Neb. Rev. Stat. § 23-3404

(1) In a county having a population of less than thirty-five thousand inhabitants which does not have an elected public defender, the county board of such county may appoint a qualified attorney to serve as public defender for such county. In making the appointment and negotiating the contract, the county board shall comply with sections 23-3405 to 23-3408 . (2) Nothing in sections 23-3401 to 23-3403 or 29-3901 to 29-3908 shall be construed to apply to sections 23-3404 to 23-3408 .