Seward County Commissioners on Oct. 13 took formal action to approve a “declaration of state of emergency” for the flooding that occurred following heavy rains Sept. 30 to Oct. 2.
They also authorized Emergency Manager Megan Eckles’ application to access the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency’s grants portal for disaster management on behalf of the county.
Three county roads remain closed, primarily where culverts were washed out by the rain.
Milford’s south city park had a pedestrian bridge washed off its foundation and a vehicle bridge’s approaches washed away, causing the park to remain closed.
Damage was also reported in Beaver Crossing after heavy rain fell across the county on Sept. 30 and rivers and creeks struggled to contain the southward flows afterwards.
In other action on Oct. 13, the commissioners:
• Acting as the Seward County Board of Equalization, adopted the 2026-27 tax levies for entities including school districts, cities and villages, the Seward County Ag Society, Seward Fire District, J Precinct Cemetery, Pleasant Dale Cemetery and the county.
• Acting as the Seward County Board of Equalization, approved a change of valuation notice for a property owner.
• Discussed use of a reverse osmosis water treatment system at the Seward County Extension office and whether it should be replaced or other options considered.
• Approved the county’s membership agreement with the Seward County Chamber and Development Partnership, which had been discussed at an earlier meeting pending legal review of the document.
• Approved renewal of interlocal agreement No. 2 for cooperative public safety software, hardware and related services from CentralSquare, which is used for joint law enforcement case management involving Seward, York, Saline, Butler and Filmore counties, as well as the cities of Seward, Milford, Crete, York and David City, although board chair Misty Ahmic is to confer with the county attorney’s office about a user group being considered a “recommending body” related to the Nebraska Open Meetings Act.
• Directed Public Transit and Fleet Director Jalissa Gruhn to work with Commissioner Darrell Zabrocki to find a used vehicle to be used by the district court bailiff and other county employees that is priced under $15,000 to replace one totaled after a recent car accident.
• Voted to appoint Angela Hansen of Cordova to the Seward County Aging Advisory Board.
