Cheyenne Co. mulls 'livestock friendly' designation

Whether Cheyenne County should apply for a livestock friendly designation through the Nebraska Department of Agriculture was discussed at a county commissioners meeting earlier this week.

On Monday morning, county resident Tyson Narjes asked Cheyenne County Commissioners to consider filling out an application for the status.

“It seems over the years, the county has kind of lost touch with agriculture,” Narjes said. “This is a way to show support.”

Narjes said until recently, it was more of a promotional program: a resolution and some paperwork from commissioners would mean the county would join 29 others in the state – including all of Cheyenne County’s neighbors – and be able to call itself “livestock friendly.”

But after the passage of a bill in the Nebraska Unicameral last month, introduced by Sen. Eric Schilz whose district encompasses Cheyenne County, there’s now grant money available for county’s holding the designation.

“I think it’s a great way to recognize everybody who works hard outside of the city limits,” Narjes said on Wednesday. “It’s more or less saying we appreciate the hard work of people in the livestock industry.”

Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said after the meeting that the designation had been considered by a previous board of county commissioners.

According to the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, the program was initiated through the state Legislature. The voluntary program was created to show support for the agriculture industry.

“Counties that are accepted by [the Nebraska Department of Agriculture] may include the Livestock Friendly County designation in materials promoting the county,” a program summary states. “The information gathered as part of the application process will also be a valuable resource for local producers and others interested in supporting the county.”

Legislative Bill 175, signed into law by Gov. Pete Ricketts last Wednesday, allows the Director of Agriculture to administer grants to program counties for livestock development planning and associated public infrastructure improvements.

Narjes said if commissioners were to apply for the livestock friendly status, and receive a grant, it could possibly be used for improvements at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds.

The commissioners said they were receptive to the idea, but wanted more information on what the application process entailed.

“Is it possible to table this until the next meeting when we have all the information?” Commissioner Philip Sanders asked.

With approval from commissioners Darrell Johnson and Steven Olson, the item will again be discussed at a meeting later this month.

Also at the meeting:

• Colleen Terman, planning and zoning administrator, reviewed Section 26 of the County Planning and Zoning Regulations with the commissioners. She said the section dealt specifically with building permits, but since the county has neither a building inspector nor building codes, she asked if it could be amended or removed.

“We don’t have building codes, we don’t have a building inspector,” she said. “We really shouldn’t be issuing building permits.”

Changing the name of a building permit to a “notice of intent to build” was discussed.

“I’m here for direction, but I think it’s something to think about,” she said.

Commissioners suggested the issue be taken up by the county planning and zoning commission.

• The next Cheyenne County Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15 at 8 a.m. at the Cheyenne County Courthouse.