PCSO hires new deputy
Perkins County commissioners unanimously approved the rehiring of former Perkins County Sheriff’s Office employee Ruth Mecham at their meeting Monday, June 4.
Mecham, formerly Holmes, worked as a dispatcher before the consolidation of the communication center. She currently works as a dispatcher for the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), and will be joining PCSO as a deputy sheriff.
Sheriff Jim Brueggeman said she turned down a position as a trooper with the NSP because she wanted to stay in the area.
“I think she’ll be a good hire. She wants this very bad and has for a long time. When she came to work for me as a dispatcher originally, she had hopes of moving out of the communications center into a deputy position, and that’s why she took the job with us to begin with,” said Brueggeman.
Mecham will start June 26 and will need to be certified.
Grant Legion Hall to sell
Grant Legion Post No. 40 Commander Mike Wyatt attended the meeting to see if the county had any interest in purchasing the legion building.
Wyatt said that due to low membership, with only three members consistently attending meetings, they can’t continue to support the building.
Wyatt said the utilities of the 4,000 square foot building run about $350 per month, with a storage shed included. Based on other sales in the area, they are asking $60,000.
The only revenue it generates comes from renting the building for meetings and events, which Wyatt said has been slim lately.
He said there is one other person interested, but asked the commissioners to consider purchasing it.
In God We Trust
Visitor Barb Otto said she accepted a challenge three years ago from Jacquie Sullivan, a city council member in Bakersfield, California, who was looking for volunteers to work on a campaign she launched in 2002.
On July 30, 1956, Congress adopted “In God We Trust” as the official national motto of the United States. The motto has been on U.S. currency since 1963.
The goal of the campaign is to display the national motto somewhere in the courthouse. There are currently 35 states active in the campaign.
Otto has been to 59 of the 93 Nebraska counties, asking for their participation. She provided several examples of how other counties have displayed the motto, and who has provided donations to fund the signage.
Commissioners agreed to display the motto.
Brueggeman suggested doing something in line with the new signage recently completed at the courthouse, with the potential for a scout project.
Anyone interested in donating to this project can contact County Clerk Rita Long or any of the commissioners.
Points of Interest
• Commissioners unanimously approved the cost of living adjustment wages at 2.75 percent.
• A help wanted ad appears in the classified section on page 9 for a 2018-19 budget preparer.
• Commissioners approved a conditional use request filed by The Scoular Company for a grain storage building located north of Grant at the recommendation of a 8-0 vote of the Perkins County Zoning Committee.
• The next meeting will be Monday, June 18 at 8:30 a.m.