Hey there, neighbors! 

We left off with the county Elections office investigating the status of a special use permit for Larry Langer’s apartment located inside of the metal building at 310 Harrison Street. While that investigation seems to have been… forgotten about, perhaps, residents were fully aware of what was going on. 

During the Board Meeting on April 5, 2022, former Alvo resident Brandon Badberg is quoted in the minutes as saying, “. . . the fact that you don’t live in this village anymore in your little shanty that you have down there. You live in Nehawa. . .” Of course, that meeting is available to paid subscribers on video – it was a whopper. Residents likely also recall the meetings of the Planning and Zoning Committee who voted on a list of 24 different violations that were being committed by the tire recycling facility. In those violations, one included a lack of a special use permit. 

One of the primary issues in regards to Larry Langer’s residency is that the property itself, Parcel ID 130100420, also known as 310 Harrison Street, is listed as being zoned for Commercial Use. As a result, in order to use that property as a residential one, a Special Use Permit must be applied for and granted to the landowner. Editor’s Note: Cass County GIS leaves a lot to be desired in terms of accurate, up to date information. It is a problem as a Community Developer but thankfully, there are other avenues in which to discover accurate public records. 

Nebraska statute §23-114.01.4 explains that a special use permit is necessary for uses other than what a parcel of land is classified as. This application goes through a chain starting with the city or village planning commission through to the county zoning commission.

During the last four years, Langer has been permitted to stack the Board with everyone of his choosing save for Cathina Schueth. While others have since received an elected position, some of these same members had never attended a Board meeting before being granted their seats. It certainly shows during the last four years of governance that none of them understand how to hold a public meeting and as the Special Meeting on May 7th showed, our Chair still needs to be reminded of how to open these meetings lawfully. 

And let’s not forget that in December 2020, Mr. Langer took the Oath of Office when he was sworn in. In part, that oath states that, “…I do further swear that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any political party or organization that advocates the overthrow of the government of the United States or of this State by force, or violence; and that during such time as I am in this position I will not advocate, nor become a member of any political party or organization that advocates to overthrow the government of the United States or of this State by force or violence.” Paul Hammel then reported in in the Nebraska Examiner in September 2022 about how Mr. Langer was still on the Oath Keeper’s membership list and was the only elected Nebraska official on the roster.

Let’s take a break here, neighbor. Be sure to subscribe to the free newsletter, get outside in some of the sunshine and waive hello to your neighbors when you see them!