The Kearney City Council met on December 12, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting included recognition of fire department service awards, six public hearings (covering an easement vacation, a residential subdivision development, a business park subdivision, and the adoption of an Affordable Housing Action Plan), approval of a 13-item consent agenda, and an informational presentation from Two Rivers Public Health Department.
No public comments were made during the designated public hearing periods; each hearing was closed without audience input.
Fire Chief Aaron Jameson presented service awards to Kearney Volunteer Fire Department members. Awards were given for:
Jeremy Feusner (Nebraska Public Power District) requested vacation of a 153‑ft by 15‑ft utility easement on Lot 2, Meridian West Second (3103/3107 West Highway 30) to allow shifting the easement corridor southward. The Planning Commission had recommended approval. The council approved the vacation (Mayor Klaus abstained).
Craig Bennett (Miller & Associates) presented three related actions for Fox Creek Development, LLC:
Mitch Humphrey (Buffalo Surveying Corporation) presented a one‑lot final plat for WWS Land, LLC (William R. Shapley). The 10.5‑acre site, west of Imperial Avenue and north of East 45th Street, will be used for an irrigation repair business. It will be served by individual well and septic (outside city utility service area). The plat dedicates 50 feet of public right‑of‑way. Passed unanimously.
Council Member Tami James Moore presented the plan, required by Nebraska Legislative Bill 866 (Municipal Density Middle Missing Housing Act). Key data from the plan:
Approved an open account claim of $15.00 to Grant Buschkoetter. Council Member Buschkoetter abstained.
Dr. Ottawa Menon, epidemiologist, provided an overview of the health department’s activities covering seven counties (Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Gosper, Harlan, Kearney, Phelps). Highlights:
Well good evening, everyone, and welcome to our city council meeting for December the 12th. Uh, if you'll rise, we'll have a moment of silence while we'll uh 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 under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with section 841412 of the Nebraska Revised Statute, it's a current copy of the Open Meetings Act, is available for view and is posted on the wall of the council chambers. We take role, please. Mayor Claus. Here. Bush Cutter. Here. President Nicola. Moore. Here. Okay, thank you. Oral Communications. So we would like to invite uh Fire Chief Aaron Jameson and Deputy Fire Chief and Fire Administrator Jason Whalen to the front. We've got some service awards and training certificates to present. So here. Good evening, Council members, city staff, and guests. My name is Aaron Jameson, Fire Chief for the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department. I'm honored to be here this evening to recognize members of our department for their service and dedication to the City of Kearney. We'll be presenting service awards and recognizing our newest member who has successfully completed his Firefighter 1 and Hazardous Material Operations Certificate Certifications. Within the fire department, we ask our members to be present at 50% of fire calls, 50% of business meetings, and squad trainings in a calendar year. At a minimum, this could represent 200 or more fire calls and six business and squad trainings in a calendar year. Many of our members go above and beyond this minimum. In addition, respond to rescue calls, go to rescue trainings, airport rescue and firefighter training, hazmat training, and attending training outside, attending outside trainings. Tonight we'll begin with the years of service awards. These awards mark significant contribute contributions to the fire department and to the citizens of the city of Kearney. I am honored to share these members' achievements with you this evening. Several of our members are out due to illness, so I'll let you know when they're out. Our first uh five-year service award is being presented to Dylan Davis. Dylan works full-time for LeVanders Body Shop as a body technician. He joined in 2018, and he has been an active member in NASAT, and unfortunately, he's not able to attend tonight. Our second five-year award goes to Kent Hergott. Kent works for the City of or the University of Nebraska Kearney Dining Services as an operations manager. Kent is working really hard to be checked off on all of our apparatus, and we appreciate all of his efforts. He is not able to be here tonight either. Nate, the first one that's gonna be here. Our Nate Toof is five years service award. Nate works for the City of Kearney as a full-time fire engineer. He has served as lieutenant for Company Two for the last two years. Congratulations, Nate. Congratulations, Nate. Thank you. Thank you, Nate. Congratulations. Yeah. I don't want to give this an answer. Our next five-year service award goes to Quincy Bennett. Quincy works full-time for the City of Kearney in the Sanitation Department.