County Approves Emergency Communications Agreement

The Cheyenne County Commissioners Monday approved an agreement for dispatch services to Deuel County.

Deuel County officials recently approached Cheyenne County seeking to end their relationship with Kimball County. The agreement calls for Deuel County to initially pay 5 percent of the monthly cost of the emergency communications center. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said the share will reduce the liability proportionally for the city and county. He said the contract will likely be reviewed in two years. Deuel County will provide equipment necessary for dispatching its services.

The agreement has been approved by the Cheyenne County Communications board and by the Sidney City Council.

The commissioners also approved several cases before the Board of Equalization. The Board of Equalization reviewed petitions including the Lodge Pole Creek Apartment that were reduced in value from about $7 million to almost $4 million. County Assessor Sybil Prosser said she used the income approach, reviewed the floor plans and the occupancy rate. A property in the 800 block of 13th Avenue in Sidney was reduced in assessed value from about $4.2 million to $2.5 million. There are also four lots from Cabela’s that were reduced in valuation.

“I would love to keep it as developmental land but I can’t,”said Prosser.

The lots were reduced in assessment from about $1 million each to $561,500 and $534,000.

Commissioner Randal Miller abstained from all Board of Equalization votes.

The commissioners noted they didn’t have much choice as the review would be done by the same person who did the reviews.

The commissioners also met with Tourism Director Heather Hausmann. Hausmann, whose last day is May 25, said the Chautauqua is much of the focus now. She said a couple of pre-Chautauqua events have already taken place.

The commissioners also discussed with Hausmann staffing of the tourism center. She said during the summer months the center is usually open seven days a week, with the help of a part-time seasonal employee. That employee has decided not to return this summer. She said the money for a part-time position is already budgeted. The commissioners questioned if the Center could use two part-time employees instead of the one. County Clerk Beth Fiegenschuh said if the employee is expected to return the following year, the county owes her benefits. The exception, according to discussion, is if the employee is part-time seasonal and reapplied each year.