Kearney City Council Meeting - July 23, 2024
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Kearney City Council Meeting - July 23, 2024
The Kearney City Council met on July 23, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting included a badge-pinning ceremony for newly elected officers of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department, a public hearing and adoption of a conditional use permit for telecommunications co-location, approval of a consent agenda with 13 items, a presentation of NPPD's 2023 Energy Report, and approval of an open account claim to NPPD. Mayor Jonathan Nikkila was absent.
Oral Communications – Pinning Ceremony
- Fire Chief Aaron Jameson and Deputy Chief Jason Whalen conducted a badge-pinning ceremony for newly elected officers of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department. The following officers were recognized: Battalion Chief Seth Lumberry (15-year member), Captains Clint Smith (8-year member) and Nate Tooth, and Lieutenants Mike Treadway (9-year member) and Adam Grazier (3-year member). Several other elected and appointed officers unable to attend were also noted. The council thanked the department for their volunteer service and leadership.
Public Hearing – Conditional Use Permit for Telecommunications Co-location
- The council held a public hearing on application SMJ International o/b/o American Tower and T-Mobile for a conditional use permit to co-locate telecommunications equipment at 6204 2nd Avenue on property zoned M-1/PD. Andy Barbritsky (710 Matthews Avenue, Armor, SD) presented, stating T-Mobile would add one array of antennas and an equipment platform inside the existing fenced compound, avoiding construction of a new tower. No public testimony was offered. The council closed the hearing and unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 8688A on final passage (roll call: Bushcutter, Lear, Nicola, Moore all aye; Mayor absent).
Consent Calendar
- The consent agenda contained 13 items. Items 1 through 12 were approved unanimously. Item 13 (Purchase Agreement with Kearney Community Sustainable Housing for Lot 2, Block 1, Village Plaza Second Addition) was approved with Council Member Tami James Moore abstaining. Notable items included:
- Approval of minutes from meetings on July 8, 9, and 11, 2024.
- Approval of claims.
- Adoption of Resolution 2024-91 approving a Developer Constructed Infrastructure Agreement for 10th Street Place Improvements (water, paving, storm sewer) with Goldenrod Services, LLC.
- Approval of Resolutions 2024-95 and 2024-96 regarding direct negotiations with NorthWestern Energy natural gas rates and an interlocal agreement with Grand Island, North Platte, and Alda.
- Purchase of a K’Archer Kira B 50 autonomous floor cleaner, installation, service package, and docking stations ($87,838.30) and janitorial equipment ($20,576.65) for the Kearney SportsPlex.
- Adoption of Resolution 2024-97 approving purchase of Lot 1, Block 2, Younes Center Eleventh Addition from Talmadge JAM, LLC.
- Adoption of Resolution 2024-98 appointing citizens to various boards.
- Resolutions 2024-99, 2024-100, 2024-101 accepting final payments and change orders for infrastructure projects (Talmadge Street improvements, booster pump stations, WWTP Phase II).
Consent Agenda Ordinance
- Ordinance No. 8690 authorizing the deed of sale for Lot 1, Block 2, Younes Center Eleventh Addition to Talmadge JAM, LLC was adopted on final passage (unanimous vote).
Regular Agenda – NPPD Energy Report
- Grant Flamig (5909 U Avenue, Kearney) was introduced as the new NPPD account manager, replacing Stan Klaus who retired. Flamig presented the 2023 Energy Report for Kearney. Key statistics included: NPPD collected and remitted $10 million in lease payments to the City of Kearney, $500,000 in city sales tax, and $2.1 million in gross revenue tax to Buffalo County. Energy efficiency incentives paid to Kearney customers totaled $320,000. NPPD's generation mix is 56% carbon-free (42% nuclear, plus wind, hydro, solar). NPPD has 93,000 customers across 81 retail communities, with the lowest electric rates in the United States and zero rate increases for 11 years. Flamig noted a planned average 2% rate increase starting in 2025 to fund new generation capacity. Council discussed the status of a new power line across the north side of town; Flamig reported it is on track with material bids accepted, expected completion by spring 2025.
Regular Agenda – Open Account Claim
- The council approved an open account claim to NPPD in the amount of $124,204.22 (unanimous vote).
Reports and Adjournment
- Council members and City Manager Brenda Jensen reported no items. Council Member Kurt Schmidt noted the successful Cruise Night event. The meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening, everyone, and welcome tonight's uh city council meeting. Uh Stan is uh indisposed, so uh the council will begin with uh a uh moment of silence followed by the pledge. Please stand join us with a pledge. I pledge an allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, our God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with section 84-1412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and posted on the wall of the council chambers. Uh Peggy, please call roll. Mayor Klaus, absent bushcutter. Here. Present Nicola Moore. Here uh first up is oral communications. At this time, we'd like to invite Fire Administrator Jason Whalen and Fire Chief Aaron Jameson up to the podium for the pinning ceremony for our newly elected officers of the Carney Volunteer Fire Department. Always an event we enjoy. You can hear the new blood in the room. Right. Good evening, members of the council, city staff, and members of the public in attendance tonight. My name is Aaron Jameson. This is uh fire chief of the Carney Volunteer Fire Department. This is Deputy Chief Jason Whalen. Uh I'm proud to be the Carney Volunteer Fire Department's 28th Fire Chief, and I would like to thank you for the opportunity to conduct our badge pinning at your meeting tonight. Annually, typically in April, we hold our elections in accordance with our bylaws to fill various positions within our department. Well, the Carney Volunteer Fire Department is governed by the both the city and the suburban fire district number one of Buffalo and Kearney Counties. The Kearney Volunteer Fire Department Corporation is governed by our board of directors. The board of directors is comprised of the board president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and the fire chief. In addition to those positions, three other members are elected from our general membership to also serve on the board. All the board positions serve a vital role in ensuring that the Carney Volunteer Fire Department runs smoothly. With that said, I would like to begin tonight by introducing our newly elected board members. In attendance tonight is our new president, Bill Shafnet. Oh, sorry. Bill Shaft. Our new board member Tony Redshue was not able to make it tonight. In order for our organization to run effectively, our officer structure is built to maintain the proper span of control while splitting responsibilities as equally as possible to each officer level. We utilize the officer positions of chief, deputy chief, battalion chief, captain, and lieutenant. Our battalion chiefs oversee at least one company. Some oversee specialty operations and some oversee other important functions such as training, ARF, equipment and apparatus, etc. With each battalion chief's responsibility, it depends on the result of the elections. Personnel makeup that makes up the best use of their strengths, certifications, and interests. Please help me to congratulate our newly elected officers, beginning with Battalion Chief 3, Seth Lumberry. And I would like uh Becca, his wife, and Frankie, his daughter, to join us and help assist pinning Seth. Yeah, yeah. Go ahead. You can get up there. You're fine. Yeah, just get in front of us. Don't worry about it. Good picture. You go where you get the good picture. Yeah, that's a good picture. Well, not there. You want to borrow this.
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