Kearney City Council Meeting - January 9, 2024: Recognition, Proclamation, Public Hearings, and Airport Update
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Kearney City Council Meeting - January 9, 2024
The Kearney City Council met on January 9, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included a recognition ceremony for the promotion of Police Sergeant Alex Peyton, a proclamation honoring retiring City Manager Michael W. Morgan (effective January 13, 2024), four public hearings, a consent agenda, a presentation from Denver Air Connect, and approval of an open account claim to NPPD. All votes were unanimous.
Consent Calendar
- Approval of Minutes: Approved minutes from the regular meetings on December 12, 2023, and December 19, 2023.
- Claims: Approved the claims.
- Resolution No. 2024-2: Approved a Developer Constructed Infrastructure Agreement for Lot 1, Block 1, Millennial Estates Fourth Addition (sanitary sewer main).
- Resolution No. 2024-3: Approved Change Order No. 2 (decrease of $12,666.80), Application No. 4-Final ($93,924.00), and accepted the Certificate of Substantial Completion for 2022 Part 1 Improvements (48th Street) from Dan Roeder Concrete, Inc.
- Resolution No. 2024-4: Approved Invoice No. 2-Final ($39,120.89) to Skyco Glass LLC for the FBO Window Replacement Project.
- Resolution No. 2024-5: Accepted public improvements for William Grace Estates (formerly William Estates) under a Developer Constructed Infrastructure Agreement.
- Resolution No. 2024-6: Approved Change Orders No. 16 ($5,932.00 increase), No. 17 ($5,890.00 increase), No. 18 ($18,032.00 increase), No. 19 ($1,375.00 increase), and Applications No. 14 ($388,397.95) and No. 15 ($346,740.00) for the Yanney Park Pavilion project.
- Board Appointments: Appointed Jonathan Nikkila to the Kearney Visitors Bureau; Stanley Clouse and Tami James Moore to the Buffalo County Economic Development Council; and Jonathan Nikkila, Tami James Moore, and Chuck Ogle to the Joint Airport Zoning Board.
- Resolution No. 2024-7: Appointed City employee Brandon Shafto (License No. S-1572, Class A) as City Street Superintendent for 2024 for NDOT requirements.
- Bid Awards for 2024 Parks Concrete Projects: Awarded Bid A (Harmon Park) to Tri-City Concrete ($19,000.00); Bids B and C (West Lincoln Way Park and Harvey Baseball Fields) to Dan Roeder Concrete ($14,795.00 total); Bids D and E (Hike/Bike Trail and Cemetery Road Replacement) to S & J Construction ($33,275.00 total).
- Resolution No. 2024-8: Authorized the Mayor to execute a Consent to Assignment of Ordinance No. 7726 (franchise agreement) between the City and Northwestern Energy.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No members of the public addressed the council during the public hearings. All hearings were closed with no oral testimony from the audience.
Discussion Items
- Recognition of Police Sergeant Alex Peyton: Chief Wild presented Sergeant Peyton, who was sworn in. Peyton has served for 5.5 years, is a motorcycle officer, drug recognition expert, field training officer, and army veteran. He replaces Sergeant Ryan Ory, who is retiring in March.
- Proclamation for City Manager Michael W. Morgan: The council proclaimed January 13, 2024, as Michael W. Morgan Appreciation Day. Morgan is retiring after 19 years as city manager, effective January 13, 2024. The proclamation cited his oversight of $1 billion in development, including the Kearney East Expressway (2013), Central Nebraska Veterans Home (2019), data center facility (2019), airport improvements (new runway 2018, parking expansion 2021, terminal expansion 2023), library expansion (2012), Patriot Park (2017), Yanney Park additions, and the Ernest Grundy Tennis Center and Kearney Sportsplex. Morgan thanked the council and staff.
- Public Hearing 1 – Amendment to Conditional Use Permit No. 2018-02 (Sand and Gravel Operation): Applicant Terry Wilhelms (Werner Construction, Inc.) requested an amendment to allow nighttime operations at 335 Cherry Avenue. The existing CUP has been in place for 7–9 years. Nighttime work is needed for upcoming interstate projects (bidding not yet awarded). Operations would be limited to Sunday night through Friday morning, with no weekend work. The council approved the amendment unanimously.
- Public Hearing 2 & 3 – Rezoning and Final Plat for Elken Second Subdivision (formerly Tucker Subdivision): Josh Gilbertson (Oak Creek Engineering) presented for owner Kenneth Richter. The rezoning from AG (Agricultural) to C-3 (General Commercial) and the final plat for a single lot (former railway right-of-way) were approved. The Planning Commission had recommended approval.
- Public Hearing 4 – Creation of New Zoning District R-1D and Code Amendments: City Planner presented a new residential zoning district (R-1D) as a transition between single-family (R-1) and townhome (R-2) districts. R-1D allows duplexes in addition to single-family homes. The council adopted the ordinance, creating Chapter 17 (RR-2) and amending Chapters 14, 18, and 19. Councilmember Kotsiopulos expressed strong support, calling it a needed addition.
- Presentation from Denver Air Connect: John Coleman and CEO Cliff Honeycutt reported on the first 14 months of service. Key statistics: 1,452 flights, 13 cancellations (mostly weather), 75% on-time rate (controllable delays: 42 maintenance), and approximately 29,300 passengers enplaned in 2023 (about 75% of SkyWest’s Denver-only numbers). They are in the pre-buy stage of a new Embraer 145 XR and have a new interline agreement with Delta (joining United and American). Councilmembers noted high customer satisfaction with service and cleanliness but raised concerns about: the 8:00 AM departure time (desire for earlier flight to improve connections), lack of full code-share with United (impacting international travel and pricing), website and app issues (online check-in, flight status display, inability to scan mobile boarding passes). The airport manager (Mike Morgan) noted ongoing issues with FAA ATC communication (old technology) and AWOS maintenance causing delays. Denver Air Connect expressed commitment to the community and desire to be re-recommended for the EAS contract (bid expected in about 4 months). They also highlighted a corporate travel program they are willing to promote.
- Open Account Claim to NPPD – $88,062.15: The council approved the claim without discussion.
Key Outcomes
- Ordinance No. 8242A (Amendment to CUP 2018-02): Passed and approved (suspension of three readings).
- Ordinance No. 8659 (Rezoning to C-3): Passed and approved.
- Resolution No. 2024-1 (Final Plat for Elken Second Subdivision): Approved.
- Ordinance No. 8660 (New Zoning District R-1D and Code Amendments): Passed and approved.
- Consent Agenda Items 1–11: Approved unanimously.
- Open Account Claim to NPPD: Approved.
- Directives: The council requested Denver Air Connect to explore an earlier morning departure and to provide a list of local corporations for their corporate travel program. The city manager (outgoing) will share contact information.
- Next Steps: The council will continue to work with Denver Air Connect and federal officials on air service improvements. The new city manager, Brenda Jensen, will assume duties.
Meeting Transcript
For January the 9th. If you'll arise, we'll have a moment of silence. Thank you. And now we have the Carnegie Police Department Honor Guard that will come in and then we'll have the Pledge of Allegiance. You do. 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. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all. You may be seated. Current copy always meeting act is available for you. It's posted on the wall of the council chambers. We take roll, please. Mayor Klaus. Here. Lear. Present. Nicola. Here. More. Here. Hey, and at this time we'll invite the Chief Wad and Sergeant Alex Peyton up front. Chief Wild gives some remarks. Thank you, Mayor Council, for this opportunity. I think what this never gets old. This is uh we've had the opportunity to do a lot of uh great things with the fleet department. This is just another one of those moments uh in our in our careers in our in our organization to uh to promote Officer Alex Payton, now Sergeant Alex Payton for the regular sergeant. So Officer Peyton's been with us for nearly six years, five and a half years. Um he's a motorcycle officer, he's a drug recognition expert, he's a field training officer, he's a Christmas innovation intervention team officer, he's a youth mental health first aid instructor, and so many other things. Uh but he's one of he's a team member, he's a member of our family. Um also a military air army veteran as well. Uh a little funny story about Alex. Uh when I first moved here, I got to know everybody and I had a meeting with him, and I asked him what he did before he became a police officer, and he said he was an agronomist. That is the first time I ever met an agronomist in my life. So unique thing about about him. Uh he's here joined by his wife Abigail's here, his mom and dad are here, and mother and father-law are here, and brother-in-law soon to be cornering police officers. No pressure, no pressure. Um but it's just an absolute pleasure um to promote talented men and women to be the next leaders of our department. Uh it's so important that we have that ability to have a direct impact on police officers that you're gonna lead uh in a way that'll be inspiring, that'll be professional, high level of integrity. Um, I think it's gonna be you're you're you're embarking on a successful career as a police sergeant, and I really appreciate that. So with that, I would like to ask our feet to come up to do uh the official swearing in oath. I do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of Nebraska. And the Constitution of the State of Nebraska. Against all enemies foreign and domestic. All enemies foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith. That I will bear true faith.
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