OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - November 14, 2023

City CouncilTuesday, November 14, 2023
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, November 14, 2023
StatusFILED
Video Record

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our city council meeting for November the 14th.

0:06

It's great to have a full house.

0:08

Um, if you'll uh rise, we'll have uh a moment of silence and then we'll have the pledge of allegiance.

0:22

Thank you.

0:22

Now join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:25

I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:32

One nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:41

In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska revised statutes, a current copy of the open meetings act is available for views, posted on the wall of the council chambers.

0:50

Uh pay you would take the vote, please.

0:51

Mayor Clouds.

0:52

Here.

0:52

Push cutter.

0:53

Here's clear.

0:54

Nicholas.

0:56

Okay.

0:57

Uh oral communication.

0:58

We have a few items on there.

0:59

The first item is invite Chief Waugh to do a presentation of awards and commendations.

1:04

Chief.

1:08

Thank you, Mayor and Council, for the opportunity today.

1:12

Obviously, we've got a packed house.

1:14

If the rest of the officers out, come on in.

1:16

You can stand right in the doorway in here.

1:19

So at the Corney Police Department, we we uh we do uh do our best to recognize um great work above and beyond uh what there's what our police officers are sworn uh to do.

1:32

And it's it's my pleasure to be here tonight to recognize six officers.

1:37

Um this is for a variety of of um extraordinary efforts over the past year beginning back in May.

1:45

So I was gonna start with with Officer Schwartz and Officer Dostel.

1:50

And if you wouldn't mind, I'm gonna read briefly on on uh two items that we've got an awards and accommodation committee at the Carney Police Department.

1:58

So these these um efforts are are presented uh by their supervisor or by a co-worker, and it goes through the committee, uh, and then a recommendation is is provided for me on these recognitions.

2:11

So the first recognition tonight will be for these for officer Schwartz and Officer Dostel on May 14th, 2023, and they were they were recommended by their Sergeant Sergeant Shannau, who's also here tonight.

2:23

On May 14th, officers were responded to a shots fired call in the 1,000 block of West 23rd Street.

2:29

Upon upon Officer Zach Schwartz's arrival to the area, he contacted a male subject near 23rd and 7th who was bleeding from his right leg in the rear of a vehicle.

2:38

Officer Dostel and Officer Schwartz assisted the male by cutting clothing and applying a tourniquet to his right leg, which had a large laceration from being stabbed.

2:48

An ambulance was called and he was transported and treated for his injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital.

2:53

While this subject was somewhat uncooperative with police and medical staff uh later on with this incident.

3:00

I believe the he was appreciative of officers' assistance in applying the tourniquet to his injured leg.

3:07

While this was a very chaotic and dynamic situation, both of these officers acted calm and professional when dealing with this subject and other subjects who were who were very panicked over the incident that had happened.

3:20

Officer Schwartz and Officer Dostel remained remembered their training, relied on their training, applied their training, and didn't hesitate to act accordingly with this incident.

3:28

Their actions prevented further blood loss and calmed down other subjects who were also panicking in the area.

3:33

And Officer Doston and Office Schwarz, you want to come on over here, please.

3:36

I'm gonna read one more.

3:43

On June 11th, 2023, Officer Dostel and Officer Zach Schwartz were dispatched to a home on a report of a subject who was unresponsive and not breathing.

3:52

When officers arrived, they learned that an adult female had died inside the home.

3:59

It was an in-home uh death, very tragic.

4:02

Family members were obviously in shock over the passing of their mother.

4:05

Officer Dostel and Officer Zach Schwartz were polite, courteous, professional, compassionate with the family, and they offered their condolences to the family and support with whatever they might need throughout the process.

4:16

Officer Dossell and Officer Schwartz informed the family they would come back the next day, which was their day off to assist this family with removing and disposing of a mattress that had been soiled by their by their deceased family member.

4:30

And this family needed some help.

4:32

And these guys did this on their own time.

4:34

They went back the next day, they collected the mattress and they disposed of it for this family using their own time, their own vehicle to get that done.

4:42

That's above and beyond.

4:44

And that's what police officers do in this community.

4:46

They take care of our community when they need it.

4:49

So with that, I'd like to present both Officer Dostel and Officer Schwartz with the Carney Police Department Certificate of Accommodation.

5:00

And both both of the uh citations are the same in recognition of your quick and courageous action in the service of the Carney Police Department in the city of Citizens of Carney, Nebraska on May 14, 2023, presented to Officer Ben Dostoe and Officer Zach Schwartz, yeah, come around this way.

5:48

Congratulations.

5:48

Thank you.

5:48

Thank you very much.

6:04

The next awards we're going to present are for three of our members, or actually four.

6:09

There's two separate cases, so we'll we'll do the first one.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning and Land Use███████████████████████████████31%
Public Safety███████████████████████████27%
Procedural██████████████14%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████12%
Miscellaneous████████8%
Homelessness████4%
Affordable Housing████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - November 14, 2023

The Kearney City Council met on November 14, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting featured police commendations, a homelessness awareness proclamation, recognition of the Water Resource and Recovery Facility, six public hearings on development proposals, a 16-item consent agenda, and regular agenda items. All actions were approved with council members present voting in favor, with one council member (Nicola) absent throughout.

Routine Business & Recognitions

  • Kearney Police Department Chief Waugh presented awards: Officers Schwartz and Dostel received Certificates of Accomendation for actions on May 14, 2023 (applying a tourniquet to a stabbing victim) and June 11, 2023 (compassionate follow-up with a grieving family). Officers Payton, Hughes, and CSO Van Horn received Lifesaving Awards for their March 6, 2023 response to a cardiac arrest, including CPR and AED use. Officer Stokey received a Lifesaving Award for rescuing a suicidal individual from the Yanney Park Tower on July 29, 2023.
  • Mayor Nikkila read a proclamation declaring November 11–18, 2023 as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Representatives from Community Action Partnership and other groups accepted; a speaker expressed support for the city's housing study and urged the council to consider city efforts to create additional affordable housing.
  • Superintendent Clint Smith accepted the 2023 Scott Wilbur Award - Best in Class Medium Size Facility for the Water Resource and Recovery Facility, noting the facility's performance during a major construction project and the loss of experienced staff.

Consent Calendar

  • The council approved items 1–16 of the consent agenda unanimously (4-0, with one absent). Notable items included:
    • Minutes of October 24, 2023; claims approval.
    • Purchase of a 2024 Peterbilt refuse truck for $396,604.02.
    • Purchase of a 2024 Elgin Eagle street sweeper for $313,155.27.
    • Acceptance of a $190,291.00 pump station bid from Hanson Irrigation Inc.
    • Rejection of bids for the Yanney Playground Surface Project.
    • Resolutions approving employment agreements and amendments for the interim city manager and city manager.
    • Resolution approving a developer infrastructure agreement for BSB Addition.
    • Resolution approving a records management software upgrade for KPD and Buffalo County Sheriff's Office.
    • Purchases of a Kobus pipe puller ($72,620.00), mini excavator ($88,263.26), two Chevrolet pickups ($64,057.00 and $52,689.00).
    • Resolution approving an amended development agreement with GC Data Center Kearney, LLC.

Public Hearings & Discussion Items

  • Stone Creek Second Subdivision (Public Hearings 1-3): Applicant Trenton Snow explained the need to rezone and plat a small tract at 2nd Avenue and 98th Street to comply with city regulations. The council closed the hearings and approved the land use map amendment (Resolution 2023-146), the rezoning to M-1 (Ordinance 8653), and the final plat and subdivision agreement (Resolution 2023-147). All votes were 4-0.
  • Greenhill Acres Subdivision Vacation (Public Hearing 4): Owner Andrew Hoffmeister testified that lot lines from a 1970s subdivision are obsolete due to topography and road changes. The council unanimously approved Ordinance 8654 vacating Lots 1-6.
  • Schumacher Fencing Rezoning and Planned Development (Public Hearings 5-6): Applicant Craig Bennon presented plans to rezone 3107 West Highway 30 to C-3/PD to allow gravel trailer storage, with fencing and landscaping screening. The council unanimously approved Ordinance 8655 and Resolution 2023-159.
  • Buffalo Island Second Subdivision (Regular Agenda Item 1): The council suspended rules and passed Ordinances 8650, 8651, and 8652 (easement vacation, lot vacation, and rezoning) on final reading by a 4-0 vote.
  • Open Account Claims (Regular Agenda Item 2): The council approved claims to Stanley Clouse ($601.45) and NPPD ($128,141.06) with Mayor Nikkila abstaining (3-0-1), and a claim to Goodwill ($116.36) with Council Member Bushcutter abstaining (3-0-1).

Key Outcomes

  • All 9 resolutions and 5 ordinances were approved as described above.
  • No public comments were offered during any of the public hearings.
  • The meeting adjourned following the regular agenda, with the next meeting scheduled for a future date.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone, and welcome to our city council meeting for November the 14th. It's great to have a full house. Um, if you'll uh rise, we'll have uh a moment of silence and then we'll have the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. Now join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska revised statutes, a current copy of the open meetings act is available for views, posted on the wall of the council chambers. Uh pay you would take the vote, please. Mayor Clouds. Here. Push cutter. Here's clear. Nicholas. Okay. Uh oral communication. We have a few items on there. The first item is invite Chief Waugh to do a presentation of awards and commendations. Chief. Thank you, Mayor and Council, for the opportunity today. Obviously, we've got a packed house. If the rest of the officers out, come on in. You can stand right in the doorway in here. So at the Corney Police Department, we we uh we do uh do our best to recognize um great work above and beyond uh what there's what our police officers are sworn uh to do. And it's it's my pleasure to be here tonight to recognize six officers. Um this is for a variety of of um extraordinary efforts over the past year beginning back in May. So I was gonna start with with Officer Schwartz and Officer Dostel. And if you wouldn't mind, I'm gonna read briefly on on uh two items that we've got an awards and accommodation committee at the Carney Police Department. So these these um efforts are are presented uh by their supervisor or by a co-worker, and it goes through the committee, uh, and then a recommendation is is provided for me on these recognitions. So the first recognition tonight will be for these for officer Schwartz and Officer Dostel on May 14th, 2023, and they were they were recommended by their Sergeant Sergeant Shannau, who's also here tonight. On May 14th, officers were responded to a shots fired call in the 1,000 block of West 23rd Street. Upon upon Officer Zach Schwartz's arrival to the area, he contacted a male subject near 23rd and 7th who was bleeding from his right leg in the rear of a vehicle. Officer Dostel and Officer Schwartz assisted the male by cutting clothing and applying a tourniquet to his right leg, which had a large laceration from being stabbed. An ambulance was called and he was transported and treated for his injuries at Good Samaritan Hospital. While this subject was somewhat uncooperative with police and medical staff uh later on with this incident. I believe the he was appreciative of officers' assistance in applying the tourniquet to his injured leg. While this was a very chaotic and dynamic situation, both of these officers acted calm and professional when dealing with this subject and other subjects who were who were very panicked over the incident that had happened. Officer Schwartz and Officer Dostel remained remembered their training, relied on their training, applied their training, and didn't hesitate to act accordingly with this incident. Their actions prevented further blood loss and calmed down other subjects who were also panicking in the area. And Officer Doston and Office Schwarz, you want to come on over here, please. I'm gonna read one more. On June 11th, 2023, Officer Dostel and Officer Zach Schwartz were dispatched to a home on a report of a subject who was unresponsive and not breathing. When officers arrived, they learned that an adult female had died inside the home. It was an in-home uh death, very tragic. Family members were obviously in shock over the passing of their mother. Officer Dostel and Officer Zach Schwartz were polite, courteous, professional, compassionate with the family, and they offered their condolences to the family and support with whatever they might need throughout the process. Officer Dossell and Officer Schwartz informed the family they would come back the next day, which was their day off to assist this family with removing and disposing of a mattress that had been soiled by their by their deceased family member. And this family needed some help. And these guys did this on their own time. They went back the next day, they collected the mattress and they disposed of it for this family using their own time, their own vehicle to get that done.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com