Scottsbluff City Council Regular Meeting – January 20, 2026

The Scottsbluff City Council held its regular meeting on January 20, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. The council approved the consent calendar, received a public comment about pedestrian safety, discussed financial reports, awarded a storm drainage improvement bid, accepted a real estate donation, and authorized a landfill site identification agreement.

Consent Calendar

The council approved the following items by a single motion (Stricker/Phillips, all yes):

• Approval of the January 5, 2026 regular meeting minutes.
• Setting public hearings for February 2, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. to consider:
  • Paving Improvement District #315
  • Sanitary Sewer District #168
  • Water District #106
• Amending the City’s LB840 Plan (public hearing set for February 2, 2026).
• Acknowledging receipt of a liability claim from Alberto Mena and forwarding it to the city’s insurance carrier.
• Approving a lump sum settlement release on behalf of Andrea Lohr.
• Approving claims of the city.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Scott Archer (3018 Grimrose Drive) addressed the council about a pedestrian hit-and-run accident that occurred on Christmas Eve at the Fifth Avenue crossing (Highway 26). He stated he was struck by a vehicle while using the crosswalk and suffered injuries requiring ER visits. He expressed support for installing lighting and cameras at that intersection and other pedestrian crossings, emphasizing that human life is worth the cost. He also thanked police and first responders. Council members acknowledged the issue, noting ongoing state coordination and a Safe Streets for All grant plan that could leverage future safety improvements. They encouraged Archer to participate in the public survey for that plan and offered to provide contact information for state officials.

Discussion Items

• Claim Removed from Consent Calendar: A claim from Intralinks for $10,520.98 was pulled. Councilmember Solomon declared a conflict of interest, which was approved (Solomon/McCarrigan/Stricker yes). The claim was then approved (Stricker/Solomon, all yes). The Vice Mayor explained the claim included routine items: a VGA adapter ($2,998), Microsoft 365 backup annual payments ($430), data auto backup, and contractual service bundle.
• December 2025 Financial Report: Finance Director Lane presented the report. He noted typical year-end activity, including transfers to cemetery, GIS, and proprietary funds; capital project payments for mowers; and higher health insurance claims in December. Budget-to-actual comparisons showed about 25% through the fiscal year, with debt service being the only expenditure over budget due to the December bond payment (street bond now fully paid off for the Chitzel project; only the 20th Mill overlay bond remains at about $2.5 million). Sales tax revenue was up 20% year-to-date through the first three months. The audit is complete with fieldwork; presentation expected March 16. TIF funds have only earned interest as no property tax has been paid yet. The report was approved (Phillips/Solomon, all yes).
• Ordinance – Second Reading (Chapter 6 & 25 Amendments): An ordinance amending formatting, adding an expiration date, and changing the terms “special permit” and “special use permit” to “conditional use permit” throughout chapters 6 and 25 was presented. No questions or comments were raised; the council moved to the next agenda item without a vote. (No action recorded on this item.)
• Bids & Awards – 28th Street and Avenue K Storm Drainage Improvements: The council awarded the bid to Infinity Construction, Inc. for $163,045. Four bids were received; the engineer’s estimate was $198,275. City staff explained the project will add inlets and a manhole, routing drainage from 28th and K down K to 27th Street, then to an existing manhole on Avenue. Councilmember Stricker noted Infinity’s bid was significantly lower, but staff confirmed it met specifications. The motion passed (Stricker/Phillips, all yes).
• Real Estate Donation Agreement – Reganis, LLC: Tim Reganis offered to donate two lots along the city’s pathway (west of his former dealership). The lots have assessed values of about $28,000 each and are difficult to build on due to water/sewer easements. The Rotary Club has expressed interest in raising funds to build a park (possibly “Cougar Park” after WNCC) on the property, with free design services from a landscape architect. Council discussed park suitability and noted the city could sell the land if desired in the future. The donation agreement was approved (Phillips/Solomon, all yes).
• Task Order 02 – Landfill Site Identification: The council authorized the Vice Mayor to sign Task Order 02 with HDR Engineering, Inc. to identify five potential landfill sites within a 30-mile radius of Scottsbluff/Gering, preferring sites close to the city. The task order is for six months and includes project management, right-of-way services, and site research (soils, water, structures). The cost comes from a fund fed by a $7.50-per-ton tipping fee surcharge collected since 2007; the fund balance is roughly $3 million. The current landfill is expected to be full by the end of 2026 (possibly first quarter 2027). The council also heard that the transfer station design is nearly complete and permit application is close. The motion passed (Phillips/Stricker, all yes).

Key Outcomes

• Approved consent calendar with eight items.
• Approved Intralinks claim after conflict declaration.
• Approved December 2025 Financial Report.
• Awarded storm drainage bid to Infinity Construction for $163,045.
• Approved real estate donation from Reganis, LLC and authorized Vice Mayor to sign the agreement.
• Approved Task Order 02 with HDR Engineering for landfill site identification.
• No formal action was taken on the ordinance second reading (discussed only).
• Council reports were informational; councilmember Phillips noted he would attend a Crime Commission meeting in Lincoln. The next Regional Governance meeting is scheduled for February 5, 2026.
• Meeting adjourned.