.48 – Dental; Banner Capital Bank - $1,458.35 – HSA; Aflac - $589.39 – Employee Benefits; Payroll – $21,866.19; Total - $44,831.12

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

                Chairperson Darnall adjourned the meeting at 10:53 A.M.

The next special meeting will be held August 19, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. or at the call of the clerk. The next special meeting will be held August 18, 2025, at 5:30 P.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 

Robin Darnall, Chairperson

Laif Anderson, Vice Chairperson

Don Lease, Member 

Attest: ____________________________________

                Katie West, Banner County Clerk