Commissioners hear from officials, open bids for packer roller attachment at recent meeting
The Perkins County Board of Commissioners held its regular meeting at 8:30 a.m. at Courthouse. All three commissioners were present at the meeting.
During public comment, Ian Stevens discussed county roads, road materials, and payment rates for materials with Commissioners regarding a gravel pit lease Stevens has with Perkins County. Stevens also addressed specifics about boundary lines for his pit, overburden material used for spreading on county roads, and inquired about the last per-yard rate he was paid. Commissioners introduced Stevens to Highway Superintendent Steve Leimer to further discuss Stevens’s concerns and identify solutions.
A bid opening was held at 9 a.m. Commissioners received and opened sealed bids for a packer roller attachment for a road grader. Bids were received from Nebraska Machinery Company, Murphy Tractor, and Bulldogger Services, Inc. The following were the bids submitted:
• Nebraska Machinery Company - Walk ‘n’ Roll Packer/Roller Model WR90 $47,000.00, Walk ‘n’ Roll Packer/Roller with Articulator $53,100.00.
• Murphy Tractor & Equipment – Wall ‘n’ Roll WR90 Oscillator Packer with Heavy Duty Lift Assembly $38,135.00 with option Articulator with Manual Lock $6,290.00, Handy-Hitch 90” Profile Packer Assembly with Cat Lift Assembly $33,250.00.
• Bulldogger Services, Inc. Final Pass II 96” Grader Mounted Compacter with Lift Kit and Pressure Control Valve $33,350.00.
The commissioners plan to review the bids and select the winning bidder at the December 15, meeting.
During business with officials, County Clerk James Brueggeman updated the Commissioners on the Carrier HVAC project and the progress in fixing a heating issue in the building. Brueggeman also told the Commissioners that the County Attorney is reviewing a renewal contract with Hamilton Telecommunications, which provides IT support services for the county.
Sheriff Scott Miller informed the Commissioners that he currently has two inmates at the Lincoln County Jail. Miller also reported that Benjamin Toliver started his employment earlier that morning as deputy sheriff trainee and discussed the new business item regarding the employee training expenses agreement with the Commissioners.
Highway and Noxious Weed Superintendent Leimer and Assistant Highway Superintendent Brian Brassfield provided the Commissioners with an estimate from Shelco Construction, LLC of Paxton for $375,200.00 to pave the truck route east of Elsie, which connects the Elsie/Paxton Road and Highway 23. It was noted the county could do some of the road base work to reduce the project cost.
Leimer and Brassfield informed the Commissioners that all paved county roads will need crack sealing and painting in the upcoming year. They also discussed repairing the first mile of Brandon Road south of Highway 23. Additionally, they mentioned that the skid steer leased by the courthouse would be moved to the county road department for road department use and then returned to the courthouse during winter weather events and during county fair time.
Leimer and Brassfield also talked with the Commissioners about new gravel pit locations, rebuilding a damaged roller packer, a recent Nebraska Department of Agriculture scoring review, and provided a to-do list for the road department restructuring, which includes plans to purchase iPads with cellular capability for key personnel and road shops. They also discussed implementing a no-leave policy for road workers during harvest seasons, when roads are used more and require extra maintenance; updating the classification of all county roads; and maintenance requirements for minimum-maintenance roads.
EMT Travis Ogg provided the Commissioners with a report on ambulance runs, ongoing reports, and recent ambulance collections for the latter half of November. Ogg updated them on the mileage reimbursement from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling and recent skills training he completed in St. Francis, Kansas, for his paramedic coursework. He also reminded the Commissioners that he will undergo additional skills training at medical facilities in the Denver Metro area in the coming weeks.
During unfinished business Commissioners took no action on the discussion of the Perkins County Comprehensive Plan Update and Zoning Regulations and will address it again on the December 15, agenda.
Commissioners did not act on the Lightsource BP Conditional Use Permit 03-2025.
Under new business Commissioner Robertson moved, and Commissioner Bottom seconded, to have Chairman Tucker sign the December 2025 NACO Voter Registration paperwork, with Chairman Tucker listed to cast the Perkins County ballot and County Clerk Brueggeman designated as the backup designee in case Chairman Tucker is unable to vote. A roll call vote was conducted, with all members voting in favor.
County Clerk Brueggeman reviewed the 2025 Nebraska Association of County Officials Salary Study for County Officials for the 2027-2030 term with the Commissioners. The Commissioners discussed the report and provided Brueggeman with proposed base salary information to prepare a resolution for consideration that establishes salaries of elected officials for the upcoming term.
Commissioners discussed and reviewed the 2026 Agreement between the Nebraska Administrative Office of Courts and Probation and Perkins County regarding dual court services. Commissioner Bottom moved to approve the agreement with authorization for Chairman Tucker to sign. Commissioner Robertson seconded the motion. Roll call vote was conducted with all members voting in favor.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:32 a.m. The upcoming regular meeting of the Perkins County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Monday, December 15 at 8:30 a.m. at the Courthouse.
NOTE: This report is from the Perkins County Clerk’s minutes of the meeting, and was edited by the Tribune-Sentinel for style.