Julie Davis
jdavis@cherryroad.com

The moratorium on commercial/utility grade solar energy system conditional use permits has been extended into 2025.

The Otoe County Board of Commissioners approved a six-month extension of the moratorium during the board’s Aug. 27 regular meeting.

The extension is needed to give Otoe County Zoning Administrator David Schmitz ample time to revise the county’s zoning regulations based on input he received from the Otoe County Planning Commission at the commission’s Aug. 15 regular meeting.

When the revisions are complete, the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the regulations before deciding whether to approve them and advance them to the county commissioners for further review.

Discussions began on whether the county would agree to pay an employee for time he or she spent responding to a volunteer fire or rescue call. Otoe County Sheriff Colin Caudill brought the matter to the board for consideration.

The commissioners agreed that the county would pay employees who were needed in an emergency situation when that employee’s department head also approved his or her absence.

Otoe County Attorney Jenniffer Panko-Rahe suggested that revising the county’s employee manual might be the best way to enact the change, but she will also draft a resolution for the commissioners to consider approving next month.

Also at the Aug. 27 meeting, the board

Approved a subdivision plat of the Bruning Subdivision, a 4.32-acre tract located at 76 F Rd.;

Approved a subdivision plat of the Stukenholtz 2nd Subdivision, a 10-acre tract located at 1340 S. 64th Rd. (U.S. Hwy. 75);

Approved a subdivision plat of the Languis-Buhr Subdivision, a 4.12-acre tract located at 22100 190th St.;

Adopted a resolution increasing restricted funds by 1 percent for FY 2024-2025; and

Approved annual inventory sheets.

Brian Briley was introduced as the new Otoe County Roads Superintendent at the end of the meeting.

The next Otoe County Board of Commissioners meeting is set for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Otoe County Courthouse.