Minutes of the Burt County Board of Supervisors The Burt Co Board of Supervisors met Dec 26, 2025, in the Boardroom of the Burt Co Courthouse in Tekamah, NE. Notice was given in the Burt Co Independent, on courthouse bulletin board and on Co’s Website; proof of publication is on file with Co Clerk. The following members were present: Gary ‘Bird’ Swanson, Jeff Kutchera, Sam Titus, Carl Pearson, Jay W. Johnson, Paul Richards and Ted Connealy. The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance at 9:00 A.M. Chairman Connealy informed the public that the Open Meeting Act was posted. The agenda was approved. The minutes of 12/10/2025 Bd of Supervisors meeting were approved. December claims of $ 509,469.04, including $168,326.15 for payroll, were approved. Listing as follows: ANDY'S QUICK SHOP BC SHERIFF 311.99 APPLIED CONNECTIVE TECH IT.CYBER.SOFTWARE 4,350.90 BENCHMARK GOVT SOLUTIONS SUPPLIES 477.85 BH ENERGY UTILITIES 526.60 BLUE360 MEDIA SOFTWARE 107.95 BOMGAARS SUPPLIES 128.89 BRANIFF SERVICE FUEL 1,307.83 BRUMMOND DISP GARBAGE 225.00 BURT CO COURT COURT FEES 104.00 BURT CO DISTRICT COURT COURT FEES 145.90 BURT CO INDEPENDENT PUBLISHING 478.27 BURT CO PPD UTILITIES 196.99 BURT CO SHERIFF COURT.SERVICE FEES 650.36 CANON FINANCIAL OFFICE EQUIP 21.49 CENTURY LINK 911 322.96 CITY TEKAMAH UTILITIES 177.50 CC CARWASH MISC FLEET 131.19 CLEARFLY PHONES 1,448.37 CONSTELLATION GAS UTILITIES 586.56 CONTRYMAN ASSOC AUDIT 19,000.00 CUBBY'S FUEL 1,378.03 DAS STATE ACCT. SOFTWARE 653.60 DECATUR EXPRESS - KB'S MINI MART FUEL 1,112.97 DORNAN LAW ATTY FEES 6,498.25 DOUGLAS CO SHERIFF SERVICE FEES 13.11 EAKES OFFICE SUPPLIES 876.27 EDMOND TALBOT DUES 280.00 EMILY HEDLUND MILE 160.30 FIRST CONCORD ADMIN FEE 805.00 FIRST NATL BANK SUPLIES 3200.01 GARY SWANSON MILE 79.80 GENE STEFFY FLEET 4,474.47 GREAT AM FINANCIAL OFFICE EQUIP 177.63 GR PLAINS UNIFORMS EQUIP 454.19 HIDDEN ORCHIDS EM TRAINING 300.00 HOMETOWN LEASING OFFICE EQUIP 191.13 JACK'S UNIFORMS & EQUIP EQUIP 593.63 JAY W JOHNSON MILE 50.40 JEANNETTE BLANC MILE 114.66 JEFF KUTCHERA MILE 47.60 JENNIFER HANSEN MILE 38.50 JOHNSON & MOCK ATTY FEES 954.00 JOHNSON & PEKNY ATTY FEES 6,009.90 JURY DUTY COURT COSTS 5,816.30 KANE WARREN MILE PLANNING 6.30 KASSIE JENSEN MILE PLANNING 225.40 KATHY RAY OFFICE SUPPORT 297.00 KRAVIEC MAURSTAD LAW CHILD SUPPORT ATTY 2,003.65 LAZY DAY'S DETAIL SHERIFF FLEET 650.00 LENA BECKNER MILE PLANNING 201.60 LOFFLER OFFICE EQUIP 308.99 LUDVIGSEN MORTUARY AUTOPSY COST 195.00 MARY LOFTIS MEDICARE CONTRACT 3,100.00 MICHELE QUICK MILE/MEALS 324.00 MID-AM BENEFITS INSURANCE 255.75 MIDWEST SERVICE FUEL 8,241.36 MIPS SOFTWARE 2,582.89 NENA 911 440.00 NE CLERKS DIST COURT DUES 50.00 NE DEPT OF REVENUE SALES TAX 12.88 NE DHHS SERVICES.LODGING 60.00 NPPD UTILITIES 724.14 ONE OFFICE SUPPLIES 264.45 OPTK INTERNET 642.99 PAUL RICHARDS MILE 67.20 PELAN FUNERAL AUTOPSY COST 485.00 PENNY WARREN DUES 331.40 PHYSICIANS LAB AUTOPSY.TESTING 300.00 PICTOMETRY SOFTWARE.APPRAISAL 20,000.00 QUADIENT POSTAGE MACHINE 752.52 RADIOLOGY CONSULTANTS JAIL MEDICAL 511.00 REGION 4 QUARTERLY 5,335.75 SAM TITUS MILE 98.00 SAVE MORE SUPPLIES 476.72 STACEY KEYS MILE/FUEL 267.15 TED CONNEALY MILE 46.90 THURSTON CO SHERIFF JAIL 2,880.00 TK ELEVATOR MAINT. 365.16 TRI-STATE COMM RADIOS.EQUIP 4,055.50 UNL SUPPLIES 325.00 US TREASURY JULY TAX 975.07 VANGUARD SOFTWARE 2,380.00 VERIZON CELL PHONES 839.30 WASHINGTON CO SHERIFF JAIL 3,965.00 AA WHEEL & TRUCK PARTS 63.85 ANDREW BRANIFF PARTS 19.98 ANN CHYTKA MILE 311.50 BLUFF AGGREGATE MATERIALS 564.72 BOMGAARS SUPPLIES 1,416.25 BRUMMOND COUNTRY DISP GARBAGE 90.00 CITY LYONS UTILITIES 328.07 CITY OAKLAND UTILITIES 22.29 CNA AUTO PARTS 28.42 CUMING CO INDUSTRIES SUPPLIES 225.12 FARMERS PRIDE FUEL 4,830.88 GLUP PIPE SUPPLIES 134.60 MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS 14,032.64 MHC KENWORTH PARTS 985.70 MID-AM CHEM FUEL 1,418.75 MIDWEST ENGINEER ENGINEERING 18,658.75 NATIONAL SIGN CO SIGNS 1,883.34 NMC PARTS.LABOR 9,658.53 RAKA RENTALS ROADS 177.63 RDO TRUCK PARTS 1,377.86 SAPP BROS PETRO FUEL 471.22 SCOTT'S HARDWARE SUPPLIES 176.59 SHAMBURG AUTO SUPPLY 223.03 SIGN DEPOT SUPPLIES 319.65 STALP GRAVEL MATERIALS 3,290.63 TRU BY HILTON CONFERENCE 374.85 VERIZON CONNECT FLEET 454.97 VILLAGE DECATUR UTILITIES 194.37 WELDON PARTS PARTS.REPAIR 202.94 WESTPOINT IMPL PARTS.REPAIR 908.11 KAMO, INC GRANT 1,000.00 JUSTICE DATE SOLUTION 911 4,000.00 CENTURYLINK 911 707.20 LANGUAGE LINE 911 4.72 NNTC 911 130.97 AFLAC EMPE PD ADDL 306.01 ALLSTATE EMPE PD ADDL 43.70 BCBS INSURANCE 59,050.37 CR MGMT GARNISHMENT 383.32 FIRST NATL BANK FEDERAL TAXES 47,188.01 GLOBE LIFE EMPE PD ADDL 669.20 MADISON NATL EMPE PD ADDL 14.68 MUTUAL OF OMAHA EMPE PD ADDL 367.14 NATIONWIDE EMPE PD ADDL 150.00 AMERITAS RETIREMENT 25,412.27 STATE TAX COMM STATE TAXES 7,291.96 TRUSTMARK EMPE PD ADDL 222.62 VSP EMPE PD ADDL 794.27 COLONIAL LIFE EMPE PD ADDL 57.79 NE CHILD SUPPORT GARNISHMENT 480.00 VERBAL OFFICE UPDATE -Surveyor – Fred Franklin – in lieu of his scheduled Nov. 12th time. Dec. 26, 2025 Federal/State Holiday Designation: the County Court office was closed due to them being employees of the State; signs werehung for public notice of their closure. The County Board decision was to NOT recognize the Holiday designation for County employees due to the need to hold the board meeting for claims and employee pay day. Cost of Living for 2026: The Board approved a cost of living increase of 3.0%, to be applied at the January 2026 pay period. The cost of living will not be applied to Union Employees. The cost of living is not applied to part-time or seasonal positions. The cost of living is not applied to the Zoning salary. Lot Split signed for: CECILIA LIGHT4.13 ac. in pt. SW4NE4 of 22-21-11. Veterans Service Office –Cell Phone Request: Burt Co Veterans Service Board submitted a letter requesting that Burt Co pay Penny Warren, part time Burt Co VSO, a reimbursement for her personal cell phone, they stated that 20% of her job requires her cell phone and the Veterans Board members rely upon her cell phone to communicate with her. The Co Board denied the request to pay a reimbursement for cell phone use. Board of Equalization was held from 9:45-9:48 a.m. Nine (9) Tax List Corrections were approved; the listing can be found in the full minutes published online or on file in the courthouse. Building & Grounds: Job duties were updated upon approval of the board; REMOVE ‘transporting mail to post office at 4:00 p.m.’. Officials from offices will transport their own mail in case of sensitive documents that should only be handled by officials or agents appointed by their office. ROADS: Ann Chytka, Highway SuperintendentC-11(450)Co.Rd. L:- present for discussions from Oban Construction were Brandon Victor and the onsite project foreman, Mike. Josh Keithley (Midwest Engineering) has been communicating with the Oban to come up with a resolution but was not present today. Oban answered the Board’s questions today; further discussion will be held with both sides to determine the best way to proceed. Hwy Supt will be meeting onsite next week with Josh, Oban and a couple of Board members. Signed pay requests have not been received from Oban, so have not been paid;once Oban submits pay app #1 it will be submitted for payment. Motor Grader Payments: Two machines were purchased; Chytka reported thatshe has money in the FY25-26 budget, but CAT financial has financing available for 4.99% with no penalty early payoff option. Board voted to pay for one via budgeted funds and finance one machine ($293,000) and if budget looks good at FY end look at paying it off. Burt County Economic Development (BCEDC) GRANT: Fund 0900, Residential Renovation Grant- Lance and Jeannette Blanc to install new windows in their home - Oakland; $4,269.50 (50% low bid). The application was approved. Set Election Officials’ Salaries for 2027-2030 Term prior to 2026 Election Cycle. Resolution was adopted: RESOLUTION #2025-16 WHEREAS, Section 23-1114, R.R.S. Nebraska provides that the County Board shall set the salaries of elected officials prior to January 15 of the year in which a general election will be held for the respective county offices, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Burt County Board of Supervisors hereby establishes the following annual salaries for the offices of the elected county officials as listed below for the calendar year of 2027: OFFICE / SALARY for term starting 2027 County Board of Supervisors $17,600.00 County Assessor $73,000.00 County Attorney $73,000.00 County Clerk (Register of Deeds & Election Commissioner) $73,000.00 + (5,000.00) Clerk of the District Court $73,000.00 County Treasurer $73,000.00 County Sheriff $81,500.00 County Surveyor $12,100.00 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, the Burt County Board of Supervisors authorize the County Clerk to receive additional annual compensation of $5,500.00, and the Chief Deputy County Clerk to receive annual compensation of $2,000.00, for calendar years 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 for the additional annual finance and Budget Making Authority duties required of them. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, the Burt County Board of Supervisors authorize the County Sheriff to receive additional annual compensation of $600.00 for calendar years 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030 for the additional duties required for Board of Health. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to the salaries set forth above, with the exception of the County Board of Supervisors salaries, the Burt County Board authorizes an annual cost of living increase during the term of office (2028, 2029, 2030) based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Midwest Index as established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor; the increase given may not exceed a 6% increase, and when the CPI is 0% or less than 0%, the salary shall remain the same as the prior year, and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to the salaries set forth above for the County Board of Supervisors salaries, the Burt County Board authorizes an annual cost of living increase during the (2029) term of office based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Midwest Index as established by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor; the increase given may not exceed a 6% increase, and when the CPI is 0% or less than 0%, the salary shall remain the same as the prior year, and; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to the above salary and adjustments, the elected officials shall be offered the same health and medical group plan that is offered to all county employees, under the same terms, conditions, and contributions and subject to any modifications of such plans made during the term of office; and, elected officials shall be offered county expense opt-out provisions (aka ‘cash in lieu of’ health insurance), the same as offered to all county employees. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in addition to the above stated salary, adjustments and group plan, all elected officials shall be enrolled in and shall receive the same benefits of the County Employees Retirement System as set forth in Nebr. Rev. Stat. Section 23-2301 et seq. DATED this 26th day of December 2025 at Tekamah, Nebraska. SARAH J. FREIDEL BURT COUNTY CLERK TED CONNEALY, CHAIRMAN BURT COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Following Public Comments, The meeting adjourned at 11:51 A.M. Next Meeting: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 @ 9:00 A.M. - 2026 Reorganization will be held during this meeting. NOTE: 2026 Board meeting dates and Holiday closings are available on the County website. SARAH J. FREIDEL, BURT COUNTY CLERK These minutes are not the official record; a complete copy is available at the Clerk’s Office or on our website at www.burtcountyne.gov . Official minutes are not yet approved. ZNEZ BCI 1.8.26
