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Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting – December 17, 2024: Officer Swearing-In, Firefighter Awards, Consent Agenda Approval

City Council — Tuesday, December 17, 2024
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 17, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Okay, next uh members of the Carney Police Department Honor Guard will now present and post the colors followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:32

Okay, you can be seated now.

0:37

In accordance with section 84 1412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted on the wall of the council members.

0:46

Peggy, please take role.

0:48

Mayor Nicolas.

0:49

Here.

0:49

Bush Cutter.

0:50

Here.

0:52

Schmidt.

0:52

Here.

0:53

Okay.

0:54

And next, uh, the city clerk will now administer the oath of office to Alex Ratman.

0:58

So we can have a fifth.

1:11

Yeah, don't swear me into the police officer.

1:12

Yeah.

1:15

I do solemnly swear.

1:17

I do solemnly swear.

1:18

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

1:21

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

1:24

And the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.

1:26

And the Constitution of the State of Nebraska.

1:29

Against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

1:31

Against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

1:33

That I will bear true faith.

1:37

And allegiance to the same.

1:39

And allegiance to the same.

1:40

That I take this obligation freely.

1:42

That I take this obligation freely.

1:44

Without any mental reservation.

1:46

Without any mental reservation.

1:47

Or for purpose of evasion.

1:49

Or for purpose of evasion.

1:51

And then I will faithfully and impartially and impartially.

1:56

Perform the duties of council member.

1:58

Perform the duties of council members.

2:00

According to the law.

2:01

According to law.

2:02

And to the best of my ability.

2:03

And to the best of my ability.

2:05

And I do further swear.

2:06

And I do further swear.

2:07

That I do not advocate.

2:09

That I do not advocate.

2:10

Nor am I a member.

2:12

Nor am I a member.

2:13

Of any political party or organization.

2:15

Of any political party or organization.

2:18

That advocates the overthrow.

2:19

That advocates the overthrow.

2:21

Of the government of the United States.

2:23

Of the government of the United States.

2:25

Or of this state.

2:27

Oh, I'm sorry.

2:28

By force or violence.

2:30

By force or violence.

2:31

And that during such time.

2:33

And that during such time.

2:35

As I am in this position.

2:38

That I'm in this position.

2:39

I will not advocate.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Safety█████████████████████████████████████████████61%
Procedural███████████████████████████36%
Community Engagement██3%
Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting – December 17, 2024

The Kearney City Council met on December 17, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting began with the posting of colors by the Police Department Honor Guard, Pledge of Allegiance, and announcements. Mayor Jonathan Nikkila presided, with Council members present: Vice-President Randy Buschkoetter, Tami James Moore, Kurt Schmidt, Pete Kotsiopulos (not mentioned in transcript but on agenda), and newly sworn-in Council Member Alex Straatmann. City Clerk administered oaths, and the meeting included recognition of fire and police personnel, followed by unanimous approval of the consent agenda.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes from December 10, 2024.
  • Approval of Claims (specific amounts not listed).
  • Receive Planning Commission recommendations and set January 14, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. as the hearing date.
  • Resolution No. 2024-165 setting interest rates for special assessments and policy on reimbursing developers for infrastructure costs.
  • Approval of Plans and Specifications for the US Highway 30 and University Drive Intersection Improvements Project, with bid opening set for January 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
  • Resolution No. 2024-166 approving the updated Standard Contract for Engineering Services.
  • Resolution No. 2024-167 approving Application and Certificate for Payment No. 4-Final ($163,154.75), Change Order No. 2 (decrease of $31,974.00), and acceptance of Certificate of Substantial Completion for 2024 Part 3 Improvements – 28th Street from Avenue I to Avenue L (Nielsen Contracting, LLC).
  • Resolution No. 2024-168 approving Application and Certificate for Payment No. 28 ($1,622,874.91) for WWTP Phase II Improvements – Water Resource Recovery Facility (John T. Jones Construction Co.).

All eight consent agenda items were approved unanimously by roll call vote (Council members Bushckoetter, Schmidt, and Straatmann voting yes; Mayor Nikkila and others concurring).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Jeff (address: 2612 West 46th Street Place, Kearney) addressed the council during the Reports portion, requesting that the council schedule a future meeting to consider allowing small backyard farming, specifically chickens, within city limits. He noted that other Nebraska cities (Lincoln, Omaha, Grand Island, Hastings) permit chickens and that Kearney is the only one that does not. He expressed the need for local food production. The Mayor acknowledged the request and stated it would be taken under consideration; no action was taken.

Discussion Items

  • Oath of Office for Council Member Alex Straatmann: City Clerk administered the oath; Straatmann took his seat as the newest council member.
  • Swearing-In of Police Officers: Police Chief Waugh introduced Officers Jonah Gress (from Central City, UNK criminal justice graduate, former intern) and Samuel Steffen (from Beatrice, UNL graduate, dual major in agricultural science and cattle management, member of Army National Guard). The City Clerk administered the oath, and badges were pinned by family and friends.
  • Volunteer Fire Department Service Awards: Fire Chief Aaron Jameson and Battalion Chief Dave Kruger presented service awards for cumulative years of service. Recipients: 5 years – Lucas Frey; 10 years – Captain Mike Treadway; 15 years – Captain Bryan Chase, Battalion Chief Seth Lunbery (who took a leave of absence and returned), and Chief Aaron Jameson; 20 years – Jerry Folck (absent), Eric “Ric” Pulliam (absent), Dan Thompson, Matt Ullman; 30 years – Tony Rich (absent), John Sydow, Brian Wolfe; 40 years – Kelly Hardin. Chief Jameson noted that a member with 20 years of service typically responds to over 10,756 fire and rescue calls. The total combined years of service recognized exceeded 250 years.
  • Firefighter 1 and Hazmat Operations Certifications: Certificates were presented to members completing the 2024 Firefighter 1 Course: Austin Fuehrer (present), Andrew Kennedy (absent), Eli Minnis (absent), Carson Munster (absent), and Jacob Nutter (absent). The certifications represent over 160 hours of training.
  • Council Reports:
    • Council Member Alex Straatmann thanked police and fire personnel and noted the hundreds of combined years of service.
    • Mayor Nikkila praised the volunteer fire department and police department, acknowledged the dedication of families, and recognized the Carney Park and Rec for holiday lights at Annie Park. He also mentioned a project called “Carney Tomorrow,” a listening session effort from 20–25 years ago, now being revived as a joint effort between the chamber, economic development, visitors bureau, and city to set goals for the next 25 years, likely launching in March–April 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Approved (8 items) – unanimous roll call.
  • Oaths of Office Administered to Council Member Alex Straatmann and Police Officers Jonah Gress and Samuel Steffen.
  • Fire Department Awards and Certificates presented; no further action required.
  • Public Comment (Jeff’s request for backyard chickens) – taken under advisement; no immediate action.
  • Upcoming Initiative: “Carney Tomorrow” community visioning process to be planned for early 2025.
  • Meeting Adjourned by unanimous vote.

Meeting Transcript

Okay, next uh members of the Carney Police Department Honor Guard will now present and post the colors followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Okay, you can be seated now. In accordance with section 84 1412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available for review and is posted on the wall of the council members. Peggy, please take role. Mayor Nicolas. Here. Bush Cutter. Here. Schmidt. Here. Okay. And next, uh, the city clerk will now administer the oath of office to Alex Ratman. So we can have a fifth. Yeah, don't swear me into the police officer. Yeah. I do solemnly swear. I do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution of the United States. 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. Against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That I will bear true faith. And allegiance to the same. And allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely. That I take this obligation freely. Without any mental reservation. Without any mental reservation. Or for purpose of evasion. Or for purpose of evasion. And then I will faithfully and impartially and impartially. Perform the duties of council member. Perform the duties of council members. According to the law. According to law. And to the best of my ability. And to the best of my ability. And I do further swear. And I do further swear. That I do not advocate. That I do not advocate. Nor am I a member. Nor am I a member. Of any political party or organization. Of any political party or organization. That advocates the overthrow. That advocates the overthrow. Of the government of the United States.

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