On the agenda: Pender Minutes — data center (Oct 9)

THURSTON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROCEEDING
September 21st, 2026
A regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Thurston County, Nebraska was held at the regular
meeting place of the board room in Thurston County, Nebraska Courthouse in Pender, Nebraska on
September 21st, 2026. Present were Davin French, Georgia Mayberry, Jim Mueller, James Price, Robb
Roeber and Benjamin Walker Jr. Mark English joined the meeting at 9:08 am. Also, present was Steven
Schneider County Clerk, County Attorney Tammy Maul Bodlak, Emergency Manager Tom Perez, County
Roads Supervisor Mat Frazey, Julie Nilges and Zachary Randall. Notice of the meeting was given to all
members of the Board of Supervisors and a copy of their acknowledgement of their notice and receipt
of the notice on the agenda is attached hereto. The availability of the agenda was communicated in
advance and in the notice to the Board of Supervisors of this meeting. All proceedings shown hereafter
were taken while the convened meeting was open to the attendance of the public.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Davin French at 9:00 a.m. stated that the open meeting laws
will be followed during this meeting and are posted in the back of the boardroom for anyone that would
like to review them.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Motioned by Walker seconded by Roeber to approve the Board Minutes of September 8th, 2026. Roll
call aye: Mayberry, Mueller, Roeber, Walker and French. Aye with corrections Mayberry. Abstained:
Price Absent: English. Motion carried.
Public Comments: None
Unfinished Business: None
Commi ee Report: County Clerk Schneider spoke about a ending the Northeast Nebraska Naco District
mee ng. From Thurston County was Susie Schrieber, Gina Roth, Georgia Mayberry, Davin French and
Steven Schneider. He discussed that a few of the take aways from the mee ng, The speaker was Senator
Mike Flood during the general session. Who spoke on many topics, one that caught Schneider’s a en on
was a talk about data centers, and that Sen. Flood discussed the importance of county government
nego a ng with people wishing to build data centers. Sen Flood used an example out of Texas. A er the
general session, in individual department mee ngs, the county clerks mee ng was about LB 644,
Elec ons and other budget related items. Thurston County was already ahead of the curve on was the
new MIPS so ware, which Thurston County has been using since last January, while other coun es are
just beginning to use the new so ware now.
Mayberry asked if during the clerks mee ng there was a discussion was about how the clerk’s office that
decides whether to do by mail only ballots. County Clerk said that while it was discussed briefly. In
Thurston County historically the Primary and General Elec ons have been conducted with both polling
loca on and by mail early vote. Two years ago, they did do a special elec on that was by mail only. It is
always the goal of the Clerk’s office to get as many people out to vote as possible, with special elec ons
being outside of when normally people think about vo ng, we did it as a by mail to ensure everyone
registered got a ballot.
Mayberry said during her mee ngs, they discussed zoning, and in Thurston County does not have zoning,
but could ask for guidelines, for example with data centers. There are many pros and cons related to
being zoned. She also said Sen. Mike Flood commented about the coun es, “You’re the one who carries
the leverage, make your deals.” They even talked about landowners who put up wind towers, have had
their property taxes paid by the wind genera on company.
English brought up that three board members needed to request a special hearing to set the final tax
request and adopt the 2026-2027 Budget at 9:00 am on the 28th of September 2026. County Clerk
commented that the reason for the special hearing is that the budget has to be submi ed by the 30th of
September 2026, however, cannot be before Joint Public Hearing LB644 that is tomorrow September
22nd at 7:05 p.m.
English asked about the pink postcards, and how inquiries about those are being handled.
Mat Frazey Road Supervisor: With all the rain, they are behind in blading, they have been hauling quite a
bit of gravel out of Pierce, stockpiling majority of it. Pu ng a li le of it on the roads as they get muddier.
It’s good gravel out of Pierce, quite a bit of rock in it. The new belly dump trailers, they really like, and
they work well. That was a very good purchase. With the wet weather they have been working on

equipment. Both excavators were worked on and serviced. They also got some snow equipment. Did
some welding on the V plows.
French asked about evalua ons and asked for them during the next mee ng.
Mat Frazey discussed the Winnebago Fiber Op c Project; they have their permit. Another li le extension
has come up. The extension goes down the avenue and goes up 12th rd. and Magee Ave. It is not a very
large extension. He wanted to bring it before the board. It is s ll Olsson Engineering doing it. Rather than
issuing a new permit, he wanted the board to amend this to their other permit. He presented the
current permit.
Mo oned by Mayberry seconded by Price to amend the Winnebago Fiber Op c Project and add D
Avenue and Magee Avenue. Roll call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French.
Mo on carried.
Emergency Manager Report: Tom Perez spoke that he was up at the Missouri River Expo this past
weekend on Saturday and Sunday assis ng. Also, in the past few weeks there was a flood plain webinar
he had to a end for floodplain management. He received cer ficates to con nue to be the floodplain
manager. He also conducted a LEPC all hazards mee ng, and some good items came out of that related
to training and direc ons they want to go. Dispatch was moving back to their prior loca on in the LEC,
this week. He also a ended the Pender East Bridge mee ng and spoke to the project manager. Mayberry
asked if they were going to close that bridge. Tom said NDOT is looking to sit down and plan things out
for a closure of the bridge in the future. Mayberry asked about the project. Tom said there were about
four different parts of the project. A handout from the bridge mee ng was offered for those wishing for
more informa on.
Julie Nilges was asked by Mayberry if the dehumidifiers were working? Julie Nilges said she believed they
were working and they got the controls and that is the reason why dispatch was moving back.
Julie Nilges spoke about the Winnebago Contract; Winnebago sent their own contract. Thurston County
has a contract we use with every county and feels they should sign the contract other coun es use. The
County A orney said she had reviewed both.
Mo oned by Roeber seconded by Mayberry to approve the Winnebago, Thurston County Contract. Roll
call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Mo on carried.
Mo oned by Roeber seconded by Walker to approve the Chairman’s signature on the Winnebago,
Thurston County Contract. Roll call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French.
Mo on carried.
Mo oned by Mueller seconded by Roeber to declare old HVAC units at law enforcement as surplus. Roll
call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Mo on carried.
French discussed if adver sing for sealed bids was the method of sale of the surplus old HVAC units?
Mueller said it would be best to do sealed bids and the board has the right to refuse. Mayberry asked
them to be iden fied by a number.
Mo oned by Mueller seconded by Roeber to adver se for sealed bids on old HVAC units at law
enforcement as surplus to be opened October 5th,2026 mee ng. Roll call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller,
Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Mo on carried.
A discussion was held regarding the Anderson Township. No le ers of interest had been given to the
clerk’s office. Clerk Schneider provided some informa on from NACO regarding unfilled posi on.
A discussion was held regarding Blackbird Township; all three members of that township had resigned.
County Clerk missed the deadline to publish in the paper last meeting due to short week and deadlines.
It will be published in the next meeting.
French asked about Township agreements, Mueller spoke that both of his are 100% on board. The board
discussed purchase of gravel and use of the maintainers and trying and doing this with all townships.
English spoke with Omaha township; they do not want to relinquish control on their money. They want
to be billed for the miles they do. So, they can maintain leverage to make sure their township is taken
care of. A conversation was held about how the townships were billed and levies.
Discussion was held on Delinquent Tax List presented by the County Treasurer. Mayberry asked about
one of them, regarding Simon Madison, this property has already been foreclosed on and owned by
Thurston County, and he is still on the list. County Attorney directed this question to the County

Treasurer, Mayberry said she was sent to the Assessor when she spoke to the treasure. French then
asked if they were going to go through foreclosure or Tax sale certificate? Speaking to the County
Attorney, the foreclosure method was best.
Motioned by Roeber seconded by Mueller to approve the Foreclosure method on Delinquent Tax List.
Roll call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Motion carried.
A discussion was held on county owned property; French and English said they did not have time to go
through the list yet. Tabled until next meeting
Debbie Borg with Senator Rickett’s office spoke to the board. She presented a handout that was put
together by the senate committee on Ag. It is the benefits of the working Families tax cuts through the
OVD and there a lot of things that impact farmers, ranchers and some rural communities. The farm bill
passed out of committee last week. With the election coming encourage everyone to get out and vote.
She will be holding a mobile office hour in the lobby downstairs. This is to be in the community and if
people have federal issues and she can speak to them about it. She also said that if you are applying for
grants, the senator’s office will write letters of support when they can.
Correspondence: County Clerk Schneider said there were copies of the flyer from the Pender East Bridge
meeting in his office if anyone would like to see them. French said there is a timeline for anyone would
like to submit comments.
Motioned by Mayberry seconded by English to approve August 2026 fee report of Sheriff Russell Briggs
in the amount of $37,648.97. Roll call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and
French. Motion carried.
Motioned by Mayberry seconded by Mueller to approve Resolution #26-32 transfer $5,000.00 out of
The County General Fund (0100) to The County Building Fund (4001). Roll call aye: Mayberry, English,
Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Motion carried.
Motioned by Mueller seconded by Price to approve Claims. Roll call aye: Mayberry, English, Mueller,
Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Motion carried.
Prior to adjournment, French asked that evaluation committee meet with Tom, Paul and Mat soon
so that they can be approved.
Motioned by Mayberry seconded by Mueller to adjourn at 09:39 am. Roll call aye: Mayberry, English,
Mueller, Price, Roeber, Walker and French. Motion carried.

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Steven Schneider- County Clerk

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Davin French- Chairman