Council Summary - June 3, 2025

Individuals and media outlets are encouraged to contact the City Administrator for additional details or clarification on the following material. Regular meetings of the Crete City Council are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall; Council Standing Committees may meet prior. View a list of City Officials and current council and committee meeting agendas.

The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, June 17

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, June 3
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council May 20, Legislative/Community Development Committee May 20, Parks Recreation Committee May 20, Public Safety Committee May 20
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City 

The Council held a Public Hearing on the proposed Zoning Change Request for  CRETE PRCT PART SW 1/4 NE 1/4 SEC. 33-8-4 36.34 ACRES R-3 to C-2. City Administrator Tom Ourada explained this property is on south Arizona Ave. where the owner asked why this wouldn’t also be rezoned with another area; this will make it contiguous with surrounding areas.

The Council held a Public Hearing on the proposed future land use Zoning Map Amendment for  CRETE PRCT PART SW 1/4 NE 1/4 SEC. 33-8-4 36.34 ACRES R-3 to C-2. This would amend the future land use map in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Zoning Change Request for  CRETE PRCT PART SW 1/4 NE 1/4 SEC. 33-8-4 36.34 ACRES R-3 to C-2

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the future land use Zoning Map Amendment for  CRETE PRCT PART SW 1/4 NE 1/4 SEC. 33-8-4 36.34 ACRES R-3 to C-2.

The Council held a Public Hearing on the proposed Zoning Change Request. CRETE CITY LOT 19 BLK.102, PT BLK. 105 &VAC. ALLEY & 15TH AVE, & PT BLK 106 & VAC. ALLEY & PINE AVE BETWEEN BLK. 105-106 Commonly Known AS 1530 Pine Ave from I-2 to I-1. Ourada explained this is the Enerlux Windows property currently zoned I-2, which has very large setbacks of 50-75 feet and if changed to I-1 the setbacks go to 5-10 feet and they would have more usable property.

The Council held a Public Hearing on the proposed future land use Zoning Map Amendment. CRETE CITY LOT 19 BLK.102, PT BLK. 105 &VAC. ALLEY & 15TH AVE, & PT BLK 106 & VAC. ALLEY & PINE AVE BETWEEN BLK. 105-106 Commonly Known AS 1530 Pine Ave from I-2 to I-1. This would amend the future land use map in the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Zoning Change Request. CRETE CITY LOT 19 BLK.102, PT BLK. 105 &VAC. ALLEY & 15TH AVE, & PT BLK 106 & VAC. ALLEY & PINE AVE BETWEEN BLK. 105-106 Commonly Known AS 1530 Pine Ave from I-2 to I-1.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve future land use Zoning Map Amendment. CRETE CITY LOT 19 BLK.102, PT BLK. 105 &VAC. ALLEY & 15TH AVE, & PT BLK 106 & VAC. ALLEY & PINE AVE BETWEEN BLK. 105-106 Commonly Known AS 1530 Pine Ave from I-2 to I-1.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Ordinance 2244 electrical rates on its third and final reading.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the health insurance provider and premiums for 2025/2026 enrollment.

• Ourada said the city was faced with large premium increases with renewals of the present insurance coverage and Benefit Management researched suitable replacements. This Medica option has a 0.3% increase as opposed to an 18% increase with the previous plans; they made sure these new coverage options were comparable to present coverage.
• Finance Committee chair Kyle Frans said Benefit Management really came through with Medica to keep rates down and they are easy to work with for good coverage. The city will provide notice to LIGHT that the city will end the interlocal agreement for previous coverage.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve forwarding a claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM) regarding a tree that fell on a vehicle on Redwood Ave.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Crete Housing Study Proposed Scope of Services from JEO Consulting. Ourada said this includes basic and additional services; the city’s last housing study was done in 2018. Recent housing grant applications by the city have been unsuccessful and a more current housing study could increase its eligibility for future grants.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-07 authorizing the mayor and city attorney to e-sign agreement for 2025 FAA grant for Crete Municipal Airport. Ourada explained this agreement is for a double box hanger for $1.4 million, using a grant the city has already been awarded.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-08 authorizing the mayor to sign agreement waiving receipt of non-primary entitlement funds for Crete Municipal Airport. Ourada said the city had FAA funds from 2022 that went unused and the Nebraska Department of Transportation is asking for those funds back, but the city would have a credit for future years.

The Council voted 6-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2245 Amending irrigation service season and removing unused electric rate classifications. Ourada explained this changes the end of the irrigation season from October to September to align with other rate classes and removes electric rate classes the city is no longer using.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve amending the master fee schedule. Ourada said this eliminated electric street light types and classes no longer in use and changed rates to reflect newer street light types, as well as updated customer utility classes and deposits.

The Council voted 6-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2246 Deeding a minority share of the Isis Theater to Blue River Arts Council (BRAC). 

• Ourada explained the city and BRAC have a partnership with a CCCFF grant (Community and Civic Center Financing Fund) that requires the city to own the improved property for a minimum of five years, however, the city can deed a 49% share to BRAC.
• Legislative and Community Development chair Ashley Newmyer said the committee felt this gives BRAC some options as they look at financing and applying for future grants.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve forwarding claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM) regarding damaged asphalt lane on County Road 2400. 

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern:

Officer Reports:

Reports may be given by Officers, Departments, Committees, or Council members concerning the current operations of the City. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

• Gary Young, Police Chief:
  • nuisance properties - the department has opened 48 cases, but a large percentage have been resolved through voluntary compliance; there is an open Code Enforcement Officer position and in the interim, myself, Captain Jon Pucket and Lt. Dawn Jonas are each taking nuisance property cases so we have some oversight and a better understanding of the system and management software as we move forward to fill and train the new person in that position;
  • the department served an inspection warrant with Building Inspector Trent Griffin; there were building code violations and a non-conforming use - it was great with multiple departments working together, each with their own strengths and abilities;
• Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director: 
  • she is proud of pool staff getting started - there are 6 new cashiers, 8 new lifeguards among all the pool staff this season and they had to get creative on how to train without a pool due to weather; they used other facilities including in Beatrice and Seward, which also hosted Crete swim team practices; pool boiler maintenance is getting dialed in and she is appreciative for Water Department on replacing fixtures;
  • Tuxedo Park has already hosted youth baseball and softball and Blue River Raceway is running;
• Trent Griffin, Building Inspector:
  • nuisance property warrant search was a first for him and interesting to see the process; thanks to the Chief and Captain and Sgt. Lincoln Morehouse for getting that done;
  • updates on MyGov software - adding code enforcement information that wasn’t originally included;
• Jody Fiehtner, Human Resources Coordinator:
  • introduced new Street Operator Race Krasser, who started last week. 
  • interviews will start for current code enforcement officer applications;
• Council member Tom Crisman asked about the new street sweeper lease purchase and a road grader; Ourada said the sweeper will be here in about a month; a new grader is about $300k and there are a lot of options on that project;
• Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked about seeing an updated list of street projects;
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • the city is utilizing grants as they received notice of a $55,000 grant from NEMA (Nebraska Emergency Management Agency) for cyber security over the next two years for software and switches to strengthen the system; the city does this anyway, but this will help pay for it; IT Director Mike Kalkwarf, IT Assistant Emerson Aschoff, and City Clerk Nancy Tellez all worked on this team effort;
  • there was a release of $50,000 out of a $300k grant for connected communities - the city will have stakeholder meetings, studies, etc. on a possible pedestrian overpass;
  • upcoming staff meeting for discussions on budgeting;
  • city sales tax is down $56,000 from April;
  • Sandhills Energy Solar Farm should be producing this month - the city is the sole beneficiary for 1.6MW of power;
  • upcoming nuisance property hearings - most have abated themselves, but there may be 1 from 5-6 cases to hear; the board will still vote to dismiss cases already abated;
• Mayor Dave Bauer emphasized once again items during the meeting showed how departments are working together and every time he hears that it makes him feel good about the city; he thanked Chief Young and his staff who are keeping nuisance properties going until the new code enforcement officer is hired.

Meeting adjourned.