Board approves demolition and renovation grants
Two demolition grants were approved for the city of Oakland, while renovation grants were approved for Lyons and Tekamah.
Patty Plugge, executive director of the Burt County Economic Development Corporation, addressed the Burt County Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting Feb. 26.
"We have demolition applications from the city of Oakland for the removal of a house at 506 N. Logan," she said. "The economic board looked at it on Feb. 17, looked at the estimate from Webster and approved the application for half the total amount. There's another one on 513 N. Logan. We approved that for half. It would be $2,105 for the 506 N. Logan address and $3,055 for 513 N. Logan."
Plugge said Cindy Chatt purchased the Burt County Bank Building in Tekamah and is doing a nearly $400,000 renovation on that building.
"She is working with an architectural firm out of Omaha that specializes in historical renovations. There will be two apartments on the lower level, two commercial places on the first level and the top level will be one large apartment for part-time rental and an office," she said. "Chatt will build a large deck area and ramp for wheelchair accessibility."
Chairman David Schold commented that Chatt will be spending a lot of money on that building.
"Yes she is," Plugge said. "Her request for this program was to use money from this program for work she is doing on the exterior of the building. We reviewed this and recommended approval for no more than $15,000 or half of the lowest bid."
The funds would go to facades masonry repair.
Pelan Funeral Homes in Lyons requested funds for a new roof.
Plugge said her board recommended approval on the application for no more than $15,000 or one half of the total.
Plugge said the balance with these two approved and payables the balance is about $130,000.
Interlocal agreement approved for juvenile diversion
By signing an interlocal agreement and memorandum of understanding, Burt County will continue their coordination with Cuming County's juvenile diversion program.
Burt County Attorney Edmond "Tal" Talbot said some of the board members may know Addison Johnson who runs the diversion program for Cuming County.
"We contract with them which allows Cuming County to be a part of the memorandum of understanding with the Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Justice Partnership Plan to get grant money in," he said. "You have to have an approved diversion program. This money comes in through them. Cuming has their own diversion program so we coordinate with Cuming County for our diversion program."
Talbot said the county doesn't pay Cuming County anything for their services.
"They pay the fee associated with that. We have someone who handles our juvenile diversion for us, monitoring those kids, making reports to the state and the Northeast Nebraska Juvenile Justice Partnership," he said. "By signing the memorandum and the interlocal agreement you aren't committing any funds, just allowing us to participate with Cuming County to use their diversion program person and we get money back for this."
