Scottsbluff City Council Regular Meeting - December 15, 2025

The Scottsbluff City Council met on December 15, 2025, and approved the consent calendar, a Keno funding award for the West Nebraska Field of Dreams, a maintenance agreement with the Nebraska Department of Transportation, an amended city manager employment agreement, a city property sale and related ordinance, and multiple equipment and construction contracts. The council also changed the order of the agenda so the Clemens Carpet Micro TIF application could be heard earlier in the meeting.

Agenda Change

• Council members unanimously approved moving Item 11B, the Micro TIF application for Clemens Carpet & Flooring, to Item 9B so a staff member could attend his daughter's band concert.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved the consent calendar unanimously, which included approval of the December 1, 2025 regular meeting minutes; public hearings for January 5, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. for the Green & Tangled, LLC d/b/a The Tangled Tumbleweed Class CK liquor license and for the zoning text amendment regarding Conditional Use Permits and formatting changes; approval of bid specifications for the 2026 Chip Seal Project with bids due January 6, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.; cancellation of the December 29, 2025 meeting; and approval of city claims.

Claim Removed From Consent Calendar

• The council accepted a member's recusal for a potential conflict and then approved the removed Intralinks claim in the amount of $10,646.30. Staff explained the claim included managed services, data backup fees, Microsoft 365 subscriptions, and a wireless access point.

Financial Report

• The council received the November 2025 Financial Report. The finance director noted the public safety fund was negative because two police cars arrived earlier than usual, with property tax receipts expected to catch up. The report also reflected a Midwest Theater grant, debt service payments on highway allocation bonds, the payoff of the 2020 chip seal bond, and environmental services and wastewater CIP purchases related to the compost facility. Audit fieldwork had started that week.

Micro TIF Application

• The council approved the Micro TIF application for Marcus N. Clemens for the facade beautification/remodel of 1018 East Overland, Clemens Carpet & Flooring, and authorized the mayor to sign the resolution. Staff confirmed the project met all statutory requirements: a single project on an existing structure built in 1965, located in a blight and substandard area, in a county with population under 100,000, with assessed value below $1.5 million, and consistent with the comprehensive plan. The actual assessed value was stated as $538,845, lower than the $585,000 listed on the application. The property owner was not present. The project includes windows, doors, stucco, painting, some interior drywall work, and will remain a carpet business.

Keno Funding Request - West Nebraska Field of Dreams

• Dan Winhorse and Brett Wilburn presented the $20,130 request to replace the turf at the West Nebraska Field of Dreams facility. Winhorse said the turf was 16 to 17 years old and needed its first replacement, and described the facility as self-supporting through hourly rentals. Wilburn explained the facility rents for $800 per hour for one hour per week per team for the full year, with 103 of 105 weekly hours rented, about 98 percent capacity, and annual income around $24,000. Winhorse also noted roughly $124,000 in assets, future plans for the golf simulator, landscaping and storage, and that the organization paid about $3,000 to deepen a sewer line. Council members who inspected the facility said the turf was worn out and the curtains and batting cages also needed attention. Council members voiced support for the request as a good investment, and the council approved the Keno funding.

Maintenance Agreement No. 22 with NDOT

• The council approved Maintenance Agreement No. 22 with the Nebraska Department of Transportation and authorized the mayor to sign. The per-lane-mile cost will increase from about $2,030 to $2,090, an increase of a little over $1,000 per year. NDOT projects 3 percent yearly increases until 2030 and will then reevaluate. City responsibilities include snow removal, crosswalk painting, and mowing medians.

Amended Employment Agreement

• The council unanimously removed the amended employment agreement with City Manager Kevin E. Spencer from the table. Spencer highlighted the severance structure in Section 3C: the first seven bi-weekly payments at 100 percent of regular gross pay, followed by payments at 80 percent, 60 percent, and 40 percent, with reporting requirements and mitigation if he finds a comparable job. Council members described the severance as a well-structured middle ground, not a golden parachute. The contract also moves future pay adjustments to the evaluation process rather than an automatic October 1 COLA, and retains 60 days' resignation notice. Council discussion referenced a proposed 8 percent salary adjustment based on comparable cities; the council settled on a 5 percent adjustment, bringing the salary to approximately $175,350, with council members describing the total increase for the year as 8 percent when combined with the 3 percent COLA. The amended agreement was approved and the mayor was authorized to sign it.

Property Sale and Ordinance - 1502 21st Ave

• The council approved the agreement with Florencio Casillas and Keven Casillas to sell city-owned property at 1502 21st Ave., Scottsbluff. Staff explained the buyers accepted the counteroffer and requested Title Express as closing agent. The council also directed the city manager to reject other offers on the property.
• The council then read the ordinance approving the sale of Tracts A and C, Wiedeman Subdivision, commonly known as 1502 21st Ave., on first reading, voted to waive the three readings, and approved the ordinance. Publication for three consecutive weeks will begin the remonstrance period.

Bids and Awards

• Lacy Park LED lighting: awarded to Techline Sports Lighting, LLC for $704,900 through Sourcewell. The project replaces field lighting at all four fields, includes full installation, steel poles, LED lights, and a 10-year warranty. Staff noted the city currently spends about $30,000 per year on lighting repairs and existing parts are obsolete. The council was told the project would be funded from the capital projects fund, which had about $2.7 million available.
• 2026 Elgin Broom Bear sweeper: purchase approved through Sourcewell/Macqueen for $336,555.40 after a $70,000 trade-in. The new sweeper will replace a 2019 model, with expected delivery in July 2026, and is under the $385,000 budget.
• Water Department half-ton truck: awarded to Transwest Ford, LLC for $49,493.48. Wild Rose Chevy submitted a lower bid but was disqualified because the bid specifications required a Nebraska dealer's license.
• Parks Department 3/4-ton 4-wheel-drive truck: awarded to Transwest Ford, LLC for $51,048.72. The truck will replace a 2006 model used for snow removal, and the bid is under budget.
• Demolition at 1216 and 1220 5th Ave.: awarded to Infinity Construction for $40,050. Other bids were $66,000 and $105,000. Staff stated the properties have no viable owner and the city may later assess cleanup costs or pursue deeds to the lots.

Council Reports

• The city manager noted upcoming meetings, including an LB840 application review committee, Heartland Express, and a landfill meeting with Gering and HDR. No other council reports were given.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the consent calendar, including the January 5, 2026 public hearings, the January 6, 2026 bid deadline, and cancellation of the December 29, 2025 meeting.
• Approved the Intralinks claim of $10,646.30 after accepting a council member's recusal.
• Received the November 2025 Financial Report.
• Approved the Clemens Carpet Micro TIF application and authorized the mayor to sign the resolution.
• Approved $20,130 in Keno funding for the West Nebraska Field of Dreams turf replacement.
• Approved Maintenance Agreement No. 22 with NDOT and authorized the mayor to sign.
• Approved the amended employment agreement with Kevin E. Spencer, including the salary adjustment to approximately $175,350, and authorized the mayor to sign.
• Approved the sale agreement and ordinance for 1502 21st Ave., directed city staff to reject other offers, and set publication of the ordinance for three consecutive weeks.
• Awarded all presented bids, including Lacy Park LED lighting, the Elgin sweeper, two Transwest Ford trucks, and the Infinity Construction demolition contract.