McPherson County approves Option #3 for Cemetery Road renovation, directs contract for August

The McPherson County Board of Commissioners voted to accept Option #3 from Level LLC to renovate Cemetery Road, requiring a 50% down payment of $201,000 and monthly payments of $6,206.30 for three years with no penalty for early payoff. The motion, made by Commissioner Brett Nason and seconded by Commissioner Jeff Arensdorf, passed unanimously. The board directed County Attorney Whitney Schroeder to prepare a contract for signature at the August meeting.

Robert Watson of Level LLC presented several renovation options and recommended Option #3. The motion specifies the 50% down payment amount of $201,000 and the monthly payment schedule; the board did not specify an alternate funding source in the motion. Following the vote, commissioners asked County Treasurer Kerri Kramer to apply to the Mid Nebraska Community Foundation Betterment Grant to help fund the Cemetery Road renovations.

Why it matters: the board's approval commits the county to a multi-year payment schedule and advances a major local road project that had been discussed with Level LLC. The board set a procedural next step—execution of a written agreement at the August meeting—rather than signing a final contract immediately.

What happened in the meeting: Nason moved to accept Option #3; Arensdorf seconded; the motion passed with Commissioners Nason, Arensdorf and Chairman John E. Bryant voting aye. The motion directed the county attorney to draft the agreement for the board to consider at its August meeting. The record also shows the board later asked the treasurer to pursue a community foundation grant to help offset project costs.

Details that were recorded but not changed in the motion: the plan requires a 50% down payment of $201,000; monthly payments of $6,206.30 over three years; the agreement will include no early-payoff penalty as recorded in the motion. The motion did not identify the total contract price or the county's definitive funding source; that is to be addressed in the written agreement and upcoming budget discussions.

Next steps: County Attorney Whitney Schroeder will prepare a draft agreement for the board to review and sign at the August meeting. Treasurer Kerri Kramer will submit an application to the Mid Nebraska Community Foundation for a Betterment Grant to seek funding assistance for the project.