School Board Sues County

The Cheyenne County Commissioners approved an agreement for special council in response to a lawsuit filed against Cheyenne County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh.

The suit was filed by Leyton School District Board of Education members Suzy Ernest and Roland “Rol” Rushman. The lawsuit is in response to approval of signatures on a recall petition for Ernest (board president) and Rushman (board secretary). Ernest and Rushman are requesting the signatures be denied.

Recall petitions were submitted and then confirmed by Fiegenschuh on Friday Sept. 15. Fiegenschuh said 138 signatures were approved for Ernest and 148 for Rushman.

District Court Judge Derek Wiemer and an Alliance judge have recused themselves from the lawsuit.

The commissioners also two requests for burial assistance. The families of Karen White and of Cheryl Miller submitted petitions for county regarding burial costs. The request for White was approved and the request for Miller was denied with Commissioner Randy Miller abstaining.

The board then approved the annual Juvenile Justice Grant application. The grant covers costs associated with services including a mental health counselor, and a part-time program coordinator.

The board also met as the Board of Equalization. A hearing was held with County Treasurer Shelley Bowlin regarding tax exemption of motor vehicles owned by Cheyenne County Hospital Association, Inc., and then approved by the commissioners.

The board also met with John Steuber, assistant regional director, Western Region at USDA regarding a predatory animal agreement with the county.

“We're certainly going to honor this year's agreement,” Steuber said by telephone during the meeting. “We're committed to working with Cheyenne County.”

He added that the agency needs to figure out funding beginning July 1. He suggested that Cheyenne County's share of $9,000 increase to $11,000 for the next fiscal year. He said it is hard to find “cooperative funding.” County commissioner Randy Miller suggested he talk with the Nebraska Game and Parks.

The commissioners also approved Weed Superintendent Cris Burks' State reports, and further discussed a fabric building for the county's highway department. The commissioners expressed concern that the cost of the project is becoming excessive. The projected is budgeted at $25,000. The building alone is estimated at $34,000, in addition to cement work. Commissioner Randy Miller said the cost is beginning to compete with the cost of a pole barn. He encouraged Highway Superintendent Doug Hart to research other options.

The commissioners also discussed costs of paint striping county roads, seeking bids on a new motor grader and Air Force contractors work on roads.