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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - September 22, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, September 22, 2026

BodyKearney, Nebraska

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, September 22, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 21:18

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:10

Okay.

0:11

Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:14

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

0:22

Under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

0:34

In accordance with section 841412 of the 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.

0:42

Uh Peggy, please take roll.

0:44

Mayor Nicola Schmidt.

0:47

Here.

0:49

There are no oral communications, there's no unfinished business.

0:52

So we're gonna move right to public hearing one, which pertains to the adopting of the one in six years street plan, which was previously presented at the August 11th City Council meeting.

1:01

Andy.

1:03

Good evening, Andy Harder, director of public works.

1:06

Um as you guys recall, we presented the plan at the August 11th meeting.

1:11

Uh since that time we've received no comments.

1:14

I'd be glad to go over any of the plan with you again if you would like.

1:22

Questions from council?

1:23

I didn't hear any comments either.

1:25

No, nor did I.

1:26

No changes from what we hear.

1:28

No changes from the presented point.

1:32

Okay.

1:33

All right.

1:34

Well, this is a uh public hearing.

1:36

Uh anyone in the audience who wish to address this public hearing.

1:40

Um is there anyone in the audience who wants to address this public hearing?

1:44

Great.

1:44

Awesome.

1:46

Just uh give your name and your comments.

1:49

My name is Alan Like.

1:51

Uh I believe you also require an address, which would be 2202 Avenue B Apartment 2.

1:57

Sorry, I'm a little lost.

1:59

Um my notes on the meeting at this time, if I recall correctly from the August 11th meeting, it was stated that part of our current plan is to rebuild uh the intersection out by the new high school.

2:11

Um, which would be the third time, I believe, in the 10 years that I've lived here that that particular intersection would undergo significant work.

2:20

Um do I have that information correct?

2:22

New high you mean so by the Kearney High new intersection, I'm not sure where I uh which I guess which street we discussed put placing a new I guess maybe I have questions.

2:34

I had questions about the notes I think.

2:37

I think it I bet are you it was it a roundabout?

2:39

Is that what you're thinking?

2:40

Yeah.

2:40

Okay, so that's gonna be on the east side of town.

2:42

Yes, um, 39th in Antelope.

2:45

So we've never we have not made improvements to that intersection before because it was in the county.

2:51

We just recently took it into city limits.

2:53

Okay, and then what was happening on the west end of town?

2:57

Um there were I think that was part of the six-year plan.

3:01

Yes, you're right, sir.

3:02

Can we click through the I yeah, can you sorry, I don't have access to the player um uh that's me.

3:09

So on the six-year plan, we do have a couple of longer term improvements.

3:14

Um it would be widening the 30th Avenue overpass to the four lanes.

3:18

Um and then also this then this would be south of the high school would be extending 30th Avenue south to Talmage.

3:26

Okay, um so that would be south of the high school, south of the like 30th Avenue in 11th Street intersection.

3:32

Um it's where the pavement ends right now, so essentially it'd be extending the pavement.

3:36

Um, and then that would also align with the Talmud Street um expansion from Yannie Avenue over to 30th Avenue.

3:43

Very good.

3:44

Thank you for refreshing my memory.

3:45

Yeah, no problem.

3:46

I didn't have all my notes.

3:47

So um I think the one thing I wanted to bring up in regards to this, uh, one of the things that got mentioned in the construction on the east side of town, uh, that there is a bike path that we have been putting off for a number of years because we don't want to have to rebuild the bike path twice.

4:05

Yep.

4:05

Right.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Active Transportation██████████████████████22%

Technology and Innovation███████████████████19%

Public Works█████████████████17%

Community Engagement███████████████15%

Fiscal Sustainability██████████████14%

Zoning and Land Use█████████████13%

Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting - September 22, 2026

The Kearney City Council met on September 22, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers. The meeting included a public hearing on the One- & Six-Year Street Improvement Plan, adoption of the 2026-2027 city budget, and other routine business. All votes were unanimous unless noted.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes of the September 8, 2026 regular meeting and September 9, 2026 special meeting.
Approved the claims.
Received Planning Commission recommendations and set October 13, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. as the hearing date.
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-106 (NDOT certification), No. 2026-107 (property tax request), No. 2026-108 (fire department volunteers Corey Moss and Haley Eutsler), No. 2026-109 (comprehensive fee schedule), No. 2026-110 (Kearney Area Solid Waste Agency budget), No. 2026-111 (CRA board appointment), No. 2026-112 (Buffalo Air Service agreement at airport), No. 2026-113 through 2026-117 (various change orders and infrastructure agreements for street and utility improvements).

Public Hearing: One- & Six-Year Street Improvement Plan

Director of Public Works Andy Harder presented the plan, previously introduced on August 11, 2026. No public comments were received prior to the meeting.
Alan Like (2202 Avenue B, Apt 2) spoke in support of the street improvements but urged the council to also prioritize bike and pedestrian infrastructure. He noted that the plan includes reconstructing the intersection at 39th and Antelope (east side) for the third time in 10 years, while the city has delayed a bike path to avoid rebuilding twice. He suggested bike lanes and safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists, especially near schools.
Council members clarified that the 39th/Antelope intersection had not been previously improved because it was in the county until recently annexed. The six-year plan also includes widening 30th Avenue overpass to four lanes and extending 30th Avenue south to Talmadge Street, aligning with Talmadge Street expansion from Yannie Avenue.
The council voted to close the hearing and adopt Resolution No. 2026-105, approving the One- & Six-Year Street Improvement Plan.

Consent Agenda Ordinances

Ordinance No. 8827, authorizing a warranty deed for the sale of approximately 72.33 acres in the Tech One subdivisions to Horizon 1 Kearney Owner LP, was read by number only and adopted on final passage.

Discussion Items

Adoption of the 2026-2027 City Budget (Ordinance No. 8828): The budget was previously discussed at a public hearing on September 9, 2026. Finance Director Brian (last name not provided) highlighted the new budget format, which council members praised for its transparency and ease of use. Councilman Schmidt noted the format is more intuitive and includes a digital component with an AI-powered search engine. The general budget increased by 1.7%, which Councilman Schmidt appreciated. The ordinance was adopted on final passage.

Public Comments & Testimony

Sharon Nelson (280 115th Road) addressed the council about the data center project (Project Horizon). She noted that at the previous meeting, her question about the purpose of the data center was deferred. Council members explained that the project team includes SDV, Worldwide Mission Critical, and Mara, and that the land was sold under the name Project Horizon. The specific end user of the AI data center is unknown to the city. Councilman Schmidt offered to provide the project contact information after the meeting. Ms. Nelson expressed concerns about AI safety, referencing whistleblower Jacob Coxon and recent news about Pentagon AI incidents, and urged the council to be cautious. No further action was taken on this item.

Key Outcomes

Public Hearing: Closed and Resolution 2026-105 adopted (unanimous).
Consent Agenda: Items 1-15 approved (unanimous).
Ordinance 8827 (Warranty Deed): Adopted on final passage (unanimous).
Ordinance 8828 (2026-2027 Budget): Adopted on final passage (unanimous).
Adjournment: Motion carried (unanimous). The meeting adjourned without further business.

Meeting Transcript

Okay. Please join me 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, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. In accordance with section 841412 of the 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 roll. Mayor Nicola Schmidt. Here. There are no oral communications, there's no unfinished business. So we're gonna move right to public hearing one, which pertains to the adopting of the one in six years street plan, which was previously presented at the August 11th City Council meeting. Andy. Good evening, Andy Harder, director of public works. Um as you guys recall, we presented the plan at the August 11th meeting. Uh since that time we've received no comments. I'd be glad to go over any of the plan with you again if you would like. Questions from council? I didn't hear any comments either. No, nor did I. No changes from what we hear. No changes from the presented point. Okay. All right. Well, this is a uh public hearing. Uh anyone in the audience who wish to address this public hearing. Um is there anyone in the audience who wants to address this public hearing? Great. Awesome. Just uh give your name and your comments. My name is Alan Like. Uh I believe you also require an address, which would be 2202 Avenue B Apartment 2. Sorry, I'm a little lost. Um my notes on the meeting at this time, if I recall correctly from the August 11th meeting, it was stated that part of our current plan is to rebuild uh the intersection out by the new high school. Um, which would be the third time, I believe, in the 10 years that I've lived here that that particular intersection would undergo significant work. Um do I have that information correct? New high you mean so by the Kearney High new intersection, I'm not sure where I uh which I guess which street we discussed put placing a new I guess maybe I have questions. I had questions about the notes I think. I think it I bet are you it was it a roundabout? Is that what you're thinking? Yeah. Okay, so that's gonna be on the east side of town. Yes, um, 39th in Antelope. So we've never we have not made improvements to that intersection before because it was in the county. We just recently took it into city limits. Okay, and then what was happening on the west end of town? Um there were I think that was part of the six-year plan. Yes, you're right, sir. Can we click through the I yeah, can you sorry, I don't have access to the player um uh that's me. So on the six-year plan, we do have a couple of longer term improvements. Um it would be widening the 30th Avenue overpass to the four lanes. Um and then also this then this would be south of the high school would be extending 30th Avenue south to Talmage.

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