County buys new loaders

The Nuckolls County Board of Commissioners met for their regularly scheduled meeting at the county courthouse in Nelson, Monday. All three commissioners were present.

The county road department had two bid offerings on the agenda. They accepted a bid from Titan Machinery, Hastings, of $4,000 for a new Case skidsteer. The department trades in their skidsteer each year to maximize its value. This machine is a tracked model with rear facing camera and display. Other bids were received from Superior Implement for a JCB model and Landmark Implement, Superior, for a John Deere model.

The road department accepted a bid from Nebraska CAT, Doniphan, for a front end loader. The winning bid was $171,150 with delivery scheduled in the next week. The other bid received was from Murphy Tractor and Equipment, Grand Island, for a John Deere model.

The road department accepted gravel bids from Deweese Sand and Gravel and Beatrice Sand and Gravel.

Vicki Ensign, county treasurer reported there had been 23 parcels with tax deliquencies sold to investors to collect the taxes. Six of the parcels have been redeemed. She noted there are $33,800 in delinquent taxes from 2007 to 2019 on the county property tax rolls. These were parcels which were not purchased. Should these parcels remain unpaid, some of them will be referred for foreclosure and then sold by the county sheriff.

The board adjourned at 10 a.m. and convened as the board of equalization. Susan Rogers, county assessor, submitted a tax exemption request from Brodstone Memorial Hospital for a vehicle. The board approved the exemption. Rogers stated that the state had competed an audit on a homestead exemption for a property and had discovered unreported income which caused the property owner to owe taxes from 2018. The board adjourned and reconvened as the county board,

Bids were opened for mowing the courthouse and the sheriff’s office grounds. Chris McClure was the low bidder. The contract for abandoned cemetery mowing was also awarded to McClure. The contract for chemical care was awarded to B-Green, Superior. The other bidders were the Weed Man and O Street Lawn Care.

The board approved special designated liquor licenses for Superior Estates Winery. The board approved a special designated liquor license for Dick’s Place for a reception at the county fairgrounds May 5.

The board tabled a resolution expressing support for second amendment rights until the next meeting. This was to allow time for the resolution to be drafted by the county attorney.

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the board will be Monday, April 5, at 8:30 a.m., at the county courthouse.