YORK COUNTY – On Sept. 28, at 11:41 p.m., a sergeant assigned to the York County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Interstate 80 near the Henderson exit for multiple traffic violations. During the course of the stop, the sergeant developed probable cause to search the vehicle and during that search, they uncovered two firearms, three ounces of methamphetamine, a small amount of fentanyl and Adderall. 

​YORK – When the York County Commissioners meet in regular session this week, they will have a relatively light agenda.
They will discuss a vehicle purchase for the county assessor’s office and the reappointment of Craig Heskett as the vice-chairman of the York County Visitors Bureau Advisory Board.
They will also discuss and act on a housing authority grant, which will be the last before the board as the county’s owner/occupied housing rehabilitation program.
As the board of equalization, they will meet with the county assessor regarding tax list corrections and they will consider a motor vehicle exemption for Renewed Horizons.
The meeting will start at 8:30 a.m., in the county board meeting room located next to the clerk’s office on the main floor of the courthouse.

​YORK – The county’s insurance committee will be considering the county insurance contract when they start meeting once again.
During their most recent meeting, York County Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier told the other board members the committee would be meeting in early October.
“We received an early number (regarding cost) and it came with a 20% increase which was just an early number,” Obermier said.
He also said now that the budget work is done for the year, the handbook committee would start meeting once again to formulate changes and updates.
Also during the county board’s most recent meeting:

• York County Highway Superintendent Harvey Keim said Road 22 is completely open to traffic as the bridge work there is completed. He also said work has started on getting snowplows ready for the winter.
• Obermier asked if Keim was working toward bringing forward a list of paving projects they could schedule before the calendar year, so they can be financed through ARPA (federal COVID relief dollars). Keim said the process is underway.
• Tristan Perry with the county’s juvenile diversion program received permission from the county commissioners to apply for another grant, for funds from the crime commission. If this money is received and is not continued in the future, Commissioner Daniel Grotz asked Perry how he intended to keep the additional employee he intends to hire with the initial grant. Perry said he’d then have to ask for general fund money to keep that person.

“But if this board doesn’t approve that, the position would go away in order to not put it on the taxpayers,” Grotz said.
“Correct and I’d communicate that with the person,” Perry responded.
“Your department continues to grow and there is an obvious juvenile problem in York County,” Grotz said. “A few months ago you said you could take on Polk County duties so can you explain why now you need more help?”
“This would make the program more efficient,” Perry said. “With our program growing, it’s getting to be similar to what we see in other counties.”
“Where do you see this office in the future?” Obermier asked. “A four-person office?”
Perry said probably three full-time staff members “in a picture perfect world, to serve all the youth.”
“When we see truancy, do the schools bear any load in shared cost?” Obermier asked. “We are helping the schools with their truancy problems.”
“What they give is access to mental health sessions and each school gives us office space when we are there, plus a laptop from York Public Schools,” Perry said.

• John Prusia, Henderson police chief, was appointed to be a member of the county’s aging services board.

Lori Byers, director of the county’s aging services, said, “We have board membership from around the county. I’ve been going to various village board meetings, to get our vacancies filled. We are excited to have a member from Henderson.

• The board signed an appraisal contract with Vanguard Appraisals Inc. This is an annual agreement for the company to assist the assessor’s office with commercial appraisals. The money is budgeted in the reappraisal sinking fund.
• A special designated liquor license for the Boo On The Farm event at Wessels Living History Farm.

 

YORK – This year’s General Election holds many very important races and issues to be determined.
The York County Clerk’s office has provided some deadline information regarding the General Election, which voters need to know if they want to participate.
Voter registration deadlines are:

• 18: Online or through the DMV; via mail; or delivered by someone other than the voter
• 25: In-person at the York County Courthouse

Early voting deadlines are:

• By mail: The clerk’s office can mail ballots until Oct. 25. If someone chooses this option, it is recommended the voter requests the ballot as soon as possible. All ballots must be returned to the county clerk’s office by Nov. 5 before 8 p.m. Any ballot received after this time will not be counted.
• In-person or take-home ballots: Voters can vote in the courthouse between Oct. 7 and Nov. 4. Within this time period, voters have the option of voting in the courthouse or taking their ballot home. An agent may pick up a ballot for a voter. All ballots must be returned to the county clerk’s office by Nov. 5 before 8 p.m. Any ballot received after this time will not be counted.

​YORK COUNTY – The York County Sheriff’s Department will be increasing traffic enforcement on Highway 81 during the month of October, as part of the department’s Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) campaign. 

YORK COUNTY – The York County Sheriff’s Department recently applied for and received grant funding through the Nebraska Department of Transportation Highway Safety Office’s Special Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), according to York County Sheriff Sergeant Taylor Samek. 

YORK – The York County Sheriff’s Department awards Employees of the Quarter to staff whose conduct over the evaluation period is deserving of recognition. 

YORK -- For the second year in a row, the York County Sheriff's Office K9 Unit was fortunate to host Nebraska Police Service Dog Program Administrator Mike Kerby at one of their training sessions.

YORK – Interested individuals who want to file as write-in candidates for the General Election in November have until Oct. 25 to file with the county clerk’s office.

YORK COUNTY – A public meeting is scheduled regarding the long-anticipated expansion of Highway 81 from York to Columbus.