Commissioners Approve Pay Raises

The Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday approved a 3 percent pay increase for elected officials, all except themselves.

The decision was made following an executive session of about 20 minutes. The increase is for the 2019-2020 period. In addition to the 3 percent increase, elected officials will receive the same benefits as employees.

Commissioner Randal Johnson said the commissioners’ salaries are review every two years.

According to a 2014 resolution, the County Clerk, County Treasurer and County Assessor will each make $60,100 in 2018. The County Sheriff pay will increase to $72,120 in 2018. The commissioners are compensated $18,432 2015 through 2018. The county surveyor is paid $200 per year with no benefits except those required by law.

The commissioners also approved the county submitting a Nebraska Emergency Grant Application to fund emergency sirens. The sirens will be located in Sunol, Lorenzo and Bronson. Region 21 Emergency Manager Ron Leal said the application needs to be returned to FEMA soon. The grant is a 75-25 share with Cheyenne County responsible for 25 percent of the cost. The project will have to go to bid before the sirens can be purchased. After the meeting, Leal said FEMA estimates purchase and installation of each siren should cost $20,000 to $25,000. Additionally, the project will include installation and site work of about $5,000 for each siren.

“I believe that’s the high end,” he said.

The board discussed using KENO funds for the County’s share of the cost. The KENO balance at the time of the meeting was about $264,861. About $44,700 has been collected this year. However, $37,000 was spent.

The county will also have to budget for ongoing maintenance of the sirens.

Leal said the sirens come with a five-year warranty.

Can an auction be legally defined as a method of competitive bed? That is a question commissioner Johnson posed to county attorney Paul Schaub. Johnson asked if the county could submit, as example, a road grader to an online auction. He suggested two people competing against each other is a competitive bid. Schaub asked to research the issue.

The board also approved a bridge project under the Interlocal Agreement among Western Nebraska Counties for County Bridge Match Program for bridge No. 145, priced at about $26,900.

The board also opened and reviewed several bids for a new motor grader. Prices ranged from 2018 Catepillar at $191,500 with a trade to a used John Deere for about $88,000 with the trade. Action was tabled for further review of the bids.