Zoning, budget, wages . . . commissioners to have busy Tuesday

​YORK COUNTY – The York County Commissioners are going to have a busy Tuesday when they convene in regular session on Aug. 19.

​They will resume their conversation about zoning for solar projects. During their last talk, two weeks ago, they agreed they need more information about battery power storage, so language can be included in the new zoning regulations. They also seemed to form a path forward, as they will gradually vote on aspects they seem to agree upon, then start to negotiate on sticking points such as setback distances.
They will hold another budget workshop. They spent hours talking about the budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year during their last meeting as they have the task of cutting about $2 million from the proposed expenditures. Department heads and elected officials presented their preliminary budgets, but the figures came in 26% higher than last year’s budget which the commissioners say must be held to a maximum of 2% increase. It’s likely the conversation on Tuesday will center on what cuts need to be made.
They will also set wages for the deputies of elected officials – the deputy county clerk, deputy county assessor, deputy county treasurer, deputy clerk of the District Court, deputy county attorney and deputy county public defender. These wages must be within a certain percentage of the officials’ salaries, per state statute.
The commissioners will discuss wages for department heads – highway superintendent, weed supervisor, 911 communications director, Area on Aging/transportation director, maintenance supervisor, veterans service officer and the director of the York County Visitors Bureau.
The salaries of the elected officials have already been set – those were done prior to a four-year cycle.
The commissioners will adopt a resolution to set preliminary levies for political subdivisions within the county.
They will also discuss an interlocal cooperation agreement for a joint application to the federal Bridge Investment Program between Hamilton County and participating counties.
The county board members will revisit the lone bid for the fire suppression system in the county jail. The bid came in higher than expected and the county board members expressed how they would be talking further with the bidder about the end price before taking action.
Jerad Reimers, representing Congressman Adrian Smith, will make a presentation about ongoing activities in Washington at the federal level.
There will also be a discussion on the roads department’s action plan.
As the board of equalization, they will act on tax list corrections and hear information from the county assessor regarding appeals filed with the Nebraska Tax Equalization Review Commission (TERC).
The public is encouraged to attend the meeting, which will begin at 8:30 a.m., in the commissioners’ meeting room located on the main floor of the courthouse.