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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - February 28, 2023: Proclamation, CIP, Audited Financials, and Closed Session

City Council — Tuesday, February 28, 2023

BodyKearney, Nebraska

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, February 28, 2023

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 16:36

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:04

Good evening, everyone, and uh welcome to our city council meeting for February the 28th.

0:08

Uh if you'd rise, we'll have a modal silence and we'll have a pledge of allegiance.

0:20

Yeah, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:28

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:30

One nation under God with liberty and justice for all.

0:51

Mayor Clouds.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Bushcutter.

0:54

We are absent, Nicola absent more.

0:56

Here.

0:57

Thank you.

0:57

We have oral communication, recognition of visitors.

0:59

This time we're going to invite representatives in attendance from the Buffalo County Historical Society, uh, the board's director and board's community outreach director for the reading of the uh 150th anniversary proclamation.

1:10

And I'm having some problems with my throat, so councilman term pushcutter's gonna read it for you, so do it justice.

1:17

Now the pressure's on.

1:18

Um the proclamation, whereas the city of Kearney was incorporated January 11th, 1873, and whereas the Buffalo County Historical Society, along with their board and the City of Carney have planned numerous small events as well as several larger events throughout 2023 to commemorate and celebrate Carney's Susquez centennial anniversary, and whereas on June 24th, a 150th birthday party will take place in downtown Carney.

1:45

And whereas on June 30th, the daughters of the American Revolution, Chapter Fort Kearney will open the Centennial Park time capsule, followed by a reception at the Trails and Reels Museum Family History Center.

1:57

And whereas on July 24th, the Buffalo County Historical Society, Kearney Park and Recreation Department, and the Stewart Museum will partner together for a historical baseball game that will feature 1890 baseball rules.

2:10

And whereas on September 20th, 30th, and October 1st, the Buffalo County Historical Society will offer family-friendly tours of the Kearney Cemetery in connection with the From Beyond the Gray program, in which patrons will learn about Kearney's history and the early citizens of Kearney.

2:27

Therefore, now be it resolved that the City of Carney City Council does hereby recognize the year 2023 as Kearney's sesquincentennial anniversary and urges all citizens to participate in the various celebrations throughout Carney for this monumental birthday and the great city of Kearney, Nebraska in 2023, dated this 28th day of February 2023.

2:51

Thank you, Randy.

2:52

And Rockfield, I want to come up and say a few things about this while uh someone needs to sign it.

2:58

All right.

2:59

Good job, Science.

3:01

You must have been practicing.

3:02

Well, I I had two shots at it before I had to do it three times.

3:06

Good for you.

3:07

So this is a historic year for our Kearney community.

3:10

And it's it's been widely celebrated in our history, and it's only fitting that BCHS is one of the main proponents in trying to get the community and getting organizations together to recognize this historic achievement.

3:25

So those four events that you just listed off in the proclamation is four of just many.

3:30

And so I have to thank all of our BCHS volunteers.

3:33

I need to thank uh Dr.

3:34

Nathan Ty for getting this proclamation um to you folks.

3:37

And then I also want to send um some best regards from our executive director, Jennifer Morris.

3:42

She would be here if she could, but she is um uh helping her father at the moment on dealing with some health issues at the time.

3:49

So well, thank you.

3:50

And if you want to come up, we'll do a photo op and wish it were old timey clothes.

4:01

I was trying to really set up the other time here.

4:06

Absolutely.

4:11

Yeah, I go to the back.

4:14

I know I can't.

4:27

Everybody got it.

4:32

Okay, thanks again.

4:34

Thank you.

4:34

Thank you.

4:43

I can announce it for you.

4:45

I'll just yell really loud.

4:48

Yeah, that's right.

4:49

Announcing that'd be that's fine.

4:50

That'd be cool.

4:53

That's a great idea.

4:54

My voice will end up sounding like his if I keep yelling.

5:00

Okay, that was pretty cool.

5:01

I'd already I'd seen some of that and mark those dates down on my calendar already.

5:05

Baseball game sounds fun.

5:06

It really does.

5:07

Uh unfinished business, we have none.

5:09

Uh public hearing one is the half cent sales tax capital improvement plan for the city of Kearney.

5:13

Michael, you have this one?

5:14

Yes, this uh reflects the annual public hearing requirement that was included in the CIP special sales tax when it was approved by the voters years ago.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████23%

Fiscal Sustainability███████████████████19%

Historic Preservation█████████████████17%

Procedural█████████████████17%

Budget Equity Analysis████████████12%

Water And Wastewater Management██████6%

Real Estate Matters██████6%

Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting

February 28, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. | City Council Chambers

Overview

The Kearney City Council met on February 28, 2023, to conduct routine business, hold public hearings, approve a consent agenda, and receive the city's annual financial report. The meeting began with a proclamation declaring 2023 as Kearney's sesquincentennial anniversary, followed by public hearings on the half-cent sales tax capital improvement plan (CIP) and special assessments for paving and utility districts. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda and later adjourned into closed session to discuss real estate matters.

Proclamation: Kearney's 150th Anniversary

The council adopted a proclamation recognizing 2023 as Kearney's sesquincentennial anniversary, with events planned throughout the year including a June 24th birthday party, a time capsule opening, a historical baseball game, and cemetery tours.
The proclamation was presented by the Buffalo County Historical Society (BCHS), represented by board members and community outreach director. Councilmember Randy Buschkoetter read the proclamation aloud.
BCHS representatives thanked the council and noted that executive director Jennifer Morris was unable to attend due to family health issues.

Public Hearing: Half-Cent Sales Tax Capital Improvement Plan

Michael (city staff) presented the annual public hearing on the ½¢ Sales Tax Capital Improvement Plan, a requirement from voter approval. The plan includes approximately $34 million in projects over five years, funded by the special sales tax.
Council members asked clarifying questions about unallocated budget amounts, the addition of historical context for general obligation bonds, and the inclusion of curb and ADA ramp projects (noting difficulty in securing contractors for curbs). A new debt item for West Highway 30 improvements (state project starting in 2026) was discussed.
No public comments were offered. The hearing was closed, and the council voted to approve the plan.

Public Hearing: Board of Equalization – Special Assessments

The council met as the Board of Equalization to consider Resolution No. 2023-31, levying special assessments for Paving Improvement Districts 2020-002 and 2020-003, Water Districts 2020-592 and 2020-593, and Sewer District 2020-528. The districts cover portions of 6th Street and 22nd Avenue.
No public comments were offered. The hearing was closed, and the resolution was adopted unanimously.

Consent Agenda (Items 1–14)

All items were approved unanimously without separate discussion. Key items included:

Approval of the February 14, 2023, meeting minutes.
Approval of claims.
Setting a March 14 hearing date for Planning Commission recommendations.
Letters of no recommendation for liquor license and manager applications (Joe's Honky Tonk LLC, Smoker Friendly #017, Axe Holes).
Resolution No. 2023-32: Amendment to real estate purchase agreement with Prataria Ventures – Kearney LLC.
Resolution No. 2023-33: Funding for a new HVAC unit at the Nebraska Firefighters Museum.
Resolution No. 2023-34: Change Order No. 2 and final payment for 2020 Part 3 Improvements (2nd Avenue Overpass Extension Joint Repair).
Resolution No. 2023-35: Appointments to Facilities Corporation (Jonathan Brandt and Wendell Wessels).
Resolution No. 2023-36: Submission of two QCT Grant applications to Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
Resolution No. 2023-37: Amendment to the development agreement for the indoor sports complex.
Resolution No. 2023-38: Payment No. 6 ($1,208,219.37) for WWTP Phase II Improvements.
Resolution No. 2023-39: Payment No. 3 ($159,443.93) for Booster Pump Station renovations.

Regular Agenda Items

1. Annual Financial Report (FY2022)

Mindy Oman, CPA and shareholder with KSO CPAs + Advisors, presented the audited financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2022. The city received a clean opinion.
Key highlights:
- Total net position: $320,871,000, with $49,850 unrestricted.
- Net position increased by $23 million over the prior year.
- Governmental funds ending balance: $67 million (increase of $31.9 million).
- Of the $67 million, $4.8 million is available for use within city policies, including $32.6 million in recreational facilities bonds for the indoor sports complex, $895,000 in highway allocation bonds, $800,000 from the water tower bond issue, $5.2 million for paving projects, and $1.45 million for airport improvements.
- Business-type activities (utilities, golf, airport) grew by $12.5 million.
- New notes in the report relate to leases (both payable and receivable).
Council asked no questions and voted unanimously to accept the report.

2. Open Account Claim to NPPD – $100,478.82

The council approved payment of an open account claim to Nebraska Public Power District in the amount of $100,478.82. Councilmember Klaus abstained; the remainder voted aye.

Key Outcomes

Proclamation adopted for Kearney's sesquincentennial.
Half-cent sales tax CIP approved (unanimous).
Special assessments and Resolution 2023-31 approved (unanimous).
Consent agenda items 1–14 approved (unanimous).
Annual financial report accepted (unanimous).
Open account claim to NPPD approved (Klaus abstained, others aye).
Closed session initiated at 5:47 p.m. to discuss possible real estate matters, per Nebraska law, with the possibility of reconvening into open session for formal action.

Upcoming Actions

Next hearing on Planning Commission recommendations scheduled for March 14, 2023, at 5:30 p.m.
Staff to add historical descriptions to general obligation bond line items in future CIP reports.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and uh welcome to our city council meeting for February the 28th. Uh if you'd rise, we'll have a modal silence and we'll have a pledge of allegiance. Yeah, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God with liberty and justice for all. Mayor Clouds. Here. Bushcutter. We are absent, Nicola absent more. Here. Thank you. We have oral communication, recognition of visitors. This time we're going to invite representatives in attendance from the Buffalo County Historical Society, uh, the board's director and board's community outreach director for the reading of the uh 150th anniversary proclamation. And I'm having some problems with my throat, so councilman term pushcutter's gonna read it for you, so do it justice. Now the pressure's on. Um the proclamation, whereas the city of Kearney was incorporated January 11th, 1873, and whereas the Buffalo County Historical Society, along with their board and the City of Carney have planned numerous small events as well as several larger events throughout 2023 to commemorate and celebrate Carney's Susquez centennial anniversary, and whereas on June 24th, a 150th birthday party will take place in downtown Carney. And whereas on June 30th, the daughters of the American Revolution, Chapter Fort Kearney will open the Centennial Park time capsule, followed by a reception at the Trails and Reels Museum Family History Center. And whereas on July 24th, the Buffalo County Historical Society, Kearney Park and Recreation Department, and the Stewart Museum will partner together for a historical baseball game that will feature 1890 baseball rules. And whereas on September 20th, 30th, and October 1st, the Buffalo County Historical Society will offer family-friendly tours of the Kearney Cemetery in connection with the From Beyond the Gray program, in which patrons will learn about Kearney's history and the early citizens of Kearney. Therefore, now be it resolved that the City of Carney City Council does hereby recognize the year 2023 as Kearney's sesquincentennial anniversary and urges all citizens to participate in the various celebrations throughout Carney for this monumental birthday and the great city of Kearney, Nebraska in 2023, dated this 28th day of February 2023. Thank you, Randy. And Rockfield, I want to come up and say a few things about this while uh someone needs to sign it. All right. Good job, Science. You must have been practicing. Well, I I had two shots at it before I had to do it three times. Good for you. So this is a historic year for our Kearney community. And it's it's been widely celebrated in our history, and it's only fitting that BCHS is one of the main proponents in trying to get the community and getting organizations together to recognize this historic achievement. So those four events that you just listed off in the proclamation is four of just many. And so I have to thank all of our BCHS volunteers. I need to thank uh Dr. Nathan Ty for getting this proclamation um to you folks. And then I also want to send um some best regards from our executive director, Jennifer Morris. She would be here if she could, but she is um uh helping her father at the moment on dealing with some health issues at the time. So well, thank you. And if you want to come up, we'll do a photo op and wish it were old timey clothes. I was trying to really set up the other time here. Absolutely. Yeah, I go to the back. I know I can't. Everybody got it. Okay, thanks again. Thank you. Thank you. I can announce it for you. I'll just yell really loud. Yeah, that's right. Announcing that'd be that's fine. That'd be cool.

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