Hall County Courthouse, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners discussed June 3 the possibility of temporarily moving courtrooms from the Hall County Courthouse to another location because of noise.
Hall County Facility Director Doone Humphrey brought the matter to Commissioners’ attention, as well as issues with a tunnel going to the Courthouse.
Commissioners voted 6-1 to come back with a plan to consider regarding construction noise and the tunnel to the Courthouse. Commissioner Gary Quandt voted no on the motion.
Commissioner Karen Bredthauer mentioned that there could be space available at College Park. Commissioner Jane Richardson suggested the Federal Building, noting that it would be closer to the Courthouse.
Humphrey said that items such as communications fiber run through the Courthouse tunnel. He expressed concern that the tunnel could collapse if there is too much pressure on it.
Humphrey said that construction noise is going to be an issue for at least several months.
Humphrey said that he has talked to some of the judges about temporarily moving their courtrooms, and some of them are agreeable to it, he said.
With the tunnel, Humphrey said that there needs to be equalized pressure on each side of the tunnel.
In another Courthouse addition item, architect Steve Severson with Davis Design showed Commissioners some architectural drawings of the Courthouse addition. He said that plans need to be submitted to the Nebraska Court Administrators’ Office for approval. Commissioners voted 5-2 to submit the plans, with Commissioners Karen Bredthauer and Gary Quandt voting against the motion.
In another matter, Ray Poehler of 12463 W. White Cloud Road addressed the Board in the public participation section about water drainage from other properties that is coming onto his property.
“I don’t like to have water going through my place like a river,” he said. He said that drainage items need to be installed to reduce the amount of water flowing onto his property.
Commissioner Pam Lancaster suggested getting the Central Platte Natural Resources District involved. Public Works Director Don Robb was asked to work with Poehler to address the problem.
Hall County has received a billing from NIRMA for insurance for various items in the county. The largest item on the $737,437 total bill was for Workers’ Compensation, at $377,366.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to proceed with getting more information about painting a mural on a side of the Courthouse annex that could be seen by people in the walkways between the Courthouse addition and the Courthouse. Commissioner Pam Lancaster said that the business Impact Art would charge $7,000 to $10,000 for the mural. Lancaster had previously shown a suggested design that included the United States flag and Hall County flag.
Casey Muzic, executive director of the Midland Area Agency on Aging, addressed the Board to present an annual funding request. She said that the annual membership would remain the same at $10,880. In a letter to Commissioners, she wrote that the agency receives grant funds from the Federal Older Americans’ Act, the Nebraska Community Aging Services Act, and the United States Department of Agriculture for the senior meal services. Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the budget request.
In the consent agenda, Commissioners approved a $10,000 annual budget request from the Hall County Historical Society. A letter from the Society said that it has recently placed 11 new state-approved historical markers throughout the county as part of its Centennial celebration. A documentary film about Grand Island businessman David Kaufmann was produced. A replica of a covered wagon was placed at the Townsley-Murdock trail site.
Doone Humphrey said that a request had been made to put in a memorial garden at Hall County Park where items such as memorial stones could be placed. Commissioner Jane Richardson did not support the idea, and commissioners took no action on it.
In another matter at the start of the Commissioners’ meeting, Grand Island City Council member Doug Brown said that there would be a watermelon eating contest involving City Council members and Commissioners at the Hall County Fair at 3:30 p.m. July 26. Proceeds from the contest would go to the Vietnam War memorial. He asked Commissioners to form a team to participate in the contest.
