Sheriff's office gets first storm shelter

The Nuckolls County Board of Commissioners met in Nelson at the Nuckolls County courthouse Monday. Tim Zikmund, board chairman, was an excused absence.

John Hodge, county attorney, presented the board with a proposal for video sharing equipment. The system would allow deputies in the sheriff’s department to easily download their body cameras to a secure website. The footage is used by both prosectors and defense attorneys. The present method of burning the footage to DVD’s is time consuming and splits the recordings up onto several DVD’s. The new system allows for a seamless transfer of data to the web. Hodge will return with more information at the next meeting.

The board authorized Brad Baker, sheriff, to purchase an electronic finger printing system. The system records, stores and distributes fingerprints for the sheriff’s department and state and federal agencies. The department and county attorney’s office had been out of compliance on finger print reporting for more than 15 years. This system brings the departments into compliance. The system is funded from a COVID relief grant.

Work was scheduled to get underway to construct a storm shelter at the sheriff’s building this week.

Dustin Gay, of Energized Electric, Superior, gave an update on HVAC repairs at the courthouse. The repair project has been held up because of a lack of parts. Supply chain issues have rendered a timetable for completion of the repairs impossible.

The board approved the purchase of a John Deere skidsteer for the road department. Landmark Implement was the low bidder.

Megan McMeen was appointed as the Nuckolls County member to the South Heartland Health Board.

Jerry Feist, Nebraska district supervisor for the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service gave a presentation to the board. He outlined what the program entails. He noted that a 25 percent increase in county funds was being requested. Other counties have dropped out of the program necessitating the increase. The board took the matter under consideration. They will explore alternate means to accomplish what the program covers. The service contributes to removing nuisance animals from the county.

The board approved the annual 2021 Nuckolls County Extension Report as submitted.

The board will meet again at 8:30 a.m., Monday, March 21, at the courthouse.