BEATRICE – Gage County Supervisors unanimously reelected two of their members to serve as board chairman and vice-chairman for 2026. 

The supervisors voted Wednesday to reelected Erich Tiemann, of Beatrice as Chairman and Emily Haxby of rural Clatonia as Vice-Chairman.

During the board’s annual reorganization meeting, the Supervisors also appointed Amanda Fanning as the new Gage County Attorney, taking over that top post following the retirement last month of County Attorney Roger Harris.

Fanning previously served as Chief Deputy of the office, which has four attorneys.

Mark Kuhnke was reappointed as Gage County Highway Superintendent, for 2026.

At their Wednesday meeting, county officials enacted a tiered cap on local lodging tax revenue awarded to assist tourism development projects.

The board has approved a policy that would allow up to a 50-percent match for projects up to $50,000…..up to a 35-percent match for projects as high as $150,000…..and up to a 20-percent match on projects as high as $375,000 in value.  Supervisor Emily Haxby proposed the tier system. The board acts on projects reviewed and forwarded to it, by a local tourism committee.

Supervisor Gary Lytle said the county should encourage entities to apply for lodging tax revenue for projects that could boost tourism.

"You have times where, that account swells to where you have a lot of money in there and you don't have very many people asking for that money. If we have an opportunity to really influence a good project, then I think we need to have the ability to get that, because that money puts heads on beds....it does us no good sitting in a bank account."

Gage County has a four-percent lodging tax….half of that going to support tourist attractions and half reserved for tourism marketing purposes. It’s a tax on motel, bed and breakfast and campground reservations.

Tourism Committee Chair, Laureen Riedesul said she was happy to see the county addressing the issue.

"I don't think we want to max out on one...that doesn't seem fair. On the other hand, we have not come near to disbursing all the money in any recent time. So, there are funds there."

Officials noted that the cost of construction for tourist improvements has also risen over the years.

The board Wednesday did approve an application for tourism assistance….a $50,000 matching grant to Youth Recreation Incorporated for a Hannibal Park Ball Field Initiative in Beatrice.