Council Minutes - March 3 and 17, 2026
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.
- Questions about agendas or meeting minutes should be directed to the City Clerk.
- Meeting minutes are published in The Crete News (local newspaper)
- Each regular city council meeting agenda also contains the minutes of recent council, committee, and board meetings
The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, April 7
Condensed Minutes for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, March 17:
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments, entire copy of minutes available at the office of the City Clerk.
Mayor Dave Bauer called the meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. Answering roll call were the following Council Members: Crisman, Frans, Strehle, and Fitzgerald Absent: Ashley Newmyer and Dan Papik
The following actions were taken at the meeting:
Approved the Consent Agenda items: Unanimous
- Meeting Minutes: March 3 City Council Minutes, March 3 Public Works Committee, March 3 Finance Committee , March 3 Legislative Development , March 3 Personnel Committee , March 3r Public Safety Committee
- Treasurer’s Report
- Claims against the City $1,247,382.23
- Approved Mayor’s appointment of Tom King to the Library Advisory Board
Approved NLC, LLC Contractor's Application for Payment in the Amount of $71,645.44 for the 2024 Crete Street and Alley Improvements
Held a Public Hearing to hear testimony for or against the Class I Liquor License Amendment Application on the Manager Change Amendment from STAAB PH Units LLC DBA Pizza Hut of Crete. Unanimous
Approved a recommendation to the Liquor Control Commission on the Class I Liquor License Amendment Application on the Manager Change Amendment from STAAB PH Units LLC DBA Pizza Hut of Crete. Unanimous
Held a Public Hearing to hear testimony for or against the Special Exception Application for a Church at 969 W Highway 33. Unanimous
Approved the Special Exception Application for a Church at 969 W Highway 33 for 5 years or when the lease is terminated. Unanimous
Approved the South Crete Sports Complex Park Planning Proposal. Unanimous
Approved the FY2026 Grant Application for Project No. 3-31-0022-019/020-2026 at Crete Municipal Airport. Unanimous
Adopted Resolution 2026-04 Approving the Execution of An Agency Agreement With Nebraska Department of Transportation Division of Aeronautics for Project No. 3-31-0022-019/020-2026 To Be Submitted By The Department To The Federal Aviation Administration To Obtain Federal Assistance For The Development Of The Airport . Unanimous
Approved to authorize Mayor to sign the National Museum Of The U.S. Air Force Inventory Report. Unanimous
Approved the Crete Ace Hardware claims in the amount of $4,095.77. Unanimous
Tabled Ordinance 2266 Amending 2-1514 Dead or hazardous tree removal. Unanimous
Enacted Ordinance 2271 Amending Salaries and Wages in Ordinance 2257, 2263, 2267, and 2270. Unanimous
Approved the beacon quote from IES in the amount of $20,748 . Unanimous
Approved the unclaimed properties as of 09/30/2025. Unanimous
Approved vacating easement on lots 1 and 2 of Pine Ridge 4th Addition and direct City Attorney to develop Ordinance. Crisman: Aye, Frans: Aye, Bauer: Aye, Strehle: Aye, Abstained: Fitzgerald
Approved forwarding Tamela Chodosh's claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM). Unanimous
Approved the 2025 CLG Annual Report. Unanimous
Officers’ Reports
- Chief of Police Gary Young stated the Crete Police Department was awarded a $16,000 grant to help with the CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies)
- Library Director Jessica Wilkinson:
- showed the City Council a dinosaur she created using the laser machine at the library and added that the Summer Reading Program is going to be dinosaur themed.
- Wilkinson attended The Nebraska Library Association (NLA) Advocacy Day 2026 on March 16 and provided the City Council with a fact sheet and mentioned that there were over 5 million library visits in 2024 in Nebraska.
- The Libby program costs the Crete Public Library about $750 right now and if state funding for libraries is reduced that cost would be much more and the library would not be able to afford it.
- Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated the following:
- Introduced Clara Walstad as the new full-time Groundskeeper
- 2025 IRA UCF Funds are now available for Crete which help fund tree work in parks and city-maintained public green-spaces.
- Summer hires are open for aquatics and parks seasonal positions.
- Campgrounds open on April 1.
- Fields are already available for use by reservation
- Youth soccer ongoing- with some snow delays. Micro Soccer starts in April. Coaches welcome.
- Micro T-Ball and T-Ball Registration will open at the end of the month.
- City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following:
- Explained that the municipal equalization fund and LB1072 there have been legislation proposals to do away with municipal equalization and various amendments to reduce the MEF. This year Crete’s was about $777,000 and with some projections indicating that Crete could be eligible for over $1 million in 2027 the reduction could be a reduction of almost $50,000 proposed with LB1072 amendments. There seemed to be some confusion over the source of that data. Ourada explained he provided testimony to the legislature of the adverse effect that would have to the City of Crete.
- The food truck that was on Hawthorne Ave is gone for two weeks in compliance with City Ordinance and will locate back in a couple of weeks.
- Tom and Nancy participated in a virtual meeting with the Nebraska Department of Roads conducting interviews for the pedestrian bridge design. The consultants each had a partner. JEO is partnering with WSP, Schemmer partnering with FHU, and Wilson partnering with Confluence. Confluence did the City of Crete’s Comprehensive Plan.
- Interviewed candidates for the police officer position. Extended one conditional offer and there will be another interview on Thursday, March 19.
- Council President Dale Strehle asked about highway 103 and if the overlay be taking place this summer. Ourada stated that the overlay project would be from Crete to Wilber and traffic will be detoured through Crete on Main Street for a portion of the project.
- Mayor Dave Bauer wished everyone a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and good luck on the next Library Puzzle Race.
The meeting adjourned at 6:41 p.m.
Condensed Minutes for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, March 3:
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments, entire copy of minutes available at the office of the City Clerk.
Mayor Dave Bauer called the meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. Answering roll call were the following Council Members: Crisman, Frans, Newmyer, Strehle, and Fitzgerald Absent: Dan Papik
The following actions were taken at the meeting:
Approved the Consent Agenda items: Unanimous
- Meeting Minutes: February 17 City Council , February 17 Public Works Committee, February 17 Public Safety , February 17 Legislative Development
- Treasurer’s Report
- Claims against the City $1,247,382.23
- Mayor’s appointment of Sarah Brown to the Board of Health
- Mayor's appointment of Gary Young to the Board of Health
Approved the Audit. Unanimous
Approved the amended LB840 Application from Heath Sports. Unanimous
Approved City of Crete LB840 funds to cover 5% for Downtown Revitalization Program (DTR). Unanimous
Approved the LB840 Application from Gary and Denise Lothrop for Business Infrastructure Improvements. Voting Yes: Crisman, Frans, Newmyer, Strehle Voting No: Fitzgerald
Approved the LB840 Application from Edith M Cabrera for Business Infrastructure Improvements. Voting Yes: Crisman, Frans, Newmyer, Strehle Voting No: Fitzgerald
Approved the LB840 Application from The 1206 LLC for Business Infrastructure Improvements. Voting Yes: Crisman, Frans, Newmyer, Strehle Voting No: Fitzgerald
Approved the LB840 Application from Yoidier Rodriguez and Mary Alvarez for Business Infrastructure Improvements. Voting Yes: Crisman, Frans, Newmyer, Strehle Voting No: Fitzgerald
Approved the Application for Special Event Permit for a Tractor Safety Course from the Saline County 4-H, NE Extension. Unanimous
Approved the Crete Freightliner Chassis Purchase Agreement. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the Crete Volunteer Fire Department to apply for the grants from Gary Sinese Foundation, Firehouse Subs, USDA and Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Unanimous
Tabled Ordinance 2266 Amending 2-1514 Dead or hazardous tree removal. Unanimous
Enacted Ordinance 2269 amending Section 2-1204 of Crete Municipal Code To In Accordance With State Law, Changing The Individual Who Can Remove Individuals From The Commission From Mayor To The Appointing Authority. Unanimous
Enacted Ordinance 2270 Amending Salaries and Wages in Ordinance 2257 2263 and 2267. Unanimous
Approved the AirMethods Agreement. Unanimous
Approved to authorize to apply for the Adrian Smith FY 2027 Appropriations Request for Community Project Funding for Roundabout Infrastructure Project. Unanimous
Approved to authorize to apply for the Adrian Smith FY 2027 Appropriations Request for Community Project Funding for Doane Substation Project. Unanimous
Officers' Reports
- Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that the Crete Public Library was awarded $20,000 and it will be used to purchase braille books, audio books and shelving.
- Chief of Police Gary Young stated Officer Noah Zach was recognized by the local legion on his Nebraska American Legion Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. This summer Zach will be attending the state meeting in Columbus. Young stated that he will be out of service for about a week and Captain Jon Pucket will be helping.
- Council member Anthony Fitzgerlad asked Young about officer interviews and City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that they are scheduled for March 12 and 19.
- Building Inspector Trent Griffin provided the February Permit Log and stated that he and Planning Commission Chair Dave Jurena will be attending the Nebraska Planning and Zoning Association Conference in Kearney.
- Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked City Administrator Tom Ourada about a damaged utility building at Tuxedo Park. Ourada explained that there is no equipment stored and there had been chalk and other things that have now been moved to the baseball field shed. Ourada added that the school would like to add building there.
- City Administrator Tom Ourada:
- stated that the City of Crete is participating in a Brownfields grant that SENDD wrote and was awarded. Park planning for the south Crete Sports Complex might be able to be done through this grant. They are checking with the EPA. The quote that Ourada received was a range from $50,000 to over $100,000.
- Ourada stated that the City is getting a new airport beacon. The City received a 0% interest loan to be paid back over 5 years.
- Ourada stated that the Historic Preservation Commission had a meeting and there were concerns with park improvement activities at City Park. Some of the commission members were concerned that the bandstand would be demolished. There isn’t a plan to demo the bandstand and instead the City is looking at possibly relocating it. Ourada spoke with the Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission and Mayor Bauer and they were both happy with the possible solution.
- As part of the Reconnecting Communities Grant that the City of Crete is also participating in the Paths to Connections that teaches to navigate the federal grants. Ourada and City Clerk Nancy Tellez will be participating in a Zoom meeting in March an person training in Maryland in April, and another Zoom meeting in May. All the expenses are paid for by the grant. Ourada and Tellez will not be at the April 21st 2026 City Council meeting and Finance Director Wendy Thomas will be helping during that meeting. Mayor Dave Bauer added that he will also not be able to attend the April 21st, 2026 City Council meeting.
- Ourada stated that he met with a person that had questions about the LB840 Program. She had mentioned that many of the people that have been awarded funds can afford to do the projects. Ourada provided information on how the state statutes are structured and how aid is to be used and how this makes money 3available for people who may or may not be able to afford to do the projects. People have to submit their financials and proof they have financial backing to do so. There was also conversation on this topic during the Legislative Development Committee. LB840 is a good program and it does what the legislature intended it to do.
- Ourada stated that the Business Alley Paving is a solution to a problem that really doesn’t have another workable solution. Business expenses are allowed by LB840 and follow several review processes in order to ensure they conform with the program. The City Council can also place limits on project qualifications. The votes being what they were was good as it shows that the City Council is staying on top of things and doing what people were expecting. The City Council reviews things thoroughly.
- Ourada met with Dr. Brown and she discussed some grants she would work on, and she will be a tremendous asset to the Fire Department. There was discussion of the USDA grant and she will be helping with that.
- Ourada stated that the City of Crete gets a lot of grants but don’t necessary show up on the audit because they show up on past years or future years.
- Ourada spoke to JEO about doing a mill and overlay project on Boswell and Hawthorne. These projects are going to be really expensive. You can’t create districts with these projects. By state law these are considered maintenance and are operations activities You can’t assess them and use state funding. When you are doing ten or twenty blocks it is very expensive.
- There was also discussion on the bid projects that JEO has been doing in other towns and they stated that the bids have been between 52% and 60% of the engineers estimate. Ourada asked them to redo 15th Street estimate to get some updated costs numbers.
- Council member Tom Crisman asked if any of the streets can be armor coated. Ourada stated that those are not great for municipalities because they shed a lot of rock and that goes into the gutters and storm sewer. They are also not popular as they can be hard on vehicle finishes.
- Ourada added that the City of Crete is financially conservative. We have to be since we are on the low end of property taxes. Ourada added that revenue-wise, we are not comparable to the communities we typically get compared to.
The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m.