OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, April 14, 2026
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:00

Please rise.

0:00

We'll begin with a moment of silence.

0:13

Please join us with a pledge of allegiance.

0:16

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:23

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice role.

0:32

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 council chambers.

0:43

Peggy, please call roll.

0:45

Mayor Nicola Absent Bushcutter.

0:47

Here more.

0:47

Here Schmidt.

0:49

Stratman absent.

0:50

All right.

0:51

There are no oral communications and there is no unfinished business.

0:54

There's also no public hearings, so we're catching up.

0:59

On the consent agenda, there are six items.

1:01

Any item on the consent agenda may at the request of any single council member be considered as a separate item for the regular agenda section of the agenda.

1:10

And are there any items for that need to be uh removed from the consent agenda?

1:15

Uh seeing none, I would entertain a motion.

1:18

I move to approve items one through six of the consent agenda.

1:21

Second.

1:21

Motion and second.

1:22

Peggy, please call roll.

1:23

Mayor Nicola Absent Moore.

1:25

Aye, Schmidt.

1:26

Hi.

1:27

Stratman Absent Bushcutter.

1:29

Aye.

1:31

And there are no consent agenda ordinances, and that brings us to our regular agenda, item number one, which pertains to the redevelopment project submitted by BH Investments Incorporated for redevelopment area number 10 for an area described as lot one, old father first edition.

1:47

Brian.

1:48

Thank you, Randy.

1:49

Good evening, everybody.

1:50

The item before you is for a TIFF project.

1:53

It's already gotten approved at the CRA meeting the other day on April 6th.

1:58

They're looking for approved costs in the rough area of $822,000.

2:05

Currently it is just a piece of land.

2:08

So they are looking to build what is up on the screen in front of you.

2:11

There's a rendering so you guys get a general idea of what it will look like.

2:14

It's going to be a combination of office and warehouse space.

2:33

Yeah, I remember going through the rezoning process not long ago.

2:38

Nice to see the renderings now.

2:40

Are there any questions for Brian or Chad?

2:45

Okay.

2:45

Thank you, Brian.

2:48

With there being no questions, I narrow motion.

2:51

I move to approve that finding or the finding that the redevelopment projects set forth in the application submitted by BH Investments Inc.

3:02

would not be economically feasible without the use of tax increment financing, and that the proposed redevelopment project would not occur in the community redevelopment area without the use of tax increment financing, and that the cost and benefits of the proposed redevelopment project are found to be in the long-term best interest of the community.

3:22

And further move that the redevelopment project be granted 100% of the annual increment in real estate taxes up to the certified eligible project cost over a period not to exceed 15 years, beginning with tax year 2026, and to adopt resolution number 2026-37, granting that the chairman and legal counsel the authority to negotiate and execute a redevelopment contract with B and H investments Inc.

3:51

Second.

3:52

Easy for you to say.

4:03

Thank you.

4:04

Regular agenda item number two pertains to the approval of the plans and specifications in connection with the downtown Carney festoon lighting project and set the bid opening date for May the 5th at 2 p.m.

4:15

Andy, I did have to look up the word festoon.

4:19

I was like, he's gonna point at me.

4:21

I know that's great.

4:23

I don't use that.

4:25

It's not a word.

4:25

I will still like it.

4:27

I feel smart using it, and I feel I can use it in a sentence now.

4:31

So it's all good.

4:32

Well, now you got to tell the rest of us what festive is.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Arts And Culture████████████████████████████████32%
Transportation Safety███████████████████████████████31%
Procedural█████████████████████████25%
Economic Development████████████12%
Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting – April 14, 2026

The Kearney City Council met on April 14, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. Mayor Jonathan Nikkila was absent; Vice-President Randy Buschkoetter presided. The council approved a consent agenda, a tax increment financing (TIF) redevelopment project, and plans and specifications for a downtown festoon lighting project.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the minutes of the regular meeting held March 24, 2026.
  • Approved the claims.
  • Adopted Resolution No. 2023-152A amending the Developer Constructed Infrastructure Agreement for The Meadows First Addition.
  • Adopted Resolution No. 2026-34 approving the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet ½ ton pickup for $48,668.00 for the Utilities Department.
  • Adopted Resolution No. 2026-35 approving a Property Maintenance and Lease Agreement with B & B Bendfeldt Farms, LLC for a 20-acre tract.
  • Adopted Resolution No. 2026-36 approving Kyle Robinson as a member of the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No oral communications or public testimony were presented.

Discussion Items

  • Redevelopment Project – B&H Investments, Inc. (TIF): Brian presented the project, which had been approved by the Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA) on April 6, 2026. The project involves a combination office and warehouse on Lot 1, Oldfather First Addition, with eligible project costs of approximately $822,000. The council discussed the rendering and the need for TIF to make the project economically feasible. The council then approved Resolution No. 2026-37, including findings that the project would not occur without TIF, that the benefits are in the long-term best interest of the community, and granting 100% of the annual increment in real estate taxes up to the certified eligible costs for a period not to exceed 15 years, beginning with tax year 2026. The chairman and legal counsel were authorized to negotiate and execute a redevelopment contract.
  • Downtown Kearney Festoon Lighting Project: Andy Harder, Director of Public Works, presented the plans and specifications for Phase 1 of the project. The project covers Central Avenue from 21st to 24th Streets and involves removing traffic signal systems, installing custom lighted structures (22-foot tall, 18-inch square poles with mesh paneling and string lighting), and converting the intersections to four-way stop signs. The Downtown Improvement Board recommended the design, which is modern to complement the historic brick buildings. The poles will have four different panel designs rotated at each intersection. The project also includes a bid option for planter bases and seating. Traffic signals will be removed, and the city will reuse parts. The fire department supported the stop-sign approach. No pushback from businesses was reported. The council approved the plans and specifications and set the bid opening date for May 5, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., with an award possible on May 12, 2026, and construction targeted for completion by the end of November 2026. No funds were appropriated at this meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved Resolution No. 2026-37 for the B&H Investments TIF redevelopment project (unanimous: 4-0, with two absent).
  • Approved the plans and specifications for the Downtown Kearney Festoon Lighting Project and set the bid opening date (unanimous: 4-0, with two absent).
  • The meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Please rise. We'll begin with a moment of silence. Please join us with a 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, indivisible with liberty and justice role. 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 council chambers. Peggy, please call roll. Mayor Nicola Absent Bushcutter. Here more. Here Schmidt. Stratman absent. All right. There are no oral communications and there is no unfinished business. There's also no public hearings, so we're catching up. On the consent agenda, there are six items. Any item on the consent agenda may at the request of any single council member be considered as a separate item for the regular agenda section of the agenda. And are there any items for that need to be uh removed from the consent agenda? Uh seeing none, I would entertain a motion. I move to approve items one through six of the consent agenda. Second. Motion and second. Peggy, please call roll. Mayor Nicola Absent Moore. Aye, Schmidt. Hi. Stratman Absent Bushcutter. Aye. And there are no consent agenda ordinances, and that brings us to our regular agenda, item number one, which pertains to the redevelopment project submitted by BH Investments Incorporated for redevelopment area number 10 for an area described as lot one, old father first edition. Brian. Thank you, Randy. Good evening, everybody. The item before you is for a TIFF project. It's already gotten approved at the CRA meeting the other day on April 6th. They're looking for approved costs in the rough area of $822,000. Currently it is just a piece of land. So they are looking to build what is up on the screen in front of you. There's a rendering so you guys get a general idea of what it will look like. It's going to be a combination of office and warehouse space. Yeah, I remember going through the rezoning process not long ago. Nice to see the renderings now. Are there any questions for Brian or Chad? Okay. Thank you, Brian. With there being no questions, I narrow motion. I move to approve that finding or the finding that the redevelopment projects set forth in the application submitted by BH Investments Inc. would not be economically feasible without the use of tax increment financing, and that the proposed redevelopment project would not occur in the community redevelopment area without the use of tax increment financing, and that the cost and benefits of the proposed redevelopment project are found to be in the long-term best interest of the community. And further move that the redevelopment project be granted 100% of the annual increment in real estate taxes up to the certified eligible project cost over a period not to exceed 15 years, beginning with tax year 2026, and to adopt resolution number 2026-37, granting that the chairman and legal counsel the authority to negotiate and execute a redevelopment contract with B and H investments Inc. Second. Easy for you to say. Thank you.

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