County looking to balance needs, spending

The Chase County Commissioners entertained a variety of guests at their Feb. 14 regular meeting.
Among the scheduled visitors were Veteran Services Officer Duane Todd and Veteran  Board members Dennis Pfeifer and Bud Statz.
The Veteran Board had concerns about Todd’s hours being cut back.
With Todd being told to keep his hours at 20 per week, he asked what he should do to minimize his hours when he’s stuck on hold or waiting for a call to be returned.
The commissioners said if Todd worked over 20 hours one week, he should adjust his hours the next week.
Pfeifer questioned why Todd was singled out from all the county’s employees as being the only one to take a wage cut.
The commissioners pointed out that they also took pay cuts and Commissioner Kurt Bernhardt said that with the commissioners looking for ways to make the county’s budget work better, this was one way they came up with.
Commissioner Duane Dinnel feels a full time Veteran  Services Officer isn’t justifiable with the amount of work required and that funeral directors should carry more of the load for military funerals.
Craig Loeffler and Leanne Klein with the Imperial and Wauneta EMS squads, respectively, attended the meeting to update the commissioners on grants each squad has been awarded for new ambulances.
Both Imperial and Wauneta received $75,000 for a new ambulance and $49,000 for needed equipment. The grants will need to be spent by 2026.
With ambulances costing around $300,000, Loeffler and Klein wanted to see if they can lock in ambulance orders now with payment by the county due on delivery.
The board will take time to do some research before approving orders.
Loeffler and Klein also spent time discussing pay rates for ambulance crews. Both cited that it’s hard for some volunteers to get away from work for calls and the amount of calls taking large amounts of time.
Both the county and ambulance crews, as well as Chase County Community Hospital, would like to get contracts in place, including paying for training, with each other.
Highway Superintendent Toney Krajewski was on hand to open bids for crack sealing Old Highway 6. The contract was awarded to Shelco Asphalt and Paving for $68,850.
Krajewski also gave reports on the Champion Bridge project, the Spring Creek Bridge and Ave 347 ditch project and the Road 741 project. Krajewski also said he’s working on the one and six year road plans.
While Statz and Pfeifer were still at the meeting, each expressed other concerns.
Statz said the Champion hHighway had patches of ice left on it for extended periods of time, which Commissioner Jacci Brown said was due to a miscommunication in her shop, while Pfeifer pointed out that the new pavement south of Wauneta is developing cracks.
Tyler Pribbeno and Jan Elliot with the City of Imperial stopped by the meeting to discuss their City Square Project and asked the county to contribute.
On the heels of discussions about buying ambulances, the cost of road projects and limiting Todd’s hours, the commissioners said this may not be the best time for the county to contribute to a city project.
Dinnel asked how he can justify spending county money on an Imperial project to the people in his Wauneta district.
Interlocal agreements were signed with Dundy County for the Juvenile Diversion and Child Support Enforcement programs.
Dates for tire recycling will be April 14-15 with storm dates of April 21-22.
The next meeting of the commissioners will be Tuesday at 8 a.m.