Lancaster County commissioners approve consent items, music festival licenses, contracts and labor agreement

The Lancaster County Board of Commissioners on June 23 approved a package of routine and new-business items, including claims, contracts, licenses and a labor agreement.

Claims and consent items: The board approved claims processed through June 18, 2026, including a claim to El Central de los Americas for $34,774.79 (Chair Christa Yokum recorded an abstention because she serves on that organization's board) and a $6,600 claim to the Mediation Center (Commissioner Vest recorded an abstention). The board also approved consent-item contract amendments for the Square One Family Resource Center (furniture, construction and architectural services) and a service agreement with U.S. Bank for automated clearinghouse processing.

Special events license: Clay Bradley, a board member of the Metal Arc Music Festival, described a three-day festival scheduled July 9'11 with venues listed as Prairie Creek Inn, Milkweed Event Center and Prairie Pines Nature Preserve; the board approved three special designated license applications for the festival dates. Bradley said the festival relies heavily on local musicians and that beverage service plans vary by venue. "This has been a long-standing event that really has been something that the community has a lot of pride in," Bradley said.

Labor and contracts: The board approved a three-year labor agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 32 for corrections staff, effective Aug. 20, 2026. It approved a no-cost mini-grant contract with the Nebraska Department of Transportation to provide six preliminary breath testing kits to the sheriff's office, and a contract with Cellebrite Inc. for forensic extraction software for the sheriff's department at a cost not to exceed $123,800. The board also approved a work and financial plan with USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services for wildlife damage management (cost not to exceed $12,955.31) and accepted the county engineer's recommendation to award a resurfacing contract for West Denton Road and Southwest 12th Street to Constructors Incorporated; the bid number in the transcript contains numeric errors and was recorded as "1,850,9659." County engineering described the work as a mill-and-fill with shoulder widening to increase safety.

Emergency management grant certification: The board approved a subrecipient certification so the county can remain eligible for Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) funds; Jim David Sab, director for Lincoln/Lancaster County Emergency Management, said a newly released federal vetting form (June 12) had a June 26 return deadline and could allow reimbursement of up to 50% of emergency management salaries and benefits.

Roll calls: Most motions were adopted unanimously. Votes specifically recorded in the transcript include the minutes and the supplementing-appropriations resolution; abstentions were recorded for the El Central and Mediation Center claims as noted above.

The board adjourned after announcements about a staff meeting on June 25 and the next regular meeting on June 30.