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Record of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting: October 27, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, October 27, 2026
BodyKearney, Nebraska
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, October 27, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
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Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:28

Ready?

Unassigned speaker

0:29

All

Speaker 2

0:30

right, welcome everyone to our meeting tonight.

0:32

Uh we'll stand for a moment of silence and then the Pledge of Allegiance.

Unassigned speaker

0:43

All

Speaker 2

0:43

right, please join me for the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:46

I

Speaker 3

0:46

pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:50

And to the Republic for which it stands.

0:53

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

Unassigned speaker

1:01

In

Speaker 2

1:02

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.

1:09

Uh Jake, please take roll.

1:11

Mayor Nicola here.

1:12

Bushcutter?

Speaker 1

1:13

Here.

Speaker 2

1:13

More?

1:14

Here.

1:14

Schmidt absent conceopolis.

1:16

Here.

1:17

There are no oral communications, unfinished business, or public hearings.

1:21

So we're gonna go right to consent agenda.

1:23

There are seven items on the consent agenda.

1:24

Any item listed on the consent agenda may by the request of any single council member be considered as a separate item under the regular agenda section of this agenda.

1:33

Does council need to remove any items from the consent agenda?

1:38

Okay, can I have a motion?

Speaker 4

1:39

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

Speaker 1

1:43

Second.

1:43

Roll call, please.

1:44

Mayor Nicola.

1:45

Aye.

1:46

More?

1:46

Aye.

1:47

Schmidt absent Cotsiopolis.

1:49

Aye.

1:50

Bushcutter.

Speaker 2

1:50

Aye.

1:52

There's one consent agenda ordinance, ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three amends several sections of Article 15 purchasing of chapter one administration of the city code.

Speaker 5

2:03

Okay, I would move for the adoption of ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three, and that the statutory law requiring the reading of ordinances on three successive days be suspended.

2:14

And that ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three be read by number only and placed on final passage.

Speaker 1

2:20

Second.

2:20

Roll call, please.

2:21

Mayor Nicola.

2:22

Aye.

2:22

Schmidt absent Cotsiopolis.

2:24

Aye.

2:25

Bushcutter.

2:26

Aye.

2:26

More.

2:26

Aye.

2:27

Ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three.

Speaker 3

2:29

I move that ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three be passed approved and published as provided by law.

Speaker 1

2:33

Second.

2:34

Roll call, please.

2:35

Mayor Nicola.

2:35

Aye.

2:36

Cotsiopolis.

2:37

Aye.

2:37

Bushcutter?

2:38

Aye.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
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Summary of Proceedings

Kearney City Council Meeting Summary

The Kearney City Council met on October 27, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Council Member Kurt Schmidt was absent; all other members were present. The meeting was brief, consisting of consent agenda approvals, a purchasing code amendment, and community announcements.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved the minutes from the regular meeting of October 13, 2026, and amended minutes from August 11, 2026.
  • Claims: Approved the claims report.
  • Hearing Date: Set November 10, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. for public hearings on Planning Commission recommendations.
  • Keno License (Resolution 2026-130): Approved a keno-type lottery operation request by Endgame West, LLC (dba Big Red Keno) for Kearney Golf & Pickle, Inc. (dba Drop Zone) at 101 11th Avenue.
  • Change Order (Resolution 2026-131): Approved Change Order No. 2-Final for the 2025 Part 4 Improvements (Box Butte), reflecting a decrease of $40,646.00 submitted by Midlands Contracting, Inc. and approved by Miller & Associates.
  • Property Agreement (Resolution 2026-132): Approved a Property Maintenance and Lease Agreement between the City and Mathew Anderson for a tract of land adjacent to Patriot Park.
  • Agricultural Deferral: Approved an application for Special Assessment for Agricultural Deferral submitted by FirsTier Bank for specified tracts of land.

Consent Agenda Ordinances

  • Ordinance No. 8833 (Purchasing Code): The council voted to suspend the three-reading rule and approved the ordinance on final passage. The ordinance amends Article 15 of the City Code to:
    • Increase the minimum bidding amount requirements to $90,000.00 in Sections 1-1505, 1-1506, and 1-1507.
    • Remove the $3,000 purchase limit and allow the purchasing agent or their designee to establish authorized purchasing thresholds (Sections 1-1506, 1-1507, 1-1512).
    • Increase the minimum surplus stock requirements to $40,000.00 in Section 1-1519.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No members of the public offered testimony or addressed the council.

Reports & Community Announcements

  • A council member congratulated the Carna Catholic softball team on winning a state championship and commended the city for providing an escort and showing strong community support.
  • A council member reported on the lighting of the Archway, the fireworks display, and Kearney High School receiving a superior rating at a major band contest, praising the community's ability to host large events.
  • Mayor Jonathan Nikkila recalled the excitement of state competitions and celebrated the city's role in hosting them. He also announced a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Dryden Park for a joint improvement project between UNK softball and the City of Kearney.

Key Outcomes

  • The consent agenda (Resolution Nos. 2026-130, 2026-131, 2026-132, and the agricultural deferral application) was approved by a vote of 4-0 (Schmidt absent).
  • Ordinance No. 8833 amending the purchasing code was adopted by a 4-0 vote.
  • The meeting was adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Ready? All right, welcome everyone to our meeting tonight. Uh we'll stand for a moment of silence and then the Pledge of Allegiance. All right, please join me for 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 Jake, please take roll. Mayor Nicola here. Bushcutter? Here. More? Here. Schmidt absent conceopolis. Here. There are no oral communications, unfinished business, or public hearings. So we're gonna go right to consent agenda. There are seven items on the consent agenda. Any item listed on the consent agenda may by the request of any single council member be considered as a separate item under the regular agenda section of this agenda. Does council need to remove any items from the consent agenda? Okay, can I have a motion? I move to approve items one through seven of the consent agenda. Second. Roll call, please. Mayor Nicola. Aye. More? Aye. Schmidt absent Cotsiopolis. Aye. Bushcutter. Aye. There's one consent agenda ordinance, ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three amends several sections of Article 15 purchasing of chapter one administration of the city code. Okay, I would move for the adoption of ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three, and that the statutory law requiring the reading of ordinances on three successive days be suspended. And that ordinance number eighty-eight thirty-three be read by number only and placed on final passage. Second. Roll call, please. Mayor Nicola. Aye. Schmidt absent Cotsiopolis. Aye. Bushcutter. Aye. More. Aye.

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