Gravel pit advice offered; property protests decided

McCOOK, Neb. — A critic who helped get Red Willow County’s gravel purchasing practices changed has offered to help the county get into the gravel business if it so desires.

After Chairman Earl McNutt mentioned the possibility of the county starting its own gravel pit at last week’s meeting, Steve Barenburg of EIA Sand and Gravel told commissioners Monday that he could help the county with such a project.

He said he could provide expertise, help the county get the equipment it needed or even sell the county a turn-key operation if it so desired. McNutt, who was defeated for re-election, said the idea of a gravel pit was only speculation, and would be up to the incoming board to decide.

McNutt said startup costs have seemed to be prohibitive so far.

Another outgoing commissioner, Cayla Richards, was absent from Monday’s meeting.

After Barenburg contacted state officials about the county’s practice of sometimes buying gravel from unsuccessful bidders, state auditors advised commissioners that the practice was not allowed.

All of the recent gravel bids were rejected, leaving the county free to buy gravel on the open market, despite the difficulty of budgeting for such purchases.

Barenburg said his company would continue to produce gravel, regardless of whether or not the county established its own gravel pit.

Joyce Deaver of Tri-Valley Public Transport presented information about the Cambridge-based service, which she said had grown by 430% from 2018 to 2020. More than 1,000 trips served Red Willow County riders, which would translate to $4,543 if the county were to pay for its share of the service’s budget.

“But we’re grateful for anything you can do,” she said.

Tri-Valley has grown to six minivans, providing mostly rides for medical services, 75% of them to Tri-Valley Health Services, 11% to McCook and the remainder to places as far as Lincoln and Omaha.

Chairman McNutt noted that while Red Willow County had pledged $1,050 toward the service last year, it had actually been invoiced and had paid that amount twice. Deaver said she was unaware of that mistake.

Commissioner Randy Dean suggested that the county’s support be increased to $3,000 a year, but the support, approved 2-0 in Richards’ absence, will be $1,950, taking last year’s overpayment into account.

Acting as a board of equalization, commissioners finalized a number of decisions on property tax protests. This year, many involved damage from wildfires. Although many residents lost much personal property, the board could only reduce valuation on real estate that lost value because of the fire.

Property owners who disagree with the county’s decisions have until Aug. 24 to file an appeal with the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission.