Commissioners discuss Synergen decision by P&Z
Extensive repairs on the Bader Bridge, which spans the Platte River near Chapman, could take place this summer following action by the Hamilton County Commission.
On the Monday agenda was an interlocal agreement between Hamilton and Merrick counties prepared by Speece Lewis Engineering of Lincoln. Although Hamilton County is considered the primary owner of the bridge, because it crosses into Merrick County via Bader Park Road, the counties will equally share the repair costs.
The estimated cost of the project is expected to be $985,000 and the counties have already paid $37,000 for engineering of the project, environmental studies, permits and other preliminary expenses.
County Highway Supt. Jeremy Brandt said he wanted to get the project bid out by summer when the river is usually at its lowest flow. Still, he said, half the river will need to be dammed up so work can be done on the concrete pilings, and when that half is done, the contractor will dam up the other side of the stream.
This is the first stop for the interlocal agreement. Following approval and signing by Hamilton County it will go next to the Merrick County Board. At the suggestion of Commissioner John Thomas, the motion to approve the agreement made by Commissioner Nicole SaBell included an additional line stating that the counties would also share equally any additional costs that might arise from the project during the process of reconstruction.
In a roll call vote, the measure passed on a 4-1 vote with Thomas voting no.
Near the close of the brief meeting, a question was raised by Commissioner Francis McDonald as to when the Synergen Green Energy ammonia plant conditional use permit might come before the commission.
At a county Joint Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on March 19, the body voted 11-1 to recommend denial of the permit for the plant. However, the county commission has the final say on the matter.
Chairman Rich Nelson stated that two members of the county board are planning to meet with representatives from Synergen prior to the matter coming to the commission to work out details.
At that point Thomas took the opportunity to state his strong objection to a March 27 ANR editorial which was critical of the Zoning Commission’s decision.
Saying the editorial had called the volunteer board “chickens,” Thomas, who said he had not attended the meeting, alleged the opinion piece was “uncalled-for, unnecessary and out of line.”
McDonald, who did attend the meeting, defended the commission, saying they had done “an excellent job.”
Nelson responded by saying he had heard comments from people in attendance at the meeting who reported things had not been done “in the Hamilton County way.” He said he had heard of booing and hissing from the audience. Others in the room reported of clapping and cheering from the audience at the meeting, which is forbidden in the body’s rules as stated at the beginning of the meeting.
“I haven’t seen the conditional use permit,” Nelson said. “At the end of the day I want us to look at both sides, the pros and cons, and come up with a decision based on what’s best for Hamilton County.”