McCook Daily Gazette: News : Red Willow County Commissioners

Red Willow County Commissioners

News about Red Willow County government

County may be on the hook for helicopter storage costs (03/15/10)
Red Willow County may have to pay $7,758.70 in storage costs if commissioners want to collect the county's helicopter collateral in Colorado. County attorney Paul Wood and commissioners Monday morning talked to the manager of a Longmont, Colo. hangar owners' association in whose hangars Ron Willocks has stored the helicopter prototype that he developed with a $300,000 loan from Red Willow County's revolving loan fund. ...

County ponders trip to retrieve kit helicopters (03/09/10)
Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood wants a time, date and location agreed upon and set in stone before county officials go to Colorado to retrieve a kit helicopter built with a loan from the county. Rex Nelson, administrator of the county's revolving loan program, told Red Willow County commissioners during their meeting Monday morning that Ron Willocks of Longmont, Colo., owner of the now-defunct Pawnee Aviation helicopter kit company, seems anxious and willing to get this matter settled. ...

Despite bankruptcy, gift shop owner vows to repay (03/09/10)
A downtown McCook gift shop has filed for bankruptcy protection, but its owner assured Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning that she intends to repay her loan from the county. Betty Kenner, owner of Accents Etc., told commissioners during their weekly meeting that Chapter 11 bankruptcy will allow her to reorganize, stay in business and continue to liquidate inventory to pay her creditors. ...

County holds EDC contribution to $5,000 (02/23/10)
For the second year in a row, Red Willow County commissioners voted to pay $5,000 instead of $10,000 for the county' membership contribution to the McCook Economic Development Corp. During the commissioners' regular weekly meeting Monday morning, a motion by Commissioner Steve Downer to make a contribution of $10,000 died for lack of a second...

County buys apartment building (02/02/10)
By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County commissioners closed on the purchase of the big gray-and-white apartment house at 524 Norris Ave. during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Commissioners agreed in December to pay Stannis and Kenneth Spencer of McCook $50,000 for the property. Camy Bradley of McCook Abstract Co. Monday morning presented the purchaser's statement to commissioners for signatures...

County board elects officers (01/12/10)
By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County's District 1 commissioner was elected to his 10th year as chairman during the county board's annual reorganization Monday morning. Commissioner Earl McNutt of McCook chaired his first meeting in January 2001. He was elected to the board of commissioners in 1998...

Commissioners approve new extension board members (12/23/09)
Red Willow County commissioners approve the appointments of two new members of the Red Willow County Extension Board during their meeting Monday morning. Lori Beeby of Lebanon will represent District 1, replacing Elaine Haag. Beeby's term will expire in 2012. Theresa Tiller of rural McCook will be the 4-H Council representative, replacing Jeff Stagemeyer; her term will expire at the end of 2010...

Commissioners increase salaries (12/22/09)
Red Willow County commissioners gave elected officials a raise and determined a yearly increase beginning in 2011, adopting a resolution setting salaries for the next four-year term at their weekly meeting Monday morning. Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said salaries for elected officials had to be set by Jan. 15...

Commissioners to review salaries (12/11/09)
The Red Willow County commissioners will discuss elected officials' salaries at their regular meeting Monday. The meeting will be called to order at 9 a.m. in the comissioners' room at the courthouse, with the salary discussion set for 9:15 a.m. At 9:45 a.m., Andy Snyder of Smith-Hayes will discuss a recolution for reimbursement on recently purchased property...

County buys apartment house, reviews wind study (12/08/09)
Red Willow County commissioners purchased real estate and updated themselves on a wind study being conducted in the county during their regular weekly meeting Monday morning. Commissioners voted un-animously to purchase the two-story frame white-and-gray apartment house at 524 Norris -- on the corner north of the courthouse in McCook -- for $50,000 from Stannis and Kenneth Spencer, McCook...

County buys neighboring apartments (12/07/09)
At their weekly meeting this morning, Red Willow County commissioners purchased the big white and gray apartment house at 524 Norris, on the corner north of the courthouse in McCook. Commissioners unanimously authorized commission chairman Earl McNutt to sign the purchase agreement to buy the apartment house for $50,000 from Stannis and Kenneth Spencer of McCook...

Commissioners split vote to buy new grader (11/25/09)
Red Willow County commissioners replaced a 1993 Caterpillar road grader with another Caterpillar, upgrading to a 2010 Model 140M at their weekly meeting Monday morning. The new Cat grader will cost $150,314, and will be delivered to Commissioner Steve Downer's District 2 shop in Bartley on or about March 1...

Federal road funding on track (11/24/09)
The "responsible charge person" for Red Willow County assured commissioners during their meeting Monday morning that the county's documentation on federal aid and federal stimulus road projects is "on track and moving forward." Karl Elmshaeuser of the West Central Nebraska Development District in Ogallala and Red Willow County's "RC person" for federal aid road projects, told commissioners it seems that the process that the federal government requires recipients to follow for stimulus-funded projects "is being defined as we go along." McNutt said, "We're six months into this, and they're still changing the process." Fellow commissioner Leigh Hoyt said, "Just about a year ago, the stimulus programs started, and there's still no money for transportation projects.". ...

Engineering firm ends services to avoid funding threat (11/17/09)
The McCook engineering consulting firm of Miller and Associates resigned effective Monday morning as Red Willow County's roads superintendent. At the county commissioners' weekly meeting Monday, engineer and roads supervisor Gary Dicenta told commissioners that the resignation will prevent a conflict of interest when the county is approved for federal aid or federal stimulus money for transportation projects...

County to court Nov. 30 on Pawnee Aviation locan (11/17/09)
Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood will appear in district court Monday, Nov. 30, asking Judge David Urbom to allow the county to liquidate collateral it holds in Pawnee Aviation, the helicopter kit company that has defaulted on a $300,000 loan from the county...

Pawnee Aviation lawsuit on county agenda Monday (11/13/09)
Red Willow County commissioners will discuss the county's lawsuit to recover loan funds from Pawnee Aviation during their weekly meeting Monday morning. The meeting begins at 9 a.m., in the commissioners' room on the third floor of the courthouse in McCook; the Pawnee Aviation topic, in closed session, comes up at 9:15 a.m...

County recalculates tax support for historical society (11/02/09)
Red Willow County commissioners approved recalculations in the amount of tax support for the High Plains Historical Society and in income guidelines for county medical assistance during their weekly meeting Monday morning. Nebraska's state auditor spotted a miscalculation in the historical society's lid limit, and reduced the amount of tax support it will receive from $16,658.78 to $15,441,46, and its levy from $.002476 to $.002295. ...

County rewriting guidelines for public assistance requests (10/27/09)
Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning asked for assistance from Nebraska Health and Human Services to rewrite the county's guidelines for requesting funds from the county's medical assistance program. While some parts of the program will be revised, the base gross monthly income at which a single person qualifies may be increased by only $29...

County ponders fate of creek crossing (10/20/09)
A culvert could replace the bridge now closed over the Beaver Creek east of Marion, but Red Willow County commissioners could also close the road and tear out the bridge. During the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday morning, commissioners, county roads superintendent Gary Dicenta and adjacent landowners Cecil and Don Lafferty discussed a hydrology study of the bridge that was closed last summer when an inspection by the Nebraska Department of Roads revealed that two of the bridge's four floor beams are cracked and cannot be welded.. ...

County considers property purchase (09/29/09)
Oh, the suspense ... Red Willow County commissioners directed County Attorney Paul Wood following a closed session Monday morning to negotiate the purchase of "a certain property," but Commission Chairman Earl McNutt added, with a sheepish grin, "No, we're not going to disclose what property ... not at this time."...

County eligible for stimulus funds (09/16/09)
Red Willow County is eligible for two federal economic recovery bond financing programs designed to encourage economic development. County commissioners discussed at their weekly meeting Monday the "Recovery Zone Economic Development Bond" and "Recovery Zone Facility Bond" programs that are part of the federal government's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009...

County approves $15.7 million budget (09/15/09)
Red Willow County commissioners approved a budget of $15,757,021.61 for 2009-10, down from $16,495,506 in 2008-09, after a public hearing and during their weekly meeting Monday morning. The budget is down, but it requires more personal and real property tax money to fund it than last year...

Beer garden approved for farm, ranch expo (09/15/09)
Red Willow County commissioners Monday approved a beer garden in conjunction with the second annual "McCook Farm and Ranch Expo" scheduled Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 18 and 19, on the county fairgrounds in McCook. At the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday morning, farm and ranch expo promoter Darren Dale of rural Benkelman told commissioners that the beer garden will be located inside the Kiplinger Arena, with security at all doors to keep the beer inside that facility. ...

County finds items to cut (08/25/09)
Red Willow County's fair board cut $5,500 more from budgeted expenditures Monday morning to help commissioners maintain the county's $.036 tax levy. Fair board member Jay Schilling told commissioners during their weekly meeting that fair board members reduced building and grounds repair by $3,500 and shifted $1,000 in building supplies from the fair budget to the Kiplinger Arena budget...

County officials looking for $400,000 in savings (08/11/09)
One commissioner admitted he was ... "a Scrooge" ... Another apologized for "being so picky." But as Red Willow County Commission Chairman Earl McNutt reminded elected officials and department heads Monday morning, "the bottom line is" that commissioners need to slash $400,000 from budgets proposed for 2009-10, take that amount out of the county's inheritance "savings account" fund, or raise taxes...

Noxious weed notices sent out (08/11/09)
Red Willow County's noxious weed control director will send out 10-day notices to two landowners with musk thistle growing on their land. "I've got a list," Bill Elliott told county commissioners during their meeting Monday morning. The notices allow landowners to take steps to control the weeds within 10 days or the county will spray and bill the landowner for time and weed killer...

County wants to cut $400,000 from proposed budget (08/05/09)
By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor Red Willow County commissioners plan 15-minute hearings Monday morning with all county officials, hoping they'll help cut at least $400,000 from preliminary budgets that, as they appear now, would require a levy increase to fund...

County agrees to higher dispatch fees (08/04/09)
Red Willow County commissioners agreed Monday morning to almost double the county's cost of dispatching the sheriff's department through the City of McCook Public Safety Center's dispatch center. The county now pays the city $24,000 annually for dispatching sheriff's officers between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and on weekends and holidays. That cost will increase to $44,620 over the next two years...

County closes disputed road near Indianola (08/04/09)
Red Willow County commissioners abandoned, on a 2-1 vote Monday morning, the entire length of the rural Indianola road that's been a major irritation for a year now. Commissioner Steve Dow-ner cast the lone vote to retain Road 221, in existence since 1889, insisting, "There are roads like this all over the county, and people get along. I can't see one landowner forcing a county to close a road."...

Road, bridge questions persist (07/28/09)
By CONNIE JO DISCOE Regional Editor A road that goes nowhere, an argument that won't go away and a bridge that goes over a short-cut road are frustrating Red Willow County commissioners. Commissioners conducted a public hearing Monday morning to help them decide whether to close the east half of County Road 713, the one-mile-long two-track path south of Indianola that they left open a year ago so that landowner-farmer Stan Quigley can access his fields without crossing land owned by neighbor Phil Bamesberger. ...

County asks for delay in higher dispatch fees (07/21/09)
Red Willow County commissioners asked Monday morning that a possible $21,000 increase in law enforcement dispatching fees charged by the City of McCook be spread over two years, rather than "playing catch-up" in one year. During the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday, Commissioner Steve Downer suggested to McCook Police Chief Ike Brown and City Manager Kurt Fritsch that the county be allowed to pay the increase in dispatching fees for county law enforcement officers proposed by the city -- an increase of $24,000 per year to $45,000 -- over two years, "rather than almost doubling in one year.". ...

Road projects to conform to stimulus rules (07/21/09)
Red Willow County commissioners agreed Monday morning that they'll watch out for whooping cranes and swift foxes if they proceed with road projects funded by federal aid or with American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan (stimulus) money. Gary Dicenta, the county's roads supervisor, told commissioners that he has received more forms requesting more forms regarding county roads projects that may or may not be funded with stimulus money...

More property valuation protest hearings Monday (07/17/09)
Red Willow County Commissioners will hear property valuation protests at 1 p.m. Monday, meeting as a board of equalization in the commissioners'' room in the courthouse. Meeting as commissioners', the board will discuss modification of the loan agreement with Accents Etc., sign documents required to receive stimulus funding on the McCcook North and McCook West projects, and discuss dispatch service fees charged by the City of McCook...

County keeping closer tabs on revolving loan funds (07/15/09)
After commissioners' actions Monday morning, Red Willow County's attorney and treasurer will see all documents regarding loans from the county's revolving loan fund before they're brought to commissioners for approval. Commission chairman Earl McNutt said, during a commissioners' meeting Monday morning, that recent confusion regarding amendments to the repayment schedule of a county loan makes it necessary that commissioners review and revise, if necessary, procedures regarding loans from the Red Willow County Regional Economic Development Fund.. ...

Broken bridge puts crimp in farmer's summertime work schedule (07/14/09)
MARION -- Two cracked floor beams have closed a bridge northeast of Marion, and have put a crimp in a nearby farmer's summer field work plans. Red Willow County commissioners told Don Lafferty Monday morning that Nebraska's Department of Roads closed the bridge -- "It wasn't our choice," said Commission Chairman Earl McNutt. ...

Marion bridge on county agenda (07/10/09)
Red Willow County commissioners will discuss options to re-open a bridge near Marion during their regular meeting scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., Monday, on the third floor of the courthouse in McCook. The bridge was to be closed until repairs to two beams could be made...

Owners make plea for lower valuations (07/09/09)
One homeowner contends that a nearby junkyard is affecting the valuation of her property. Another said because he would never pay that much again for his house, he deserves a reduction in his valuation. A third told Red Willow County commissioners that he wasn't whining ... "just trying to make a living, like everyone else."...

County bridge closed pending repairs (07/07/09)
Red Willow County commissioners, at their meeting Monday morning, closed a Marion-area bridge until two steel floor beams can be repaired. A Nebraska Department of Roads inspection revealed that the bridge, over the Beaver Creek on a county road east of Marion, has two cracked floor beams. The NDOR has instructed that the bridge be closed or traffic weight capacity reduced from 13 tons to three tons until it is repaired...

Commissioners approve loan for new walk-in clinic (07/07/09)

County trims funds for pre-trial diversion (06/23/09)
Wanting to encourage neighboring counties to share expenses, Red Willow County commissioners cut their county's contribution, from $12,000 to $8,000, to the juvenile pre-trial diversion program run by Lutheran Family Services. Commissioner Leigh Hoyt stressed at the commissioners' weekly meeting Monday morning that he supports the diversion program -- "I'm behind it 100 percent," he said -- but explained that he resents Red Willow County having to pay also for juveniles in Hayes, Hitchcock and Furnas counties.. ...

Weed report card mixed (05/19/09)
Red Willow County's grade on its annual noxious weed report card from the state indicates that the county has infestations that landowners are not taking care of. Galen Niehues, a noxious weed inspector with the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, told county commissioners during their weekly meeting Monday morning that roster, budget, activity and control plan reports filed by Bill Elliott, the county's weed supervisor, scored well, earning a score of 983 out of a possible 1,000. ...

Eco-retreat hopes to open in July (05/19/09)
A new agricultural and environmental tourism retreat plans to open in late July after its owner advertises for and hires a professional landscaper and a culinary expert. Andela Taylor of rural Cambridge told Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning that she has "all the balls rolling in motion," in preparation to open "Hilton Farm Eco Retreat" -- a tourism attraction that will provide hands-on experiences focusing on nature, wellness, culinary arts, arts and crafts, horticulture and agriculture.. ...

Commissioners to review CDBG grant project (05/15/09)
Red Willow County Commissioners will discuss the Nebraska Department of Economic Development's performance monitoring review of the Hilton Farm Eco Retreat with its owner, Andela Taylor, on Monday. The review is part of the commissioners' regular meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. in the commissioners' room in the courthouse...

County approves $70,000 loan to urgent care clinic (05/05/09)
Red Willow County commissioners, at their weekly meeting Monday morning, unanimously approved a $70,000 county loan to the walk-in medical clinic under construction on North Highway 83 in McCook. The loan to High Plains Urgent Care P.C., from the county's revolving use loan program, will be repaid at 4 percent interest, over five years, with monthly payments of $1,289.16...

Jilted by city, commissioners slash MEDC funds (04/29/09)
Red Willow County commissioners, at their weekly meeting Monday morning, slashed in half the county's annual membership contribution to the McCook Economic Development Corp. All three commissioners voted "Aye" to a motion to pay the MEDC $5,000 for 2009-10, rather than the usual $10,000, although Commissioner Steve Downer said that budgeting one amount and pledging another, "is going down the wrong road. ...

Commissioners approve loan modification for local retailer (04/29/09)
On Monday, Red Willow County Commissioners approved a modification in the revolving loan program agreement with Accents, Etc., one of any number of retail businesses across the country struggling in today's economy. Executive Director Rex Nelson said that the McCook Economic Development board approved the change and recommended that commissioners also approve changes requested by Accents Etc.'s owner, Betty Kenner. ...

County resorting to legal notice to collect on loan (04/28/09)
Red Willow County will try again -- this time in the newspaper -- to notify the owner of a now-defunct helicopter kit company that the county plans to sue him for the $300,000+ he owes in back loan payments and interest. County Attorney Paul Wood told commissioners at their weekly meeting Monday morning that a notice of intent to sue that he mailed to Ron Willocks in Longmont, Colo., came back "undeliverable."...

Investor says he owns equipment used as collateral (04/28/09)
An investor in the helicopter kit company that owes Red Willow County $300,000+ says that he owns equipment that Pawnee Aviation owner Ron Willocks used as collateral. Thomas Leach of Scott, La., said Monday morning during a stop at the Gazette that he, like the county, has tried unsuccessfully to notify Willocks that he plans to sue him for the return of his equipment. "He's hiding," Leach said. "He won't even answer his phone."...

Road dispute continues (03/17/09)
Same fight, next round ... One of two landowners who fought last summer over a practically non-existent county road south of Indianola continued the battle before Red Willow County commissioners Monday morning. Stan Quigley, who owns land on the north side of Road 713 (named county road 221 in 1889), accused Phil Bamesberger, who owns the land on the south side of the road, of stealing his fence and destroying it. ...

Commissioners to continue security talks (03/13/09)
Red Willow County commissioners will continue discussion of county court office security and County Road 713 at their weekly meeting Monday, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., in the commissioners' room on the third floor of the courthouse in McCook. County Judge Anne Paine requested security measures be implemented in her outer offices, during the commissioners' meeting March 9. ...

Officials ponder courthouse security (03/10/09)
Believing that people are not inherently bad, Red Willow County court personnel still know that the situations they handle in their office very often make people unhappy and unpredictable. The layout of the front office and judge and clerk magistrate's offices and the hours that the office is open create potential security hazards, County Judge Anne Paine told county commissioners at their weekly meeting Monday morning...

Commissioners make plans to comply with one-stop vehicle titling, registration (03/03/09)
Red Willow County has until Oct. 23 to create one-stop vehicle titling and registration in the county treasurer's office. At their weekly meeting Monday morning, county commissioners discussed LB 49 with county treasurer Marleen Garcia. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Dave Heineman Feb. 12 will require the county to move vehicle titling out of county clerk Pauletta Gerver's office and into Garcia's office, where personnel already handles vehicle registrations...

Commissioners OK exemption for Bartley Cafe (03/03/09)
Meeting Monday, Red Willow County Commissioners approved a real estate and personal property tax exemption for the Bartley Development Committee, which owns and manages the Bartley Cafe. Other than the cooks, board members and cafe personnel are volunteers, and the cafe provides reduced-cost meals to the elderly and shut-ins...

County officials not holding breath over stimulus funds (02/06/09)
Officials of Red Willow County are not holding their breath on receiving funds from the proposed economic stimulus package, said Red Willow County Commissioner Earl McNutt. McNutt confirmed that Red Willow County applied for about $1 million in funds in late December, for three paving projects that have been on the books for awhile...