Board hears update on courthouse roof, removes paid suspension of CCED executive director
Published 8:50 pm Wednesday, November 4, 2026
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The need for a new Cuming County courthouse roof was one of several items dealt with at the Wednesday, Oct. 28 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Keithan Karn, Territory Manager for Garland Roofing Company, shared how that company can help with that project.
Based on samples taken from the roof, he recommended a total roof replacement using a mixture of multiple layers of asphalt and rubber topped with pea gravel. That type of roof, he said, would fare better in Nebraska’s climate and should last twice as long as the current roof did.
Because Garland Roofing would be responsible for the roof warranty, Karn said he and the company would need to design the roof and oversee its installation. He said the company was ready to bring contractors to West Point to take measurements and gather more information.
Karn said he should have estimated costs ready for the board to review at its Nov. 10 meeting, at which time the board could consider advertising for roof replacement bids. No formal action on that agenda item was taken, but the board agreed to let Karn proceed with estimates.
Also last week, the board heard from Loren Siebrandt, who renewed his contention that the location of a hog barn built near his former residence west of West Point is illegal according to state and federal law and that he is taking steps to prove it.
He claimed the hog operation and dead hogs buried at the site deteriorated the quality of his well water, which caused health problems that he said are still affecting him.
He said neither the state nor county have helped so he was prepared to take steps to get the hog barn removed.
“Things are going to get started,” Siebrandt said. “You had a choice to work with me, but you didn’t.”
He also expressed his concerns about water quality in West Point and in the county.
Supervisor Mark Schweers noted that the Lower Elkhorn NRD monitors groundwater and the City of West Point has its own standards for water quality and does its own testing.
The board took no action on that agenda item.
In other matters last week, the supervisors:
– Met in executive session prior to passing a motion in open session “to remove David Branch from paid suspension.” Branch is the Executive Director of Cuming County Economic Development. No other information about Branch’s status was shared.
– Heard from County Treasurer Ashley Marks that, at the time of the meeting, there were 25 warrants to be served for nonpayment of personal property taxes.
– Made two corrections to the Board of Equalization minutes that changed the Bancroft Township property tax levy to 4.96 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, and Beemer’s Township levy to 11.52 cents.
– Certified Chris Howser as county Highway Superintendent for 2027 and heard from him that Dan Niemeyer is retiring. He is the county weed superintendent and helps with the road department. Howser said he doesn’t plan to fill that position right now but asked and was given permission to find seasonal help for snow removal around the courthouse this winter.
– Voted to close the courthouse on Thursday, Dec. 24.
