Kearney City Council Meeting November 25, 2025: Police Promotions, Consent Agenda, Ordinance Passed
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Kearney City Council Meeting – November 25, 2025
The Kearney City Council met on November 25, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 18 East 22nd Street. The meeting opened with the Police Honor Guard presenting colors, the Pledge of Allegiance, an Open Meetings Act announcement, and roll call. Council recognized the promotion of two police officers, approved a 13-item consent agenda with one abstention, passed a mobile food vendor ordinance, and received reports from council and staff. No unfinished business, public hearings, or regular agenda items were on the agenda, and no public comments were offered.
Recognition Ceremony
- The council celebrated the promotion of Police Lieutenants Tony Cordova and Jared Small. Police Chief Kowalik highlighted Cordova's 30-year law enforcement career, including narcotics investigation, founding membership on the ESU team, SWAT command, and seven years as investigative sergeant with FBI credentials. Small was recognized for a 20-year career, including service as patrol sergeant, 10 years on the ESU team, and work as special services sergeant overseeing school and airport security, community engagement, and the K-9 program. Both officers were administered the oath of office by the city clerk.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the November 12, 2025, regular meeting and approved the claims.
- Received Planning Commission recommendations and set December 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. as the date and time for hearings on applicable applications.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2025-150 approving the services agreement with the Great Platte River Road Memorial Foundation.
- Approved Resolution No. 2025-151 for the funding agreement with Visit Kearney.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2025-152 appointing Andrew Clements and Chayna Lundgren to the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department.
- Approved the Utilities Department's request to sell three pieces of surplus equipment by auction, sealed bid, or private/public sale.
- Approved the Keno Application Advisory Committee's recommended 2025-2026 Special Community Betterment Grant Awards.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2025-153 awarding the 2026 Part 1 Improvements – Avenue A – 31st Street to 35th Street bid to Nielsen Contracting, LLC in the amount of $1,127,472.00.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2025-154 awarding the 2026 Part 2 Improvements – 45th Street & N Avenue Intersection bid to Nielsen Contracting, LLC in the amount of $785,730.00.
- Accepted the Dryden Park Softball Field Press Box proposal submitted by Sightlines Athletic Facilities in the amount of $161,800.00.
- Adopted Resolution No. 2025-155 amending the City of Kearney Firefighters' Pension Plan due to Nebraska LB 179.
- Approved the updated Janitorial Services Contract with Jose Dimas, DBA Magic Cleaning.
- The consent agenda was approved with Councilmember Moore abstaining; all other council members voted in favor.
Consent Agenda Ordinance
- Passed Ordinance No. 8771 on final passage, amending Sections 3-3108 ("Permit Required") and 3-3110 ("Application") of Article 31 ("Mobile Food Vendor") of Chapter 3 ("Business Regulations") of the Kearney City Code. The council suspended the rule requiring readings on three successive days and voted unanimously to approve and publish the ordinance.
Reports & Council Comments
- Councilmember Schmidt reported positive feedback on Sportsplex usage over the past weekend and described it as a valuable community asset.
- The city manager and other officials noted a wrestling tournament at the Sportsplex featuring 600 wrestlers from 23 states and 22 mats, including pickleball courts, and Kearney's upcoming first-round NCAA Division II volleyball tournament. They also thanked the betterment committee for grant work, highlighted grants including to the animal shelter, and encouraged residents to book upcoming Chicago flights.
- Council members wished well to departing staff member Brad, who thanked the council, called Kearney "the greatest city in the state," and described his move to Lincoln as a "dream opportunity" while pledging to continue advocating for Kearney.
- Additional comments referenced upcoming holiday events including the Christmas Walk and Give Where You Live.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved with one abstention (Councilmember Moore).
- Ordinance No. 8771 adopted unanimously.
- Multiple bid awards and agreements approved, including $1,127,472.00 and $785,730.00 in construction contracts and $161,800.00 for the Dryden Park press box.
- Next council meeting/hearing set for December 9, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.
- Meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
Please uh remain standing. I want to thank the Carney Police Honor Guard for presenting colors today. And now 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 with liberty and justice for all. You can be seated, please. In accordance with section 8414 and 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. Uh Peggy, please take role. Mayor Nicola Bush Cutter Moore Schmidt Stratman. Here all right. Uh always one of our most favorite times when we have our public safety officials, law enforcement and fire department come and be part of our council meetings, and tonight's one of those nights. And so I'm going to ask uh Chief Kowalik and police lieutenants Cordova and JC Small up front for a few remarks, followed by the city clerk administering the oath of office. Well, thank everybody for being here today to celebrate these two individuals that uh promoted the lieutenant. It's a great day, uh great accomplishments by these two individuals. I want to thank all the friends and family here, all the officers that are here. Uh just show the respect to you two. Uh well earned. Uh Tony, Lieutenant Cordova is joined by his wife Joe, son, uh Lieutenant Small is joined by his wife Aaron and his four children, Samantha, Colton, Jaron, and Jameson, um, plus all the officers that are here. Just really appreciate everybody that's kind of stays. Uh these two individuals, uh, like I said, this is well earned. Uh they both have had just a similar career. Uh JC, I'm Lieutenant Small. He's had a 20-year career with the police department, being also Cardi Kid, always wanted to be a Cardi Cop, he's a legacy. His dad uh was a uh deputy with the sheriff's office for many years. Um GC attended high school, he attended UNK, uh worked for us for excellent FTO, uh, great patrol sergeant, um, was on the ESU team for 10 years, uh, protecting our community, uh became an excellent patrol sergeant, and then uh most recently special services sergeant, uh, just really excellent work protecting the schools, protecting the airport, uh, all the community engagement, community um events that we have. He plans and coordinates all those, uh, helps run our canide program, uh, just does excellent work. Uh Lieutenant Cordova, 30-year career law enforcement, uh, just excellent leadership, it's a great job, running shifts, uh, started out as a career as a patrol officer, did really good work as a narcotics investigator where he did other cover work. He was also on the ESU team, one of the original founding fathers of the uh ESU team, uh currently he's a commander over the SU team so over 20 years with that. Uh our SWAT team, um patrol sergeant, did an excellent work there, and then for seven years was an investigative sergeant uh where he had FBI credentials uh with the drug task force. So high profile crimes, uh big cases, he helped oversee all those. So like I said, both these guys have done stellar work. This is really well earned. Um I'm just really proud of both of you guys. Uh you've just done excellent work, and I want to thank you for your dedication to this community, everything you've done, your hard work, and just that constant daily hard work, the dedication of keeping those communities safe and earning the trust of the public. So I want to congratulate you guys on today. So I'll thank you for that. Okay, so Peggy, is it time for the oath, and we'll step aside so you can have photos without us in the background. Oh, I thought I did it. All right, you write the answer to that. I do solemnly swear. That I will support the Constitution of the United States. I will support the Constitution of the United States. And the Constitution of the State of Nebraska. 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. I will bear true faith. And allegiance to the same. That I take this obligation freely. That I take this obligation freely.
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