Council Summary - Aug. 5, 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 Crete City Council will hold a Special Meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14

The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 19

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Aug. 5
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council July 15, Public Works Committee July 15, Public Safety Committee July 15, Legislative/Community Development Committee July 15, Finance Committee July 15
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City 

The Council held a Public Hearing on proposed Zoning Change Request PID 760144733 CRETE CITY PINE RIDGE ADD LOT 1 BLK 2 .41 ACRE, PID 760148160 BIG BLUE PRCT PT NW 1/4 NW 1/4 SEC. 2-7-4 .41 ACRES ICL R1 To R2. City Administrator Tom Ourada explained the developer of this property, council member Anthony Fitzgerald, asked for a minor subdivision and rezoning is required in this case. He’s followed the process and it started with approval from the Planning Commission, which was voted on at their Aug. 4 meeting.

The Council voted 5-0 (Fitzgerald abstained) to approve the proposed Zoning Change Request PID 760144733 CRETE CITY PINE RIDGE ADD LOT 1 BLK 2 .41 ACRE, PID 760148160 BIG BLUE PRCT PT NW 1/4 NW 1/4 SEC. 2-7-4 .41 ACRES ICL R1 To R2.

The Council held a Public Hearing on proposed amendment to the Land Use Zoning Map PID 760144733 CRETE CITY PINE RIDGE ADD LOT 1 BLK 2 .41 ACRE, PID 760148160 BIG BLUE PRCT PT NW 1/4 NW 1/4 SEC. 2-7-4 .41 ACRES ICL R1 To R2. Ourada this action considered amending the zoning map or future land use map, a statutory requirement for a comprehensive plan; any approved rezoning, annexations, etc, the city must change the land use map.

The Council voted 5-0 (Fitzgerald abstained) to approve the proposed amendment to the Land Use Zoning Map PID 760144733 CRETE CITY PINE RIDGE ADD LOT 1 BLK 2 .41 ACRE, PID 760148160 BIG BLUE PRCT PT NW 1/4 NW 1/4 SEC. 2-7-4 .41 ACRES ICL R1 To R2.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the 2025 Crete Water & Sewer Rate Study. JEO gave a presentation to the Public Works Committee and met with the city prior in the course of the study; they recommended water and wastewater rate schedules with stepped increases out to 2030. Mayor Dave Bauer said the rate study and increases are very small in his opinion, JEO did a good job studying the departments and the revenue needs.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Saline County Rural Fire MFO Agreement. Ourada said this is a standard agreement up for renewal this year.

The Council voted 6-0 to table the Certification of subdivision improvements for Burlington Estates. The city is waiting for additional requirements to be met by the developer to the satisfaction of the engineer.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Crete Police Department applying for the Highway Safety Mini-grant for car seats. Chief Gary Young said this will allow the department to help provide child seats for people who may not be able to afford them, or afford updated seats. CPS Officer Noah Zach is certified to inspect child safety seats and is doing this by appointment and will host a larger community event.

The Council voted 5-0 (Papik abstained) to approve the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $104.63.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-9 LARM Renewal. The council previously agreed to the renewal terms and this put it in resolution form.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-12 Introducing propositions for voters to approve the extension of the City .5% sales and use tax and extension of the City's Local Option Municipal Economic Development plan to be voted on by the community on November 4. Ashley Newmyer, chair of the Legislative and Economic Development Committee said they reviewed the plan and recommended the city move forward. Mayor Bauer said this is the LB840 plan that has been very successful for the City of Crete and improved things in town that have brought people in. I encourage everyone to ask about it and look for this information. Ourada clarified that after this vote, the city cannot spend any money to campaign on this topic, which would be a violation of state law. We can educate or answer questions.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Lift Station Construction Agreement between the City of Crete and Dittmer & Dittmer, LLC. Ourada said this agreement is with the city and Dittmer & Dittmer, LLC, with plans and specifications for lift station at zero cost to the city

The Council voted 6-0 to approve maintenance plans and set a bid date for the Business Improvement District. Ourada said this is for snow removal in the downtown district with a bid opening on Aug. 29 at 10 a.m.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-13 authorizing the city to increase the match to Police Officer retirement contributions to 9%. Ourada said this is mandated by state law voted in this year.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve authorizing to apply for the LARM Safety Grant. Ourada said the city applies for this every year and includes a $500 grant with zero match. In the past the city has used it for traffic cones, barricades, first aid kits, etc.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the City of Crete engineer formally making plans and specs for lift station construction. This goes along with the Dittmer and Dittmer LLC agreement; after plans and specs are done it will move to bid letting.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve amendment to auction agreement. The date changed from Aug. 16 to Sept. 6.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the City of Crete #24DTR001 Payment Request #2 in the amount of $6,096.54 from Southeast Nebraska Development District.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Crete 24PWI004 Payment Request #2 from Southeast Nebraska Development District in the amount of $7,114.10

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.

• Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director: 
  • the pool closed on Sunday, Aug. 3; 8k patron visits, about 220 in swimming lessons, infant and toddler, water aerobics;
  • Coed Softball is ongoing, registration is open for youth flag football;
  • Exmark mower grant is partially complete with pickup of the new mower in Beatrice on Wednesday and $25,000 in awarded funds to use for Library Park this season;
• Gary Young, Police Chief:
  • Officer Noah Zach organized Project Protein with 1,600 pounds of donated meat products distributed to about 160 families; late July into August is tough for some families with no school meals, etc. I am proud of him and his enthusiasm for this work and looking forward to seeing him in the schools this year;
  • Sgt Lincoln Morehouse is working with forensic investigation for thefts from gaming machines; he’s working with DMV, facial recognition, Lincoln Police Department, Lancaster County Sheriff, and Nebraska City PD to wrap up the individuals responsible;
  • ‘Touch-A-Truck’ event on Saturday at the library, 10am-12pm; this was a PD idea and Jessica at the Library put it together to showcase library, police, fire, public works, etc.
• Jessica Wilkinson, Library Director:
  • Maridza’s idea was putting together a children’s Library of Things which includes Tonies, story time kits; these ideas come from staff members to help the library evolve;
  • September will be busy with Maker Mondays, baby art cafe, chess club; toddler and preschool story times; we’ve have had 2 kids complete 1,000 Books before Kindergarten, 8 are working to it;
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator said food truck information will be at the next meeting;
• Mayor Dave Bauer mentioned a group from Lincoln with a member in Crete who hosts visitors from a different country and this year is a group of mayors, etc. from Romania. They are going to Lincoln and Schuyler city council meetings and will be in Crete Sunday evening with a school bus tour of town from the library, then a meal and their program in the community room.

Meeting adjourned.