NACO opens Western Center near Ogallala

OGALLALA -- The Nebraska Association of County Officials has a new office more accessible to Panhandle communities.

Jon Cannon, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO), explained the new facility is about serving the entire state better.

"A few years ago our board had gone through a top to bottom review of what we do and there was a realization that in order for us to efficiently provide services to county officials across the state of Nebraska just being based in Lincoln, wasn't being very efficient," Cannon said.

He said the board decided in order to deliver resources more efficiently, NACO needed a Western office.

The new facility is financed by the organization, Cannon said.

"This is entirely funded by NACO. The Stock Market has been doing really, really well for us the last few years. We paid for this facility almost completely through our investments, and interest we've earned the last few years as well," he said.

In addition to NACO, the new facility has suites for lease.

"It's just NACO, but we do have some tenants. The Attorney General for the State of Nebraska is one of the tenants we have in our suites for lease, along with Zelle Human Resources, and Next Era Energy Company," he said.

The Nebraska Association of County Officials is a non-profit organization that serves to represent the interests of all elected and appointed county officials in the state. In its infancy, the association's membership was comprised primarily of commissioners and supervisors. Over time it was expanded to include, serve and represent all 15 offices within county government, according to the NACO website.