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Record of Proceedings

Hastings City Council Regular Meeting - February 9, 2026

City Council — Monday, February 9, 2026
BodyHastings, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, February 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Speaker 1

5:24

May I have a motion to adopt the current agenda?

Unassigned speaker

5:27

So

Speaker 1

5:29

motion by Huntley, second by Anderson.

5:32

Please vote.

5:46

Pass is seven to one.

5:49

Public notice.

5:50

Official notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hastings Tribune on Friday, February 6, 2026.

5:56

Pursuant to Nebraska Advised Statute Section 84-1412.

6:01

Public is advised that a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible written material which we discussed.

6:07

At today's meeting is available for public review, and a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act is posted and accessible to members of the public.

6:16

Council communication over to my left.

Speaker 2

6:21

A couple of years ago, we as a city had the museum apply for an award that we won called the Mr.

6:30

Tony is called Heritage World War II Heritage City, the only one in Nebraska.

6:35

Thank you.

6:35

That's good.

6:37

So if you aren't aware of that, it's one of those wonderful big things like the blue sign right outside the door that says Airport of the Year 2023.

6:46

Speaking of World War World War II.

6:49

Mr.

6:49

Brian, don't you have a kid who's in the show show choir?

Speaker 3

6:53

I do.

6:53

I have two of them actually.

Speaker 2

6:55

Really?

Speaker 3

6:56

Um

Speaker 2

6:56

how'd they do this last weekend?

Speaker 3

6:58

You know, they won uh uh their grand champion uh up at Grand Island Northwest, and then uh the week before that was up in uh Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they're grand champion up there, and then they went over to Iowa here a couple weeks ago before that and won

Speaker 4

7:15

grand champion over there.

7:16

So that sounds

Speaker 2

7:17

pretty

Speaker 4

7:17

great.

Speaker 3

7:18

And if you're interested in seeing the show choir, they'll be in Oahu, Nebraska in two weeks.

Speaker 5

7:23

What a segue.

Speaker 3

7:24

And if you're interested, uh to plug the Hastings Public School Foundation event uh that'll be coming up, and I think there's some uh invites that went out.

7:32

They will be also showing at that event.

7:35

So a three-peat champion.

7:37

They uh we hope they sweep

Unassigned speaker

7:39

the

Speaker 3

7:39

whole season.

7:40

We'll see.

7:40

They're they're doing fantastic.

7:42

So Brian, there's one thing I'm gonna

Speaker 6

7:44

cut in here before Mark talks.

7:47

The real reason Mark brought that up is maybe Mark would like to tell us who the show fire accompanied us on the piano and who the director is.

Speaker 3

8:00

I can certainly, it is uh Mr.

8:02

Rowan's wife Mindy at the at the Ivories doing a very good job, and and the the brains behind the the gig his son-in-law, uh Mr.

8:11

Yos.

8:12

So very good teachers of for my daughters.

Speaker 6

8:15

That's probably what he wanted you to say.

8:16

Yes.

Speaker 2

8:18

And it is set up along the lines of World War II in London.

8:24

So that's that was the little segue there.

8:27

We are World War II Heritage Town, and we are winning contest with that theme.

8:33

Thank

Unassigned speaker

8:34

you.

Unassigned speaker

8:36

Uh

Speaker 5

8:36

just a couple of quick items from the Hastings Public Library.

8:39

Uh they are just finishing up completion of their annual survey, so that annual survey has to be done each year uh to be accredited through uh through the Nebraska Library Association.

8:49

So uh so good work on getting those uh statistics and data all compiled.

8:55

Uh but then also and maybe more importantly for the public, uh the bookmobile is out and about and so uh so do watch for the bookmobile.

9:04

Uh also I hear uh breaking news that uh that the bookmobile is seeking other places to go.

9:13

And so if you know of some sort of uh either daycare in-home or uh uh you know, standalone uh daycare or like a retirement uh uh community or somewhere that the bookmobile should go, reach out to the Hastings Public Library and get that place uh on their list.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development███████████████████████████████████35%
Affordable Housing███████████████15%
Personnel Matters█████████████13%
Procedural███████████11%
Capital Improvement██████6%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Comprehensive Planning████4%
Museum Operations██2%
Workforce Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Hastings City Council Regular Meeting - February 9, 2026

The Hastings City Council held its regular meeting on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at the Hastings Municipal Airport, 3300 West 12th Street. All eight councilmembers were present: Steve Huntley, Michael Anderson, Brian Hoffman, Maggie Esch, Larry Consbruck, Brad Consbruck, Matt Fong, and Marc Rowan. Mayor Beckby presided. The agenda was adopted 7-1, and the consent agenda was approved 8-0. The main item was a public hearing on a proposed tax increment financing (TIF) redevelopment of the former middle school, followed by several routine resolutions, an annexation, micro-TIF applications, and board appointments.

Council Communications and Service Anniversaries

  • Councilmembers Rowan and Hoffman reported that the Hastings show choir won grand champion at recent competitions; Councilmember Fong noted the library's annual survey and bookmobile outreach; Councilmember Esch promoted Big Idea Hastings, scheduled for February 24, 2026 at the LARC.
  • Mayor Beckby recognized six service anniversaries, including Karl Block (Business Office, 5 years), Joshua Russel (Gas, 20), David Dedrick (Parks, 15), Todd Gehring (Operations, 15), Brian Tran (Engineering, 5), and John Fielder (EIC, 5).

Consent Calendar

  • Approved 8-0: Council and Worksession minutes from January 20 and January 26, 2026; claims and payroll; 2026-2027 liquor license renewals; Highland Park Farmers Market use of city property May 16-November 1, 2026; CDBG administrative invoice and drawdown of $1,178.75 for Project 24-DTR-004; pay requests #2-#6 totaling $116,718.05 and Drawdown #14 for Project 21-DTR-007; Work Order CO-187 for a new underground fiber optic line; and Work Order SW-388 for pollution control facility generator 1 replacement.

Public Hearing: Middle School Redevelopment Project (Plan Modification No. 2026-1)

  • Development Services Director Kevin Kubo presented the CRA request for Plan Modification No. 2026-1 to Redevelopment Area No. 1, covering approximately 1.69 acres northeast of 5th Street and North Lincoln Avenue, for a project to convert the former middle school into 68 apartments. Staff found the project feasible, consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, not economically feasible without TIF, and in the long-term interest of the community. The Planning Commission recommended approval by a 5-1-1 vote.
  • Public speakers in support: CRA Director Randy Chick detailed funding sources; Dave Rippe of 1917 Redevelopment LLC said the project would turn a city-owned liability into a community asset; former Planning Commission member Jody Stutzman urged approval; Chuck Bauer called it the last chance for the building; and Chamber/HEDC Executive Director Shannon Landauer expressed support for redevelopment over demolition.
  • Public speakers with concerns: Edward Krontz said he was neither for nor against but questioned spending about $15 million on a building he said might be worth about $10 million and asked about housing demand and jobs. Kim Anderson recalled a prior failed attempt by Butch Hughes and said the city is already 'TIF heavy' in her view.
  • Council discussion noted a clerical discrepancy: the agenda and resolution said 'northeast of 5th Street and Hastings Avenue,' while the correct location is northeast of 5th Street and North Lincoln Avenue. City Attorney Jesse Oswald confirmed the official newspaper notice used the correct Lincoln Avenue location, and council proceeded.
  • Councilmembers compared the redevelopment option to an estimated $1.5 million demolition cost. Current property taxes on the site are about $9,000 to $10,000 annually, with projected taxes after redevelopment around $220,000 annually. Dave Rippe confirmed bank financing is ready contingent on TIF approval, timeline could start design in March, demolition in fall 2026, and about 18 months of construction with 20+ workers on site. Rents are projected from about $900 to $1,600 per month, and Rippe said downtown occupancy has been 99.4%.
  • Mayor Beckby said he has been critical of TIF generally but supported this project because of the local investment group, the final-chance nature for the building, the preference for rehabilitation over demolition, and its historic value.
  • Vote: Resolution No. 2026-06 was approved 7-1, with Michael Anderson voting no.

General Business

  • Micro-TIF Applications (4a, 4b, 4c): The council approved 8-0 three expedited review applications from McHargue Builders Inc. for properties at 734 S. Lexington (two applications) and 742 S. Lexington. City Planner Ember Batelaan explained micro-TIF under state statute 18-2155; the council must approve applications meeting criteria, the annual limit is 15 applications, and these were the first three.
  • BUILD Grant Letter of Support (4d): The council approved 8-0 authorizing Mayor Beckby to sign a letter of support for the South Hastings Neighborhoods: A Stronger, Connected Community BUILD Grant application. Engineering Director Lee Vrooman said last year 815 applications were submitted, 97 were highly recommended, and only 30 funded; the city is requesting $980,000, which would be 100% reimbursed, with state consultant assistance at no cost.

Resolutions, Annexation, and Appointments

  • Resolution No. 2026-07 approved 8-0 accepting work and the City Engineer's certificate in Sewer Connection District 2024-2 South Street. The total district cost was $53,445.58, with $1,650 allocated as a special benefit to one property and $51,795.58 to be assessed when properties connect.
  • Resolution No. 2026-08 approved 8-0 accepting the schedule of special assessments and setting a Board of Equalization hearing for March 9, 2026.
  • Ordinance No. 4823 passed on third and final reading 8-0, annexing The Garages 7th Addition, located southeast of East South Street and South Showboat Boulevard.
  • Appointments approved 8-0: Mitch Swanda to the Civil Service Commission and Scott Snell to the Museum Board; also approved 8-0 City Planning Commission appointments moving Craig Hubbard from alternate to permanent and adding Rick Snazy as a new member. Councilmember Rowan discussed the appointment process; Mayor Beckby said future appointments would be communicated earlier.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution 2026-06 approved 7-1 for the Middle School Redevelopment Project TIF plan modification.
  • All consent items, micro-TIF applications, BUILD Grant support letter, sewer district resolutions, annexation ordinance, and appointments approved 8-0.
  • Meeting adjourned at 7:44 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

May I have a motion to adopt the current agenda? So motion by Huntley, second by Anderson. Please vote. Pass is seven to one. Public notice. Official notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hastings Tribune on Friday, February 6, 2026. Pursuant to Nebraska Advised Statute Section 84-1412. Public is advised that a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible written material which we discussed. At today's meeting is available for public review, and a current copy of the Nebraska Open Meeting Act is posted and accessible to members of the public. Council communication over to my left. A couple of years ago, we as a city had the museum apply for an award that we won called the Mr. Tony is called Heritage World War II Heritage City, the only one in Nebraska. Thank you. That's good. So if you aren't aware of that, it's one of those wonderful big things like the blue sign right outside the door that says Airport of the Year 2023. Speaking of World War World War II. Mr. Brian, don't you have a kid who's in the show show choir? I do. I have two of them actually. Really? Um how'd they do this last weekend? You know, they won uh uh their grand champion uh up at Grand Island Northwest, and then uh the week before that was up in uh Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where they're grand champion up there, and then they went over to Iowa here a couple weeks ago before that and won grand champion over there. So that sounds pretty great. And if you're interested in seeing the show choir, they'll be in Oahu, Nebraska in two weeks. What a segue. And if you're interested, uh to plug the Hastings Public School Foundation event uh that'll be coming up, and I think there's some uh invites that went out. They will be also showing at that event. So a three-peat champion. They uh we hope they sweep the whole season. We'll see. They're they're doing fantastic. So Brian, there's one thing I'm gonna cut in here before Mark talks. The real reason Mark brought that up is maybe Mark would like to tell us who the show fire accompanied us on the piano and who the director is. I can certainly, it is uh Mr. Rowan's wife Mindy at the at the Ivories doing a very good job, and and the the brains behind the the gig his son-in-law, uh Mr. Yos. So very good teachers of for my daughters. That's probably what he wanted you to say. Yes. And it is set up along the lines of World War II in London. So that's that was the little segue there.

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