FALLS CITY, Neb. — The Richardson County Board of Commissioners approved a budget amendment Tuesday after holding a public hearing on a proposed $256,518 increase in the Capital Acquisition Budget. The added funds will support electrical upgrades at the Law Enforcement Center, to be financed through a Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) lease-purchase agreement. No public comments were made during the hearing.
Following the hearing, the Board adopted a resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget.
Also during the meeting, commissioners adopted a revised Local Emergency Operations Plan, which had been approved by the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency. Most of the changes to the plan were editorial updates.
Sheriff Rick Hardesty met with the Board to propose wage increases for staff at the Law Enforcement Center, effective July 1, 2025. He also discussed the ongoing law enforcement services agreement between the Sheriff’s Department and the City of Humboldt. Sheriff Hardesty and Commissioner Rick Karas had recently attended a Humboldt City Council meeting, and said a draft of a new agreement is being prepared for city review.
Hardesty also informed the board that Deputy Aitken's patrol vehicle had struck a deer earlier this month.
The Board also heard from Humboldt Mayor Jan Wilhelm, who raised concerns about road and bridge maintenance, particularly the condition of the road leading to the Humboldt Airport.
In other business:
- Craig Coonce, a Rulo resident, requested permission to establish a cemetery plot on his land in the Village of Rulo. The Board declined to act on the request, citing a need for more information.
- The commissioners held a nearly one-hour executive session with Highway Superintendent Steve Darveau and County Attorney Samantha Scheitel to discuss personnel matters.
The next meeting of the Richardson County Commissioners is scheduled for later this month.