(Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners voted 7-0 March 24 to approve a paid internship program for the Hall County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff Josh Berlie proposed that there would be two interns who would work 29 hours a week for 16 weeks at a rate of $20 per hour. The annual cost would be $20,000 a year, Berlie said.
The interns would provide patrol support. This would include providing security in the Hall County Courthouse. Commissioners liked that idea, because more courthouse security will be needed once the addition to the courthouse is complete.
Berlie said that the Kearney Police Department and Buffalo County Sheriff’s Department offer a paid internship program. Berlie said he has had discussions with Wayne State College about having their students participate in the program. Wayne State College has a program where students can participate in internships in Grand Island.
Berlie said that the program could be expanded to include the Grand Island Police Department. Interns would complete training before they would begin assigned duties.
In other business, Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a claim from College Park, excluding approximately $530. Commissioners had a closed session March 24 to discuss a meeting with the College Park finance committee. In January, an auditor with the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts determined that College Park has been inappropriately invoicing Hall County for the College Park Executive Director’s salary and benefits. For fiscal years 2023 through 2025, College Park invoiced the county for $40,409 of payroll that lacked documentation to support the propriety of that amount under the lease agreement. The amounts invoiced to the county for the executive director’s salary, taxes, and IRA match were: $13,644.45 (2023), $13,644.55 (2024), and $13,119.76 (2025).
Commissioners voted 7-0 to have a public hearing on May 5 regarding dissolving the Hall County Weed Board. The matter would have to be determined by a vote in the November election. Commissioner Gary Quandt said that voters did not approve in 2012 dissolving the Hall County Weed Board. If the Weed Board is dissolved, Hall County Commissioners would take over doing their duties. Quandt noted that issues regarding weeds would then be televised as part of Commissioners’ meetings. Quandt said that each Weed Board member receives a $3,000 per diem plus mileage. Quandt described the Weed Board as “antiquated.” Commissioner Scott Sorensen said that there are 11 Weed Boards in the state.
Central District Health Department Director Teresa Anderson reported that the Health Department has become nationally accredited for the first time.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a bid from Rutt’s Heating and Air Conditioning in Hastings for $1,107,000 to replace an HVAC system at the Hall County Corrections Department.
