AINSWORTH, Neb. — Hathshire Berkaway has filed a lawsuit against the Brown County Board of Commissioners over an access road dispute involving property near Long Lake.

The company’s name may sound similar to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, but Hathshire Berkaway is owned by Grant Kobes of Bennington, Nebraska. An X (formerly Twitter) account under that name describes the owner as a Warren Buffett fan who invests in commercial real estate, agricultural land, stocks and small businesses across the Midwest.

According to court documents, Hathshire Berkaway is appealing a county board decision establishing a route and determining compensation to landowners for an access road to Kobes’ isolated property. The company purchased the land in April 2023, but the property lacked road access. The State of Nebraska previously owned the parcel with a public easement allowing access only for “the purpose of propagating fish and game thereon, and of using, occupying and enjoying the same as a hunting and fishing resort for the people of the state of Nebraska.”

Before buying the property, court documents reveal Kobes contacted neighboring landowners Greg and Gale Wales, stating that he planned to buy the Long Lake Property and wanted to get a survey done to confirm the easement area.

“I look forward to being neighbors, and expect that I will traffic the property less than when it was available for public use. I want to maintain the property as natural prairie area, but also maintain in a way to control fire risk. If it is possible to bale hay or graze this property, I am happy to work with you on that. I've researched having goats or sheep on the property to graze the tougher plants that cows will not eat for the first summer,” Kobes wrote in the message.

No agreement was reached. The Wales’ attorney later responded, questioning Kobes’ intentions.

“My clients are not willing to grant an easement to your client. Of course this does not help out as your client advised he wants to build on any real estate he acquires,” Attorney Todd Flynn wrote.

In March 2023, Kobes’ attorney offered the Wales $7,500 for an easement covering 6.67 acres, approximately 4,400 feet long and 66 feet wide. The letter noted that if there was no response by March 17, 2023, Kobes may pursue access through the county board.

In May 2023, Hathshire Berkaway formally petitioned the Brown County Board of Commissioners to establish an access road. The board approved the request around August 1, 2023, and finalized the route in June 2024.

The board appointed appraiser Bonnie Downing to assess damages to neighboring landowners. Her report recommended $81,479 in compensation.

Access road for Long Lake property
Access road for Long Lake property  

 

Hathshire Berkaway’s lawsuit argues that the appraisal contained multiple errors, including using the wrong land area, an unreasonably wide road width, and a route placed directly on section lines, which the company claims caused unnecessary damages.

The company also disputes the inclusion of costs for upgrading fencing, moving fences unaffected by the project, and installing new fencing where none previously existed.

Hathshire Berkaway is asking the court to modify the board’s decision, reduce the compensation amount, and award attorney’s fees and court costs.

A final pretrial conference is scheduled for Nov. 12.