Commissioners create and fill two hospital board positions

ROB MILLS
IMPERIAL REPUBLICAN
Chase County, Nebraska is a sparsely populated area, located within the land mass of a state that seemingly has more square miles than population.
So, it goes without saying that the typical Chase County Commissioners’ meeting can be quiet, most of the time not a lot going on. The last Commission meeting didn’t deviate from the script.
“We created two hospital board positions, and we filled them. That was it,” Chase County Commissioner Jacci Brown told the IR after their latest gathering. Brown, a multi-term member of the Commission is based in Champion. She also serves on the Nebraska Jail Standards Board.
Appointed by former Governor Pete Ricketts, Brown’s interest in corrections stemmed from her work as a volunteer with the national group CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. She commented that going into her volunteer work, she didn’t realize how intertwined the welfare of children was with the corrections system.  
As Chase County heads full steam into 2025, Brown is bullish on the area’s future, both near and long term. With the debate about the local placement of a solar farm in the rear-view mirror, Brown says Chase County’s future is the next item on the agenda.
When addressing that issue, Brown begins by saying the region’s attractiveness to relocating families and business is found in its stability.
“This is a progressive ag community, a place where some impressive minds have come from and will continue to do so. We want economic growth, and we have the infrastructure to attract that growth: good schools, a good hospital and a safe environment to live in and raise a family,” Brown commented, adding that “our relationship with McCook Community College provides continuing education and training to the area’s young people. Allo Communications is also a major part of our foundation for the future, she added.
Brown said the noticeable number of Chase County natives who return to live in Imperial and the surrounding area, provides an important population base which is an important part of attracting potential employers.
One area, Brown doesn’t foresee a new facility being a part of Chase County’s future, is in corrections. The age of the current jail, and issues related to prisoner health care led her to interest in local corrections. Combined with her involvement with CASA, her activities led to her eventual appointment to the state Jail Standards Board. She says a new jail isn’t in the cards for Chase County. “We are just too small to think about building a new jail. Our current jail is in the Courthouse basement, it’s just not big enough to warrant a new facility. We can send prisoners to other jails, if necessary that we contract with. “Brown also brought up the constant issue places like Chase County deal with when it’s come to the Legislature in Lincoln: the limited funding that is available for rural Nebraska.
You can have breakfast with your commissioners and get in on some County lawmaking…and even a little politics.
 The next Chase County Commission meeting is Tuesday, February 25th, at 8:00 a.m., at the Chase County Courthouse.