By Morgan Cardenas
editor@wayneherald.com
At Tuesday's meeting, the Wayne County Commissioners took action on several proposals.
The Board of Equalization approved motor vehicle exemption applications for Grace Lutheran Church, Haven House, Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department, Our Savior Lutheran Church, and Wayne State Foundation before the Board of Commissioners meeting.
Luke Virgil, Executive Director of Wayne Area Economic Development, presented the possibility of displaying a piece of art on the courthouse property for the 2022-2023 Wayne Sculpture Walk. In 2020, the City of Wayne financed public art and started with a mural on the side of the Majestic Theatre. In 2021, an Art Sculpture Walk with 10 different art pieces placed down Main Street. Virgil explains that two new scultpures are going to be added to make up a total of 12 pieces. They are going to add a plaque and QR code to the scupltures so anyone can san the code to learn more about the scuplture and artist themselves while being voiced by said artist. The Commissioners approved the proposal and will have a smaller concrete pad installed by the city crew to place the art on as long as the piece does not interfere with the irrigation line of the area. The piece will be done by local artist Steven Elliot, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wayne State College.
Next, Wayne County Emergency Manager Nic Kemnitz presented the Elkhorn Valley Local Emergency Planning Committee Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Plan. The Commissioners approved of the plan. Kemnitz also discussed the Wildland Fire training that he received recently and plans to complete an Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior and Firefighter Training courses. He asked the Commissioners for permission to purchase an Anchor ‘New Generation’ Fire Shelter for $625 through Danko Emergency Equipment with funds from the Emergency Management budget. This fire shelter is a one-time use piece of equipment that offers increased protection from radiant and convective heat in wildland firefighter entrapment situations.
The Commissioners approved a temporary two-week Class I Liquor License Application for Ben Hogans Heroes LLC for the Logan Valley Golf Course in Wakefield during the meeting.
Then, Commissioner Dean Burbach and the Safety Committee, along with Pat Brentlinger, custodian/maintenance department, talked about Automated Extended Defibrillators for the courthouse, public safety building, county attorney office and three county shops. They are looking into purchasing six AEDs which are the same as the six in each of the sheriff department cruisers. Burbach also talked about putting storm shelters at the Carroll and Winside county shops. The shelters would be a a 7-ton, portable concrete tornado shelter and will be above ground.
The Commissioners rediscussed the truck bids that were made at the previous meeting because they had to reject the bid from Cornhusker due to not meeting specs. They approved the next bid from Custom Body being a Kenworth for one truck at $187,950 with a ‘Fat Boy’ kit and will re-bid in June for a second truck.
Brentlinger came back to talk about the courthouse windows with the Commissioners. He stated there are currently 12 windows that are in need of replacement. The Commissioners will look to get in touch with an architect before pursuing further with the courthouse windows being updated.
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, May 17 at 9 a.m. in the Wayne County Courthouse.
