(From left) Local Bar Association President Ben Shanahan, Hall County Attorney Marty Klein, Hall County Public Defenders' Office juvenile division head Sidnea Brown, and Hall County Public Defender Vicky Kenney talk to Hall County Commissioners March 10 about an addition of having an attorney appointed for juveniles charged with misdemeanors or infractions. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Attorneys will now be automatically appointed for juveniles in Hall County charged with misdemeanors or infractions.
Currently, only juveniles charged with felonies had attorneys appointed for them.
Hall County Attorney Marty Klein, Hall County Public Defender Vicky Kenney, Hall County Public Defender Juvenile division head attorney Sidnea Brown, and local Bar Association president Ben Shanahan appeared before Hall County Commissioners March 10 to discuss the issue.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the automatic attorney appointment for juveniles also charged with misdemeanors or infractions.
For a juvenile 13 and under, an attorney is appointed.
Two years ago, the public defenders’ office handled 431 juvenile cases with only one juvenile public defender. The current number of juvenile cases is half that amount. Now, the office has two attorneys that handle juvenile cases.
Klein gave an example that if there are five juveniles involved in an incident for prosecution, an attorney from the public defenders’ office is appointed for one juvenile. Outside counsel is appointed for the remaining juveniles.
Klein said that when an attorney isn’t appointed for a juvenile charged with a misdemeanor, if probation is ordered, the juvenile may not understand terms of probation and ends up back in court.
Kenney said that only a small percentage of juveniles don’t ask for an attorney. Having an attorney appointed for a juvenile “makes the process a lot more seamless,” Kenney said.
Klein said that there is an ebb and flow of the number of juvenile cases. He gave an example of a case involving juveniles that they were sentenced to prison. He felt that caused fewer juvenile cases because juveniles realized the severity of a possible sentence.
Commissioner Pam Lancaster said, “These judges are tough.”
In a court case, Kenney said that a juvenile gets the representation by an attorney and representation is not intended for parents.
Klein said there is a line item in the county budget for appointment of outside counsel.
In other business, Public Works Director Don Robb said that a motor grader is needing repairs. He is getting a cost estimate for the repairs.
Facilities Director Doone Humphrey talked about what furniture in the courthouse addition project will be moved, and what new furniture needs to be purchased. Primarily, file cabinets and bookshelves can be moved. He also said that there is a problem with moles at the Veterans Park, and that an extermination project for the entire park will likely be needed.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to move forward with replacing the wall display that shows whether Commissioners voted for or against a motion or abstained from voting. A green light has shown up for each Commissioner to show how the Commissioner voted, and that light system is no longer working.
Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve change orders for the courthouse addition project. Commissioners Gary Quandt and Karen Bredthauer voted against the motion.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to advertise for an open position on the Hall County Weed Board and to appoint a new member. The reason for the vacancy is the death of Board Member Francis Hannon. Commissioner Gary Quandt described the Weed Board as “antiquated” and suggested that Commissioners could handle issues related to weeds. Quandt pointed out that the Commissioners’ meetings are televised. Quandt asked that the matter be placed on the Commissioners’ agenda in two weeks. Quandt said that Weed Board members each receive $3,000 per year per diem, plus mileage. Expenses would be reduced by having Commissioners address weed issues.
Commissioner Karen Bredthauer commented about a bill recently passed in the Legislature, LB 663, that would require Commissioners to complete two hours of continuing education during their terms regarding planning commission issues.
Bredthauer also reported that College Park is closer to reaching an agreement with Commissioners regarding billing issues for the College Park executive director’s salary. An auditor with the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts determined in January that College Park had been inappropriately invoicing Hall County for the College Park executive director’s salary and benefits. The auditor reviewed invoices for 2023 through 2025 . During that period, College Park invoiced the county for $40,409 of payroll that lacked documentation to support that billing amount under the lease agreement.
Commissioner Jane Richardson reported that complaints had been received regarding that no United States flag was being flown at the Veterans Park. Commissioner Gary Quandt reported that $275 had been donated to purchase a flag, but that a flag still was not being flown at the park.
