The Seward County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 16 endorsed District 3 Commissioner Raegan Hain’s declaration of a snow emergency following the Jan. 11-12 storm, clearing a path to possible funding for cleanup and potential repairs should state or federal opportunities be available as the county thaws.
Hain serves as the board’s liaison to the Highway Department and as outlined in the board’s minutes, she participated in an online Webex meeting with the governor and kept in touch with county residents via Facebook and phone calls about roads and other storm issues.
The commissioners unanimously endorsed the declaration after the topic was added to the agenda as an emergency item.
Gov. Jim Pillen and state officials on Jan. 13 declared an emergency at the state level to assist livestock producers, farmers, road maintenance workers and others gain access to resources that might be available as the state digs out of the snow.
State transportation officials have estimated 1,700 miles of state roads were closed during the storm, which included Seward County roads.
Highway Superintendent Jon Regnier reported to the board that he was also in contact with schools, ag operations and others during the storm, and that some county crew members stayed overnight in their shops so they could respond to emergencies.
In other action, the commissioners:
• Noted that a Jan. 23 community outreach meeting at Staplehurst Community Hall will focus on potential hardships in the Staplehurst areas when grant-funded bridge projects are completed near Staplehurst.
• Approved Seward County Weed Director Becky Paulsen’s annual report.
• Approved 4-1 a request to post an administrative clerk III position for the Seward County assessor’s office with a wage of $21.34 to $22.62, with commissioner Darrell Zabrocki voting against the motion.
• Reviewed legislative topics of interest to the county, including those impacting jails, weeds, inheritance taxes and open meetings law.
• Appointed Alison Rook as the Seward Aging Services director effective Jan. 16.
• Approved the use of the courthouse lawn for a March 30 Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by Mercy City Church.
• Appointed Jennifer Eickhoff and Krystel Naber to the Seward County Extension Board.
