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