GUERNSEY – The grant application seeking funding to expand the senior center and library is “99.99 percent done,” Bruce Heimbuck said.
Heimbuck, formerly of Guernsey, is writing the grant for the Town of Guernsey for the fee of mileage only. “So far it has cost you five trips at $40 per trip,” he told the council in his update on the grant, adding he has enjoyed the process of writing this grant and is excited at the potential advancement it gives the community. In addition to more room for seniors, more space for the library, additional handicap bathrooms, a counseling room, and a covered location for seniors to get on and off the bus, the proposed expansion would also include a technology component that would double the current capability of the broadband service. It is hoped the broadband updates will give the community the capability of keeping up with technological demands in today’s world and provide opportunities for vocational training and student access to technology outside of the classroom.
If the grant is successful, the town would need to hire an architect to lead the town through the process, vet contractors, etc. “If all goes well, you could be under contract no later than next summer,” Heimbuck concluded, emphasizing this is just a grant application, and it may be turned down – it needs to be viewed by the general public as a “concept,” not a done deal.
The council unanimously authorized the mayor pro-tem to sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) between Platte County and the Town of Guernsey to house equipment. Maintenance director Mike Fronapfel explained the county chip sealed the town’s portion of South Guernsey Road just south of the bridge across the North Platte River. In exchange, the county would like a place to store a road grader that is utilized in the area and allow the town to use it on the rare occasion when they needed use of such a piece of equipment.
Ordinances 2025-002 and 2025-003 were unanimously passed, approving an increase in sanitation rates and tap fees for residents in order to provide sustainability to the town’s utility system for the long-term.
“Right now on sanitation rates, we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul,” town planner John Burfeind explained of how the fees are so low, what is charged for sanitation cannot pay all the expenses, so the town has had to pull funds from other categories of the budget to pay the bills.
“There will be a 12 percent increase, yearly, for the next few years to keep up with the contractor we’ve contracted out to,” Burfeind said.

“We’ve been low for years,” Burfeind said regarding tap fees according to state standards and the bottom line of the costs involved in properly maintaining water, sewer, and electrical systems – including planning for future repairs and replacements.
Ordinance 2025-003 will increase sewer fees by 22 percent, electrical fees by 50 percent, and water fees by 33 percent, in order to break even with the utilities budget.
“That gets us all on a level playing field,” Burfeind added.
The council also approved ordinance 2025-004 permit fees, adopting the most current international building code (IBC) for building permits. The code, which encompasses a standard fee scale, will bring the town from current rates set in 2014 ($14) up to 2021 rates ($24) for small project building permits.
“Our promise is to keep cost as low as possible to be nonprofit yearly cost, while still maintaining growth in the community,” Burfeind said. “What you build today people see tomorrow. You talk about ‘the hub of the Oregon Trail is here.’ It’s the center. We set the standards of how we live - we don’t look to others. We’re building a better community, together,” Burfeind said.
The council gave Mayor Ed Delgado the okay to negotiate a price for its ambulance which is owned by the town but has been used by Banner Health Systems for the past few years under an aid agreement the town has with the ambulance service. Reportedly, the vehicle has had mechanical issues that makes the town leery of keeping it for themselves at this time.
A lease agreement with Services for Seniors, Inc. was approved.
Councilman Kellie Augustyn reported he has been working with the Platte River Posse, a neighborhood watch group recently formed in the Guernsey-Hartville area. Guernsey Economic Development (GEC) is purchasing three signs, each three feet by five feet in size, to place on each main road coming into town.
The Guernsey town council voted (with Augustyn abstaining) to approve paying $283.11 for half the cost of the signs.
Augustyn also reported GEC is also getting an estimate with a landscaper to potentially develop the property owned by GEC between Twister’s Eatery, Inc. and Kelley’s Bar.
After some concerns of the recently painted lines for parking spaces being too close together in the parking lot, Mayor Delgado agreed he’d have the maintenance department look into increasing the spacing between the lines.
After the hiring of another employee at town hall, extended hours of operation for the town will begin Sept. 3, giving residents more times during the week in which to conduct business with the town.
The council went into an executive session to discuss personnel after adjourning the public portion of the meeting.