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HARTINGTON – The Cedar County Board of Commissioners approved the two-year budget of more than $1.9 million for the county’s transit system.
A public hearing was held but no one attended at the board’s regular meeting last week. The agenda was packed with regular reports, discussion and action items with the meeting lasting almost four hours.
Even though the overall budget increased from the 2023-25 numbers, Cedar County’s portion will be less due to the Transit taking other payment sources such as sponsored rides from Medicaid and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services which serves as part of its local match.
Transit budget increases - about 15 percent from the 2023-25 budget - will allow for the hiring of more staff and accounts for higher vehicle maintenance costs, said Transit Manager Nikki Pinkelman.
“We were not able to get much for new vehicles, so vehicle maintenance is going to be more expensive,” she said.
The county’s portion of the Cedar County Transit comes in at $203,627 to support the 2025-27 budget. The transit’s budget is also supported by Knox County - $61,200 - because the Transit operates into that county by 30 miles, and federal and state funding programs.
For its operating costs - driver salary, fuel and oil - are paid by the Federal Transit Authority by 50 percent, while the state pays 25 percent and the county the other 25 percent. For non-operating expenses like office staff and other transit expenses, is reimbursed by the Federal Transit Administration at 80 percent, the state at 10 percent, and the county at 10 percent.
Pinkelman said federal funding remains stable with the change in administration.
“When you look at public transportation, we are just one piece in a giant puzzle,” she said. “There’s public transportation all across the United States. We just drive minivans, you look across the United States and that’s subways, railcars, taxi services and rail car ... so public transportation is a lot of different things, and it’s all funded under the same umbrella.”
Cedar County Transit’s operating cost per hour is about $33, while other similar- sized agencies is at about $42 per hour.
Rider fares make up the largest portion of the Transit’s income with an estimated $118,00 coming from contract fares; $115,000 from private rider fares, and an additional estimated $12,000 from sponsored fares, such as those paid by a nursing home, doctor’s office or school.
More than 15,000 people boarded a Cedar County Transit vehicle in 2024, which increased by 4,000 riders and 11,000 miles over the previous year, Pinkelman said.
“You can ride public transportation for any reason,” she said with rides to work, school, doctor’s office, the grocery store or post office - anywhere. Rides must be scheduled in advance and the service is door to door. Operating hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday though Friday.
Compaction of county roads
The commissioners discussed the installation of fiberoptic technology throughout the county and how at least one contractor may not be doing enough to return county roads to its prior condition once the work is completed.
Road crews in the northern part of the district — Commissioner Dick Donner’s region — said a contractor laying fiberoptic lines is leaving some roads un-drivable. The company is installing fiberoptic in the Crofton, Fordyce and St. Helena areas this spring.
“We’ve been doing this 40 some years, burying and plowing cables and never had any issues with the county, period,” said Hartelco CEO Tom Noecker.
At issue is what kind of compaction equipment to use. The county permit doesn’t specify and guidance from the Nebraska standards on highway construction, offers three different options — a tamping roller, a pneumatic multiple wheel roller, or alternate equipment with engineer’s approval, said Roads Superintendent Carla Schmidt.
Donner prefers a tamping roller, also known as a Sheepsfoot, for compaction, which is not the compaction equipment currently being used by the contractor. Instead, county road crews said the contractor is using a soil conditioner and rake commonly used for landscaping.
County Attorney Ron Temple said since the permit language is left up to interpretation, the commissioners shouldn’t be weighing in on the issue.
“We can’t have members of the county board making demands upon a contractor midstream,” he said.
He said after the work is done, it will be assessed if the contractor was in breach of his obligations. Temple suggested the board go into executive session to talk about potential litigation. Instead, the board tabled any action.
Noecker said he understands the importance of returning county roads to safe condition.
“We want things put back as close to original as we can. That’s our mission,” Noecker said. “As long as everyone’s being treated the same way, I’m fine with that.”
County burials
The county board is considering paying more to assist those who can’t afford to bury a loved one.
Currently, Cedar County provides $1,300 in assistance for individuals “who absolutely have no funds whatsoever.”
“Those funds don’t even cover our expenses but something is better than zero,” said Jerry Wintz, Hartington funeral home owner. “I’ve been here almost 40 years and we’ve never had a change. We’ve absorbed all those other costs.”
The funeral home’s fee for immediate cremation and basic services is $4,165.
In comparison, Knox County provides $1,200 for county burials there, while others in the area range from $2,435 in Pierce County to $5,100 in Wayne County.
Wintz suggested the county bump up its assistance to $3,500 - which is the amount provided to veterans by Nebraska Veterans Aid.
Wintz said a county-sponsored burial is a rare occurrence, happening about once a year if at all.
