Council Minutes - April 7 and 21, 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, May 5
Condensed Minutes for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, April 21:
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments, entire copy of minutes available at the office of the City Clerk.
Council President Dale Strehle called the meeting of the City Council to order at 6:00 p.m. Answering roll call were the following Council Members: Crisman, Newmyer, Strehle, Papik and Fitzgerald Absent: Frans
The following actions were taken at the meeting:
Approved the Consent Agenda items: Unanimous
- Meeting Minutes: April 7 City Council Minutes, April 7 Public Works Committee, April 7 Finance Committee, April 7 Legislative Development
- Treasurer’s Report
- Claims against the City $916,469.60
- Approved Noah Slevin and Jasmine Seckman as new volunteer members of the Fire Department
- Administrator’s appointment of Sarah Brown to the Civil Service Commission
Approved the Crete Chamber of Commerce Special Event Permit application SE26-02 for the Cinco de Mayo Celebration. Unanimous
Approved the Application for Prohibited Animal Exception PA26-03 from Wranglers 4H Club. Unanimous
Approved Olsson's bid recommendation of Casper Construction Co. for the AIP Project No. 3-31-0022-017/018/019/020 in the amount of $1,141, 814.12. Unanimous
Authorized to apply for the Opportunity Zone Program. Unanimous
Approved forwarding Crystal Alarcon's claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM). Unanimous
Approved the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $1,929.16. Voting: Crisman: Aye, Newmyer: Aye, Strehle: Aye, Fitzgerald: Aye, Abstained: Papik
Approved for the Chamber's fireworks display on July 5th, 2026. Unanimous
Authorized the Crete Public Library to apply for The Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation. Unanimous
Approved to apply for the Seward/Saline County Solid Waste Management Agency Recycle Grant. Unanimous
Approved Cristina's amended LB840 application in the amount up to $2,000. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Pinnacle Bank for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $$2,884.50. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Heath Properties, LLC for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $4,251.84. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Ruby Mendez for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $$1,417.28. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Pallett Real Estate Properties, LLC for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $1,785.00. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Rosa Ortega for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $644.22. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Raul Lopez for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $2,046.07. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Roundabout Energy LLC for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $4,251.84. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from Maria Del Carmen Lemus Murillo for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $1,417.28. Unanimous
Approved the LB840 application from F & I Properties LLC for Business Infrastructure Improvements in the amount up to $1,417.28. Unanimous
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-05 authorizing the prohibition of parking along the north half of Main Ave between 12th and 13th Street for the duration of the state of Nebraska detour. Unanimous
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-06 authorizing the City to change street parking along the east side of Main Ave between 10th and 11th Street to angel parking stalls at 30 degrees. Unanimous
Adopted Resolution No. 2026-07 authorizing the City to restrict street parking along the north half of the east side of Norman Ave between 13th and 14th Street between 8am and 5pm. Unanimous
Council voted supporting request from NDOT to removing the turn lane a block east and west of 13th and Main Ave. Unanimous
Approved the CALEA contract. Unanimous
Approved the Central Square interlocal amendment for Filmore County. Unanimous
Approved the Department of Motor Vehicle Crash Records Confidentiality Agreements. Unanimous
Officers’ Reports
- Chief of Police Gary Young introduced Christian Thompson as new Police Officer. He has been working at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, and he will be going to the Academy at the beginning of May.
- Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated the following:
- lights fixed in tuxedo par
- 110 events scheduled in tuxedo park in Apri
- 226 youth participants in our rec soccer and micro soccer programs
- Thanked volunteer coaches - welcome t-ball and micro t-ball coaches
- Thanked Doane Football volunteers for their help at Tuxedo Park in March and April
- Bringing on 30 summer seasonal staff & a full time groundskeeper
- Attending Cardinal Career Expo and Touch a Truck events this wee
- Happy administrative professional day to our colleagues at city hall who are helping with hiring and help us work with community group
- Arbor Day will be celebrated this Friday, April 24th
- Assistant Director & Outreach Services Librarian Laura Renker stated that the Touch-A-Truck event at the library will be on Saturday, April 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
- City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following
- April 21st, 2026 was the first day of the two day detour that the State and Burlington put together.
- Reminder that the actions the City Council took at this meeting will help the other detour that will take place during the first week in May and will last about 60 days or less. The City of Crete is compelled to do that by contract when you take federal aid dollars through the state you agree to do these types of things. We have received millions of dollars through the State.
- Ourada explained that he has spoken about the Municipal Equalization fund and what the City is facing there. There will be more information in the first meeting in May and some things will be done the second meeting in May. There will be more discussion on this topic.
- Council member Ashley Newmyer asked about the crosswalk equipment by the high school. Ourada explained that the City of Crete was awarded a planning grant through the Thriving Communities Program. Ourada further added that the City suggested doing two roundabouts and a pedestrian underpass on Iris Ave. The process starts with no build options or talking about simple solutions. One of the recommendations was trying lighted crosswalks. We had already done that with the rapid flashers. As part of this process, they identified two places where this will be evaluated. We need this to look at the more efficient options that might be less expensive.
The meeting adjourned at 6:43 p.m.
Condensed Minutes for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, April 7:
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, Papik and Fitzgerald
The following actions were taken at the meeting:
Approved the Consent Agenda items: Unanimous
- Meeting Minutes: March 17 City Council Minutes: March 17 Public Works Committee, March 17 Finance Committee, March 17 Legislative Development, March 17 Parks and Recreation Committee, March 17 Personnel Committee
- Treasurer’s Report
- Claims against the City $1,612,102.64
Held a Public Hearing to hear testimony for or against the Zoning Amendment Ordinance 2272 Chapter 11 Planning and Zoning Article 5 Dwelling Units, Special Types Shouses. Unanimous
Approved JEO to Advertise and Bid the New Well and Transmission Main Project. Unanimous
Approved the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $284.09. Crisman: Aye, Frans: Aye, Newmyer: Aye, Strehle: Aye, Fitzgerald: Aye, Abstianed: Papik
Enacted Ordinance 2274 vacating easement on lots 1 and 2 of Pine Ridge 3rd Addition. Crisman: Aye, Frans: Aye, Newmyer: Aye, Strehle: Aye, Papik: Aye, Abstianed: Fitzgerald
Approved to amend the Master Fee Schedule. Unanimous
Approved the Crete Carrier Community Room Grant application from Activate for a graduation ceremony. Unanimous
Approved the Crete Carrier Community Room Grant Application for Community Mommy & Me Dance. Unanimous
Approved the Horvath Towers Lease Agreement. Unanimous
Enacted Ordinance 2275 amending cogeneration avoided cost rates. Unanimous
Approved the Carniceria San Fernando Tier II Environmental Review. Unanimous
Officers’ Reports
- Chief of Police Gary Young stated the following:
- notified by the State Auditor that the Crete Police Department has passed for the crime reporting. This means that the department keeps good records. With the new software what used to take ten or twenty manpower hours is now done in ten or fifteen minutes and it saves the department time and money.
- Mayor Dave Bauer asked E-Bikes and E-Scooters and what is legal. Young stated that right now there is no legislation to counter that. The ordinance for mini bikes does not apply. Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked if Chief Young could reach out to Crete Public Schools to ask about their policy on E-Bikes and E-Scooters. Young stated that the School Resource Officer can help with that. City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that the City has not only the right but the obligation to oversee the public right of way. People expect that the right of way will be regulated.
- Parks and Recraiton Director Liz Cody stated the following:
- Park concerns -addressing recent graffiti and vehicle use
- Campgrounds opened 4/1/2026
- Interview for seasonal staff
- Open position for parks groundskeeper & facilities
- Rec programs ongoing for micro soccer, soccer
- Registrations for micro-t-ball, t-ball, and swim team
- Looking at recent changes in State legislation that may impact pool
- Council questions: Street lights out at Tuxedo; Trees removed at Tuxedo; Removals with IRA UCF Grant funds paused until August for migratory birds
- Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that there is an opening for a summer intern that will be helping with summer reading. The library is partnering with Nebraska Vocational Rehab to have a student come and learn on the job library skills. They will be working with the summer intern on the summer reading program. City Administrator Tom Ourada added that the Nebraska Library Commission is providing the grant funds for the summer intern. Council member Dan Papik asked if there are opportunities for older children to volunteer and help read to younger children.
- Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked about the Fire Department changing their requirements for EMTs and the percentage that have to be certified. City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that they are working on it and they have to change their bylaws which come to the City for ratification. Council member Ashley Newmyer asked if everything is going well with the Crete and CAMC paramedic contract. Ourada stated that the Fire Department is happy with it and Bauer added that the hospital is also happy with it.
- Council member Dan Papik shared that Apace has a concert that will be at the Crete Isis Theatre on April 8th, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.
- City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following:
- There was a discussion during the Finance Committee on the Municipal Equalization Fund and as it is now we were notified that the City of Crete will lose 80% of funding. That’s almost $640,000 that we will lose next year.
- Ourada has talked with three state agencies on this and they have noted there is no authority to deviate from statute and changes would require going to the legislature.
- The City of Crete’s levy lowered a significant amount of over $0.06 last year. The changes in assessed values were raised considerably last year for residential property. We had a static budget that didn’t raise appreciably necessitating a joint public hearing or post card notification.
- Here is a case of us being significantly under the state average for property taxes penalizing us for very conservative spending. We are at $0.22 this year and to qualify for 100% MEF (Municipal Equalization Fund) we would have to be 28 ½ cents and that would be $0.065 cent levy increase. When we looked at it last year we had about $10,000 that wasn’t committed but $0.01 is about $24,000. We couldn’t do anything with that $7,000. If we raised it by 6 ½ cents that would be like $160,000 that we would raise across the entire community. People would see that we are raising it because we would have to participate in the joint public hearing and we would have to send out the postcard. Ourada stated that we will have to do that no matter what. We have a few options to help get through year 1 and possibly year 2 if we raise the levy. If we don’t raise the levy then we would have to take very drastic measures fundamentally cutting about 18% of the budget.
- Mayor Bauer is working on some meetings with the City Council and these are really dire times and the City is also looking internally for cost saving measures. Ourada explained that at first he thought the City could get by without doing drastic cost cutting but now thinks some of these cuts are unavoidable.
- There was discussion on other communities that will also be losing their MEF.
- With facing Crete’s revenue facing an 18% and there being some drastic measures taken, evaluation will necessary on how to meet the mission the City is expected to perform.
- Mayor Dave Bauer stated that he has been having discussions with Ourada and looking at different options to have more discussion time with the City Council and more will come on that. There will be some hard decisions to make.
- Mayor Dave Bauer stated that the City of Crete did not receive the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund grant for the City Park project. The City also did not receive the Rural and Tribal Assistance Pilot Program grant for a proposed trail from the High School to Crete Area Medical Center.
The meeting adjourned at 6:51 p.m.