Winter weather and city services

City of Crete personnel are tasked with services in preparation for, during, and after winter weather events.

Non-emergency numbers

• Police Department (24 hours) - 402.826.4311
• Public Works Department - 402.826.4312
  • Calls after regular business hours will be directed to an answering service and relayed to on-call personnel

Sign up for emergency alerts

• Residents can receive emergency alerts for Crete and the surrounding area by subscribing to Blue Rivers Basin Community Alert System (Gage, Jefferson, and Saline Counties). Sign up here.

Electrical and street issues

• To report power outages, problems with electrical service, street issues (including fallen branches on streets) and other concerns, please call Public Works, 402.826.4312
• Snow is removed according to the city’s approved snow plan, which takes into account emergency snow routes, arterial streets, weather forecast, and current conditions.
• The Street Department uses a salt brine pretreatment on priority streets if conditions allow before a forecasted winter weather event. Rainfall during this process can wash away the brine or make it ineffective. Salting/sanding streets remains part of the department’s practice during winter weather.

Sidewalk snow removal

• Business occupants are responsible for snow removal on sidewalks in the business district within 5 hours after accumulation ends and by 8:30 a.m. if snow falls overnight.
• In residential areas, residents are responsible for clearing sidewalks within 24 hours after accumulation ends.
• City Code, Chapter 8, Article 2 

Emergency Snow Routes (map above or view larger map)

• After a significant snow event, three or more inches of accumulation, the city may declare a Snow Emergency, during which time parking along marked Emergency Snow Routes is prohibited and vehicles in violation will be towed.
• The city has marked Emergency Snow Routes on arterial streets including: Highway 33/103, Hawthorne, Boswell, Iris, and Main Avenues;  East 1st, East 4th, East 5th, East 9th, East 14th, East 15th, and East 29th Streets; others include Betten Rd., the entire downtown area and streets around Crete Elementary school. City Code, Chapter 5, Article 2

Parking tickets and towing:

• 24-hour Parking: Vehicles cannot remain parked on streets, public roads or public property for more than 24 hours at a time. 
  • Vehicles parked longer than this maximum make it difficult to effectively clean and clear city streets and are subject to tickets and towing. City Code, Chapter 5, Article 4
• Any vehicle cited three times within 30 days may be towed on the issuance of the third ticket.
• Parking tickets and fees are paid at the Crete police station, 1945 Forest Ave., during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8 -11 a.m. and 12 -5 p.m.) If a vehicle was towed during a snow emergency or for other parking violations it may be claimed from the towing company once the fees are paid at the police station.

Garbage and recycling collection

• If severe weather conditions warrant a stoppage or delay in garbage or recycling collection, the city will make efforts to notify customers through social media and the city website.

In a move that could favorably affect property currently in the flood plain, the Crete City Council approved a mapping proposal by Olsson Associates at the first regular meeting of 2019 (Jan. 2).

City Administrator Tom Ourada said this complex proposal he and Mayor Roger Foster have been working on for a number of years involving a lake project has provided cause for a flood plain review of Crete using more inclusive data. Information indicates flood data used for past calculations is outdated and more current flow data may reflect more favorably, in that less water could be coming into the flood plain with a lower impact than previously thought.

This newest proposal would ideally move toward a further, two-part study of Crete’s flood area, the first phase of which could cost about $10,000. If sufficient benefit is found to move forward, the study’s second phase would include remapping Crete’s flood area and the potential for property, including housing, to be removed from the city’s flood plain and other properties from the flood way. A phase two remapping would cost an estimated $40,000.

If properties are removed from the flood way or flood plain, it could open them up to potential for improvements and decreased insurance costs. In recent years, Crete had other areas, including parts of downtown, removed from the flood plain by a FEMA study to update the flood area.

The flood way is the channel or area closest to the river or watercourse reserved to efficiently carry flood waters and has the highest chance of flooding. Construction is severely restricted in a flood way. The flood plain is low-lying ground adjacent to the river with certain building and improvement regulations as well as insurance requirements. (View City Code or Building and Zoning information)

No specific timeline as been set for this newest proposal or potential future study.

One of our core values at Crete Pubic Library is to provide barrier-free service and access to materials. One way that we are supporting this value is by eliminating all fines from youth print materials. Starting Jan. 1, 2019, the Crete Public Library will no longer charge fines for print materials returned after their due date for YA, juvenile and children’s books – both fiction and non-fiction. 

One might try to argue that the imposition of fines is one way to teach children responsibility – in this case to be responsible for returning their books on time. 

This is a view that does not hold up well as it is usually the parent, not the child, who has the means and makes the decision as to when to return the materials to the library. 

Another argument against this policy is that patrons will no longer have an incentive to return their materials when they are due. Again, this argument does not hold water because libraries that do not charge fines tend to have higher overdue rates in the short run, but lower overdue rates in the long term. 

The imposition of fines does act as a deterrent and is a barrier to literacy and learning – in particular for members of our low-income community. Additional results from other libraries who have instituted a fine forgiveness policy is an increase in the number of borrowers and in the number of items borrowed.

All other parts of the overdue materials policy remain the same, including fines on Adult print, all DVDs and AudioBooks. (Go to library catalog) For more information about this new policy, please contact the library in person, at 402-826-3809 or view library policies online.

See other service available at Crete Public Library here.

This gallery highlights photos of construction site activities, regular site tours, and key moments in the building process. (Click on the photo to open the gallery.)

City of Crete
Departments of Public Works
Utilities and Payments

City Hall - 243 E. 13th Street
(Public Works Utility Office main entrance on south side)
P.O. Box 86
Crete, NE 68333
Phone: 402.826.4312
Public Works Directory

Public Works Office - Bills and Payments:

• A service deposit is required on all addresses; transferable if the resident moves to a new address within City service;
• All utility billing statements are mailed the last business day of the month;
• Bills are due by 5:00 p.m. on the 15th of each month;
• Bills paid by the 15th receive a 10% discount; accounts paid after the due date are subject to forfeiture of this discount;
• Accounts not paid by the due date receive a courtesy notice; a disconnect date is noted on the original bill and the courtesy notice;
• Payments can be made in person (drive-thru available) at the Public Works Office at City Hall, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; night drop, mailed or online;
• Personal checks, money orders or cash are accepted; debit/credit cards accepted with 2.5% convenience fee.
• Pay utility bills 24/7 through the online bill payment option. Make a payment online
  • Cards, checking or savings account can be used (with routing and account numbers)
  • Information required: name on the utility account, address, and the utility account number 
  • Email address is requested in order to receive a receipt
  • Account will still be credited on the day the payment is made. 
• If you have any other questions, visit the Public Works Office at City Hall.

Electrical Service: The City of Crete Departments of Public Works Electric System retails electricity within the corporate limits. 

• View Current Electric Rates

Water and Sewer Service: 

• View Current Water Rates
• Residential Sewer Rate: Monthly customer fee $29.70, plus $2.63 per 1,000 gallons average monthly water consumption for the lowest three months of water usage of the five winter months of November, December, January February and March (Calculated each April) or $37.51 average sewer fee for customers without usage history. 
• Commercial Sewer Rates: Contact the Public Works Office at 402-826-4312.

Garbage Collection and Recycling: The City of Crete solid waste service is provided by The Garbage Company. A recycling tote is included free of charge.

• Residential Rates: 
  • Small Tote (65 gallon)    $17.89
  • Large Tote (95 gallon)    $18.18
  • 2 (95 gal.) Totes             $22.98
  • Seasonal Yard Waste     $12.00
• Commercial Rates: Contact The Garbage Company directly at 1-800-322-4272 for service and rates.

Please see the Public Works sections at left for more information on these City services.

Outside Services:

• Spectrum Cable - 1-800-248-8823
• Black Hills Energy (natural gas company) - 1-888-890-5554
• Windstream (local telephone service) - 1-800-347-1991; Repair Service - 611
• Other television and phone services available, check local directory

Animal Control and Licensing

Crete is surrounded by open farm ground.  A river and a creek flow through our city and there are many lakes in the area all supporting wildlife and feral animals. Eradication or even full “control” of these animal populations is impractical. The city government does expend reasonable effort to provide animal control. (Return to Crete Police Department Main Page)

The Police Department is Crete’s Animal Control Authority and enforces Chapter 6, Article 1 of the City Code: Animal Regulations, referenced in this article. One department employee works part-time to perform animal control tasks among many other duties. When that employee is absent, police officers perform limited animal control duties as other responsibilities and priorities permit.

The key to animal control is owner responsibility. The city asks residents to: Please keep your animals under your control and license your domestic dogs and cats.

Owning and/or Keeping Animals

Owners are responsible for their animal(s).  Anyone who provides food, water or shelter to a stray or feral animal becomes its owner and is responsible for the animal and any offspring; this includes ensuring proper vaccinations, licensing, control, etc. (§6-103 [24], [29], [30]).

• Permitted Animals: The city prohibits a wide array of animals from being in the city limits.  Those which are allowed are: domestic dogs and cats and other domestic animals limited to aquarium fish, domestic amphibians, domestic birds, domestic reptiles (nonvenomous, non-constricting snakes less than four feet in length), domestic rodents, and domestic ferrets.  Possession of other animals is prohibited. (§6-103[14], [34]; §6-104 to §6-107) 
• Licensing: Domestic dog and cat and service animal licenses may be obtained at the police station (1945 Forest Ave.) during daytime business hours.  Owners are required to present a valid rabies vaccination certificate for each animal. Licenses are not required for other domestic animals. (§6-109 to §6-109.07, §6-112)
• Tax
  • Domestic dog or cat (Spayed/Neutered): $10/year plus $1/year for the State of NE 
  • Domestic dog or cat (Not spayed/Neutered): $20/year plus $1/year for the State of NE
  • Service Animal: None
• Collar and Metallic Tags: Every domestic dog and cat and every service animal must wear a collar and have a city license tag and a rabies certification tag (issued by the owner’s veterinarian). On a separate tag (or on the reverse of one of the other tags) the city requires the owner’s name.
• Owner’s Control: Owners are responsible for controlling their domestic dogs and cats. These animals may not run-at-large in Crete regardless of where an owner or the animal may reside. ((§6-105, §6-108.09, §6-110 to §6-110.03)
• Service Animals: The City supports the lawful use and care of service animals recognized by state law. Owners of animals which do not receive such recognition must adhere to all City Codes which pertain to such animals. (§6-112 to §6-112.02)

Impounded Domestic Dogs and Cats

At times, the city will impound or even hold animals. Owners wishing to retrieve their animal must do so within a short period of time, ensuring the released animal will meet applicable code requirements. In most circumstances, these may be paid at the police station during daytime business hours.

• Rabies Vaccination: Owners of impounded, unlicensed domestic dogs and cats must either present a valid rabies vaccination certificate at the police station or pay for their animal to be properly vaccinated before the impounded animal will be released. (§6-113 to §6-113.08)
• License: Owners of unlicensed, impounded domestic dogs and cats who reside in Crete must license their animal at the police station before the impounded animal will be released. (§6-109 to §6-109.07, §6-112)
• Costs: Owners are required to pay all associated impound fees and costs before the impounded animal will be released. (§6-102.05 to §6-102.06)

Fines & Fees

Owners who are in violation of Animal Regulations may receive a citation and appear in court, should they desire. In most circumstances, owners may be permitted to pay the applicable fines at the police station. The city does not retain fines. By law, these are passed to other governmental agencies. (§6-102.06)

Crete City Council

City Hall
241 East 13th Street
Second Floor Council Chambers
(Handicap Accessible)

The City of Crete is divided into three wards for City Council representation. Each ward is represented by two members of the City Council and has a separate polling place for elections. The wards are determined by population and approved by the City Council after each official census.

• View Ward Boundaries/Voting Precincts
• City Council Meetings are held the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m.
• Standing Committees are: Finance, Parks & Recreation, Personnel, Public Safety, Public Works, Legislative Community Development
• Current Council and Committee Meeting Agendas

Current Crete City Council members:

• David Bauer - Ward 1 - Council President
• Brian Carnes - Ward 1
• Dale Strehle - Ward 2
• Ryan Hinz - Ward 2 
• Charles Vyhnalek - Ward 3
• Jack Oelschlager - Ward 3