On the agenda: Wheeler County Minutes — Flock camera (Sep 30)

Bartlett, Nebraska
September 30, 2026
The Wheeler County Commissioners met to conduct a regular meeting at 8:00 a.m. Legal Notice of the meeting was
published in the September 23, 2026, print edition of the Burwell Tribune and Official Agenda posted according to law.
Chairman Heinz called the meeting to order and stated that copies of the Nebraska Open Meetings Act were available to the
public. Answering to roll call were Commissioners Heinz, Plugge, and Pokorny. Clerk Snider, Sheriff Larby, Treasurer Seamann,
County Attorney Joe McNally, and Road Foreman Reed were also present along with members of the public.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Public comment was held. Steven Schrunk asked who oversaw the roads after a rain as on 508th Ave. it pools, and when the
water does drain it washes the gravel away. He also inquired about getting gravel on 510th Ave leading to the Sandhills
Hideaway and about the Flock cameras.
Pokorny made a motion to recess the regular board meeting and open the Budget hearing on for the Tax Request, seconded
by Plugge. Voting aye: Pokorny, Plugge, and Heinz. Voting nay: none.
Chuck Abel presented the county’s budget and informed the board and county patrons what the budget looked like. There
was an increase of $35,000 in the budget due to inflation, fuel and insurance costs. The levy will be a little bit higher this year
but not higher than the 2%, to cause a Joint Public Hearing (pink postcard).
Pokorny made a motion at 8:14 am to adjourn the Budget hearing and reconvene with the regular board meeting, seconded
by Plugge. Voting aye: Pokorny, Plugge, and Heinz. Voting nay: none.
Heinz made a motion to adopt the budget as published, seconded by Pokorny. Voting aye: Heinz, Pokorny, and Plugge. Voting
nay: none.
Plugge made a motion to approve August 24, 2026, meeting minutes, seconded by Pokorny. Voting aye: Plugge, Pokorny, and
Heinz. Voting nay: none.
Pokorny made a motion to approve the September 9, 2026, special meeting minutes, seconded by Plugge. Voting aye:
Pokorny, Plugge, and Heinz. Voting nay: none.
Road foreman Reed reported that the silage trucks are heavy again this time of year and that 825th Road and the other roads
that Niewohner’s farm is using are showing wear so the road department is trying to stay ahead of the graveling in those
areas. He has also received calls about patching holes on 832nd Road west of Bartlett that are in the village limits of Bartlett
which doesn’t have the equipment to repair. Reed was advised to talk to the Villag of Bartlett to see if they would be willing
to pay for the gravel if the county hauls it. Regardless, the county would be willing to haul a couple of dump truck loads of
gravel to fill in the holes. He also reported the Green Valley road is still on the list to fix this year.
James Burtwistle was present to request help from the County on building a quarter mile of road that will lead to his new
house that’s on a section line road. The county agreed to form/shape the road if he provides the material.
Sheriff Larby reported that things are going good with Region 26 and there has been no update on the Flock Cameras.
Treasurer Seamann stated that the Road Fund looked good and that no transfer is needed at this time. Seamann presented a
list of the current tax sales that the county has taken and the tax sale that could possibly be taken on October 1, 2026 if the
County wished to do so, along with presenting the Annual Delinquent Tax Report. Pokorny made a motion to proceed with
the new tax sale to be taken on October 1, 2026, seconded by Plugge. Voting aye: Pokorny, Plugge, and Heinz. Voting nay:
none.

Treasurer Seamann presented Resolution 09012026 to move all CD’s as they mature to NPAIT. Pokorny the motion to approve,
seconded by Plugge. Voting aye: Pokorny, Plugge, and Heinz. Voting nay: none.
Snider presented a map of the areas that Kelley’s Spraying has completed. Snider also presented an Annual Weed Inventory
that was missed in August. Pokorny made a motion to approve the Weed Department inventory and in the future to combine
the Weed Department and Road Department inventories, seconded by Heinz. Voting aye: Pokorny, Heinz, and Plugge. Voting
nay: none.
Heinz presented a sealed bid from Bill Root Building Repair for the replacement of the ceiling tiles in the courthouse. The bid
was discussed and suggested contacting Bill Root to see if there is a way to get the electrician that he works with the most to
come and include the bid for the electoral work along with the replacing of the ceiling tiles. Tabled.
Colonial Representative Steven Melnick was present to report that there have been no changes to the current insurance
policies that the county has in place and the open enrollment period was open if anyone wanted changes to their policies.
GENERAL FUND
Payroll
$27,0505.46
Aflac, insurance
189.21
Ameritas Retirement Plans Division, retirement
4,060.19
Appeara, services
85.82
Applied Connective Technologies, camera upgrade
1,628.22
Bartlett Post Office, postage
29.00
Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance, dental/health insurance
19,285.59
Burwell Tribune, publication
925.36
Cafaro, Michael Joseph, mileage
145.92
Cenex Fleet Fueling, sheriff fuel
179.94
Colliers Landscaping & Lawn Care, lawn care
315.00
Colonial Life Insurance, insurance
261.24
DAS State Accounting-Central Finance, AS400 Fees
272.00
Eakes Office Solutions, paper
49.87
Election Systems & Software, ballot setup
1,674.13
Farmers and Merchants Bank, payroll w/h
6,792.87
Federal Signal Corp-SSG, Ericson Village siren
16,398.50
First Concord Benefits Group, fees
63.00
Gall’s LLC, sheriff uniform
309.55
Good Life Landscapes, August and September mowing
2,250.00
Holiday Inn-Kearney, assessor lodging
419.85
Holt County Treasurer, Veterans contract
875.00
Hometown Leasing, services
60.41
Howard County Clerk, county share quarterly district court expense
535.52
Jack’s Uniforms, sheriff badge
301.77
LaQunita Inn-Kearney, meeting lodging
269.00
Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District, services
477.75
McNally Law Office, clerical/rent
2,358.34
Microfilm Imaging Systems, INC, equipment rental
60.00
MIPS Inc, services
1,608.39
MM C Store, sheriff fuel
172.26
Nebraska Association of County Officials, mtg registration
961.20
Nebraska Department of Revenue, state w/h
846.98
Northeast Nebraska Telephone Co, services
567.34
Paper Tiger Shredding, services
58.00
Presto-X, monthly services
102.82
Quill Corporation, supplies
289.71
Safe Life Defense, sheriff shirt
410.10

Seamann, Carol, mtg mileage
Sears, Donna, supplies
Snider, Cara, meeting postage
Valley County Sheriff, prisoner keep
Verizon Wireless, sheriff cell
VSP Insurance Co. vision insurance
We Mart, sheriff fuel
Wheeler County Treasurer, postage
Yosten Law, LLC court fees
ROAD FUND
Payroll
AFLAC, insurance
ARKS, repairs
Ameritas Retirement Plans Division, retirement
Appeara, services
Blue Cross Blue Shield, dental/health insurance
Bomgaars Supply, Inc., supplies
Colonial Life Insurance, insurance
DirtWorx Excavating & Demolition, crushed concrete
Emme Sand & gravel, gravel
Farmers and Merchants Bank, payroll w/h
First Concord Benefits Group, fees
Gehring Construction & Ready Mix, crushed concrete
Kelley Spraying LLC, spraying and chemical
Kings Crushing, LLC, crushed rock
Loup Valleys Rural Public Power District, shop services
Madison Nation Life, insurance
Nebraska Association of County Officials, conference registration
Nebraska Department of Revenue, payroll w/h
Nebraska Department of Revenue, quarterly fuel taxes
Nebraska Machinery Co, repairs
Northeast Nebraska Telephone Co, services
O’Neill Shopper, help wanted ad
Overland Ready Mixed, crushed concrete
PowerPlan, repairs
Prairie Fabrication LLC, repairs
Road Groom Manufacturing, blades
Sapp Bros Petroleum, INC., diesel
Shotkoski Enterprise, crushed concrete
Straka, Jeremy, mileage
The Parts Bin, Inc, supplies
Ulrich Gravel Inc, gravel
Verizon Wireless, services
VSP Insurance Co, vision insurance
We Mart, fuel
ROD Preservation and Modernization Fund
Eakes Office Solutions, fee book

349.45
12.84
405.89
100.00
276.12
168.82
421.73
410.00
925.00
$34,009.63
66.10
8.00
4,998.57
89.37
15,391.74
111.88
739.07
21,277.29
3,021.00
10,018.21
45.00
1,431.60
10,453.75
4,706.91
206.13
14.53
165.00
1,435.03
1,127.00
727.70
91.11
146.52
1,830.00
910.59
809.00
6,919.07
30,880.78
41,968.11
160.36
526.42
20,892.33
39.93
63.68
388.38
806.26

A Board of Equalization meeting will be held on October 19, 2026, at 8:00 am to set the levies for the county.
With November monthly meeting falling on the day before Thanksgiving the board has moved the meeting to November 23,
2026, at 8:00 am.

Pokorny made a motion to approve the claims, seconded by Heinz. Voting aye: Pokorny, Heinz, and Plugge. Voting nay: none.
Pokorny made a motion at 9:55 A.M. to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Heinz. Voting aye: Pokorny, Heinz, and Plugge.
Voting nay: none.
The next regular meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.
Cara Snider, County Clerk
Travis Heinz, Board Chairman