By Clara Osten,
clara@wayneherald.com
Distribution of a portion of the funds Wayne County received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and an insurance rebate check were among the items on the agenda when the Wayne County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday.
Commissioners approved an application for ARPA funds from the Hoskins Rural Fire Department for $124,054.50 for the purchase of a new water tanker for the department. This amount was one half of the department's request. Commissioners felt the cost of the tanker should be shared with Stanton County, as the Hoskins department serves Woodland Park, which is in Stanton County.
A request for $49,396 in ARPA funds for the purchase of a law enforcement cruiser for the Wayne County Sheriff's department was also approved. This includes only the purchase of the vehicle and not the items needed to equip the vehicle.
An application from the Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department (NNPHD) for $635,000 was denied at this time.
It was noted that the NNPHD was looking to possibly purchase the former Magic Wok building, tear it down and build a new building at that location. However, at this time, it is not known how much, and from where, other funding could be obtained.
Commissioners said they felt some of the funding should come from the other counties the department serves.
With the approval of the two applications for ARPA funds, Wayne County has approximately $973,000 left from the $1.8 million allocated to the county.
Commissioners said they would like to stop taking applications until they can figure out the costs of projects such as windows for the courthouse.
Steve Muir with Elkhorn Valley Agency was at the meeting to present the county with a check for $24,374.01. The money represents the 2021 Medical Loss Ratio from United HealthCare.
Muir said the check was nearly double from last year.
Clerk of the District Court Deb Allemann-Dannelly and Clerk Magistrate Ashley Siebrant came to the meeting with information on technology updates for the courtroom.
The two explained what the $62,000 grant the county received would pay for and what the county would be responsible for.
County Attorney Amy Miller said she has reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding and noted that the county would be required to make the upgrades in the future and it was in the county's best interest to do so at the present time, with grant funding.
A purchase agreement was approved for the purchase of 1.41 acres of land from the Union Pacific Railroad Company.
The land it located at the edge of Winside, adjacent to the county property that houses District 3 equipment.
District 1 Commissioner Terry Sievers told the board that he is in the early stages of looking to purchase a motor grader through Sourcewell. This is similar to a state bid. Sievers will bring more information to the board as he obtains it.
Commissioners discussed options for the property and the possibility of acquiring more land in the area.
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 9 a.m. in the Wayne County Courthouse.
