Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Sorted by date Results 1 - 25 of 25
Nebraska Public Power District representative Jason Hofer presented the Antelope County Commissioners with an update on the proposed Antelope County to Holt County Transmission Line Project. The ACC met yesterday and heard Hofer inform them that a second public meeting concerning the route of the 345kV Transmission Line will take place July 21 from 3 to 7 p.m., at the American Legion in Clearwater. If approved, all physical structures of the transmission line will be on private land. However, aerial lines will cross Antelope County roads and...
On the advice of county attorney Joe Smith, Antelope County Commissioners approved an Inter-local Agreement with Brown County for 911 calls and dispatch services through the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office. Approval was granted Tuesday, during the commissioners' meeting at the Antelope County Courthouse in Neligh. The Inter-local Agreement will last for a limited time until Brown County fills vacancies in their sheriff’s department. All cost of services will be paid for by Brown County. Smith went on to tell the ACC that the Clock Tower Pro...
“Protest season” begins in Antelope County. Antelope County Commissioners, meeting yesterday, decided on July 9 at 8:30 am as the beginning date and time for property valuation concerns/protests. Antelope County residents have the month of June to file any issues they see with their property valuations, then can go before the ACC to voice their concerns. Protesters will have three minutes (timed) to talk, followed by three minutes of timed response from the ACC. The ACC went into closed session to discuss a personnel issue. After the hou...
Antelope County Commissioners (ACC) held a rare Monday meeting on May 11th as Tuesday, May 12th, was Election Day. In the absence of Road Superintendent Leigh Kluthe, Road Foreman Duane “Buck” Jones reported to the ACC that seven road projects throughout the county were in the works. The Road Department will use the upcoming week to prepare cold and hot mix, with work to begin next week. County Clerk Lisa Payne reported to the commissioners that Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD) paid the $180 road permits to install underground fiber betwee...
Road safety and road conditions were the prime topic of discussion for the Antelope County Commissioners, meeting yesterday for their first meeting in May. It's been discovered that some crane companies working for wind farms in the county have been taking routes not agreed to between them and Road Superintendent Leigh Kluthe. County Commissioner Casey Dittrich experienced this firsthand when, on Friday evening last week, he was almost run off 839th road east of Elgin by drivers from Atlas...
The old Antelope County Courthouse Clock Tower Project is taking tentative steps forward. Meeting yesterday, the Antelope County Commissioners asked county attorney Joe Smith to begin negotiations with the anonymous donor interested in restoring the old courthouse clock tower, with the donor's representative, Jim McNally. The ACC has numerous questions concerning the project including: who the donor is, potential cost, structural integrity of the old courthouse and future maintenance issues....
The old Antelope County Courthouse may be getting a "Back to the Future" look soon. Meeting yesterday, the Antelope County Commissioners were presented with a proposal by Neligh attorney Jim McNally. McNally is representing an anonymous donor who has offered to pay for the restoration of the old county courthouse's clock-tower and dome. The donor will contract an engineering/architect company, based in Italy, to do the design and building of the project. A figure of up to $750,000 for the work was mentioned by McNally. The ACC, excited about...
After well over a decade, the Antelope County Courthouse will be getting a new phone system. Meeting March 10, the Antelope County Commissioners voted to have Great Plains Communications install a new web-based phone system. The last few months, the ACC has heard from and taken bids from Stealth Broadband, Applied Connective and GPC. In the end, with all three company representatives on hand to answer questions, the ACC decided GPC was the best and most affordable option. GPC will now be...
A third phone system upgrade was presented to the Antelope County Commissioners yesterday. A representative from Applied Connective of Albion gave a presentation to the ACC for two different options for phone upgrades. One consisted of a web-based system and the other a more traditional “in-house” system. The ACC looked the options over, considering service, pricing, and reliability. At next week’s meeting, county clerk Lisa Payne will be requesting all three companies that made upgrade proposals (Stealth Broadband, Great Plains Commu...
A phone system upgrade for the Antelope County Courthouse was again the main topic of discussion for the Antelope County Commissioners at yesterday's second meeting in February. Representatives from Stealth Broadband were in attendance, proposing an upgraded phone system and a number of options regarding service, leasing and/or buying phones, fax options and other phone-related issues. A lengthy discussion ensued with numerous questions asked by the ACC and county clerk Lisa Payne about service...
The Antelope County Commissioners met yesterday with all commissioners present. With a telecommunications contract with Stealth Broadband coming to an end, the ACC listened to representatives from Great Plains Communications proposing a new phone system for the courthouse. Pricing, wiring, maintenance and warranty issues were discussed among other things, e.g., 911 calling, call transfer, auto attendant, etc. Before any decision is made the ACC requested GPC to do a site survey, at no cost to the county, and determine if the proper wiring, grou...
After almost three hours of deliberation, the Antelope County Commissioners set wages for all elected officials of the county at yesterday’s meeting with all commissioners present. After much discussion, wage/benefit comparisons with other counties and some back-and-forth with elected officials, the ACC came up with what they feel is a fair compensation package. Wage increases per year will now be based on CPI-U (Consumer Price Index-Urban) starting in 2028 and running through 2030 with a minimum increase of 2%. Wages for 2027 are as f...
To increase wages or not to increase wages; that is the question for the Antelope County Commissioners, meeting yesterday for the first time in 2026. All commissioners were present. An almost hour and a half long discussion/debate took place between the ACC and elected officials on wage/benefit increases for the years 2027 through 2030. All parties involved spoke respectfully to each other but with no consensus at this time. Matters concerning the poor ag economy, inflation, cost-of-living and...
The Antelope County Commissioners met yesterday for their last meeting of 2025. Commissioner Neal Williby was absent. County Attorney Joe Smith addressed the ACC focusing on the Open Meetings Act, a law that is posted in every county courthouse in the state. Smith’s main concern was continued adherence to the Act to prevent issues that are happening in Knox County. Multiple lawsuits have been or are being filed in Knox County and Smith wishes to avoid any such issues in Antelope County. The ACC agreed and will continue to follow the a...
On Tuesday, the Antelope County Commissioners met for their first meeting in December with all commissioners present. The meeting began with The Elgin Review being recognized, in a unanimous vote, as an official newspaper of Antelope County for 2026. Also earning ‘official’ status were Summerland Advocate-Messenger and Antelope County News. Much discussion centered on personnel matters, specifically wages, benefits, paid time off and sick leave. County Clerk Lisa Payne has been gathering information concerning upcoming wage increases for cou...
The Antelope County Commissioners met Nov. 10 with all commissioners present. Last week’s public discussion on a possible road closure of 512 Avenue, between 846 and 847 roads, will likely continue in December if easements from all pertinent landowners are signed. Road Superintendent Leigh Kluthe reported to the ACC of the purchase of a 2012 International dump truck. The truck was purchased, with approval from the commissioners, from Mountain Truck & Equipment from Longmont, Colorado, for just under $70,000. The truck is outfitted with a p...
The Antelope County Commissioners met yesterday, Nov. 4, for the first of two November meetings. Commissioner Neil Williby was absent. Front and center on the agenda was a public hearing in response to a potential road closure. The road in question, 512th Avenue between 846th and 847th Roads, had a petition signed by landowners for closure. The hearing had one party present for closure and another party present in favor of keeping it open and having it fixed. JEO consultant and county highway superintendent Brian McDonald urged the ACC to get...
With the previous two month’s meetings aimed mainly at the budget, the Antelope County Commissioners met yesterday, with all commissioners present, to address several pressing issues, beginning with road maintenance. The one-and-six year road maintenance plan, required by the state and requested by the ACC, was presented by consultant Brian McDonald. A short discussion followed and the ACC stated that road safety for the public will be given “high priority” for all road projects. Those road projects deemed “low priority” will remain just that...
A short budget meeting took place Sept. 16 at 8 a.m., with the Antelope County Commissioners approving the budget with no public comments for or against. County Clerk Lisa Payne stated that the tax levy would decrease by two cents. The main focus of the meeting centered on Weed Superintendent Bryan Cornette and the Antelope County Weed Board. Two members of the board were present, along with Superintendent Cornette, answering questions about what exactly the Weed Department does. A mildly-heated discussion ensued during the almost ninety-minute...
The upcoming budget meetings will be a “hot button” topic for the Antelope County Commissioners. Meeting Sept. 2 with all commissioners present, the ACC set a date of Sept. 16 at 8 a.m. to finalize the budget and address any concerns. A short discussion followed with ongoing questions not yet answered by the Antelope County Weed Department. Weed Superintendent Bryan Cornette, to the displeasure of the ACC, was not in attendance. The topic was scheduled for discussion again Sept. 9. A rough draft was reviewed by the ACC for a temporary road use...
The 2026 budget took up most of the Antelope County Commissioner's meeting, Tuesday, with all commissioners present. The ACC are moving the budget forward, with a proposed 1.6 million dollars coming from the Inheritance Tax Fund for tax asking on specified projects, mostly in the road department. A budget meeting will take place on Sept. 16 at 8 a.m. at the courthouse. The Antelope County Weed Department remains under close scrutiny as Weed Superintendent Bryan Cornette faced the ACC. Cornette...
During the Aug. 5 Antelope County Commissioners meeting, officials held a lengthy discussion concerning person(s) and organizations not getting proper permits when maintaining/crossing county roads. A prime example is “grading” of two and one-half miles of road in northern Antelope County without permission and/or permits by a person(s) in the last few weeks. The sheriff’s department and county attorney will be contacted to look into the matter. Also, and not for the first time, permits have been submitted to the ACC after work and/or maint...
Thunderhead Wind Energy will soon be having wind blades move through Antelope County. That’s what Road Superintendent Leigh Kluthe told the Antelope County Commissioners when they met Tuesday, July 8. Kluthe said the wind farm is looking for a route that will require little or no road work. He will have more information for the commissioners at their next meeting. Other items discussed were: According to information provided by contractors, re-roofing of the old courthouse should be completed by the end of the week. Zoning Administrator M...
Tuesday, June 10, the Antelope County Commissioners met with all commissioners present. County Sheriff Bob Moore gave on update on bids received for a new Dispatch Radio System for the county jail as the current system is over ten years old. Zetron, the supplier of the radio system currently in use, came in with a bid of $106,000. Mindshare, a Lincoln-based company, had a bid for $96,000. Moore stated that he has made no decision yet as maintenance/support issues were being discussed with both companies. Moore said a decision will be announced...
The Antelope County Commissioners met Tuesday, June 3, with all commissioners present. The dates for property valuation protest hearings were set. Thursday, July 3, will be the first day for hearings scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If needed, July 7, a Monday, is slated to finish the hearings, again beginning at 9 a.m. Brian McDonald, with JEO Consulting, presented bids and start dates for the Bridge Match Program, with two separate bridge construction projects in northern Antelope County. The bids for the projects, known as Brunswick...
