Buffalo County Justice Center, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office is looking for new radios for the county’s jail and were approved to solicit bids during the commissioners meeting on Tuesday, April 9.
Rob Tubbs, with the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, told the commissioners that during their last radio update project, the jail had not been included to focus on other areas, but now they want to update the jail.
The intent is to bid for 35 APX 7000 multi-band portable radios with chargers, holsters and shoulder mikes. Tubbs said they hope to receive around three to four bids.
The commissioners approved the request to solicit bids and to receive them prior to the April 23 meeting.
Also on the agenda was a presentation from Sharon Hueftle with the South Central Economic Development District.
“South Central Economic Development District (SCEDD) serves 13 counties in South Central Nebraska, focusing on community, housing and business development. We are committed to improving our communities, assisting in housing development, and offering assistance to businesses in the SCEDD region,” per their website.
The 13 counties include Buffalo, Phelps, Harlan, Kearney, Franklin, Howard, Hall, Adams, Webster, Merrick, Hamilton, Clay and Nuckolls.
Hueftle said they work with counties economic development employees, and directly with those counties that don’t have those positions.
She said their recent focus has been on, “engagement,” and are holding meetings with stakeholders from across the region to help keep activity moving.
Hueftle said the things they hear consistently from the counties is the need for, “workforce, housing and childcare.”
She also noted they are behind broadband expansion and hope to bring more people to the county if they can work from home due to expanded broadband.
Klein asked Hueftle if the SCEDD could assist with a situation like the house explosion that occurred in Wood River that damaged several homes and businesses in the area.
Hueftle said the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency would take the lead if something similar happened in Buffalo County, but SCEDD could assist organizations or businesses with paperwork for FEMA and NEMA.
Also on the agenda was a proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.
“Successfully proclaimed by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is designated in the second week of April every year. NPSTW is formally and permanently recognized and celebrated during the second week of April,” per the National Today website.
Steve Gaasch, Buffalo County Facilities Director, appeared during the Facilities/Building and Grounds section, with bids for three different projects.
Gaasch said there had been no bids at the moment for the extension parking lot addition bids, but the project has been rebid and those received will be back in two weeks.
For the 321 building on Central Ave., they received bids for the electrical work for $155,000 and $12,000 for new acoustical paneling.
The last item was bids for the impound lot improvements, a bid for concrete installation was for $83,500.
In other action the commissioners approved,
- Ratification of April 5 payroll claims
- Early fuel claim
- Clerk of the District Court March 2024 report
- Buffalo County Treasurer March 2024 fund balance report
- Accept the Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska February 2024 RYDE report
- Final approval of the CGI videos, delayed from Feb. 13, 2024
