Tuesday's meeting of the Wayne County Board of Commissioners lasted just over a half hour with commissioners receiving a number of updates and approving a resolution.
County Treasurer Tammy Paustian presented a number of distress warrants for several properties with unpaid taxes. This includes a number of trailer homes.
Paustian said the numbers of these properties is comparable to other years. She said 99.16% of taxes have been collected this year.
Wayne County Emergency Manager Nic Kemnitz updated the commissioners on recent activity, including providing assistance during a wildfire near Wisner on Oct. 23.
Kemnitz said he was asked to provide assistance just before 5 p.m. When severe weather threatened Wayne County at approximately 6 p.m., he returned to Wayne for a period of time until the storm moved out of Wayne County.
He returned to Wisner to assist with the wildfire and arrived at the Command Post at approximately 7:30 p.m. He then assisted Cuming County Emergency Manager Jeff McGill and remained in the area until 3:45 a.m. on the morning of Oct. 24.
Kemnitz told the commissioners that the fire started on the south side of the Elkhorn River, south of Wisner and firefighters from 14 departments worked to keep the south wind from pushing it north across the river.
"During the event, I helped with a lot of coordination with the number of departments that were there," he said.
Kemnitz also presented a quote for the purchase of a software update for a radio that was purchased in 2015. The cost for the upgrade is just over $1,100 and the purchase made through the State of Nebraska. It will be paid with funds from Kemnitz's budget.
Road Superintendent Mark Casey presented a map of the county to each of the commissioners, highlighting bridges in the county that may be eligible for County Bridge Match Program (CBMP) funding. Casey asked the commissioners to look over the list and make a decision at the next meeting on which of these bridges the county would be applying for grant funding.
Casey said the Quitclaim Deed and property transfer has been received for the Union Pacific property at Winside. He said he is working on an agreement for the purchase of a small piece of property in the same area that the county has actually been using for a number of years.
Commissioners approved Resolution 22-20, which is the Year-End Certification of the County Superintendent.
Commissioner Dean Burbach presented an update from the Safety Committee. He noted that the AEDs are all in and tornado shelters have been set up in Districts 2 and 3.
The Wayne County Board of Commissioners will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, Nov. 15 at 9 a.m. at the Wayne County Courthouse.
