Hall County Veterans Service Officer Don Shuda (left) and Mike Ponte, chairman of the United Veterans Club, talked to Hall County Commissioners Jan. 27 about the governor's proposal to take $5 million from the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund. They asked Commissioners to take action to express their opinion to oppose the bill. (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 27 to send a letter to the governor and state senators opposing LB1072, which would take $2.5 million per year for two years from the Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund.
Speaker of the Legislature John Arch introduced the bill at the request of the governor, who is attempting to address a shortfall in state funds.
Hall County Veterans Service Officer Don Shuda and Mike Ponte, United Veterans Club chairman, appeared before Commissioners Jan. 27 to ask them to oppose the bill.
The Nebraska Veterans Aid Fund was established in 1921. This temporary emergency aid fund assists veterans, their spouses, and dependents when an emergency occurs disrupting their normal method of living and when other resources are not immediately available. Aid can only be used for food, fuel, shelter, transportation, daycare, wearing apparel, funeral, medical and surgical items.
Shuda said that there will be a hearing on the bill on Feb. 2, which is why he wanted to have Commissioners take action Jan. 27 to oppose the bill.
“I don’t think it would be a good bill,” Shuda said.
Commissioner Pam Lancaster said that withdrawing money from the fund goes against the intent of the fund. She noted that the fund has existed for more than 100 years, and “no one has robbed this fund.”
“This just aggravates me,” Lancaster said. She said she wants the fund to be self-sustaining. “I think this is terrible. This is unimaginable.”
Commissioner Gary Quandt said that he was pretty upset with Gov. Jim Pillen.
“Maybe it’s time we send Gov. Pillen back to the farm,” Quandt said.
Chairman Ron Peterson said that a one-time action to take money from the fund was not the way to address the issue.
In another matter, Chairman Ron Peterson announced that Senior Citizen Industries had received $10,000 in a grant from St. Pauls Lutheran Church and $200,000 from an estate affiliated with Five Points Bank.
Steve Severson with Davis Design gave an update about the Hall County Courthouse addition project. At the last Board meeting, Commissioner Gary Quandt had questioned why the foundation for the basement wasn’t being made in one pour, rather than having multiple concrete pours that would have gaps between the joints. He was concerned about the possibility of water leaking into the basement.
Severson said that single concrete pours for basements are used in residential construction but are not feasible for a construction project of this size. He said that a waterproof membrane was being installed on the interior of the foundation, and that the membrane would prevent water from going between the joints. The membrane is overlapped between pieces, making the system waterproof. Severson said that there are horizontal and vertical joints in the foundation.
“The main thing I’m concerned about is down the road,” Quandt said. “I’m just looking out for the taxpayers down the road. …I just don’t want a wet basement.”
Jon Rosenlund, Hall County/Grand Island Emergency Management Director, gave an update about the Next Generation Radio Project for communication devices for law enforcement and first-responders.
Todd King with the Wood River Rural Fire Department said that the Department also has to communicate with Shelton on a different communications system.
“The systems do not play well with each other,” King said. He said that the cost of a radio is prohibitive to funds that the Fire Department has available. He said that each of the 26 members of the Department has a radio. The Department purchased six radios through its sinking funds.
Rosenlund said that rural fire departments have some pretty tough challenges that they face for financing for the equipment.
