County Government

Dawes County is 1,404 square miles and is governed by 3 county commissioners, elected by popular vote for 4-year terms. Dawes County belongs to the Panhandle Area Development District along with ten other counties. County zoning classifications are agricultural, business, industrial, and residential.

Municipal Government

Chadron has a city manager form of government. The city office is located at 234 Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337. There is a 5-member elected city council including a presiding mayor. The position of Mayor is an elected 2-year term of office, whereas the council members are elected for a term of 4 years. The City Manager is appointed and has an annual contract. Council meetings are the first and third Mondays of the month.

Crawford has a mayor-council form of government. The city office is located at 209 Elm Street, Crawford, NE 69339. There is a 4-member elected city council including a presiding mayor. The term of office is 4 years.

State Government

Nebraska’s Unicameral, or single-house legislature, is unique among state legislatures.

Law Enforcement

The Chadron Police Department employs 13 full-time police officers and 6 support personnel. The department has 3 cruisers, communications network, two-way radios, radar, video recording equipment, 2 motorcycles, investigative equipment, and other standard equipment.

The Crawford Police Department employs 3 full-time police officers. The department has 3 cruisers and standard equipment.

The Dawes County Sheriff’s Department employs 3 officers and 6 support staff. The department is equipped with two-way radios, 4 patrol cars, search and rescue equipment, and other standard equipment. Regular patrol by the police and sheriff’s departments provide protection to existing industries.

Troop E of the Nebraska State Patrol is headquartered in Scottsbluff. There are 45 officers headquartered in Scottsbluff and 5 stationed in Chadron.

Streets

Chadron has 36 miles of streets, 30 miles of which are hard-surfaced with concrete or asphalt. There are no local load restrictions. Ninety-four percent of the paved streets have curbs and 52 percent have sidewalks.

Crawford has 12 miles of streets in the community; 9 miles are hard surfaced with concrete. There are no local load restrictions. All of the streets have curbs and 75 percent have sidewalks.

Fire Protection

Chadron has a 50-member volunteer fire department. Protection is provided within the city limits. The Rural Fire Protection District serves approximately 900 square miles outside the city limits. The department also provides mutual aid to communities within an 85-mile radius.

There are 190 fire hydrants in the community. A local option, ½ cent sales tax, was used to purchase a 1500 GPM Pumper Truck and a 70- foot ladder truck.

A 25-member volunteer fire and rescue department provides fire protection to the community of Crawford. Chadron’s and Crawford’s departments also provide protection for areas outside the community limits by operating the Rural Fire District’s equipment.

Planning

Chadron has a 9 member planning commission. Members are appointed by the city council for 3-year terms.

A Comprehensive Plan for Chadron, prepared by RDG Grose Gardner Shukert Inc., of Omaha, was completed in July 1997.

Crawford has a 5 member planning commission. Members are appointed by the city council for 3-year terms. Crawford also has a Board of Adjustments.

A Comprehensive Plan, prepared by the Panhandle Area Development District at Scottsbluff, Nebraska, was finalized in 1998.

Zoning

International Codes are enforced in Chadron. For more information contact Janet Johnson at (308) 432-0505.

Crawford zoning classifications are: Residential, Multi-Family, Mobile Home, Commercial, Industrial Public-Semi-Public. International Codes are also enforced in Crawford.