The entrance to 39th Road looking from Odessa Road, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Buffalo County Commissioners approved closing 39th Road between Odessa and Eagle Roads during their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
The request to vacate this area of 39th Road had come from the property owners in the area.
It was noted in the past by Highway Superintendent John Maul that the section has been problematic as it is either used as a trash dumping grounds or vehicles are tearing up the roadway.
A public hearing was held on Jan. 23 regarding the closing of the road.
rent Carmody, one of the area property owners, appeared with a statement requesting the portion of road be vacated.
Carmody said that severe erosion due to flooding has caused the road to be unstable and not safe for traffic. It has also been subjected to people who have torn up the road through “mudding.”
There are also those who have entered the land and caused damage to crops by driving over them, or using the road to dump trash and other debris. Carmody said they plan to assume full responsibility for maintaining the road and keeping it private.
When asked by the commissioners, Carmody said they would put up a fence at each entrance to disallow public access, but they would open it up for farmers in the area they are familiar with who are using it to stay off Highway 30 with their ag equipment.
When asked for his opinion, Maul said the road has been problematic with “unscrupulous activity,” occurring on it, adding it has been a hotspot for young people and their pickups.
There was no opposition to the vacation and commissioners voted unanimously to close the road.
During the regular agenda, the commissioners approved a Commendation for Sue Everett for her 42 years of service with the county as a dispatcher. Her start date was Aug. 1, 1981.
The commissioners also viewed five videos that had been produced by CGI Video of Rochester, N.Y., highlighting the different amenities and services that Buffalo County has to offer.
Commissioner Bill Maendele said there was no cost to the county to produce the videos and they will be posted on the county’s website in the near future when the final drafts are complete.
Brad Slaughter with First National Bank of Omaha appeared to discuss the buying down of county debt and the issuance of refunding bonds. It was noted this was a good time for the county to move on this and be able to save money.
The commissioners voted to authorize the purchase or cancellation of all or a part of the county’s GO refunding bonds from the 2020 series. They also voted to authorize the issuance of a 2024 bond series not to exceed $13,500,000.
In other action during the regular agenda the commissioners accepted the clerk of the district courts January report and the county treasurer’s fund balance report. They also approved a new lease agreement with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
During the board of equalization section, the commissioners approved motor vehicle tax exemptions for Kearney Catholic High School, CHI Health Good Samaritan and Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska.
They also approved tax corrections 5009-5010, that included returning property that had been exempt under past owners back to the tax rolls.
During the road department section, the commissioners set the bid date for a project involving Sweetwater Avenue and South 11th St. for Tuesday, March 12 at 9:30 a.m.
The county road department hours were also shifted to reflect the upcoming time change. Maul said the crews can get more done during the longer days with more daylight.
The commissioners then entered executive session to discussion contract negotiations.