Grand Island City Council Regular Meeting – May 27, 2025

The Grand Island City Council met on May 27, 2025, at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a financial presentation and FY2026 budget update, approval of consent agenda items (with two items removed for separate consideration), public hearings on four items, and two ordinances. Significant discussion centered on a proposed concrete crushing operation and the creation of a sanitary sewer district.

Consent Calendar

• Approved minutes of the May 13, 2025 regular meeting.
• Approved payment of claims totaling $6,530,665.64 for May 14–27, 2025.
• Approved the appointment of Raul Arcos Hawkins to the 4th Street Business Improvement District.
• Approved Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with the Nebraska State Fair for 2025 (Item 7D – removed from consent and approved separately).
• Approved a temporary construction easement for South Locust Street improvements.
• Approved Memorandum of Agreement Amendment No. 1 with the Grand Island Area Metropolitan Planning Organization for public transit planning.
• Approved Amendment No. 2 to engineering consulting services for South Locust Street improvements.
• Approved Amendment No. 1 to engineering consulting services for Stuhr Road at Highway 30 northbound turn lanes.
• Approved a temporary lease for dedicated parking stalls at South Locust Street and 1st Street.
• Approved bid award for mastic surface treatment project.
• Approved Conestoga Mall Eleventh Subdivision.
• Approved Industrial Foundation Fourth Subdivision.
• Approved RFP award for general governmental and utility insurance services (Item 7M – removed from consent and approved separately).
• All consent items were approved by motion (A–C, E–L) with unanimous vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Concrete Crushing (Item 8c): Multiple speakers opposed the conditional use permit for a concrete crushing site at 2678 Shady Bend Road.
  • Sedona Manfell, General Manager of Jackrabbit Run Golf Course, raised concerns about health risks from silica dust, potential damage to turf grass, well water contamination, noise, and the lack of a plan to cease operations during high winds. She noted the golf course is a city amenity and that replanting greens would be costly and time-consuming.
  • Dennis Edwards, a nearby property owner, opposed the operation, citing dust problems at a similar plant, road maintenance issues on Shady Bend Road, and the noise level of crushing equipment. He questioned why grading and construction had occurred before council approval.
  • A former plant worker (name not given) stated the operation would be too loud and would harm the golf course, which is a taxpayer investment and attracts tourism.
  • The manager of the adjacent storage park opposed the permit, predicting soot damage to campers and stored belongings.
  • Mike Shoemaker, a resident building a home across from the site, expressed concern about silica dust and noted a dust cloud from the site during a wind event three weeks prior.
• No public comments were made on other agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Financial Presentation & FY2026 Budget Update (6a): Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brown presented an overview of city finances through April 30, 2025. Sales tax revenue was 2% ahead of the prior year, though a refund in the prior year skewed the comparison. Property tax remains a stable revenue source. Casino tax revenue, including the first month of resort opening, is tracking at $75,000–$125,000 per month. Investment income is on track. Food and beverage and hotel occupation taxes are also performing well. Brown noted vacancy savings in personnel costs (budgeted $39.8 million, spent $36.3 million) and suggested applying past vacancy savings to the following year’s budget. He highlighted that health insurance costs for police were over-budgeted due to using highest possible rates; the department will shift to forecasting high-deductible plans. A budget calendar was presented, with internal department meetings starting June 2. Councilmember Nickerson asked about risks of state or federal funding cuts; Brown noted the railroad grant is paused and new compliance requirements for CDBG funds could pose risks, recommending that CDBG funds be allocated only to city projects.
• Interlocal Cooperation Agreement with Nebraska State Fair (7D): Communications Manager Spencer Schubert presented the second year of the agreement. The city will receive “Welcome to Grand Island Day” on Sunday, August 24, 2025, and be the main sponsor of hydration stations and a photo booth. In exchange, the city provides media production, police staffing for the marathon, and feather flags. Last year, 5,000 fans were distributed in five hours. Nebraska State Fair representatives reported attendance of 314,000 in 2024 and 4.5 million since the fair moved to Grand Island. First Sunday attendance has ranged from 24,000 to 30,000. The agreement was approved.
• RFP Award for Insurance Services (7M): Brown explained that the city issued an RFP for general governmental and utility insurance services. A committee scored proposals based on four criteria and interviewed the top three. The highest-scoring firm was Lion Insurance Company. The contract will formalize deliverables and accountability; current premium is $1.7 million. The goal is to achieve economies of scale and better coverage. Councilmember Nickerson asked about bundling and potential savings; Brown noted that coverage may be more comprehensive but could not guarantee cost savings yet. The item was approved, with a target to bring a contract to council by June 10.
• Blighted and Substandard Area #41 (8b): The area is south of Capitol Avenue, east of North Road, including houses and undeveloped parcels. The planning commission recommended approval. Zach Butts and Deborah Klein (SGRE) described plans for long-term housing development. All affected homeowners were invited to an information session and were supportive. The blight designation does not approve TIF but invites TIF applications. The resolution was approved.
• Conditional Use Permit for Concrete Crushing (8c): The property is zoned M2 heavy manufacturing, which allows concrete crushing with a conditional use permit. Staff recommended conditions including hospital-grade mufflers and hours of operation. The applicant, Robbie of Mid-Nebraska Land Developers, stated they would use water sprayers and internal systems to control dust, and would cease crushing in winds over 20–25 mph. They added asphalt to the site to reduce truck dust. After public testimony, the matter died for lack of a motion; no council member made a motion to approve the permit.
• Utility Easement (8d): Acquisition of a utility easement at 3400 W. 13th Street (Target Corporation) for a transformer. No public comment. Approved.
• Public Right-of-Way Acquisition (8e): Acquisition for South Locust Street improvements. No public comment. Approved.
• Sale of Property – Lots 1 and 2, Webb Road Fourth Subdivision (9a): The city is selling the last two lots in the area (owned by Brunning Bank and Dugan Funeral Services) adjacent to a former transmission line. Approved.
• Creation of Sanitary Sewer District No. 546 (9b): Public Works Director Keith Kurtz explained that the district would serve properties south of Fonner Park along Stalley Park Road, which currently lack sewer service. A roadway project on Stalley Park Road is planned, and the sewer could be installed concurrently at lower cost. Seven of 14 property owners expressed interest (50% threshold). An eighth property had a prior agreement not to protest. Estimated cost per property is $22,000–$25,000 for the main and service stub to the right-of-way; property owners would still need to hire plumbers. They are not required to hook up immediately. The ordinance was approved.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Items A–C, E–L approved unanimously. Items 7D and 7M approved separately after discussion, both unanimously.
• Financial Presentation: No vote required; information only.
• Liquor License (8a): Approved (Class C for Balz Sports Bar).
• Blighted Area #41 (8b): Approved (Resolution 2025-174).
• Concrete Crushing (8c): Died for lack of a motion; no permit granted.
• Utility Easement (8d): Approved (Resolution 2025-176).
• Right-of-Way Acquisition (8e): Approved (Resolution 2025-177).
• Sale of Property (9a): Ordinance 10,017 approved.
• Sanitary Sewer District (9b): Ordinance 10,018 approved.