January meetings’ recap

The following is a recap of Perkins County’s commissioners’ proceedings and villages’ proceedings in January.
Elsie
Elsie Communications, Inc. will be installing fiber optic cable in Elsie, Grainton and surrounding rural areas beginning this spring.
After meter readings, water sample sent Monday and awaiting results used for the village’s ongoing grant process.
Utilities Superintendent Wade Turner suggested a by-pass from the first lagoon to the second to allow the second one to fill first which would allow the first one to be drained. T.C. Engineering estimated the cost would be around $40,000.00.
Interlocal Agreement between Paxton and Elsie was signed at Paxton’s meeting last night stating Paxton provides Elsie with a licensed public water distribution system operator.
Turner provided the Board with a survey from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy in regards to Lead and Copper Rule Revisions. Currently, the state is just requesting an inventory of service lines.
A copy of the survey out will be sent to all village customers with the request they be returned by May.
The next meeting of the board will be Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the village office.
Madrid
Board members added a line in the budget for a new pump for the lagoons.
The current pump is 100 gallons/minute so looking to increase to 170 gallons/minute.
One resident remains in non-compliance for a nuisance. This item will be included on the February meeting agenda.
Dates for annual village events were set, including Annual Easter Egg Hunt, April 16, and Christmas in Madrid, Dec. 1. Events are subject to change.
New hours for the Village of Madrid dump schedule are Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m. and Saturday’s from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. as in the past. The dump will open April 2, 2022 and close October 29, 2022 for regular hours stated above.
As always, this schedule is subject to change depending on weather.
Venango
Dennis Ekdahl made a motion to increase village utility rates on water, sewer and trash for residential and commercial properties by 2 percent effective March 1.
The next regular meeting will be Feb. 8, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. in the town hall meeting room.
Wallace
Mary May was reappointed as village clerk. Charlie Andrews was appointed chairperson and Gary Hager as co-chairperson/vice chairperson. Scott Sauser was appointed Maintenance person;  Donna Hahn and Kathy Fowler as Co-Librarians; and Tom Werblow as Street Superintendent.
Maguire Iron’s bid to paint water tower was approved.
Twomey Tree Service’s bid of $1,200 to cut down trees at the library approved.
The next meeting of the Wallace Village Board will be Feb. 15.
Perkins County
At their Jan. 3, the Perkins County Commissioners heard no public comment at their public hearing for a conditional use permit and approved CUP # 05-21, submitted by Shannon and Teresa Malmkar, for a dwelling unit closer than 1,000 feet from another dwelling unit.
At the Jan. 18 meeting Commissioner Steve Tucker was named Chairman of the Board for the upcoming year.
Commissioner Sid Colson was elected Vice-Chairman.
Other positions appointed were County Surveyor, Ryan Dickinson; County Engineer, Thomas Werblow/T.C. Engineering; Noxious Weed Control Supt., Michael Dolezal; Highway Superintendent, Michael Dolezal; Veteran’s Service Officer, Stephanie Larson; Emergency Manager, James Brueggeman; E-911 Administrator, James Brueggeman; Zoning Administrator, West Central Nebraska Development District; and NIRMA Contact Person, Rita Long.
Other appointments included, to three-year terms to the Perkins County Fair Board, District #2 – Shawn Tjaden, District #2 – Elliott Peterson; to three-year terms to the Perkins County Health Services Foundation Board, District #3 – Tawna Holmstedt; to three-year terms to the Perkins County Planning Commission District #1 – Gavin McClintock, District #2 – Randy Gengenbach, District #3 – Tom Tines; to three-year terms to the Perkins County Board of Adjustment Tom Tines and Dayton Reichman; to five-year terms on the Veteran’s Service Board, Dick ‘Swede’ Orgen; to one-year terms on the  Perkins County Safety Committee, Chairman - Ron Hagan, Law Enforcement - Jim Brueggeman, Roads - Michael Dolezal, Courthouse Office - Kris Aerni, Building & Grounds - Rick Ochsner, Public Transit Driver - Trish Jimenez, Contact Person - Rita Long.
    The commissioners met Monday and will meet again Feb. 22.
Wallace
Public Schools
At their Jan. 12 meeting, Gavin McClintock was elected board President;  Josh Friesen elected Vice President, Lila Koop elected Secretary and Jill Pelster elected Treasurer
Committee appointments are Americanism Committee, Gavin McClintock, Josh Friesen, and Seth Hasenauer; Finance Committee, Jill  Pelster, Lila Koop, and Josh Friesen; Building & Grounds Committee: Gavin McClintock, Grant McClintock, and Lila Koop; Transportation Committee, Gavin McClintock, Jill Pelster, and Lila Koop; and Negotiations Committee: Grant McClintock, Jill Pelster, and Seth Hasenauer.
The board approved the Special Education, Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, and Telecommunications/Distance Education contracts with ESU 16 for the 2022-2023 school year as presented.
The next meeting of the school board is Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.