Benjamin steps down

The first order of business for the Dawson County Commissioners meeting Monday was a short awards ceremony to recognize three individuals who have given several years of service working in different county offices. 

Ruth Meyer received a president’s award from the National Association of Counties (NACO) for distinguished leadership in county government, as was Gary Donnelson and outgoing County Commissioner Linda Benjamin.  Meyer has worked in the Dawson County office of the register of deeds for 50 years,  Donnelson has worked in the county surveyor’s office for 48 years, and Benjamin has served as a County Commissioner for 14 years.

The next item on the agenda was a report by John Moore, County Assessor.  He informed the commission of a number of tax-less corrections that he wanted to make.  The Hospital District, number 2, of Cozad, specifically the assisted living unit, will not be put on the county tax roll, he said.  Though it is a money making entity, it is still a government owned property, so is in what Moore called a grey area of taxable business. The Commissioners passed the measure

Next on the agenda was an issue that Dawson County resident Linda Biehl has with the Lexington Transit Bus.  According to Commissioner Roger Bauer, Biehl, who was not present at the meeting, would like the bus to be able to provide her with transportation, though she lives outside city limits.  If this was to happen, he said, it might open up the possibility other residents in all of rural Dawson County would also be able to receive service from the transit bus.  The commission discussed what ramifications an expansion such as this would have.

Dawson County Emergency Management Coordinator Brian Woldt  said that the state has closed down three bridges in the county, and has lowered the weight limit on others, drastically, from ten tons to three.  He said that his department is working to get the bridges that are closed re-opened, and is hoping to get more cooperation from the weather.  The commission discussed the status of a number of bridges that need repair or replacement.

Bauer said that “it’s really frustrating, and it’s getting worse and worse, because we’ve got several bridges in need of replacement.” 

He said that Dawson County has “in the neighborhood of”  200 bridges, and they are all over creeks that were filled to capacity and above in the last year during times of heavy rain fall.

Finally, outgoing Commissioner Linda Benjamin presented a contact list that she had compiled for use by future committee members.  She also recommended that someone go to Project Extra Mile meetings in the future in her place.  She then turned over a key to the meeting room. Bill Stewart then said some pleasant words about Linda, including how much he’s learned from her over the years, until she made him “shut up” before she started crying.

 

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