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Cedar County Commissioners approve road plan

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HARTINGTON — Cedar County Commissioners approved a new road plan and accepted a bid to rebuild the Bow Valley bridge at their Feb. 11 meeting.

Commissioner Craig Bartels was absent due to illness.

County Road Superintendent, Carla Schmidt told Commissioners all the funds for emergency repair Federal Aid Projects have been received amounting to $139,765.00.

These funds are in addition to the FEMA funds that have been applied for, some of which have already been received.

At 10 a.m., a hearing was opened for the one- and six-year road plan and the proposed projects for each of the three districts in the county were reviewed with Road Supt. Carla Schmidt.

Several repair projects were also reviewed that were not included in last year’s one- and six-year plan but were added and completed during the year because of last year’s spring flooding.

Those unplanned projects took priority over a few of the proposed projects in the one- and six-year plan for 2019 that could not be funded and thus not completed.

The unfinished projects in the one-year plan from last year will be moved into this year. No questions were received from the audience as no one attended the hearing from the public. A motion was made to approve resolution 2020-02, which approves the new one- and six-year plan for 2020. The motion passed with a 2-0 vote.

At 10:30 a.m., bids were opened as advertised for a bridge project just south of Bow Valley at South C-14 (803). Two bids were received by the 10:30 a.m. deadline.

The first bid was from Midwest Infrastructure Inc. of Lincoln for $390,666.50 and the second bid was submitted by Thiesen Construction of Norfolk for $291,371.64.

Schmidt then reviewed the bids in detail with the engineer on the project and the county emergency manager to make sure all the requirements were met in the bids. After 45 minutes in reviewing the bids and going through the check-list of requirements, She said both bids met all the needs required by FEMA as FEMA funds have been applied for to help fund the bridge repair. A motion was made by Commissioner Tramp and seconded by Commissioner McGregor to accept the bid from Thiesen Construction of Norfolk. The motion was approved with a 2-0 vote.

Commissioners also held a lengthy discussion on road signs and the recent road sign workshop.

There will be an emphasis going forward on the placement of speed signs throughout the rural roads of Nebraska that will be attached to sharp curve and sharp angle signs warning motorists to slow down to a controllable speed on sharp curves and corners.

In most cases now, the sharp curves and corners are marked with the yellow and black signaling signs but a recommended safe speed is not indicated when approaching the curve or corner on many. More discussion on this subject will follow in addition to researching the most critical sharp curves and corners that should receive priority attention and possible recommended speed warning signs.

The areas in the county where there have been more accidents and deaths occurring in the past would obviously be considered priority, Commissioner Dave McGregor said.

Schmidt also told Commissioners there will be a motor grader training seminar in Dakota City on Feb. 26 and the commissioners will need to send her a list of employees to attend, if any, from their Districts so she can get them registered.

County Zoning Administrator, Tim Gobel, presented a copy of the revised zoning regulations that were approved in January.

Three conditional use permits were presented and all were approved. The first was a conditional use permit for Charles Fleming to construct a new barn.

The second was a conditional use permit for Clinton Becker to split off 10 acres of land. The third conditional use permit was for Randy Gowery to split off 1.2 acres.

Next, a zoning permit was approved for Bill Potts to construct a 60’ x 64’ pole shed.

A second zoning permit was approved for Valarie Torstenson for a 30’ x 30’ shop and a 36’ x 66’ barn. The last zoning permit was approved for David Schurman for a 31’ x 36’ addition to his house and a 30’ x 48’ garage.

County Assessor Don Hoesing presented Commissioners with Form 451, which listed properties receiving tax exemptions. All the exemptions were approved by the two commissioners.

The last item on the meeting agenda was to review the monthly office and fee reports as presented by the office holders. With no further business on the agenda, the bills and claims were signed for payment.

The next regular scheduled commissioners meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 25, in the Board Room of the Cedar County Courthouse