Commissioners approve animal contract to house stray, dangerous animals

By A. Marie Hamilton, Sidney Sun-Telegraph

CHEYENNE COUNTY – At its regularly scheduled May 1 meeting, the Cheyenne County Commissioners (CCC) reviewed a number of county items, such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), heard an update from the county highway superintendent and approved a contract to house stray and/or dangerous dogs.

CCC Board Chairman Darrell Johnson and CCC Board Member Randal Miller were in attendance, however, CCC Philip Sanders was not.

The board discussed the approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the courtroom technology transfer of ownership.

Commissioners heard from Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub regarding the review and approval of documents relating to the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for Adams Industries. The discussion of the block grant included a determination of level of review, tribal letters and a resolution authorizing the board chairman to sign an application for the CDBG funds.

Cheyenne County Sheriff Office Sheriff Adam Frerichs presented a contract to be considered by the commissioners for Dalton-based Critter Sitter to house the county's stray and/or dangerous dogs.

After some discussion, commissioners ultimately decided to approve the contract.

Cheyenne County Highway Superintendent Doug Hart gave commissioners an update about current road projects, conditions and the departments to-do list. In his report to the commissioners, Hart updated them about the potential number of signs the county would need as previously discussed at an earlier commissioners meeting.

Hart told commissioners the county should expect to need approximately 64 new signs, and commissioners thanked Hart for the information and asked when a road study could confirm the findings. Hart explained one could get underway shortly.

Hart also expressed to commissioners the county is in need of CDL (commercial driver's license) drivers and asked if the county could look into helping his department and other county departments in paying the $200 tuition and $2,300 driving school program from Western Nebraska Community College for current or potential future CDL employees.

“We need CDL drivers,” Hart told commissioners. “If possible, we would like to see if the county could help with that.”

Hart said a shipment of oil should be in Sidney by Wednesday morning for wet road work and would update the commissioners about the completion and progress of this road project at a later meeting.

Board member Miller asked Hart about graveling projects throughout the county, specifically Road 99 north of Potter in which Hart told commissioners, it’s another road on the to-do list and needs to also be redone.

“We have a lot to fix, obviously,” Miller stated.

Board chairman Johnson asked about Roads 109 and 113, which are used by the rail car services, and wondered if those were also county roads and what could be done on those roads. Johnson also stated he had been out to these roads to see the condition of the roads for himself.

Ultimately, the commissioners and Hart agreed a road study would help the county and department prioritize road projects and help determine which areas are in more need.

The commissioners motioned to enter into the Cheyenne Board of Equalization meeting, in which they also motioned to enter executive session to discuss pending litigation. Upon returning from the executive session, Cheyenne County Assessor Jordan Hajek presented the commissioners with a recommendation to consider a valuation change in cases pending before the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. The Sun-Telegraph is waiting on the final recommendation documents and will present those in a future edition.