State Senators Loren Lippincott of Central City (left) and Dan McKeon of Amherst (right) discuss issues in the Legislature with Hall County Commissioners Dec. 17, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – State Senators Loren Lippincott of Central City and Dan McKeon of Amherst of Amherst spoke to the Hall County Board of Commissioners Dec. 17 about upcoming issues in the Legislature.
Lippincott said he will introduce a “winner take all” bill in the Legislature. Currently, Nebraska is one of only two states in the country that does not use that approach to allocate its electoral votes in presidential elections. Instead, Nebraska divides its electoral votes by congressional district. Every state is allocated a number of votes equal to the number of Senators and Representatives in its Congressional Delegation, which is five votes for Nebraska. For instance, it is possible in Nebraska that four electoral votes may be awarded to one candidate, and another electoral vote (typically covering Omaha geographically) may be awarded to another candidate.
“We are an outlier,” Lippincott said.
He said that all states need to be playing by the same rules. Lippincott was asked about the composition of state senators in the Legislature following the November election. He said there are 33 Republicans and 16 Democrats. Although the Legislature is nonpartisan, those numbers may indicate that a “winner take all” bill would be approved.
Lippincott said although use of medical marijuana was approved in November, marijuana is considered a Schedule 1 substance and is illegal.
The state senator described that state’s tax structure as a three-leg stool that is “wobbly.” Forty-seven percent of revenue comes from property taxes.
“Out tax system needs to promote productivity,” Lippincott said. “Our tax structure definitely needs to be looked at.”
McKeon said he is glad that he is self-employed to be able to be flexible for the time required to be a state senator.
McKeon said he would consider introducing a bill concerning use of cell phones in schools. He said Gov. Jim Pillen is also looking at that issue, in which use of cell phones by students would be banned in schools. Others have supported letting local school boards make their own decisions and rules regarding cell phone use.
In other matters, the Commissioners voted 7-0 to change the address of the Hall County Administration Building to 200 S. Sycamore, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The building will also maintain its current address of 121 S. Pine St. until a transition to the new address has occurred. The address is being changed because one block of Pine Street just west of the Administration Building is being closed, with the 121 S. Pine St. within that one-block area.
Commissioners approved spending $843,487 on a new mobile radio system for the Hall County Sheriff’s Department. The Sheriff’s Department has received a $675,000 grant for the project.
Commissioners noted that it has been considered to eliminate inheritance tax. Commissioners noted they depend on using inheritance tax funds. If those funds are eliminated, something needs to be made available to replace the funding.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve having O’Neill Transportation and Equipment demolish the old jail and an office building housing Department of Health and Human Services offices for $348,000. Commissioner Ron Peterson said that employees in that DHHS office will relocate to the Old City Hall Building, where other DHHS employees work.
Commissioner Gary Quandt gave a short presentation about parking that will be available for the Hall County Courthouse and its attached addition. Quandt said that an empty lot just east of the Administration Building along Sycamore Street could be used for employee parking. The lot is currently covered by grass and would need to be paved.
Steve Severson with architectural firm Davis Design of Lincoln gave Commissioners an update on the Courthouse addition project. He showed slides with illustrations of placement of everything from plumbing to electrical sources in the courthouse. Commissioner Chairman Ron Peterson said the Board should receive a guaranteed price for the project in May 2025.
Commissioner Karen Bredthauer reported about a new type of meal that is available for Meals on Wheels recipients. A package of meals is commercially delivered to rural residents. Each meal has a longer shelf life than a traditional meal. Bredthauer said it is a challenge to provide meals to residents in rural areas. Bredthauer has eaten one of the meals that is commercially delivered and said the meals are good.
