Kearney City Council Meeting - October 25, 2022
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Kearney City Council Meeting - October 25, 2022
The Kearney City Council met on October 25, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting included a ceremonial oath of office for a new police officer, two public hearings on a rezoning and final plat for Freedom Hill Estates, a consent agenda with 11 items, a staff update on Meadowlark Hills Golf Course, an open account claim to NPPD, and council reports. All votes were unanimous with Mayor Jonathan Nikkila absent.
Ceremonial Items
- Oath of Office: Police Officer Joshua Stokey was sworn in by the interim city clerk. Stokey, a lateral hire from Lincoln Police Department, was introduced by Police Chief Wall. The ceremony included presentation of colors by the Kearney Police Department Honor Guard and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Public Hearings
- Freedom Hill Estates (Rezoning and Final Plat): Two public hearings were held together after being removed from the table (postponed since September 13, 2022). The property, located at 4140 30th Avenue, was proposed by Jared and Mona Axmann, represented by Mitch Humphrey of Buffalo Surveying Corp. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
- Public Hearing 1: Consideration of Ordinance No. 8597 to rezone a tract of land from AG (Agricultural) to RR-1 (Rural Residential, Rural Standards). The property is approximately 68 acres, with the rezoning intended to allow an existing house site and a second lot for a new home. Both lots would have septic and well systems, with access from 30th Avenue. No public testimony was offered. The council closed the hearing and voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance, suspending the three-reading rule.
- Public Hearing 2: Consideration of Resolution No. 2022-176 approving the final plat and subdivision agreement for Freedom Hill Estates. The plat creates two lots with ingress/egress easements and addresses future utility connections and annexation. No public testimony was offered. The council closed the hearing and voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda contained 11 items, all approved unanimously without discussion:
- Approve minutes of the October 11, 2022 regular meeting.
- Approve claims.
- Receive Planning Commission recommendations and set November 8, 2022 at 5:30 p.m. for hearings.
- Purchase a Caterpillar 950M Series Wheel Loader for $327,200.00 for the Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency Landfill (Utilities Department).
- Award window replacement proposal at the Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Facility to SKYCO Glass for $78,241.78.
- Adopt Resolution No. 2022-233 approving a Real Estate Purchase Agreement with Burmood Investments, LLC for lots in Patriot Industrial Park.
- Adopt Resolution No. 2022-234 approving Payment No. 2 ($1,224,556.28) to John T. Jones Construction Co. for WWTP Phase II Improvements.
- Adopt Resolution No. 2022-235 approving Payment No. 6 ($70,287.30) to Blessing, LLC for 2021 Part 5 Improvements (Talmadge Street extension).
- Adopt Resolution No. 2022-236 approving Change Order No. 1 ($28,486.00 increase, new substantial completion date December 6, 2022) and Payment No. 4 ($402,327.86) to Nielsen Contracting, LLC for 2022 Part 3 Improvements (11th Street from A to F Avenue).
- Adopt Resolution No. 2022-237 approving a Use and Operations Agreement with Key Lime Air Corporation dba Denver Air Connection for scheduled air service.
- Award bid for two Side Load Refuse Compactor Trucks to Elliott Sanitation Equipment Co. for $726,514.56.
Discussion Items
- Staff Update on Meadowlark Hills Golf Course: Scott Hayden (Director of Recreational Services), Dave James (Golf Division Head), and Kevin Mansfield (Assistant Superintendent) presented a season review. Key statistics:
- Leagues: Business league (36 teams, 144 players), Men's league (60 teams, 120 players), Ladies league (36 players).
- League rounds: Elite member rounds ~1,500; season pass member rounds 737; punch card rounds ~1,000.
- Outings: 35 outings from April to September, generating over $80,000 in tournament revenue (excluding food and beverage).
- Instructional programs: PJ Hope Foundation (12 graduates, 8-week program for veterans), Kearney Champs (advanced junior golf), and KPR junior lessons (72 in first session, 55 in second).
- Actual rounds: Over 31,000 rounds in fiscal year, consistent with the 10-year average of ~28,000 rounds per year. The COVID year (2020) saw a spike.
- Revenue: Comparative revenue up in most categories except lessons. Fund balance: budgeted at $178,000, estimated at $289,000, actual end-of-year at $444,000 (helped by COVID relief funds). The course is nearly breaking even for a municipal course.
- Renovations: Bunker edges redefined, six new tee boxes added (improving playability and safety, e.g., hole 10 tee relocated), a new chipping green installed near the clubhouse, and a memorial clock for former member Dave Jones. New equipment purchased: a tractor and three mowers.
- Next year: Additional chipping green planned; staff of five full-time plus seasonal crew (9-12 on maintenance, ~11 in clubhouse).
- Council commended staff for overcoming winter damage and drought conditions.
- Open Account Claim to NPPD: The council approved a claim of $176,740.11 to the Nebraska Public Power District. Motion passed unanimously.
Reports
- City Manager Mike (Brenda Jensen? The transcript refers to "Mike" but city manager is Brenda Jensen; likely a misstatement or the council member speaking):
- Air service transition: Denver Air Connection begins November 1; construction activity at airport.
- Ribbon cutting for a Chihuly sculpture at Yanney Park; described as a unique piece.
- Water tower lighting: The lighting designer (guest) noted the project is a highlight of his career; Yanney Tower lighting parts ordered, expected before end of December.
- Holiday Light Festival: December 7-17, sold out, growing event.
- Infrastructure updates: 11th Street main line completion expected this week; overpass (2nd Avenue) expected to open before Thanksgiving.
- Council Member Tammy Moore (likely Tami James Moore): Expressed appreciation for Yanney Park and the Chihuly sculpture; noted the park's transformation over 20 years.
Key Outcomes
- Public Hearing 1 (Rezoning): Ordinance No. 8597 passed unanimously (Mayor absent).
- Public Hearing 2 (Final Plat): Resolution No. 2022-176 passed unanimously.
- Consent Agenda: All 11 items approved unanimously.
- Open Account Claim: Approved unanimously.
- No other votes: The golf course update was informational only; no action taken.
Note: Mayor Jonathan Nikkila was absent for the entire meeting. Council Vice-President Randy Buschkoetter presided. Roll call votes showed all present council members voting aye on each item.
Meeting Transcript
Thank you. We will now have the presentation of the colors by the Carnegie Police Department honor guard, and then we'll follow that with the Pledge of Allegiance. And we do have some scouts in the audience. I assume they're they'll come up and uh they'll leave us in the pledge. Please, yeah. Please 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. Tonight we welcome our newest. You may be seated. Tonight we welcome our newest police officer with the Carnival Police Department. To begin the ceremony, members of the Carney Police Department Honor Guard have presented the colors and uh posted colors. Members of the KPT Honor Guard include Lieutenant Dennis Byrne and Officers Alex Payton, Tracy Sucklin, and Nathan Dennis. And now in accordance with uh section eighty-four fourteen of the Nebraska revised statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted at the wall of the council chambers. Do we please call roll? Mayor Klaus, absent Bushcutter. Here Lear President Nicola Moore. Here uh at this time we'd like to invite Police Chief Wall and Police Officer Joshua Stokey for a few remarks, followed by the interim city clerk administering the oath of office and pinning the badge on our newest officer. Thank you, uh Council Member Bush Gutter and City Council, City Manager, and all of our staff in here. I've got members of our federal service commission here today, as well as the Ann Burdy, as well as Jason Sharp. Thank you so much for being here. We have a great uh opportunity, Joshua Stokey. You're the start of the show, you're so it's my privilege to uh introduce you to our the newest member of R. Key and the Carney Police Department, Mr. Joshua Stoehy, born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska. I attended Lincoln Christian High School, uh went on to uh attend Southeast Unity College in Lincoln, uh graduated from associate degree. They spent the previous three years uh with the Lincoln Police Department, police officer with a lateral police officer hire uh marrying Bride Laura, who's here with us and her parents are here as well, Laura from Carney, uh they decided to relocate to Carney uh a couple months ago, been here a couple months. And um just a quick story about Joshua I've not known him very long, but the first time we met, he reached out to a couple members of our staff, and Kathy Young's over there as well. Uh somewhere there, yes, very uh friends of the family as well about uh the potential opportunity to join the Carney Police Department. Uh and for me, that's a big deal. That's like a lot, and uh so we kind of correspond a little bit and invited you to stop by the police station. And he did. I wasn't sure if you would. Uh and he did, and that's kind of how police recruiting goes today when when when there's talented young men and women out there that want to serve our community, we want to get to know, and that's what we did. Uh and then here we are today. So it's it's really uh uh about our family, your family coming together to serve this community uh in a way that's professional uh and will mean the high expectations of not only our department, but more importantly, our community. So with that, I would invite uh our city clerk, that guy had a job to uh present for two admitted to the open clock. We've got to make them official. Okay, please raise your right hand and then you can hear me. I do solemnly swear that I will support the constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of Nebraska. Constitution of the state of Nebraska. Against all enemies foreign and domestic against all enemies foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith. And allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely. Without any mental reservation. Without any mental reservation. Or for purpose of evasion. Or for purpose of evasion.
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