VALENTINE, Neb. - The Cherry County Board of Commissioners didn’t approve a $20,000 funding request from the Cherry County Ag Society, citing concerns over transparency. The Ag Society said it intended to use the money to build a bathhouse. However, money previously earmarked for the project had been used to pay other bills.

Commissioner Martin DeNaeyer emphasized that while he isn’t opposed to supporting the project, the board needs a formal vote and meeting minutes explicitly stating that the funds would be used for the bathhouse.

“There’s a lot of distrust at the moment,” said DeNaeyer. “In my time we’ve had to deal with some dysfunctional boards. You are there, and I hate it because you have good stuff coming up. We want to be supportive, but help us help you.”

As News Channel Nebraska previously reported, the Cherry County Fairgrounds is set to host the Nebraska High School Rodeo Finals in June. The Ag Society has scheduled an emergency meeting for Tuesday, but some members questioned whether 24 hours’ notice was sufficient. Others acknowledged ongoing challenges in working together effectively.

“We should be accountable. We should be reasonable. We should be transparent to the public,” said Commissioner Nina Nelson. “We are the stewards of this money.”