GPS would determine Hamilton/Merrick county border

The Platte River would no longer be used as the dividing line between Hamilton and Merrick counties under a bill heard by the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee Feb. 3.

State law uses the middle of the south channel of the Platte River to define the border separating the two counties.

LB556, introduced by Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas, would use GPS coordinates instead of the Platte River to draw the boundary line.

Dubas said the current river boundary makes it difficult to determine which county encompasses riverfront properties.

“No river stays fixed and those points move and change constantly,” Dubas said, adding that GPS can pinpoint coordinates to solve this problem.

Hamilton County surveyor Duane Katt testified in support of the bill. He said the current boundary can lead to situations where property located within Hamilton County can move to Merrick County if it rains three inches. He also said a fixed boundary would help counties identify their portion of the river for the purpose of invasive species control.

Jennifer Myers, representing the Merrick County assessor’s office, also testified in support of LB556. The fixed boundary would not affect the ownership of property, she said, but it would determine which entity taxes the property.

No one testified in opposition and the committee took no immediate action on the bill.