Board approves regional interoperability agreement and joins bridge-investment interlocal application

The Gage County Board of Supervisors approved two interlocal agreements: one to participate in the Nebraska Regional Interoperability Network and another to join a multi-county joint application for the federal/state Bridge Investment Program (VIP).

County staff said the interoperability agreement connects local 911 dispatch centers and point-to-point links on two county towers; county representatives will sit on the NRIN board as part of the Southeast region. The board noted that tower leases and equipment were supported by prior grant funding and that day-to-day expenses have been handled through NEMA and grant sources.

Separately, the board approved an interlocal agreement to partner with neighboring counties for a joint Bridge Investment Program application. The multi-county effort will combine projects to pursue available funding for several bridge replacements.

Both interlocal agreements passed by voice vote. The interoperability agreement recorded one supervisor voting against during the initial tally and was later corrected to 7 in favor; the bridge-investment interlocal passed unanimously.