Stromberger appointed to Chase County zoning board

Ryan Stromberger was appointed to replace Shannon Hamilton on the Chase County Planning and Zoning Board during the July 12 Chase County Commissioners’ meeting.
Stromberger will join Grant Jones, Tim Varilek, John Arterburn, Shona Heim and Billie Muehlenkamp on the board.
Commissioner Duane Dinnel suggested postponing a decision on Stromberger’s appointment and taking the time to look for other people interested in joining the planning and zoning board.
Hamilton strongly encouraged the board to accept his recommendation of Stromberger and told the commissioners that people aren’t knocking down anyone’s door to serve on the board.
Although Hamilton said he and Stromberger have disagreed about zoning decisions in the past, Hamilton values Stromberger’s opinion and believes he’s a good fit.
At one time the planning and zoning board had nine members, but board size was decreased to six because it was hard to find people interested in serving.
With Heim ready to resign from the board, as well, the commissioners are actively looking for people interested in serving on the board.
Hamilton and his family will be moving out of the area.
Highway superintendent Toney Krajewski updated the commissioners on the process of replacing the bridge to Champion lake.
A spring under the bridge has led the county crew to adapt as the process continues. After banding two 25’ culverts together end to end as planned, sagging in the middle due to the spring had the county scrap the idea. Instead, the county will put in two 25’ culverts side by side.
Jack Baker with Baker and Associates joined the meeting and, with Krajewski, discussed the upcoming Champion Road 734 and Wauneta Avenue 346 South road projects.
Baker and Krajewski had both received word that work would start late last week or early this week, but couldn’t confirm which road would be worked on first.
After giving Hitch and Hay Transit a chance at dispatching for Chase County Transit, the commissioners reversed their decision and brought transit dispatch back to Chase County.
Chase County Transit driver Diane Mathews had been frustrated with the process, including the time it took to input data for each rider and times coming as Central rather than Mountain time.
Commissioner Jacci Brown said it took some work to get State of Nebraska employees to admit that electronic reporting isn’t mandatory as the county had been led to believe.
The next meeting of the commissioners will be July 26 at 8 a.m.