Kearney City Council Meeting - March 12, 2024
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Kearney City Council Meeting - March 12, 2024
The Kearney City Council met on March 12, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting included ceremonial recognitions, a public hearing on a comprehensive plan amendment, approval of consent agenda items, and receipt of the annual financial report. The council also entered closed session to discuss litigation.
Recognition and Proclamation
- National Guard Recognition: Garth Sism and Sergeant Rodriguez from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve program presented an award to Michael Kamler, System Supervisor, for his exemplary support of employee and National Guard member Sergeant Rodriguez. Kamler expressed gratitude and emphasized the responsibility of his team in providing water and sewer services.
- Proclamation for NIDDA Month: The council proclaimed March 2024 as National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, highlighting inclusion and employment of individuals with disabilities in Kearney. Representatives from Mosaic and guests who work at local businesses (Freddy's, Skeeter Barnes, Baristas) were recognized.
Public Hearing
- Comprehensive Plan Amendment: Melissa D'Artio Harris, Director of Development Services, presented a proposed text amendment to the 2016 Comprehensive Development Plan to add the R-1D Residential District to four land use designations (low density, medium density, neighborhood mixed use, and high density) and to clarify language by removing density references. No changes to the land use map were needed. No public comments were received. The council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2024-23.
Consent Calendar
The council approved the following consent items (1–6) by unanimous vote:
- Minutes of the February 27, 2024 regular meeting.
- Approval of claims.
- Award of Kearney SportsPlex Exterior Facility Signage Project to Mayhew Signs Company, Inc. for $128,158.00.
- Resolution No. 2024-24 approving RYDE Transit of Buffalo County’s request for a portion of required locally matched funding to apply for federal FY2024-2025 transportation operations funding.
- Resolution No. 2024-25 awarding the Lead Service Line Replacement Project: Concrete portion to Dan Roeder Concrete, Inc. ($5,688.00) and Dandee Concrete, Inc. ($5,544.00); Plumbing portion to Mid-Nebraska Digging, Inc. ($7,400.00), Kearney Plumbing, Inc. ($7,341.00), and Stegeman Solutions ($2,875.00).
- Award of 2024 Harvey Park Softball Field Renovations to K & J Elite Sports Turf for $143,055.00.
Discussion Items
- Annual Financial Report: Mindy Owen, CPA with KSO CPAs + Advisors, presented the audit for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023. The city received a clean opinion. Key figures included:
- Governmental funds ending fund balance: $63,210,000 (a decrease of $3.8 million from the prior year).
- Unrestricted amount: $44,736,000; amount available within policies: $4,056,000.
- Major capital asset projects completed: Tennis Recreation Facility ($8.1 million), Harman Park Sanatorium ($1.4 million), and various paving improvements ($4.3 million).
- Governmental activities net position increased by $16.8 million; business-type funds (utilities, golf, airport) grew by $7 million.
- Control weaknesses noted: small accounting staff (mitigated by segregation of duties and cross-training) and vendor monitoring on federal projects. The council accepted the report unanimously.
- Open Account Claim to NPPD: A claim of $36.37 was approved. Mayor Nikkila abstained; one council member was absent.
Closed Session
The council voted to adjourn into closed session at approximately 5:53 p.m. for the protection of the public interest to discuss possible litigation matters. No formal action was reported after reconvening.
Key Outcomes
- Adopted Resolution No. 2024-23 for the Comprehensive Plan text amendment.
- Approved all consent agenda items as listed.
- Accepted the annual financial report.
- Approved open account claim to NPPD ($36.37) with one abstention.
- Entered closed session regarding litigation.
- Recognized Michael Kamler with a National Guard award and proclaimed March 2024 as National Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.
Meeting Transcript
For March the 12th, that's uh this is one of the bigger crowds we've had a long time, so we do appreciate everyone showing up tonight. Uh if you'll rise, we'll have a moment of silence, and then we have some scouts to lead us in a pledge of allegiance. Thank you. And Cooper, Mary. Hello. My name is Cooper Young. I'm a Star Scout with Troop 136. Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I Pledge of 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. Thank you, Cooper and Scouts. It's kind of nice to have the scouts back in the in the crowd. We used to do this. This was a regular part of our meeting, so we're glad to have you guys. So appreciate that. Um, in accordance with section 841412, the Nebraska Revised Statutes, the current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review, and it's posted on the on the wall in the council chamber. So you take roll, please. Mayor Cloud. Here. Here. Leader absent Nicola. Here. Here. Okay, Oral Communications. This time uh we have some uh present uh for a presentation to um Michael Camler uh with some recognition of the National Guard. So I think Garth, um we're gonna lead that, so Gar Skism. My name is Garth Sism. I'm with the employer support for Guard Reserve Program. I want to thank the city for having us here, and with your permission, we'd like to give you work. Sergeant Rodriguez. I'm with the employer support for guard and reserve program. You may not have heard of, but we're a part of the department of defense. I'm probably the only one here that remembers 1973, that that's when they ended the draft. When we went away from the draft, we went to an all-volunteer service. And an all-volunteer service put a lot of strain on the service member and his employer. A classic example, I won't go into too much detail. I was thinking of active duty got out in 1970. I joined the National Guard in 1970 and retired in 2000. But nobody in that time frame from 1970 to 2000 really was deployed. The National Guard and Reserve was part of a strategic reserve in case we had to fight a second war. After 9-11, that has changed in. The National Guard and Reserve are now integrated into our war fighting efforts and our everybody's part of this. At one point at the peak of deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq, 25% of our soldiers and service members overseas were members of the Guard Reserve. That puts a strain on the service member, on his family, and on his employer. What we do is we try to keep everybody happy, and we recognize outstanding support from the employer. The city of Carney and the Winkle Art Anyway. The nice thing about this is we don't recognize anyone. It is all driven by the individual soldiers. This soldier made the recommendation. I did not.
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