SESSION OVERVIEW

The Pawnee County Board of Commissioners met in regular session at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in the Pawnee County Courthouse. Present were Ron Seitz, Jan Lang, Lavon Heidemann, and County Clerk Lindsay Kostecka. The meeting included the approval of minutes from March 31, 2026, and the approval of the agenda and claims as presented.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

• 9:00 AM: Meeting opened; minutes, claims, and reporting approved.
• 9:10 AM: Public comment period held; no public comments were made. Meeting recessed for late arrival.
• 9:30 AM: Emergency Management presentation. Security camera administration discussion with Director Megan Buckley.
• 9:45 AM: Approval of Korean War Veterans recognition event with VA Services Officer Jim.
• 10:00 AM: Discussion regarding a 4th deputy sheriff position and formal address by Sheriff Braden on departmental pay inversion; no action taken.
• 10:19 AM: Highway Superintendent Chris Rauner detailed budget constraints and proposed a quarry road speed study.
• 10:53 AM: Meeting adjourned by Chairman Seitz.

ANALYSIS & EVIDENCE

Administrative Appointments & Public Service

The Board formalized security protocols by appointing Megan Buckley (Emergency Manager) and the County Attorney as co-administrators of the courthouse security camera system. Additionally, the Board supported local veterans by authorizing VA Services Officer Jim to use the courthouse for a Korean War recognition event targeting June 27th.

Law Enforcement & Infrastructure

Sheriff Braden and Dispatcher Nancy Tilton presented an urgent request for a 4th deputy sheriff position to address a severe overtime and retention crisis. The department highlighted that current staffing levels prevent the safe implementation of new training protocols and severely limit court transports. The county risks losing a highly qualified, certified law enforcement candidate from Colorado if action is delayed. The Board leaned toward approval but warned of the financial transition period, ultimately taking no action.

During this segment, Sheriff Braden formally addressed a critical pay inversion within the department resulting from previous Board decisions. He read the following statement verbatim into the record:

"I am addressing the salary set for the Pawnee County Sheriff for the 2027-2031 term at the December 23, 2025 meeting.

There are concerns regarding both the process and the outcome of that decision. At least one commissioner has since indicated they were not fully aware of the effect of the vote at the time it was taken. Additionally, the placement of the item on the agenda versus when action was taken created confusion as to when that matter would be addressed. An elected official has indicated they missed that portion of the meeting due to reliance on the perceived order of the agenda.

This request is not about assigning fault. It is about ensuring that the board's actions reflect a clear, informed and transparent decision-making process.

In addition, the salary structure adopted departs from the county's long-standing practice. Historically, Pawnee County has maintained a consistent compensation structure in which the Chief Deputy Salary is set at -87% of the sheriff's salary. The current structure does not reflect that established model and results in a pay inversion within the chain of command.

1 Chief Deputy Salary approx +107% of the sheriff's salary.
2 Deputy 2 approximately +105% of the sheriffs salary.
3 Deputy 3 approximately +101% of the sheriffs salary.

The deputies salaries were raised by the board in October of 2023 and again in December 2023 at which time they were set at a level that exceeded the Sheriffs salary, which was set to for the term and unchangeable during that time. This makes the Office of the Sheriff of Pawnee County the lowest paid Law Enforcement Officer in the County, and it has been so since the beginning of 2024.

This is inconsistent with past practice and does not align with the responsibilities and statutory duties of the office.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the board reconsider the December 23, 2025 action and either revisit the decision or place the sheriffs salary for the 2027-2031 term on a future agenda for proper discussion and action.

Addressing this now allows the board to ensure the decision is consistent, transparent, and properly supported.

Respectfully submitted."

Following the Sheriff's presentation, Highway Superintendent Chris Rauner provided operational updates, noting tight fiscal constraints as the budget year closes. Rauner proposed conducting a $3,000–$4,000 speed study to potentially drop the quarry road speed limit from 50 mph to 35 mph, aiming to mitigate severe road degradation and lower maintenance costs in District 3. Commissioners Lang and Heidemann approved of the study pending available funds, though no formal vote was taken.

Financial Breakdown (Claims)

Total Net Payroll reached $48,535.06. Significant disbursements included:

• General Fund: $15,983.47 to Johnson County Dispatch and $6,616.00 for court-appointed counsel.
• Road/Bridge Fund: $34,609.64 to Martin Marietta for rock and $7,449.18 to Sapp Bros. for fuel.
• 911 Fund: $2,354.76 to Johnson County 911.