County board interviews finalists

The Gage County Board of Supervisors publicly interviewed two finalists for a newly created administrative services director position during its Wednesday meeting.

The administrative services director is a position created by the supervisors for organization of all offices of the courthouse. The position will pay approximately $40,000 per year.

Supervisors are expected to make a final decision within the next two weeks and the new employee would likely start in January.

Gage County is one of three counties in Nebraska that will have this position, according to the board.

The two final applicants were chosen from five semi-finalists out of the original 12 applicants.

The final candidates being considered are Renee Bauer of Beatrice and Dave Battiato of Lincoln.

Bauer is a former Main Street Beatrice program manager who said she has experience working with economic development as an executive director of Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise.

Bauer spoke of the need to coordinate different offices in the courthouse.

Battiato was raised in Fremont, but currently resides in Lincoln.

An attorney, Battiato has not practiced law for two years.

“The choice was between being a good lawyer and being a good dad. I chose dad,” he said.

Battiato said that, though he lives in Lincoln now, he would be glad to move to Beatrice, claiming he’s been looking for a way to get back in to a small community.

He said he too wants to help Gage County get organized within all of the offices.

“We start by recognizing that we all want what’s good for the county,” he said.

The chosen applicant will be required to work with the Gage County Clerk and the Board to organize the different offices and elected officials in the court house so that everyone is on the same page, Supervisor Ron Fleecs said.

“This isn’t anything toward the elected officials. They won’t tell them how to do their job. It’s just a help; a coordinating position,” Supervisor Shirley Gronewold said.

Supervisors Harlan Hagemeier and Alan Grell were not present at the meeting and supervisor Gary Barnard had to leave the meeting shortly after 9:30 a.m. due to a family emergency. Upon Barnard’s exit, the board no longer had a quorum, the necessary majority of members present to legally take action on remaining agenda items. For that reason, the meeting was adjourned following the public interviews.

In other news:

n The Board approved the Visitor Improvement Fund Grant for the Gage County Museum Exterior Special. The Gage County Museum will be renovated as follows: Historically accurate painting on all trim, roof caps, windows, new doors, gutters, down spouts, caulking, point brick, silicone gutters, and replace rotted false doors and one security door. The focal point caboose is to be scraped, caulked and painted. $8,250 is the amount given by the Board to the museum, and the total cost of the project comes to $16,500.

n The Board approved specifications and calls for bids for asphaltic concrete on two tracts of land. The first is from the Wymore West Road at the city limits of Wymore to Highway 112. The second is from the Wiest chicken farm to the Zion Church. A total of 8.5 miles will be paved.

n No action was made on an agenda item to move forward with the Hickory Road project. Supervisors felt that it will be better to consult the city of Beatrice and others prior to making a final decision on the plan for the road. The road, north of Beatrice intersecting Highway 77, will be paved by Gage County.

n Motions to approve or disapprove Planning & Zoning and Variance Board members were delayed until the next County Board meeting.