Scottsbluff City Council Regular Meeting - September 21, 2026

The Scottsbluff City Council held its regular meeting on September 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Four council members answered roll call. No agenda changes or emergency matters were announced, and the council did not enter closed session. The council acted on the consent calendar, public hearings, ordinances, a flu clinic permit, an economic development loan, and a roll-off container services agreement. One member of the public opposed the roll-off agreement during public comment.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the minutes of the September 8, 2026 regular meeting.
• Set a public hearing for October 5, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. on the One- and Six-Year Street Improvement Plan.
• Approved the city claims included on the consent calendar.
• The consent calendar was adopted by one roll-call action; no item was pulled except the Intralinks claim noted below.

Public Hearings

• Sanch's Liquor Class D liquor license: Applicant Matt Sanchez asked the council to recommend approval of a Class D liquor license for Sanch's Liquor, LLC at 1311 East Overland. He said he purchased the business from Montez Liquor and had operated it on a temporary permit since August. The transcript contains conflicting dates: he first said August 6, then agreed that he opened August 3. He said the temporary permit runs until November 9. He described new hours of 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays and until 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday, a written policy book, ID-checking procedures, nine security cameras, a panic button, and TIPS training for himself and one employee, with plans to train more. He said he had three to four employees and no compliance problems during the temporary period. He acknowledged his past criminal history and said he had no conviction since 2018. City staff noted that he had disclosed the history, that nothing was automatically disqualifying, and that the investigatory board gave a positive recommendation. The council received exhibits including the application, the council checklist, and written statements from the police chief, city clerk, and development services, then voted to make a positive recommendation to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission and to name Matthew Sanchez as liquor license manager.
• FY 2026-2027 final tax request: Staff presented the final tax request. The primary budget amount in the ordinance was $2,230,934.10, unchanged for four years, and the mill levy would drop to 0.164356, described as the lowest among first-class cities in Nebraska. Assessed value increased about 8.8%. The overall budget is up 61%, mainly because of the proposed aquatic center; if that project does not pass, the funds will not be spent. The off-street parking district request was $54,100, also unchanged, with its mill levy dropping to 2.130215 and assessed value up about 5%. No exhibits were provided, and the hearing was closed.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Wayne Brozick, representing Paradise Pumpers and Potties, opposed the exclusive roll-off container agreement with Waste Connections. He said the agreement would prevent his local company from providing dumpsters to private businesses inside Scottsbluff, reduce competition, and unfairly favor an out-of-state business. He said the city should support local businesses. City staff responded that the exclusive arrangement was designed to keep customer sanitation rates low because Waste Connections would reduce tipping fees in exchange for exclusivity.

Discussion Items

• Claim removed from consent calendar: The council considered the Intralinks claim for $10,145.43. A council member declared a conflict, and the council voted on that conflict. Staff explained that the amount consisted of a monthly managed service fee of $7,560, a monthly backup fee of $2,536, and an Ethernet connection fee of $49. The claim was then approved unanimously.
• August 2026 Financial Report: The finance director reviewed the report. Chip seal spending was just over $1 million, there was a cemetery mower purchase, and hail-storm insurance proceeds were received into a special project. The city was about 92% through the budget year, while general fund expenditures were at 78% of budget. Most expenditure lines were below 92%, with Keno funds as the exception, described as money already out in the community. Revenues in the general fund, environmental services, wastewater, water, and storm water funds were at or above 92%. Sales tax revenue was expected to be above projections by about $105,000 to $150,000, or about $244,000 above last year. Streets was about $244,000 below budget because of chip seal, and capital projects were expected to improve with September property tax receipts. ARPA funds are expected to be fully spent by December. The report was approved.
• Alarm systems ordinance: On second reading, the council considered an ordinance amending the fire and police alarm system code, removing monitoring and permitting fees because the communication center will no longer monitor alarms. The council waived the third reading and approved the ordinance unanimously.
• General obligation highway allocation fund pledge bonds: The council discussed the second reading of an ordinance authorizing up to $2,350,000 in bonds for street improvements. Staff said the projects are identified in the One- and Six-Year Street Improvement Plan, including the 21st Avenue/27th Street intersection, railroad track approaches, West Overland from Broadway to Avenue B, and East Overland from 21st Avenue to Highway 26. Staff said moving quickly would lock in interest rates and possibly allow one project to begin this spring. A council member recalled bond counsel stating that current highway allocation funds are about double what is needed to cover the bonds and that property tax would become necessary only if highway allocation funds were reduced by 50%. The transcript does not show a formal motion or roll-call vote on this item before the council moved to the next agenda item.
• Annual appropriation ordinance: On third reading, the council adopted the ordinance adopting the FY 2026-2027 budget statement as the annual appropriation bill, with an effective date of October 1, 2026 and publication in pamphlet form. The vote was unanimous.
• Drive Thru Flu Clinic permit: The council approved a Business Promotional Event Permit for Panhandle Public Health District for the Drive Thru Flu Clinic on October 3, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The permit closes the southwest portion of 16th Street and blocks eastbound traffic from Avenue A from 7:45 a.m. to noon. PPHD representative Ali Dos Santos said the district served 166 people last year, the event is free, and this year it will also offer COVID vaccines to a broader age range.
• Langer Industrial Services economic development agreement: The council approved an LB840 loan agreement with Langer Industrial Services, LLC for $600,000 to purchase a large shredding machine. The loan has a seven-year payback and job credits of $2,000 per full-time employee annually above a base of 20 employees, not to exceed $30,000 per year. The LB840 application review committee gave a positive recommendation. Pete Langer said the machine would increase capacity, help eliminate the tire pile, work with a state grant, and support expansion from 20 employees by an expected 5-7 jobs, possibly more. He said the deal needed to close within about 10 days.
• Waste Connections roll-off container services agreement: The council approved a five-year exclusive agreement with Waste Connections of Nebraska, Inc. for roll-off container services. Gering had provided the service since about 2007, but its landfill is nearly full, so service transfers around October 1. The agreement includes an accounting of roll-off revenues and a renegotiation clause tied to the city's planned transfer station. A Waste Connections representative said about a third of the containers had already been received and two trucks and two drivers would operate the service. Rates will be similar to Gering's, though higher. The agreement passed after the public comment noted above.
• Council reports: Council members gave informational reports. One report mentioned an upcoming item to be presented by Keith Marvin at the October 5 meeting. Another described a September 11 visit to the Maine Society, noting improvements, animal adoptions, and remaining animals from hoarding cases.

Key Outcomes

• The consent calendar, including minutes, the October 5 public hearing setting, and city claims, was approved unanimously.
• The Intralinks claim for $10,145.43 was approved unanimously after a council member's conflict was noted.
• The August 2026 financial report was approved unanimously.
• The council made a positive recommendation for the Sanch's Liquor Class D license and named Matthew Sanchez as liquor license manager.
• The final tax request resolution for FY 2026-2027 was approved unanimously.
• The alarm systems ordinance was approved unanimously, and the third reading was waived.
• The FY 2026-2027 annual appropriation ordinance was approved unanimously on third reading.
• The Panhandle Public Health District flu clinic event permit was approved unanimously.
• The Langer Industrial Services LB840 loan agreement was approved unanimously.
• The Waste Connections roll-off container services agreement was approved unanimously.
• The general obligation highway allocation fund pledge bond ordinance was discussed, but no explicit vote appears in the transcript.