Kearney City Council Meeting - March 11, 2025
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Kearney City Council Meeting - March 11, 2025
The Kearney City Council met on March 11, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting began with a proclamation honoring the Tri-City High School Hockey Team for their 2024-2025 state championship, followed by public hearings and approvals for two major developments: The Meadows Second Addition and Spruce Hollow West Third. All consent agenda items were approved unanimously, and regular agenda open account claims were approved with two abstentions.
Proclamation
- Mayor Nikkila read a proclamation declaring March 11, 2025 as Tri-City High School Hockey Team Recognition Day. The team (20 players from multiple Central Nebraska high schools) finished the regular season with 24 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie, and defeated Creighton Prep 4–0 on March 3 to win the state championship. The head coach and council members shared remarks about the team’s history and regional partnership.
Public Hearings & Discussion Items
The Meadows Second Addition (Public Hearings 1–3)
- Applicant: Olsson for Starostka Group Unlimited. Project: Vacation of easements, streets, and lots in The Meadows First Addition; rezoning of ~38 acres north of 41st Street from AG to R-1D and from R-2/PD to R-3; final plat for 66 lots and two outlots; annexation of the northern portion.
- Presentation: Nate Jensen (Olsson) described the infrastructure plan (water, sanitary, storm sewer) and tie-ins to existing systems. Danny Starostka confirmed dirt work would start as soon as possible; lots would be sold for custom homes.
- Council questions: Council member Moore asked about phasing; Starostka replied construction would begin soon, with homes built to sell lots.
- No public testimony was offered.
- Votes: All three items were approved unanimously (5-0) after separate motions.
Spruce Hollow West Third (Public Hearings 4–5)
- Applicant: Miller & Associates for DT Development. Project: Rezone a 3.42-acre parcel (including 3.01-acre lot) from AG to RR-2 and final plat for one lot with extension of 60th Street and a temporary cul-de-sac.
- Presentation: Craig Bennett (Miller & Associates) explained the lot was part of a previously preliminarily platted area but not included in the Spruce Hollow West Second final plat. The rezoning is consistent with the surrounding R-2 zoning.
- Council questions: Council member Moore asked if the lot was originally available; Bennett clarified DT Development owns the entire 80 acres and this was an expected future phase.
- No public testimony was offered.
- Votes: Both items were approved unanimously (5-0) after separate motions.
Consent Calendar
All 10 items were approved on a single motion (5-0):
- Approval of minutes from February 25, 2025.
- Approval of claims.
- Renewal of land lease with Air Methods Corporation at Kearney Regional Airport (Resolution 2025-27).
- Purchase of a Hook Refuse Truck for $243,424 (Utilities Department).
- Authorization of no-recommendation letter to Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for Home2 Suites/Tru Hotel liquor license.
- Agency Agreement with NDOT for Reconstruct Apron project at airport (Resolution 2025-28).
- Agency Agreement with NDOT for snow removal equipment (Resolution 2025-29).
- Amended Lease with Vertical Lift Maintenance Solutions, LLC (Resolution 2025-30).
- Amendment to Municipality Program Agreement for US Highway 30/University Drive improvements (Resolution 2025-31).
- Approval of plans and specs for snow removal equipment acquisition, bid opening March 27, 2025.
Regular Agenda – Open Account Claims
Council approved claims totaling $1,731.05 (Tami James Moore $192.50; Univ. NE Event Reg. $1,075.00; UNK $195.00; UNL Marketplace $107.55; UNO $161.00). Vote: 3-0-2 (Moore abstained, Stratman abstained).
Reports from Council Members and City Manager
- Council member Kotsiopulos mentioned a 2050 planning session and upcoming Sportsplex ribbon cutting on April 10, 2025.
- Council member Moore noted the Nebraska Planning Conference and recognized Stan Dart's 32 years of service on the Planning Commission.
- Mayor Nikkila thanked residents who attended Kearney Tomorrow listening sessions; one creative idea was to “dig a big hole and build a mountain.”
Key Outcomes
- Proclamation awarded to Tri-City High School Hockey Team.
- The Meadows Second Addition: 17 ordinances (8726–8742) vacating easements/streets and rezoning passed unanimously; final plat (Resolution 2025-24) and annexation (Resolution 2025-25) approved unanimously.
- Spruce Hollow West Third: Ordinance 8743 rezoning passed unanimously; final plat (Resolution 2025-26) approved unanimously.
- Consent agenda approved 5-0.
- Open account claims approved 3-0-2.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:00 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
All right, please join us for 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. Great guy. All right. 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 chambers. Peggy, please take roll. Mary Nicolas. Here Bush Ketter. Here. Schmidt. Stratman. Here. All right. First, uh, we have a really exciting uh opportunity to congratulate some great representatives of our area and community. Um we're gonna invite the representatives and attendance in the Tri-City Storm hockey team to the front here for a presentation on the proclamation for winning the high school hockey championships. I'll read the proclamation and then I'll have you come up and just say a couple words if you want, and then I know we got a couple people up here who have you know some history with the hockey efforts as well. So exciting, then we'll chat for a little bit and then take a picture and we'll be send you on your way. So all right, I'll read the proclamation. Whereas the Tri-City hockey uh high school hockey team formed in the early 2000s and has been a part of the Omaha High School Hockey League since the late 2000s, and whereas the team is led by five coaches with a roster consisting of 20 players from Kearney High School, Kearney Catholic High School, Grand Island Northwest, Hastings High, and North Platte High, of which 18 are skaters and two are goalies, and whereas the team played 26 regular season games consisting of 24 wins, one loss and one tie, and whereas on March 3rd, the Tri-City High School hockey team beat Creighton Prep 4-0 to clinch the 2024, 2025 state championship. And now therefore be it resolved that on behalf of the citizens of Carney, Nebraska, the Kearney City Council does hereby proclaim March 11th, 2025 as Tri-City High School Hockey Team Recognition Day in Kearney, Nebraska, and urge the Kearney community to continue their support of the Tri-City High School Hockey Team. Dated this 11th day of March 2025. So congratulations, would love you guys to come up. Thank you for having us on behalf of the team. I'm head coach, we have another coach here with us, and um all the family and parents and everything as well, but wanted to thank all of you, the city of Kearney, uh a couple of you in particular that really started youth hockey in Kearney, and um we we had a really good season, obviously, in capping it off with the championship, but we had uh we have seven seniors, five juniors, uh a few sophomores, and seven freshmen, I believe. So, or seven first year kids. Um a younger group than what we've had in years past, but also on the top end of more experienced in terms of numbers in years past. So it's been fun to see it all come together and obviously have the trophy back in Kearney, the first time since uh 2018, I believe. Matt, I love this split. I mean the the the Central Nebraska partnership. Can you kind of talk about how that plays out in your team, like how many kids are from the different communities? Of course. It's uh we're unique compared to the teams we play in that sense. Um, but on any given year in particular to our team, there's maybe three to this year more than that, kids from outside of Kearney and um usually Grand Island's most popular this year edition of a Hastings kid and a North Black kid as well. Um we've had kids as far down as Hayes, Kansas in years past as well. So um the commitment for those kids in particular of in addition to going to Omaha every week, the practice every week as well coming here. So you know, most of the teams we play are just they all go to Crate and Prep. They all go to Middle West, they all go to West Side. Um there's a Lincoln, two Lincoln teams, a Fremont team that are similar to us in that sense, but we're definitely unique. Cool. I know there's a couple other folks up here who have some experience with the program. I don't know if anyone wanna add any stories or not. Driving back in a blizzard is uh that's enough for that story. I know Mike and I were on the the original board for Tri-City Hockey Youth, and that was about 25 years ago. And I remember the first practice, all the kids had inline skates and they were really good on those, but they had never been in ice skates and they didn't know how to stop, so they all hit the wall. So yeah, great memories, and I'm so glad you guys have have gone so far. Great sport. I'm glad you guys are keeping it alive. It really is a lot of fun. I'm glad you guys had so much success.
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