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 18, 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 17, 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.  Anderson moved to approve the agenda, with changes of moving the Auto guard policy to the first item of business. Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

                The minutes of November 4, 2025, meeting were examined. Anderson moved to approve November 4, 2025, minutes.  Lease seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried. 

Correspondence:

• NIRMA Board Vacancy – The Board reviewed the information.
• Official County Newspaper Form – NDOT – Discussion was had. Board instructed West to fill out and send in, if changes occur after January corrections can be made.
• District 12 Probation – Discussion was had. Darnall instructed West to take funds from the Board of Prisoners fund. 

Public Comment:

• Lane Darnall, Harrisburg, NE – Asked the Board why the meeting are not being broadcasted. Lease replied that the computer died and Bytes is hooking up the new computer tomorrow. 

Reports:

• Highway Department - Eric McCoy – Discussion was had.
• Weed Department – Tim Grubbs – Discussion was had.
• Sheriff – Zane Hopkins – Not Present.
• County Attorney – Mark Kovarik – Discussion was had.
• Treasurer – Kathy Natale – Discussion was had.
• Clerk – Katie West – Discussion was had.
• Assessor – Kacy Krakow – Discussion was had.
• Surveyor – Carl Gilbert – Not Present.
• Commissioners –
  1. Don Lease – Discussion was had. Lease informed the public that Panhandle Public Health District is holding a Banner County Community Conversation at the Banner County School on December 15, 2025, at 6:30 – 8:00 P.M.
  2. Robin Darnall – Discussion was had.
  3. Laif Anderson – Discussion was had. 

Items of Business Before the Board:

• Review, discuss, and consider changes to Banner County auto guard policy and specifications – Mark Kovarik – Discussion was had on the original policy and possible changes to meet DOT and NIRMA standards. The Board will reconsider the auto gate policy on December 16, 2025. Lane Darnall expressed concerns on placing road barriers on the South end of Hubbard’s Gap and to leave Common Mullein on the noxious weed list.  The Board took no action on the matter.
• Vistabeam – Matt Silverman – Silverman explained to the Board that Vistabeam would like to place a computer in the courthouse for the public to use free of charge and at no cost to Banner County. Discussion was had. Lease moved to approve the placement of a computer between the offices of the clerk and the treasurer for public use. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes.  Motion carried.
• Petition CR 61 for Road Repair – Paula Brown – Discussion was had on repairs on CR 61. After some research the Board discovered that part of CR 61 is a private drive, and a petition would have to filed for the road to be a county road.
• Solar Panel Discussion – Paula Brown – Paula Brown shared her concerns regarding solar panels with the Board of Commissioners.  Commissioners referred Paula Brown to the green energy subcommittee.  Discussion was made concerning the concerns of solar panels coming into the county. Board asked Green Energy Subcommittee to meet and discuss.
• Wages and Salaries – Commissioners – Discussion was had.
• Memorandum of Understanding between the NE Department of Veterans Affairs – Katie West – The Board reviewed the information.  Lease moved to adopt the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Nebraska Department of Veterans Affairs and Banner County.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Lease amended the original motion to include authorizing the Chairperson to sign.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.
• Resolution – Transfer of Funds from Road Department into Inheritance Tax – Robin Darnall – Discussion was had. Lease moved to adopt Resolution 25-27, Payment to County Inheritance from Road Fund.  Lease read Resolution 25-27.  Anderson seconded the motion.  Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.  See attached.
• Tetra-tech request to waive permit fee’s – Robin Darnall – Discussion was had. Lease moved to decline the request to waive permit fees. Anderson seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Lease, yes; Darnall, yes; Anderson, yes. Motion carried.

Claims:

General: Bytes - $959.97 – Data Processing; DAS - $150.00 – Data Processing; Eakes - $122.80 – Office Supplies; Fairfield Inn - $519.80 – Rooms; High West Energy - $463.00 – Lights; Ideal - $102.83 – Janitorial Supplies; Level 3 - $771.47 – Internet; Quadient - $266.88 – Postage; Scottsbluff County Treasurer - $571.88 – District 12 Probation; Western NE Papers - $236.30 – Advertising; Wiznerd - $780.00 – Web Hosting; Jean Bauer - $150.00 – ROD Training; Total - $5,094.93

Sheriff: AT&T - $223.12 – Cell Phone; DAS - $44.00 – Data Processing; Shaggy Buffalo - $30.00 – Car Wash; Total - $297.12

Road: Frank Parts - $109.60 – Shop Supplies; High West Energy - $289.00 – Lights; Ideal - $28.88 – Janitorial Supplies; Kimball Auto - $1,709.65 – Shop Supplies & Repair Parts; Legacy Coop - $4,742.79 – Grease & Oil; Parson’s Trucking - $3,600.00 – Custom Hauling; Pine Bluffs Sinclair - $301.98 – Fuel; Transwest Ford - $49.90 – Parts; Verizon - $233.10 – Cell Phones; Vistabeam - $87.95 – Internet; Wyrulec - $22.82 – Lights; Total - $11,175.67

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

                Chairperson Darnall adjourned the meeting at 11:07 A.M.

                The next meeting will be held on December 2, 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