Over the past year, Seward County’s Highway Department has upgraded 340 new stop, yield and stop ahead signs on county roads.
The new, more reflective material covers the traditional sign shapes, but also covers the sign’s post down to ground level.
Seward County Highway Superintendent Jon Regnier said the county had the option to participate in the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s program, “Statewide Upgrading Existing STOP Sign Locations of Rural Roads” by simply submitting an application including the number and locations of signs to be upgraded.
The state then provided the signs and required confirmation that the upgrades were installed within a year.
While the project did not include all signed intersections, the roads department targeted high traffic roads, including but not limited to Branched Oak, Old Mill, Waverly, Superior, Bluff, Van Dorn, Pioneers, Yankee Hill, 238th and 420th.
“We tried to focus on more of the high traffic roads and roads that run straight across the county,” Regnier said.
While he has little feedback from area drivers so far, Regnier said the signs make a difference.
“I have noticed the difference, especially at night. You can definitely see those reflective strips,” he said.
The Seward County Commissioners on July 15 certified completion of the project for the state.
Also at the meeting, the commission asked officials to bring back a resolution on July 22 to resolve an issue discussed in several past meetings in which a road had been moved over the years due to water flow issues.
The bridge now lies in one property owner’s land and the owner has a property sale pending.
Deputy County Attorney Barbara Armstead told commissioners state statutes require the county pass a resolution to conduct a study, have a hearing, publish information about the hearing for three weeks, and then adopt another resolution about the land in question.
County Surveyor Brian Foral said other counties have taken a simpler route and passed a resolution to be filed in the clerk’s office for the action.
Commissioners opted to take Foral’s recommendation to adopt a resolution recognizing that the Johnson Dam Road had been moved away from the section line over the years.
That resolution was to be presented at the July 22 meeting.
In other action at its July 15 meeting, the commissioners:
• Conducted departmental hearings for proposed 2025-26 budgets for Emergency Management, Public Transit, County Assessor, District Court, Buildings and Grounds, and Aging Services departments.
• Discussed the county attorney and zoning department budgets for which hearings will be scheduled in coming weeks.
• Delayed to October a decision on the Soarin Group quote for audio/video recording equipment for the commissioners’ meeting room in the courthouse.
In its July 7 meeting, the commissioners:
• Approved use of a Tier 3 hiring bonus for Highway Department lead mechanic.
• Approved a letter to state and federal representatives in opposition to changes made in the Broadband, Equity, Access & Deployment (BEAD) project affecting Seward County’s efforts to provide more fiber optic cable internet service.
• Scheduled the annual “pink postcard” budget hearing for Sept. 22 at 7 p.m. at Harvest Hall.
• Accepted the county treasurer’s semi-annual report and uncollected taxes report for the past three years.
• eard Hope Crisis Center budget proposal for 2025-26.
• Authorized closure of Branched Oak Road from 336th to 364th Road on Oct. 25 from 7 – 10:30 a.m. for a Staplehurst Fire Department fundraising run.
• Met in executive session for one hour and two minutes to discuss strategy related to litigation with no action being taken.
• Conducted the quarterly jail inspection.
