The Dixon County Courthouse and Jail bond vote will be part of the Primary Election ballot this May, with voters asked to approve a $20 million note for the construction of a new facility.
The Wakefield community has played host two meetings last Thursday, Feb. 22 about the courthouse bond and proposed construction project with residents attending a 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. event at the Civic Center.
County Clerk Cindy Purucker and Sheriff Tom Decker handled a good portion of the presentations and a Prochaska & Associates representative discussed any questions with the audience members.
A variety of questions were fielded from the floor, and a collection of those questions was provided to the Republican.
If the project is approved by the voters – the timeframe of the project will begin in January of 2025 when the project will go out for bids.
The outcome for the old courthouse has not yet been determined by the County Supervisors.
Additional meetings will be held through March as listed in the Republican, on the Republican and County websites, and here:
March 2, Martinsburg Fire Hall, 3 p.m.
March 5, Dixon County Courthouse, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
March 21, Allen Fire Hall, 7 p.m.
April 13, Allen Fire Hall, 3 p.m.
As Dixon County is a mail-in election county, all registered voters will receive their ballots by mail, and should update or change their registered addresses before the election to assure they will receive a ballot on time.
Ballots must be returned to the Election Commissioner (County Clerk) prior to the 8 p.m. close of “polls” during an election year – and can be mailed back in the provided envelope or dropped off at the Dixon County Courthouse in Ponca.
The resolution passed in December by the Dixon County Supervisors calls for a “For” or “Against” vote on the Board’s ability to levy the taxes to pay all principal and interest on the general obligation bonds of $20 million. The bond itself cannot exceed $20 million.
A vote “For” will allow the obligation bonds to be issued, and a vote “Against” will deny the obligation bonds.
The new courthouse will be located along Highway 12 in Ponca, and will contain enough space to include a new jail area and cells. According to a slide provided at the most recent community meeting, the space will accommodate Dixon County’s jail needs for the next 20-30 years.
The current space was originally built in 1883, and updated in 1940, but since there few complete updates have been done. A list of the entire “needs assessment” can be found on the Dixon County website under the jail page.
County-wide meetings for information about the bond and proposed project have already begun, with details elsewhere in this edition.
Also this year, starting with the Primary Election, Nebraska’s Voter ID law also takes effect – with details on that process found elsewhere in this edition.