Hamilton/Merrick county border could be set by GPS

The dividing line between Hamilton and Merrick counties would no longer conform to the Platte River under a bill advanced from general file Feb. 17.

State law currently 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 constant movement of the river provides problems for accurately establishing county boundaries. Consequently, there is accretion ground along the river that neither county can claim with certainty, she said.

Boundaries for land ownership will not change, Dubas said, only the boundary used for county ownership.

The bill advanced from general file on a 35-0 vote.