Council Summaries - Nov. 4 and 18, 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, Dec. 2
Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 18
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.
Council members Dan Papik and Ashley Newmyer were absent.
The council approved the Consent Agenda items:
- Minutes of the following meetings: City Council Nov. 4, Public Works Committee Nov. 4, Legislative/Community Development Committee Nov. 4, Public Safety Committee Nov. 4
- Treasurer’s Report
- Payment of claims against the City
The Council voted 4-0 to waive required readings and adopt Ordinance 2261 Reestablishing the .5% sales tax and economic development program. City Administrator Tom Ourada said this item does a number of things to implement and spend the sales tax designated in the economic development program. Council member Dale Strehle said this was discussed in committee and they appreciate the voters who approved this program renewal.
The Council voted 4-0 to waive required readings and adopt Ordinance 2262 amending 2255 Setting municipal water and sewer rates. Ourada said the council already passed these rates and this clarifies a date conflict for rates to take affect.
The Council voted 4-0 to authorize the Crete Police Department to apply for the Highway Safety Grant for child safety seats. Chief Gary Young explained this is a renewal of the same grant from last fiscal year; they had great success to help a lot of folks in the community obtain child safety seats and proper installation in the previous year.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve Special Event Permit SE25-10 for the Crete Cares Food Distribution on December 13th, 2025. Young said he has worked with Cretes Cares for this holiday distribution for the past couple of years at the Crete Public Schools bus barn between 9th and 10th streets on Linden Ave. This temporary street closure helps guide cars to the pickup point and keeps the line off city streets.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve Saline County Rural Fire Protection District Award Letter. Ourada said this is more than has been awarded in previous years and is shared equally across departments.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Crete 24PWI004 Payment Request 3. Ourada said this and the following request are by SENDD for state, grant-funded projects and have to be authorized by the council.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Crete 24DTR001 Payment Request 3.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $2,928.99.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve Waste Connections Agreement. City Attorney Allison Janecek Borer explained the changes the city wanted negotiated are in this document along with updated rates.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve amendments to the Master Fee Schedule. Ourada explained there were amendments to water and sewer rates and a correction to the library 3D printing rate.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve farm leases on City property. Ourada said the leases are on airport property owned by the city; there were two competitive bids for particular portions of ground.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve Authorization of deviation from City spec for sidewalk placement at 1044, 1100, 1110, and 1120 Jasmine Ave. Ourada explained this was discussed in the Public Works committee meeting held prior. Generally the topography of the subdivision in this area doesn’t lend itself to match city ordinance, which governs sidewalks and curb heights.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve JEO's recommendation for the street and alley paving CDBG Project No. 24-PWI-004. Ourada said favorable bids were almost $300,000 under the engineer’s estimates. The city does not have experience with this contractor, but they were vetted.
The Council voted 4-0 to approve a bid date of Thursday, Dec. 18 at 10 a.m. for the sale and decommission of A row hangars. Ourada said the A-row, t-type hangars have to be moved to make room for the two new box hangars already approved by the council through a grant with the state and FAA.
Petition - Communication - Resident Concern:
Officer Reports:
- Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director:
- thank you to the generous people who support park and rec initiatives throughout the community; 16 members of Doane University fraternity Tau Sigma Zeta bagged leaves and raked gravel in City Park; they also handed out flyers for a community food drive organized in part through the Community Assistance Office;
- a large street tree was removed from City Park on Nov. 12; grant funds helped with identifying this issue; have also been approved for additional grant funds toward trees/green spaces;
- additional park/playground maintenance includes Westwood Park and Tuxedo Park;
- Angelo Franco was a Doane intern for Parks and Recreation this semester;
- Gary Young, Police Chief:
- relayed information from new Code Enforcement Officer Herms Trujillo including parking and nuisance property cases; nuisance property issues gain more traction by personal contacts than letters; parking on grass and other instances numbered 64 with about 16 left after personal contacts to remedy the situations; this is a significant amount of work for someone new in our system and he is also helping with traffic control and translation;
- Part time Administrative Assistant position is posted;
- Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked about council members seeing a list of nuisance properties in their prospective wards; Ourada said that could be shared as internal documents and he can talk with the city attorney about how best to do that;
- Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
- have used four Cline Williams attorneys in the last couple of months and we haven’t skipped a beat in what we’ve been able to accomplish;
- meeting with residents Dave and Allison Clevette who are interested in volunteering to plant shrubs and flowers in the community; on a larger scale they could create an organized group and he connected them to Liz instead of random projects in random city spaces;
- LB840 - passed by voters and reaffirms peoples’ hope in what we’re doing; Mayor Dave Bauer said Crete News Editor Amy Hausman also worked with the Crete Chamber of Commerce to put information together on LB840;
- Southwest Power Pool called and asked us to run - we generated from the 6MW unit at the power plant; had a very preliminary discussion about Crete investing in a 20MW combustion turbine engine;
- we have many grants at work; you’ve heard about the fire department, police department, park and rec, library;
- PD is down several officers, one candidate will be evaluated in January and we will look at filling other positions down the road;
- waiting on bids for the public restroom and pavilion in City Park; there is some grant money available and other funding that might become available; it will free up the park bathroom space in City Hall and free up some things we want to do in the building;
- MEAN meetings in Kearney on Wednesday and Thursday; the council will meet as the Board of Adjustment on Thursday at 5 p.m.
- talked with the Mayor and Council President about a rate reduction for a utility customer;
- Council member Anthony Fitzgerald:
- asked about City Park projects and if there would be any comprehensive landscape and irrigation mapping for the park as this moves forward; Ourada said they will look at what funding will be available for the full scope;
- asked about a park maintenance shed by the softball complex in Tuxedo Park; Ourada said Liz Cody was addressing the issue;
- zoning consultant work; Ourada said it would be 9-12 months or sooner for those recommendations;
- status of fire department membership numbers and addressing it through an allowed percentage of non-EMS members; Ourada said he has not talked yet with Fire Chief Tod Allen, however, there are departments going that route and some negatives that could result; if the department changes their by-laws those changes will come to the council for approval;
- could the council get an updated street project list at the end of the year;
- status of council-authorized use of state purchase pricing for a new road grader; Ourada said we do not know a timeline for that delivery - unused/inoperable graders will be used on trade;
- Ourada said a couple of months or so for delivery on the new tar kettle;
Meeting adjourned.
Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Nov. 4
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.
Mayor Dave Bauer and Council member Ashley Newmyer were absent. Council President Dale Strehle presided over the council meeting.
The council approved the Consent Agenda items:
- Minutes of the following meetings: City Council Oct. 7, Special City Council Oct. 23, Legislative/Community Development Committee Oct. 7 and Oct. 21, Finance Committee Oct. 7, Public Works Committee Oct. 7 and Oct. 21
- Treasurer’s Report
- Payment of claims against the City
The Council held a Public Hearing to hear testimony in favor of and in opposition to the review of the R-3 Special Exception request from TML Properties at 307 E 12th St for a sign. City Administrator Tom Ourada said the Public Works Committee recommended this at the last meeting. The request is for a new sign for Crete Smiles Dental Clinic on East 12th Street. Building Inspector Trenton Griffin clarified it’s not a lighted sign, but new for the business with no sight issues.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the application from TML Properties for an R-3 Special Exception permit request at 307 E 12th St for a sign at Crete Smiles Family Dentistry. The council voted on each of the eight findings to determine if they were applicable or if the project complies or conforms.
The Council voted 5-0 to table the following item to the next meeting: Ordinance 2260 Amending Ordinance 2255.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2025-26 Crete DBE (Disadvantage Business Enterprise) Program FY 25-26-27. Ourada said this is a federal requirement for any grant work and to receive certain funding.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2025-27 Signing of the Year-End Certification of City Street Superintendent 2025.
The Council voted 5-0 to table the following item to the next meeting: LB840 Application from Dollarama Remodeling and Solutions LLC in the amount up to $27,000.00.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the LB840 Application from Tom and Vicki Sorensen for an amount up to $250,000.00. Ourada said it was brought to the Legislative/Community Development Committee’s attention to consider future planning and partnerships. The city had several discussions as well as with the developer. This project was vetted and it’s currently in the best interest to go with this particular use and location at this time. Tom Sorensen offered thanks to Ourada and said they are trying to make this facility an asset to the community.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the LB840 Application from Cristina's Family Restaurant in the amount up to $20,000.00 for equipment and building upgrades.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the MEAN Master Services Agreement. Ourada said this agreement had to be redone when MEAN reorganized.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the Crete Carrier Community Room Grant Application from Jay Gilbert for Apace Concert on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. This is an annual event.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the Drevo Addition Administrative Subdivision. Ourada explained this will separate a property from one lot into two.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the SACK 1st Addition Administrative Subdivision. Ourada explained this property is intended to be split and sold off for use as a potential pickleball facility.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve replacement of the tar kettle. Ourada said the street department’s tar kettle suffered a leak and needs to be replaced at a cost of over $50,000. The city can turn in the old kettle for a discount on the new one.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the grant donation for the Crete Volunteer Fire Department. Fire Chief Tod Allen said this grant is a catalyst to give donations back to the community. The department can get $5,000 from the from the Walter Scott Family Foundation to give back to local holiday campaigns: Crete Cares, hygiene stockings project, Operation Under the Tree, school coat drive. CVFD fits a niche as a small fire department and the foundation liked their ideas for donations to the community.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the serving of catered alcohol with a Special Designated Liquor License at the Community Room for the Rotary Club holiday dinner on Dec. 18, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
The Council voted 5-0 to approve the Downtown Business District Snow Removal and Weed Management Service Agreement. Ourada explained the downtown business district had a request for proposals for snow removal and weed control; the city negotiated with one bidder and this is the service agreement for that bid.
Petition - Communication - Resident Concern:
- Cindy Wanek asked how to request a parking restriction. Ourada said the city would study the submitted request and then take it to a committee for possible action.
Officer Reports:
- Gary Young, Police Chief, said the department’s new code enforcement officer is taking care of issues in neighborhoods; officers have been busy with investigations and patrol.
- Tod Allen, Fire Chief, said the department has 39 members and they are looking at a bylaw change to allow non-EMT firefighters (they currently require firefighters to be certified EMTs); they’ve had good discussions with members and on what other departments are looking at to solve similar issues. It’s not a simple process to get on the department and some want to be an EMT but can’t pass the National Registry test.
- Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director:
- Tuxedo campgrounds closed at the end of October and building facilities have been winterized;
- continue with playground inspections;
- martial arts program is the last recreation program of the calendar year;
- Trenton Griffin, Building Inspector, shared building logs; end of fiscal year totals - 362 total permits, 21 new single family, 12 units between two building projects;
- Council member Tom Crisman asked about the food trailers and new regulations; Ourada said one is gone, one is still there, and the bus is still there; they’ve had a discussion with the food truck on Hawthorne.
- Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
- talked with Mayor Bauer about a part time person to assist the Community Assistance Office for 3 days or 5 afternoons a week; they’ve done the interview process and Human Resources Coordinator Jody Fiehtner vetted applications; they have a candidate who will fit well into the city and benefit other areas;
- city officials, including council member Dale Strehle, had a teleconference with Burlington Northern and their management company; they are putting together a scope of services on a project that could approach $50 million; the Main Street tracks are a primary topic along with a quiet zone;
- solid waste agreement will go to the council for review.
Meeting adjourned.