Kearney City Council Meeting – January 24, 2023: Proclamations, Police Badge, RYDE Transit, Personnel
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Kearney City Council Meeting – January 24, 2023
The Kearney City Council met on January 24, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included a proclamation for National CRNA Week, a ceremonial badge reveal for the police department’s 150th anniversary, unanimous approval of consent agenda items, authorization of funding for the RYDE Transit program, introduction of new human resources staff, an open account claim to NPPD, and a closed session for real estate discussion.
Proclamations and Presentations
- National CRNA Week: Mayor Nikkila read a proclamation recognizing January 23–29, 2023, as National CRNA Week, honoring certified registered nurse anesthetists for their service. Council members and staff posed for a photo with CRNAs.
- Kearney Police Department 150th Commemorative Badge: Chief Wall and the badge design committee unveiled a vintage-style badge to mark the city’s 150th anniversary. The badge will be worn by officers throughout 2023. Retrospective badge examples from the 1940s were displayed, and challenge coins were presented to council members.
Consent Calendar
- Items 1–9 (Consent Agenda): Council approved the minutes of January 10, 2023; the claims; the planning commission recommendations and setting a February 14, 2023 hearing; Resolution 2023-17 adopting the revised Personnel Manual; plans and specifications for airport snow removal vehicles (two items) with bid openings on February 23, 2023; Resolution 2023-18 approving payment No. 5 of $1,166,212.42 to John T. Jones Construction Co. for the WWTP Phase II Improvements/Water Resource Recovery Facility; Resolution 2023-19 repealing Resolution 2022-180 and adopting the 2022-2023 Comprehensive Fee Schedule adding a large aircraft hangar leasing fee; and Resolution 2023-20 approving the Annual Redevelopment Project Report. All were approved unanimously (vote: Mayor Nikkila, Council Members Moore, Buschkoetter, Kotsiopulos; Council Member Schmidt absent).
- Consent Ordinance (Ordinance No. 8619): Council suspended the reading requirement and passed the ordinance amending the Salary Ordinance for certain positions. The vote was unanimous.
Discussion Items
- RYDE Transit Funding (Resolution 2023-21): Public Works Director Michael presented the request for funding to support the RYDE Transit public transportation program for its upcoming fiscal year. He noted that local matching funds are critical to trigger federal funds and that the program provides essential transportation for medical appointments, youth sports, and employment. Council members commended RYDE as a community asset and highlighted its role for family service agencies. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
- Introduction of Assistant Human Resources Director and Risk Management Technician: Administrative Services Director Shauna Erbson introduced Kelly Corgall (Assistant HR Director) and Tara Gibson (Risk Management Technician). Corgall, a nearly 10-year city employee, handles health insurance, pensions, and onboarding. Gibson, a new hire and Kearney native, manages insurance schedules, workers’ compensation claims, safety audits, and risk control. Council welcomed them.
- Open Account Claim to NPPD ($95,976.42): Council approved the claim to Nebraska Public Power District. The vote was unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- All consent items, the consent ordinance, RYDE Transit resolution, and the NPPD claim were approved unanimously (4–0, with Council Member Schmidt absent).
- Council members expressed appreciation to city staff for snow removal efforts after recent winter weather, with Public Works Director Michael noting that crews were chipping ice in residential areas.
- Council Member Moore suggested revisiting public transportation options, noting that family service agencies need services beyond RYDE’s current scope.
- Michael acknowledged the impending departure of Finance Director Wendell (37 years of service), praising his expertise and mentorship.
- The council voted unanimously to adjourn into closed session at 5:59 p.m. for the protection of public interest regarding possible real estate matters, with the option to reconvene in open session.
Meeting Transcript
City Council meeting for January the 24th. We don't have any scouts, so if you rise, we'll have a moment of silence followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Now join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I just do the flag of the United States of America. In accordance with section 841412 and the Nebraska revised statutes of copy of the open meetings act is available for view and is posted on the wall of the council chambers. Mayor Klaus. Here Bush Cutter. Okay, thank you. Um this time if we have some CRNAs, if you'd like to come uh joining us, if you join the up the uh pedestal, pedestal, podium, podium, whatever it is. And I have a proclamation we'd like to read, and then uh we can uh take a photo here. Proclamation proclamation reads whereas certified registered nurse and aesthetist anethicist. You know, there's some words in here. I'm glad you didn't. That's why we had to bring you up. Yeah. Anesthesist. Uh and I knew that, but reading it is uh they're often referred to as nurse anesthesists or nurs anesthesiologists. We're the first health care providers dedicated to the specialty of anesthesiology and the first advanced practical nursing specialty that can trace the origins to the 1800s when nurses ease the suffering of wounded soldiers in the civil war. And whereas a pioneer who paved the way for today's CNR CRNAs, Alice McGraw Maga is the most famous CRNA of the 19th century, and who set the bar for excellent, safe and effective anesthesia practice for generations. And whereas since 1927, nurse anesthesiologist uh education has advanced from a certificate to graduate level education with 121 accredited CRNA programs in the United States and Puerto Rico in 2018, with more than 2,400 residential registered nurse anestheticists, annual graduates uh who go on to pass a national uh certification examination to become a CRNA. And whereas CNAs are independent sole anesthesia providers who vigilant watch and protect patients every breath throughout the various surgical processes daily, and that are the the primary anesthesia providers in rural communities and U.S. military personnel as well as practicing in every setting which anesthesia is delivered, including traditional hospital surgical suites, obstetrical delivery rooms, surgical centers, dentists, podiatrists, ophthalmologists' office, and pain management specialists. And whereas National CRNA week is celebrated every year from January 23rd to January 29th in appreciation of CRNAs. Now for their bill, let it be resolved on behalf of the citizens of Carney, Nebraska. We hereby recognize January 23rd through the January 29th, 2023 as national CRNA week. And we urge the city of Carney, our dissolved citizens to recognize and appreciate and celebrate the many CRNAs practicing in Kearney and throughout the United States for the excellent care they provide. Thank you. And I've used our services, and I'm glad to do what you do. So if you want to take a photo, we pretty much there. No, that's awesome. We're gonna put counsel means we need to. There you go. That's good. Okay, ready? Would you have all two three? One, two, three. And I'll have uh the city clerk center. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for all the more than here. Thank you. I have appreciated many times. We're glad we come back. Okay, next we have uh Chief Watch. We reveal the Carnegie Police Department's 150th commemorative badge. Chief. Good evening, Mayor Council. Brian Wall, police chief.
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