Outgoing Hall County Public Defender Jerry Piccolo (left) has served in that position for 35 years. Hall County Commissioners recognized him at their Dec. 31 meeting. Hall County Commissioner Chairman Ron Peterson is on the right, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Hall County Commissioners recognized outgoing Public Defender Jerry Piccolo at their meeting Dec. 31 for his 35 years of service in the job.
Piccolo is only the second public defender that that county has ever had. He estimated that he has handled 100 trials and 300 cases per year during his tenure. Piccolo said his last day of work is Jan. 3.
Incoming Public Defender Vicky Kenney addressed the Board about adding two job designations to her department: a chief deputy public defender and a head of the juvenile division. Piccolo did not have those job designations during his tenure. The Board approved the staff changes by a 7-0 vote.
Because of State Statute, Hall County has to provide “at no additional cost to the Department of Health and Human Services, office and service facilities used for the administration of the public assistance programs.”
The Department of Health and Human Services has had staff working in a building just east of the Hall County Courthouse on Pine Street. Because of the expansion of the Hall County Courthouse, that building will be demolished. Department of Health and Human Service staff will move to the old City Hall building by March 1, Commissioner Chairman Ron Peterson said Dec. 31.
Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a 20-year agreement for the county to pay the Department of Health and Human Services $50,000 a year for office space, starting on March 1, 2025. Peterson said if the Legislature ever changes the statute and does not hold the county responsible for providing free office space, the county would pursue ending the agreement.
City/County Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity gave a brief presentation about the 2024 Comprehensive Development Plan for Hall County. Nabity recommended that the plan be updated every 10 years. Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the plan, which is available on the city’s website. On the county’s website, there is a link to the plan on the city’s website.
Under the consent agenda, the Board approved a grant application to the Nebraska Commission on Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice requesting $36,219 for a school interventionist for the Grand Island Public Schools. According to the grant application, there currently is enough money to pay for one school interventionist. That person splits time between Barr and Walnut Middle Schools. According to the grant application, funds would pay for a full-time school interventionist to work at the high school.
Students enrolled in the school interventionist program receive one-on-one support from the school interventionist to meet the student’s individual goals and address the student’s needs. The school interventionist encourages the student to make good educational choices, such as attending classes, completing assignments, and showing respect. The program works to divert youth from the court system. Students between ages 11 and 18 would be served by the program.
Students are eligible for the school interventionist program if they attend the school district and are on juvenile diversion. For the grant, the maximum number of students who could be served at one time is 40 students. The program has been in place since 2013.
