Hall County Courthouse, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners voted 5-2 Tuesday, June 18, to issue up to $40 million in bonds to pay for an addition to the Hall County Courthouse.
Commissioners Gary Quandt and Karen Bredthauer voted against the motion.
The bond issuance would mean an additional $52 in property tax per $100,000 of valuation for a 20-year period.
Earlier in the meeting, Quandt made a motion to have a public hearing regarding the courthouse addition. The motion failed by a 2-5 vote, with Commissioners Bredthauer and Quandt voting for the motion.
“The taxpayers have been left out of this project,” Quandt said. “Let’s have a public hearing where people can show up and tell us what they think.”
Bredthauer read part of a letter from Darla Hansen, 4065 Sandalwood Drive, about the courthouse addition.
“You don’t need to spend our tax dollars on this just because you can sneak it under the radar. I truly feel that this build(ing) can be done for a lot less money, and why are we going to bond the full amount at these high interest rates?” Hansen wrote.
“My husband and I have lived here all of our lives and are both retired and living on a fixed income and now we are seriously looking to move out of Hall County because of the high tax rates,” she wrote. “Our real estate taxes went up $1,200 or more since these higher evaluations which means $100 a month from our budget.”
“Where is the casino money? Thought this was for real estate tax relief,” Hansen wrote.
David Plautz of 4063 Manchester spoke to the board and said, “Let the people decide. “All you listen to is the judges. This is going to be too much of a burden for the taxpayers.”
Plautz asked whether the board had tried having court cases at night to lessen the burden on the daily schedule at the courthouse.
Ron Nitzel of 1118 S. Pine said, “This should be a public vote. It’s common blue collar people who pay this bill.” Nitzel said that the board needs to listen to taxpayers, not just the judges.
Board Chairman Ron Peterson said that the commissioners are making the decision on the courthouse because they have been elected to represent the people. County Attorney Marty Klein said that government operates as a “representative democracy.”
Nitzel made a reference that the Proud Boys would come to the courthouse. Commissioner Jane Richardson challenged him, “Are you saying that would happen?”
After the Commissioners had approved issuing the bonds, Cody Wickham, senior vice president with D.A. Davidson in Omaha, spoke to the Board. D.A. Davidson would assist the Commissioners by acquiring the bonds.
Commissioner Gary Quandt questioned why the bonds are being acquired now when they will not be used for another year.
“The taxpayer is going to pay a year in advance for something we haven’t started,” Quandt said.
Supervisor Pam Lancaster said, “We have no other place to go for building costs.”
Commissioners voted 5-2 to approve a timeline regarding the bonds. Commissioners Quandt and Bredthauer voted against the motion.
Commissioners also voted 5-2 to add a new fund #3000 for the courthouse bond fund to the county budget and 5-2 to add a new fund #4000 for the courthouse project fund. Commissioners Quandt and Bredthauer voted against each motion.
Steve Severson and Darin Horst with Davis Design addressed the Commissioners. They showed them a blueprint that would add additional space to the courthouse addition. A basement would be added that would be a “shell” for the time being. Commissioners voted 5-2 to add the basement plan to the courthouse addition and will contact the State Supreme Court regarding getting permission for the modification to the original plans submitted.
Proposals for the construction manager at risk are due June 19 and will be interviewed on June 25. Commissioners will meet with the construction manager at risk candidates on July 2 and negotiate with them. The Commissioners’ construction committee will meet with construction manager at risk candidates.
“I think this is going to be a great project,” Commissioner Pam Lancaster said. “I’m looking forward to this.”
