Kearney City Council Meeting - June 13, 2023
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Kearney City Council Meeting - June 13, 2023
The Kearney City Council held a regular meeting on June 13, 2023, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting began with a moment of silence, presentation of colors by the Kearney Police Department Honor Guard, Pledge of Allegiance, and roll call. Council Member Tami James Moore was absent. The council approved several items including public hearings for a subdivision and annexation, a consent agenda covering financial and administrative actions, and a tax increment financing (TIF) package for a new hotel. Informational presentations were made regarding a potential sale of Memorial Field to Kearney Public Schools and the city's 150th birthday celebration.
Promotion Ceremony
- The council recognized the promotion of Police Sergeant Logan Miller, who took the oath of office. Chief Waugh highlighted Miller's nearly 3 years with the department and over 7 years of law enforcement experience, describing him as a servant leader.
Public Hearings
- Arbor View Second Final Plat and Annexation: The council conducted two public hearings on the final plat and subdivision agreement (Resolution 2023-90) and annexation (Resolution 2023-91) for Arbor View Second, a 13-lot, 4.5-acre residential development east of Avenue N and south of 65th Street. The applicant, Miller & Associates for Fox Creek Development, LLC, noted that the development had previously been approved for rezoning but the final plat and annexation failed at the March 14, 2023 meeting. Both resolutions were approved unanimously (4-0, with Moore absent).
Consent Calendar
- The council approved items 1 through 6 of the consent agenda unanimously (4-0). Items included:
- Approval of minutes from May 23, 2023.
- Approval of claims.
- Resolution 2023-92: Grant agreement with FAA for a box hangar project at Kearney Regional Airport.
- Resolution 2023-93: Five change orders for Yanney Heritage Park Pavilion and Parking Lot totaling $16,265 and increasing contract time by 8 days.
- Resolution 2023-94: Payment No. 12 of $81,000 for the 2.0 MG Elevated Water Tower.
- Annual renewal of manufactured home court license for L&M Properties (1110 Central Avenue) until May 31, 2024, and extensions for East Lawn Mobile Homes Estates and Valley View Mobile Home Court by 60 days to correct deficiencies.
Discussion Items
- SEDO Hospitality TIF Project (Resolution 2023-95): The council approved a redevelopment project for a four-story, 97,663-square-foot dual-brand hotel (Hilton Hotel and Home2 Suites) on 3.484 acres at 230 11th Avenue. The estimated new valuation is $11,001,760, with an incremental valuation of $10,787,260. The annual tax increment is estimated at $200,802. The council approved a 95% tax increment financing rebate for up to 15 years, not to exceed the lesser of $2,861,426 or certified eligible project costs of $2,799,235. The motion also included findings that the project would not be economically feasible without TIF. Vote: 4-0.
- KPS Presentation on Memorial Field: Superintendent of Kearney Public Schools presented a purchase proposal for Memorial Field for $1,500,001. KPS would commit to facility improvements (infield turf replacement ~$312,000, outfield turf ~$894,000, digital scoreboards, and other upgrades over 3-5 years) and continue current baseball cooperative agreements with Kearney Catholic High School and Legion baseball at no cost. The city would have a first right of refusal to repurchase at the same price if KPS ever sold. Council members raised questions about community need, logistical challenges of housing two high school teams, and equity concerns regarding softball facilities. No action was taken.
- 150th Birthday Celebration: Assistant City Manager Brenda Jensen highlighted upcoming events, including the Taser downtown on June 17, a timeless tribute at Nest Space on June 22, and a major birthday party on June 24 from 11 AM to 2 PM with historic games and 6-11 PM with concerts by the Shakatanos and Audiation. Streets around Central Avenue and 24th Street will be closed.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 2023-90: Approved final plat and subdivision agreement for Arbor View Second (4-0).
- Resolution 2023-91: Approved annexation of Arbor View Second (4-0).
- Consent Agenda Items 1-6: Approved (4-0).
- Resolution 2023-95: Approved TIF for SEDO Hospitality redevelopment project (4-0).
- No action taken on the KPS Memorial Field proposal; presentation was informational only.
- Council moved to adjourn.
Meeting Transcript
Well good evening everyone and welcome to our council meeting for June the 13th. If you will rise, we'll have a moment of silence, and then tonight's a special night with the KPD. We're going to have a promotion ceremony. So after the invocation, or the moment of silence, excuse me, we'll have the Carnegie Police Department honor guard. They're going to present the colors and then we'll do the pledge of allegiance. So please have a moment of silence. Okay, thank you. Now for the honor guard. Or tomorrow. Please join us 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 with liberty and justice for all. Thank you. In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska advice. You can see that a Nebraska revised statute is a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available from you. And it's supposed on the wall of the council chambers. Mayor Klaus. Here. Bushcutter. Here. Learn. Nicola Absent Moore. Here. And now we'll turn it over to Chief Waugh, who uh we'll give a few marks and then uh have the oath of office, I think. Thanks, Mayor and Council, uh, for the opportunity today for a very special moment for Officer Lother Miller and his family. Uh we recently had the opportunity to um had a vacancy for uh the positions police aren't the Carnage Police Department, went through an extensive process, very competitive. Um thing that we realize every time we go through a promotion process in the Carnegie Police Department's house, the depth of talented um future leadership within our agency, uh and that's a testament to all this current leadership within our agency, uh, as well as those that have that have since uh retired and moved on uh in their lives. So this is a special moment for Officer Miller. Well he are currently sorry, and really he started last Sunday. Um but this makes it official for for he and his family. Uh there's a lot of great support here in the room today from our captain bird here, lieutenants are here. The previous sergeant that uh that retired, which made this availability for Logan Miller's years, retired Sergeant Doug McCarty is here is pretty awesome to see. Um members of our civil service commission are here, Dr. Luke is here, uh Leanne Curry is here, I think Dr. Louis's here for two reasons today, but that's pretty often to see thanks for being here. Uh and obviously members of council mayor, city manager, um helped obviously these these decisions are made um uh with the uh direct uh responsibility from our city manager uh for these promotions. Um so just a great time to be here. Logan Miller's been with for about three years, uh recently three years back on the eighth. He started uh with us, but he brings seven and a half years of law enforcement experience and started out with the York Police Department, uh, went on to Buffalo County Sheriff's Office, and then we were lucky enough to hire him at a collateral police officer three years ago. Uh the UNK graduate married to his bride, Amy is here, and I was writing names with kids down because I've messed this up a couple of times. Uh and we've Nicole. Are you listening to it? Uh-oh. Here we go. And Leo and Mason and Vera and Nicole is here. Anyway, we'll talk about that later. About that foot patrol you're going to have in our next couple weeks. But anyway, so moving on. Uh with that, I just want to I just want to talk a little bit about Logan Miller.
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