County contracts with WCNDD for zoning administration

With the recent retirement of Bob Tatum as zoning administrator, Perkins County commissioners finalized a contracted with West Central Nebraska Development District to handle zoning matters.

Tatum also handled ambulance billing for the county and will continue to assist with that for the time being. 

    The county finalized the contract at their Oct. 4 meeting.

Keith County has used WCNDD as their zoning administrator since 2017.

    Commissioners said people needing assistance with zoning issues and zoning applications can contact WCNDD directly or via a new number set up by the county—308-352-8310.

That number will ring directly to WCNDD.

Sheriff Jim Brueggeman, who is also in charge of buildings and grounds, said people can also call the current zoning number. 

Tatum will be at the office doing ambulance billing on Thursdays. When he is in, he will field zoning calls as well.

Brueggeman said callers to the current zoning number will be able to leave a message or be transferred to WNCDD. 

Brueggeman said the county budgets $38,000 for zoning, with more than half going to salary and benefits. The county will pay WCNDD $125 per hour for work being done for the county. 

The contract will run from October to June 2020. At that point, commissioners will examine costs and determine whether or not to continue the contract. 

Added library funding

Robyn Quinn and Val Foster  of the Grant Library reported on activities underway at the library and the utilization from people throughout the county. 

The county presently budgets some money for the library but the pair asked for consideration for some additional funding from the county—$4,000.

They explained that as they have expanded the library’s offerings, usage statistics show county residents are using the library as much as city residents. 

Now that COVID restrictions have been lifted the library has reopened to traffic. They said they see a lot of county residents who come to the library between appointments, to use the wi-fi or as a stopping off point between events here in town. 

The library has received a matching grant to purchase equipment to establish a permanent Makerspace in the library. 

They expect this to increase traffic as people come in to utilize the new equipment. 

Commissioners agreed to increase their contribution by $4,000 this year, as requested. 

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