OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - May 12, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, May 12, 2026
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, May 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Transcript — Verbatim
0:07

Okay, thank you.

0:08

Uh today we want to thank the members of the Kearney Police Department Honor Guard for presenting the colors this evening.

0:14

Please direct your attention to the flag and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:23

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:36

Or go ahead and be seated.

0:46

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

0:55

Peggy, please take roll.

0:56

Mayor Nicola.

0:58

Bush Ketter.

0:59

Moore.

1:00

Stratman.

1:01

Here at this time, we're gonna invite uh Chief Kowalik and police officers Jacob Gold, Ethan Rocchek, and Joshua Goodbreak.

1:13

Josh, good break to the front for the oath of office.

1:16

And we will clear out for you.

1:19

Thank you, Council.

1:19

Thank you, Mayor.

1:20

If you guys want to just have a thing crowd.

1:26

Well, welcome everybody.

1:27

It's an exciting day here.

1:29

Appreciate everybody being here showing their support.

1:32

You know, being a police officer, um, there could be some tough days, mostly good days.

1:37

A lot of times it's the gratitude that you take in every day, usually make it a good day.

1:42

However, you know, sometimes there are difficult days that are just unavoidable.

1:46

So it's really important that we have good support at home, friends, family, things like that.

1:54

Just you know, it just makes the job that much easier.

1:56

So to see family and friends here to support these three officers is just very cool to see.

2:01

So I really do appreciate that.

2:03

Um we take a lot of pride uh in the Carnegie Police Department.

2:07

We take a lot of pride with who we select.

2:09

I don't think there's anything more important than who we offer a position with KPD and who we promote at KPD.

2:17

So again, this is exciting.

2:18

Uh these guys wouldn't be here if we didn't think that they would have what it takes for to be great officers.

2:25

Uh part of being uh a good uh professional organization is that there's high standards and there's expectations.

2:32

These guys, when they go through their training, they're gonna understand the expectations, understand um that we have standards, and we're gonna hold them to those standards, and that's what makes us have just a great community to live in, a safe community to live in, and just a great police force.

2:46

So I'm excited about these three guys.

2:49

Um right here we have Officer Goodbreak, Josh Didbreak, super excited to have him on board.

2:54

Uh what I've noticed from Josh is his grit and determination.

2:58

I know he's a Carney guy, he owned a body shop before this, and I know he is he uh a dream was to work for KBD.

3:07

Just his grit, his determination uh to go through the process, just you know, really excited about him.

3:14

Uh he did great at the academy, and uh every time we have a meeting, he's always smiling, eager, working on our ready to go.

3:20

So I'm really excited to see what that does.

3:21

And I know his wife Rachel's here, and I think they have five five and a half kids.

3:26

Five and a half, right?

3:27

So maybe five and three quarters of our sure.

3:30

But anyway, excellent.

3:32

Uh Ethan Rachak here, he's a Carney kid.

3:35

Uh, and grew up here, wanted to work for KPD, and we're so excited to have him.

3:40

Uh when he went through UMK, became an intern with us, then became a community service officer, and now got hired as uh police officer.

3:49

Super excited to have him.

3:50

He does a great job.

3:52

Uh just we have a strong philosophy with KPD with community engagement, and he just took that to heart when he was an intern and then a CSO.

4:02

We have something called Natural Night Out, and I remember specifically him working so hard to build relationships and impact the youth review apartments, and then up at Eastborough.

4:11

And it didn't matter who he was interacting with, he treated them all the same, and it was just awesome to see.

4:17

It was really cool to see him up there at Eastford Park where he grew up, and uh I know he's gonna fit in.

4:22

I've heard great things.

4:23

And then we have Officer Gold down at the end.

4:25

He comes from Kentucky and certified officer, and he had family here, and and wanted to uh his law enforcement experience, Kentucky, take it to Nebraska, and so far he's just been fitting in upgrade.

4:38

The guys are talking uh well of him, he's getting along, but he's certified, so he didn't have to go through the basic like these other two.

4:45

Uh but it's just really really cool to see him just fit in with the guys.

4:49

One thing I've noticed about him is during our meetings or roll call, our county attorneys there.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████50%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████████████████████26%
Technology and Innovation█████████████14%
Public Safety█████5%
Affordable Housing███3%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - May 12, 2026

The Kearney City Council met on May 12, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting opened with a presentation of colors by the Kearney Police Department Honor Guard, Pledge of Allegiance, and the administration of the oath of office to three new police officers: Jacob Gould, Ethan Mroczek, and Josh Goodbrake. The council then conducted ten public hearings, approved the consent agenda, and handled two open account claims. All items were approved, most unanimously, with the meeting adjourning in under an hour.

Ceremonial Items

  • Oath of office administered to Kearney Police Officers Jacob Gould, Ethan Mroczek, and Josh Goodbrake. Chief Kowalik praised their qualifications and the support of their families.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of April 28, 2026: Approved.
  • Claims: Approved.
  • 2026 Part 3 Improvements – Landfill Cell Construction: Approved plans and specifications; bid opening set for June 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
  • 2022 Part 4 Improvements (31st Street from Avenue G to Avenue N): Adopted Resolution No. 2026-57 approving Change Order No. 2 ($16,317.25 increase), Final Payment Application No. 4 ($113,867.68), and Certificate of Substantial Completion for Dan Roeder Concrete, Inc.
  • Peterson Senior Activity Center Annual Nutrition Service Contract: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-58 approving contract with Community Action Partnership of Mid-Nebraska.
  • 2025 Part 5 Improvements – Marlatt Fourth: Adopted Resolution No. 2026-59 approving Change Order No. 2 ($18,846.10 decrease), Final Payment Application No. 4 ($56,473.67), and Certificate of Substantial Completion for Nielsen Contracting, LLC.

Public Hearings & Testimony

(Applicants presented for each item; no public testimony was offered from the audience on any hearing.)

  • Public Hearing 1 – 5110 Parklane Drive Multifamily Development: The applicant requested a further postponement to May 26, 2026. Motion carried unanimously.
  • Public Hearing 2 – Telecommunications Tower (Verizon): Woody Krog of Buell Consulting presented for The Towers LLC. Proposed a 90-foot monopole tower on West 11th Street to improve Verizon coverage near Kearney High School. The site is 0.4 miles from the nearest residence. Conditions include an 8-foot wood fence, maintenance of screening, and notification of ownership changes within 30 days. Council approved ordinance 8796.
  • Public Hearing 3 – Rezone Lots 1-3, Good Samaritan Village (2500 block W 49th St): Kasey Brandt requested rezoning from R-1 to R-1D to allow up to 6 townhome units on just over an acre. Approved ordinance 8797.
  • Public Hearings 4 & 5 – Butler Third Subdivision (Chase Avenue): Craig Bennett of Miller & Associates represented Butler Machinery. Proposed rezoning 4.71 acres from AG to BP, preliminary plat update, and final plat for a one-lot subdivision on 5.05 acres, including dedication of Chase Avenue right-of-way. Approved ordinance 8798 and resolution 2026-55.
  • Public Hearing 6 – Turkey Creek Lane (2407 & 2409) – Rezone and Setback Vacation: Craig Bennett requested rezoning from RR-1/PD to RR-2/PD and vacation of 50-foot front and rear yard setbacks for Lots 5 & 6, Block One. The PD overlay retains side yard setbacks. Planning Commission meeting was short (2 pages). Approved ordinances 8799 and 8800.
  • Public Hearing 7 – Vacation of Lot 7, Turkey Creek Second Subdivision: Craig Bennett requested vacation of Lot 7 (owned by Turkey Creek Properties) to remove it from the plat; owner uses the land for soccer and does not wish to pay taxes on an improved lot. Property is in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Approved ordinance 8801.
  • Public Hearings 8 & 9 – 2017 Avenue B – Land Use Amendment and Rezone: Craig Bennett represented Caliber Nebraska LLC. Requested amendment of Future Land Use Map from Medium Density Residential to Central Business District and rezoning from M-1 to CBD. Approved resolution 2026-56 and ordinance 8802.
  • Public Hearing 10 – City Property Rezoning Cleanup (multiple parcels): City Planner Melissa Dorde O’Hara presented rezoning of three groups of city-owned parcels (2010 Avenue B, 120 East Railroad Street, 2017/2025 Avenue A) from M-1 to CBD to align with Future Land Use Map. Approved ordinances 8803, 8804, and 8805.

Discussion Items

  • Council members made brief comments on several hearings, including appreciation for the brevity of the Turkey Creek planning commission report and lighthearted remarks about cell service at high school football games. No substantive debate occurred.
  • At the end of the meeting, council members recognized National Police Week and thanked the police department. They also expressed appreciation for staff work on the Good Life District vote taking place later that evening.

Key Outcomes

  • Public Hearing 1 Postponement: Approved unanimously.
  • Public Hearing 2 – Telecommunications Tower (Ordinance 8796): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 3 – Rezone to R-1D (Ordinance 8797): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 4 – Rezone to BP (Ordinance 8798): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 5 – Final Plat (Resolution 2026-55): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 6 – Rezone and Setback Vacation (Ordinances 8799 & 8800): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 7 – Vacation of Lot 7 (Ordinance 8801): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 8 – Land Use Amendment (Resolution 2026-56): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 9 – Rezone to CBD (Ordinance 8802): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Public Hearing 10 – City Rezoning (Ordinances 8803-8805): Passed unanimously (5-0).
  • Consent Agenda (Items 1-6): Approved unanimously (5-0).
  • Regular Agenda Item 1 – Open Account Claim to Grant Buschkoetter ($282.50): Approved 4-0-1 (Council Member Randy Buschkoetter abstained).
  • Regular Agenda Item 2 – Open Account Claim to Kearney Sustainable ($8,883.00): Approved 4-0-1 (Council Member Tami James Moore abstained).
  • Adjournment: Moved and seconded; passed unanimously (5-0).

Meeting Transcript

Okay, thank you. Uh today we want to thank the members of the Kearney Police Department Honor Guard for presenting the colors this evening. Please direct your attention to the flag and join us in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Or go ahead and be seated. In accordance with section 84 1412 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes, a current copy of the Open Meetings Act is available available for review and is posted on the wall of the council chambers. Peggy, please take roll. Mayor Nicola. Bush Ketter. Moore. Stratman. Here at this time, we're gonna invite uh Chief Kowalik and police officers Jacob Gold, Ethan Rocchek, and Joshua Goodbreak. Josh, good break to the front for the oath of office. And we will clear out for you. Thank you, Council. Thank you, Mayor. If you guys want to just have a thing crowd. Well, welcome everybody. It's an exciting day here. Appreciate everybody being here showing their support. You know, being a police officer, um, there could be some tough days, mostly good days. A lot of times it's the gratitude that you take in every day, usually make it a good day. However, you know, sometimes there are difficult days that are just unavoidable. So it's really important that we have good support at home, friends, family, things like that. Just you know, it just makes the job that much easier. So to see family and friends here to support these three officers is just very cool to see. So I really do appreciate that. Um we take a lot of pride uh in the Carnegie Police Department. We take a lot of pride with who we select. I don't think there's anything more important than who we offer a position with KPD and who we promote at KPD. So again, this is exciting. Uh these guys wouldn't be here if we didn't think that they would have what it takes for to be great officers. Uh part of being uh a good uh professional organization is that there's high standards and there's expectations. These guys, when they go through their training, they're gonna understand the expectations, understand um that we have standards, and we're gonna hold them to those standards, and that's what makes us have just a great community to live in, a safe community to live in, and just a great police force. So I'm excited about these three guys. Um right here we have Officer Goodbreak, Josh Didbreak, super excited to have him on board. Uh what I've noticed from Josh is his grit and determination. I know he's a Carney guy, he owned a body shop before this, and I know he is he uh a dream was to work for KBD. Just his grit, his determination uh to go through the process, just you know, really excited about him. Uh he did great at the academy, and uh every time we have a meeting, he's always smiling, eager, working on our ready to go. So I'm really excited to see what that does. And I know his wife Rachel's here, and I think they have five five and a half kids. Five and a half, right? So maybe five and three quarters of our sure. But anyway, excellent. Uh Ethan Rachak here, he's a Carney kid. Uh, and grew up here, wanted to work for KPD, and we're so excited to have him. Uh when he went through UMK, became an intern with us, then became a community service officer, and now got hired as uh police officer. Super excited to have him. He does a great job.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com