Kearney City Council Regular Meeting – June 9, 2026
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Kearney City Council Regular Meeting – June 9, 2026
The Kearney City Council met at 5:30 p.m. on June 9, 2026, in the City Council Chambers. The meeting included public hearings on a new liquor license, a utility easement vacation, a rezoning and final plat, postponement of two items, approval of a consent agenda, and two open account claims. Council members present were Mayor Jonathan Nikkila, Vice-President Randy Buschkoetter, Council Members Tami James Moore, Kurt Schmidt, and (per the transcript) Council Member Stratman – the agenda lists Pete Kotsiopulos instead; this discrepancy is noted. The meeting lasted approximately one hour.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes & Claims: Approved minutes from the May 26, 2026 regular meeting and the claims list.
- Volunteer Fire Department: Adopted Resolution 2026‑68 adding Ryan Arbogast and Jake Flint to the Kearney Volunteer Fire Department.
- Airport Change Order: Adopted Resolution 2026‑69 approving Change Order No. 1 (decrease of $449,374.06) with Constructors, Inc. for the Apron & Taxilanes Rehabilitation Project at Kearney Regional Airport.
- Manufactured Home Court Licenses: Approved annual renewal of licenses for L&L Mobile Home Park (1110 Central Ave) and East Lawn Mobile Homes Estates (2900 & 3010 Grand Ave) through May 31, 2027, and extended Valley View Mobile Home Court’s license (2701 & 2801 Grand Ave) to July 21, 2026 to correct deficiencies.
- Signatory Authorization: Adopted Resolution 2026‑70 authorizing the City Manager, Director of Finance, Assistant Director of Finance, and City Clerk to sign checks and withdrawal orders.
- Consent Agenda Vote: All six consent agenda items were approved unanimously (5–0).
Public Hearings & Testimony
- Public Hearing 1 – Speedee Mart Liquor License: Andy, Operations Manager for Western Oil (50th retail location, third in Kearney), stated the store (Speedee Mart 2766 at 3913 Adams Ave) will follow both state and internal training, card customers under 27 per FDA rules, and offer a $100 bonus to employees who catch underage purchase attempts. No public opposition. Council closed the hearing and approved Resolution 2026‑65 (5–0).
- Public Hearings 2 & 3 – Mills Addition (Postponed): These items (vacation and final plat for Mills Addition, west of Country Club Lane) were postponed to the June 23, 2026 meeting by unanimous motion (5–0). No testimony heard.
- Public Hearing 4 – Utility Easement Vacation: Craig Bennett (1111 Central Ave, representing StoneFlex, LLC) requested vacation of a 10‑ft utility easement along the south property line of Lot 1, Butler Second Subdivision (5508 Chase Ave). The easement is no longer needed because the adjoining lot will be acquired. No public comment. Council closed the hearing, suspended the three‑reading rule, and passed Ordinance 8807 unanimously (5–0).
- Public Hearings 5 & 6 – Butler Fourth Subdivision: Craig Bennett (for Butler Machinery Co., owner Dan Werdel) presented a one‑lot subdivision. The 5.05‑acre parcel will be rezoned from AG (Agricultural) to BP (Business Park), consistent with adjacent zoning. The final plat covers 5.36 acres including dedication of Chase Avenue right‑of‑way. Infrastructure (12‑inch water main, sanitary sewer, stormwater inlets) is available; on‑site detention will be required. No public comment. Council closed hearings, passed Ordinance 8808 (rezoning) and adopted Resolution 2026‑67 (final plat and subdivision agreement), both 5–0.
Regular Agenda Items
- Open Account Claim – Goodlife Architecture ($5,368.00): Approved with Council Member Moore abstaining (4–0–1).
- Open Account Claim – UNL Board of Regents ($292.50): Approved with Council Members Stratman and Moore abstaining (3–0–2).
Reports & Announcements
- Mayor Nikkila commended park staff for Heritage Days; Council Member Schmidt mentioned the National Wrestling Hall of Fame banquet; upcoming events include America 250 on July 4th at the fairgrounds, a celebration of life for Mike Yenny at Yenny Park in July, and “Backyard Farmer” on June 16.
Key Outcomes
- Approved Resolution 2026‑65 (Speedee Mart liquor license) unanimously.
- Postponed Public Hearings 2 & 3 (Mills Addition) to June 23, 2026.
- Adopted Ordinance 8807 (utility easement vacation) unanimously.
- Adopted Ordinance 8808 (rezoning to BP) and Resolution 2026‑67 (Butler Fourth Subdivision) unanimously.
- Approved Consent Agenda items 1–6 unanimously.
- Approved open account claims: Goodlife Architecture ($5,368) and UNL Board of Regents ($292.50) with respective abstentions.
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:30 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
Okay, please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. For which it stands one nation. In accordance with section 841412 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. Uh Peggy, please take roll. Mayor Nicola. Here Bushcutter. Yeah. Moore. Schmidt. Here. Stratman. Here. There are no oral communications, no unfinished business. So we're going to move right to public hearing one, which pertains to the new Class D liquor license and manager application for Speedy Mart 2766 located at 3913 Adams Avenue. And they didn't find anything concerning. So don't know if there's anybody here to speak about it. But we come on up. Yeah. I'm Andy. I am with Western Oil Operations Manager. This will be our third convenience store in Carney, Nebraska. And our 50th overall retail location. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Sure. So I mean, everyone that's staff will get trained, follow the training procedures for this sort of so for all of our locations, we do a one-hour tobacco and alcohol training video that they're sat down before they're even allowed to touch the register. And then in Lincoln and now Kearney also there's additional requirement for training. I'm sure you're aware of the additional requirements, but we do put them through both training. Um the state training and then our own training. Okay. Thanks, Andy. Anyone else have any other questions? Uh what is your policy in terms of um carding people? Do you card everybody like old people like me, or do you use you say under 30? Uh the federal government is anybody under 27 gets carded. Um, so that's the FDA rule. We try to follow that. Okay. Um that's how we're training. Um, so we don't card everyone. Um guy like you probably wouldn't get guarded. Um it is you I'm a fan. No, I'm okay with that. It is up to the cashier though. We have had some cashiers who will just card everybody and we leave that to them if they want to do that, they're perfectly capable of doing that. So we won't restrict them and tell them they can't do that. Do you have any policies for um uh if if someone catches a minor trying to to purchase is there you guys have a reward system? Yep, we do have a hundred dollar bonus for um either passing a sting through a sheriff or a state patrol or a city police sting. Um, or if they catch someone and call the police, as long as there's a um some kind of proof or even surveillance video, we would take that. So and then they get a hundred dollar bonus check in their mail.
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