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Record of Proceedings

Hastings City Council Regular Meeting - March 9, 2026

City Council — Monday, March 9, 2026
BodyHastings, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, March 9, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Unassigned speaker

5:00

I can see him, so Clay, can I have a uh motion to adopt the current agenda?

Speaker 1

5:09

Second.

Speaker 2

5:09

Motion by Fong, second by Ash.

5:12

Please vote.

5:29

That passes five to one.

5:35

Let's see.

5:37

Let's move on to Council Communication, excuse me, public notice, official notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hastings Tribune.

5:44

On Friday, March 6, 2026.

5:47

Pursuant to Nebraska revised statute section 84-1412.

5:51

The public is advised of a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible written material which will be discussed at today's meeting.

6:05

With that, I'll ask if we have any council communication to my left.

Speaker 3

6:12

Would you mind telling folks what just happened at our museum?

6:20

I didn't prep her for this, but it's a it's a pretty big deal for us.

Speaker 4

6:29

So after a little over 20 years in the basement, the Kool-Aid exhibit has moved upstairs.

6:34

Uh this is part of our projects to move collections all to the basement and uh reconsolidate our collections together, as well as uh planning for the Naval Ammunition Depot exhibit that will be upstairs.

6:49

So we opened Kool-Aid to our donors and um influencers on uh Thursday night, open to the public, or excuse me, open to our memberships on Saturday, and then Sunday we open to the public.

7:01

So we had a pretty good weekend, and uh we're very excited and very uh blessed that the City of Hastings uh citizens voted in the House and sales tax back in 2017, I think it was, 2018 was when it went into effect.

7:16

Um otherwise this project would not be possible, as well as our collection uh move and stuff.

7:21

So yeah, we're very excited.

7:24

Anything else?

Unassigned speaker

7:26

Congratulations.

Speaker 4

7:28

Thank you.

Speaker 2

7:28

Thanks, Theresa.

Speaker 3

7:30

I would like to make a as a person who attends those kinds of things sometimes.

7:40

I'd encourage you all to give those things a little niche of your time.

7:46

But um, I for one am I so terribly pleased with her direction.

7:53

When I see her speak in front of an audience, she's got all the all the love for our city, all the love for the museum, and yet still says everything so professionally.

8:03

So I just want to throw that out.

8:05

The last thing I wanted to bring up is boy, there's a lot of echo.

8:12

Thank you.

8:13

I went to a funeral this last weekend, and um it it it was a very difficult one, and it made me love Hastings um an extra chunk.

8:23

It was real difficult for four folks, and yet the place was packed, and it's a nice thing that we have this come in this community where we come together.

8:32

The place was full.

8:34

Standing room only, and um the family seemed to have a lot of love and support from this community, and I uh I was it was just a real proud moment to live and breathe and raise my kids here in Hastings.

8:49

Thank you, Hastings.

Speaker 1

8:55

Since uh Mr.

8:57

Huntley over there did me the courtesy on my birthday, uh, to acknowledge it was my birthday, just wanted to say happy birthday to Steve today, and I'm glad we both got to spend our last birthdays at a council meeting.

9:10

So

Unassigned speaker

9:12

are

Speaker 5

9:13

you gonna sing?

Speaker 1

9:15

No.

Speaker 2

9:16

Well, thank

Unassigned speaker

9:17

you.

Unassigned speaker

9:19

Is that

Speaker 2

9:20

a happy 60th?

9:21

Where are you at?

Speaker 5

9:26

Just because you're gonna be 61 this year, Mayor.

9:29

Not even close.

9:30

I just look old.

9:31

Okay.

9:32

This is what happens when you get in city politics.

Speaker 2

9:37

Okay, uh anything to my right.

9:39

You guys want to bring

Unassigned speaker

9:40

up

Speaker 2

9:42

okay.

9:44

Let's move on to uh well, citizens communication.

9:47

There was nobody that was written down on the list.

Unassigned speaker

9:49

If anybody would like to come up and speak that did not sign the list, you are perfectly welcome to please come up now if you wish to speak on any item on this agenda.

Speaker 2

10:03

It's like we have no takers of that.

10:06

So we'll move on to mayor's communication where I get a speak.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Economic Development██████████████████████████26%
Public Health█████████████████████████25%
Procedural███████████████████19%
Community Engagement█████████9%
Water And Wastewater Management███████7%
Transportation Safety██████6%
Museum Operations███3%
Affordable Housing███3%
Public Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Hastings City Council Regular Meeting - March 9, 2026

The Hastings City Council held its regular meeting on March 9, 2026, at the Hastings Municipal Airport. The meeting featured Mayor Beckby's State of the City Address, approvals of infrastructure and development agreements, a community health update, and board appointments. Councilmembers present were Steve Huntley, Michael Anderson, Larry Consbruck, Maggie Esch, Marc Rowan, and Matt Fong. Brad Consbruck and Brian Hoffman were absent.

Mayor's State of the City Address

  • Mayor Beckby delivered his annual address, emphasizing a strategic shift from housing to job creation and industry recruitment, stating his learning period was over. He criticized a "not in my backyard" mentality and overregulation for slowing progress, calling for fair and consistent development policies.
  • Key projects highlighted included Heartwell Renewables, a new truck stop, a tire shop, a car wash, the Hastings Southeast Project roundabout, the renovation of the old Hastings Middle School into apartments, and the initial planning of a community fieldhouse.
  • The Mayor stressed the importance of supporting existing businesses (citing expansions by CHIEF Ethanol Fuels, Bruckman Rubber, and Nebraska Prime) and coordinating the efforts of HEDC, the CRA, and Development Services.

Consent Calendar

  • The consent agenda was approved (6-0) with items 1m, 1q, and 1r pulled for individual discussion. Routine approvals included meeting minutes, claims and payroll, easement releases, and work orders for gas, street, water, and sewer extension districts (Elm Meadows) and electric/streetlight installations (Lochland Meadows).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public provided testimony during the citizen communications or public hearing portions of the meeting.

Discussion Items

Consent Items Pulled for Discussion:

  • Item 1m (Revive Bid Opening): City Engineer Lee Vrooman reported that Revive received a single bid of $558,000 from Duncan Tice for a CDBG grant project. The council approved the bid to update the facility for increased patient load.
  • Item 1q (Grow Aviation Agreement): Grow Aviation presented a proposal to expand flight training to Hastings. The Airport Services Agreement covering private, commercial, instrument, and CFI training was approved.
  • Item 1r (Downtown Banners): A plan to install banners on downtown light poles highlighting the historic downtown and the creative district was approved.

Public Hearing & Sewer District:

  • The council convened as the Board of Equalization for a public hearing on assessments for Sewer Connection District 2024-2 South Street. No public comments were received. The council approved Resolution No. 2026-10. Director Vrooman confirmed tap fees are charged only upon connection to the new district.

Community Health Update:

  • Michele Bever, Director of the South Heartland District Health Department, presented the department's annual report. She highlighted the 25th anniversary of the health department, a new mobile services van funded in part by city ARPA funds, and air quality monitoring (PurpleAir) across the district.
  • In response to council questions, Bever reported the department has 24 employees. Cold and flu cases are still increasing. Her biggest concern is measles; while six cases have occurred in Nebraska, there has been no community spread.

Appointments:

  • Councilmember Maggie Esch was appointed as the council liaison to the Hastings Economic Development Corporation (HEDC), and Councilmember Larry Consbruck was appointed to the Joint City-County Board. The motion carried 5-1, with Councilmember Marc Rowan voting against.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Consent Agenda: Routine items and infrastructure resolutions for Elm Meadows and Lochland Meadows subdivisions.
  • Approved Item 1m: Revive facility project bid ($558,000).
  • Approved Item 1q: Airport Services Agreement with Grow Aviation.
  • Approved Item 1r: Banners for downtown Creative District.
  • Adopted Resolution 2026-10: Assessment schedule for Sewer Connection District 2024-2 South Street.
  • Approved Claim: Vaughan's Printing claim ($450.00), Councilmember Esch abstaining.
  • Approved Appointments: Maggie Esch to HEDC, Larry Consbruck to Joint City-County Board.

Meeting Transcript

I can see him, so Clay, can I have a uh motion to adopt the current agenda? Second. Motion by Fong, second by Ash. Please vote. That passes five to one. Let's see. Let's move on to Council Communication, excuse me, public notice, official notice of the regular meeting was published in the Hastings Tribune. On Friday, March 6, 2026. Pursuant to Nebraska revised statute section 84-1412. The public is advised of a copy of today's agenda and all reproducible written material which will be discussed at today's meeting. With that, I'll ask if we have any council communication to my left. Would you mind telling folks what just happened at our museum? I didn't prep her for this, but it's a it's a pretty big deal for us. So after a little over 20 years in the basement, the Kool-Aid exhibit has moved upstairs. Uh this is part of our projects to move collections all to the basement and uh reconsolidate our collections together, as well as uh planning for the Naval Ammunition Depot exhibit that will be upstairs. So we opened Kool-Aid to our donors and um influencers on uh Thursday night, open to the public, or excuse me, open to our memberships on Saturday, and then Sunday we open to the public. So we had a pretty good weekend, and uh we're very excited and very uh blessed that the City of Hastings uh citizens voted in the House and sales tax back in 2017, I think it was, 2018 was when it went into effect. Um otherwise this project would not be possible, as well as our collection uh move and stuff. So yeah, we're very excited. Anything else? Congratulations. Thank you. Thanks, Theresa. I would like to make a as a person who attends those kinds of things sometimes. I'd encourage you all to give those things a little niche of your time. But um, I for one am I so terribly pleased with her direction. When I see her speak in front of an audience, she's got all the all the love for our city, all the love for the museum, and yet still says everything so professionally. So I just want to throw that out. The last thing I wanted to bring up is boy, there's a lot of echo. Thank you. I went to a funeral this last weekend, and um it it it was a very difficult one, and it made me love Hastings um an extra chunk. It was real difficult for four folks, and yet the place was packed, and it's a nice thing that we have this come in this community where we come together. The place was full. Standing room only, and um the family seemed to have a lot of love and support from this community, and I uh I was it was just a real proud moment to live and breathe and raise my kids here in Hastings. Thank you, Hastings. Since uh Mr. Huntley over there did me the courtesy on my birthday, uh, to acknowledge it was my birthday, just wanted to say happy birthday to Steve today, and I'm glad we both got to spend our last birthdays at a council meeting. So are you gonna sing? No. Well, thank you. Is that a happy 60th? Where are you at? Just because you're gonna be 61 this year, Mayor. Not even close. I just look old. Okay.

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