The Grand Island City Council met on May 7, 2024, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included recognition of a long-serving employee, approval of consent agenda items, public hearings, a resolution for economic development, and an ordinance to extend groundwater contamination controls. All items on the agenda were approved.
Welcome to our meeting. It is 7 p.m. The date is May 7, 2024. This is an open meeting of the Grand Island City Council. The City of Grand Island abides by the Open Meetings Act in conducting business. A copy of the Open Meetings Act is displayed in the back of this room as required by state law. The City Council may vote to go into closed session on any agenda item as allowed by state law. At this time, I ask that you all rise and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The city clerk will now perform roll call. Councilmember Mendoza, present. Councilmember Kacinski. Present. Councilmember Hazi? Present. Councilmember Sheard. Present. Councilmember Pollock. Present. Councilmember Fitzkey. Present. Council President Stelk. How's that? Councilmember Nickerson? Present. Councilmember Lanfear? Present. Councilmember Conley. Present. And Mayor Steele. Present. Also present are Jill Grenier, the City Clerk. Sonia Cisneros, the Deputy City Clerk. Laura McAlloon, the City Administrator, Patrick Brown, the Assistant City Administrator, Carrie Fisk, the City Attorney, Keith Kurtz, the Public Works Director, and Matthew Gleason, the finance director. Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the request for future agenda items form located at the information booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date will be given. At this time I ask of the council, are there any items that you wish to remove from tonight's consent agenda for further discussion? Hearing none, we will continue. A sign-up sheet was available in the lobby for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items. If you did not sign up to speak on an agenda item, please come forward, state your name, and the agenda topic on which you will be speaking. Hearing from no one, we will continue. Tonight we have a special guest, and that special guest is the first item on our agenda, which is recognition of John Heiser for 25 years of service with the City of Grand Island Utilities Department, and also present is his immediate supervisor, Jeff Hegel, his wife Lori, and Ryan Schmitz, the Utilities Director. John, Jeff, and uh Ryan, if you'd please come up to the main podium. You've made a great commitment to the City of Grand Island, and I always like to just to uh show everybody that as mayor, I have an easy job because I'm surrounded by people just like you, great city employees who do a great job. And I told you out front we do not have a cash prize for you, but we do acknowledge you with a certificate, and the city clerk, Jill Grenier will present you with a pin. I'd just like to read a little bit about your history. Uh on May 17, 1999, you were hired as a Power Dispatcher 1 at Phelps Control Center, and on May 26, 2008, you were promoted to Power Dispatcher 2 at Phelps Control Center, a position that you hold today. And on May 26, 2008, you were promoted to Power Dispatcher 2 at Phelps Control Center, a position that you hold today.