County Stands Against USDA Proposal

The Cheyenne County Commissioners were given a new challenge in managing wildlife in the area. On Monday, Aug. 16, the commissioners were told each county will have to finance the full cost of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wildlife specialist that had been a shared cost.

Wildlife Specialist Matt Anderson and Jerry Feist met with the commissioners on Aug. 16 to discuss the contract with the USDA.

Feist said procedures are changing in the USDA, and the cost-sharing program that provides a wildlife specialist in Cheyenne County will cease to exist. He said if counties want a specialist, they will have to pay for it. Feist said it will cost about $112,000 to keep Anderson in the field.

“Our program is grossly mismanaged,” Feist said. “It was here before I got here. It should have been dealt with. It's an ugly situation, but that's where we're at.”

The commissioners agreed to a year contract early this summer for Anderson to work with the county.

The commissioners will then have to consider if and how to address predatory wildlife in the county. In the meeting, the commissioners said the biggest problem is prairie dogs.

In other business, the commissioners approved four tourism funding projects. Tourism Director Kevin Howard met with the commissioners regarding Cruise'N Class Rod and Roll Classic, Oktoberfest, Potter Days and Potter Nebraska Cross Country Race (PNCC). Organizers of the Cruise'N Class Rod and Roll Classic are expecting about 150 cars to be at the show. This year's event is planned for Oct. 2 at the west end of Legion Park.

“They bring in people from all over,” Howard said after the meeting.

The Cruise'N Class Rod and Roll Classic was awarded $1,500 to promote the event. Octoberfest was awarded $7,000 to promote its Oct. 1-3 event. The event is expected to bring in about 15,000 people. Potter Days has a long history of celebrating its community. This year, organizers are adding more events while continuing with the community fair atmosphere. Queen crowning will occur 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, and the main attractions will be Saturday, starting with a 5K color run from the Railroad Park Gazebo (registration starts at 7 a.m.). The parade starts at 10 a.m. with co-ed sand volleyball, open Duckpin Bowling, food trucks at the bank parking lot, Tin Roof Sundae eating contest, Ranch Bronc Riding, free watermelon feed, team roping and fireworks at dusk. Potter Days was awarded $3,000 for promotions, including funds for video work to promote the event in the future.

The PNCC is a motocross event held north and east of Potter on Sunday, Sept. 5. PNCC's first event was in 2020 with 103 riders. This year they hope to see 150. The PNCC event was awarded $4,000 for promotions.

The commissioners also received a report from County Treasurer Shelly Bowlin and Sheriff Adam Frerichs on returned Distress Warrants, reviewed the 2021-22 county budget and received a report from Highway Superintendent Doug Hart on road activities.