PLATTSMOUTH - It will cost Cass County residents $65,000 to settle the lawsuit with Prairie Construction. At the Aug. 5 meeting, it was announced the Cass County Commissioners offered to settle the suit. The commissioners went into executive session with Attorney John Burns, who has been negotiating with Prairie Construction. After coming out of executive session, District Five Chairman Ron Nolte asked for a motion to settle the suit. Nolte made the motion with District Four Commissioner Dave Nielsen seconding. The motion was passed 4-0 with District One Commissioner John Baroni absent. Nolte then asked to approve claims and payroll presented for payment.
"A claim of $65,000 was put on the claims this morning," Nolte said. "A claim paying Prairie Construction will be approved at this time." When no other claims were discussed, the motion to approve passed 4-0.
Burns then offered to take signed copies of the settlement agreement with him.
"You're on the clock," Nolte joked.
The settlement draws to a close many long and sometimes heated discussions between board members and members of the public about a new county roads office.
The previous board chaired by Bob Clancy approved construction of the new office in 2006. They entered into a contract with Prairie Construction.
The new board voted to continue the project at their Jan. 16 meeting in 2007. At their Feb. 20 meeting conducted in Elmwood, Nolte moved to renew the motion. It was approve by a 3-2 vote to discontinue the project. Prairie submitted a $96,000 claim in April of '07. The claim was reduced to about $88,000 in November. At the Dec. 4 meeting, the matter was discussed when paying claims. The Prairie claim was tabled and later discussed at the end of the meeting. The claim was rejected by a 3-2 vote with Ron Nolte, Jim Engelkemier and Dave Nielsen voting it down. John Baroni and Jim Peterson voted to pay the claim.
In January of this year, Prairie sued asking for $88,437. At a hearing Last May, Cass County District Judge Randall Rehmeier ruled that Prairie had proceeded correctly in the manner in which they filed their suit. At a July hearing, Rehmeier reaffirmed that ruling.
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