GRAND ISLAND — For the first time since Nebraska natural resources districts were organized 32 years ago, Kearney farmer-cattle feeder Dick Mercer isn’t a member of the Central Platte NRD Board of Directors.
A move from the farm into Kearney means he no longer resides in Subdistrict 5, so he resigned. His official departure was at the end of Thursday’s regular monthly board meeting in Grand Island.
After being presented a plaque by CPNRD General Manager Ron Bishop in appreciation of his years of service to the district, Mercer stole a few words from Johnny Carson in saying, “It’s been an honor and a privilege. And a humbling experience.”
He said he has often been told over the years that the Central Platte is the “premiere, No. 1 NRD in the state,” which is even more of a compliment because Nebraska is the only state with NRDs.
Earlier Thursday, Kearney attorney John Tarrell was appointed by the board to fill Mercer’s term, which expires in 2007.
Tarrell had served on the board for 20 years in the other Subdistrict 5 seat, but was defeated in the 2004 election by Gibbon farmer Jim Bendfeldt.
Tarrell was one of three men nominated by a special search committee that was named to find candidates. The other two nominees were Bill Taddicken, who works at the National Audubon Society’s Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon, and Kearney-area farmer Brent Henderson.
Before the vote that chose Tarrell over Henderson, 10-9, with two board members absent, there was discussion about whether Tarrell’s loss in the general election made him more or less of a viable candidate for appointment.
Director Carroll Sheldon of Kearney said Tarrell shouldn’t be considered after being voted out of office.
Director Charles Bicak of Kearney said Tarrell lost the election by less than 300 votes, so he did have the second most support among the voters. He said the other two nominees could have filed for election but weren’t interested in the job at the time.
Bicak and Director Barry Obermiller of Doniphan said the election and vacancy in Subdistrict 5 mean that both people who sought election and received significant numbers of votes can be on the board. Obermiller said that if the election had gone the other way, he would have supported Bendfeldt for appointment to fill Mercer’s seat.
In similar split votes Thursday, Obermiller was elected vice-chairman of the board and Ladd Reeves of Marquette was elected chairman. They will serve two-year terms.
In addition to Bendfeldt, new directors attending their first board meeting Thursday were Dwayne Margritz of Lexington, Marvion Reichert Jr. of Elm Creek and LeRoy Arends of Grand Island. New director Jay Richeson of Gothenburg was unable to attend because of jury duty.
