Commissioners hear road concerns

McCOOK, Neb. — After hearing concerns from neighboring landowners Monday morning, Red Willow County Commissioners will consider closing a minimum-maintenance road altogether.

Kevin Potthoff, Jeff Ruggles and Brad Randel spoke during the public comments portion of the commissioners’ regular meeting, Potthoff expressed concerns about unwanted visitors approaching his rural home northeast of McCook, using a minimum maintenance road.

He suggested that closing the road would also relieve the county of liability.

The item will be on the next regular agenda, 9:30 a.m. April 22.

Later in Monday’s meeting, commissioners discussed the merits and expenses of continuing armor coat certain county roads or opting for more expensive, but more durable, chip seal like those used by the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

The county has some $770,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding uncommitted, with Commissioner Randy Dean suggesting that much of that be used for a new road grader.

Chairman Ted Gans sought guidance for repairing one of the piers on a bridge near Lebanon, but it was decided the work could be done without declaring an emergency

Sheriff Kevin Darling gave an update on the rust problem in county jail cells, which he said resulted from high salt content in softened water.

He said the original architect is working with an Oklahoma company to have surfaces sandblasted and recoated with a rust-proof surface. The company which supplied the original jail-cell pods has gone out of business.

Gans questioned whether the county had actually been delivered stainless steel, and a search began for the original construction contracts.

Commissioners also agreed to declare a list of items including three vehicles, .40- and .45-cal. ammunition and a Model 22 Glock pistol and handheld radios as surplus. The sheriff’s office no longer uses .40 or .45 caliber firearms, and the radios were too obsolete to have any value.

Sheriff Darling said 10 seized or abandoned vehicles will be auctioned off

Commissioners also agreed to have a radio translator installed with an existing antenna on the third floor of the courthouse, to improve radio communications to and from the jail. Darling also said the shift to digital radios has hurt reception when officers go inside apartment buildings.

The cost will be paid from the sheriff’s existing budget.

Acting as a board of equalization, commissioners approved a $358.75 tax roll correction.

They also authorized an oversized load permit for Star House Moving to move a house from North Platte into the county, and a county roadway occupancy permit for MPPD,