REGULAR MEETING Crete City Council Meeting City Hall August 4th, 2026, (Condensed, entire copy available at the office of the City Clerk). Mayor 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: Mayor Dave Bauer asked for a moment of silence and then shared some words in memory of Chief of Police Gary Young Approved the Consent Agenda items: Unanimous Meeting Minutes July 21st, 2026 City Council Minutes July 21st, 2026 Public Works Committee Minutes July 21st, 2026 Finance Committee Minutes July 21st, 2026 Legislative Development Committee Minutes July 21st, 2026 Public Safety Committee Minutes Treasurer’s Report Claims against the City $1,643,279.15 Held Public Hearing to hear testimony in favor of and in opposition to and to answer questions in relation to Ordinance 2280 Sign Regulations to amend section 11-802 and create 11-824 of the Crete Municipal Code to amend mural definition and create special exception permits for murals. Unanimous Enacted Ordinance 2280 Sign Regulations to amend section 11-802 and create 11-824 of the Crete Municipal Code to amend mural definition and create special exception permits for murals. Unanimous Adopted Resolution 2026-18 Signing of the Municipal Annual Certification of Program Compliance 2026. Unanimous Enacted on third reading Ordinance 2279 regulate bicycle, E-bikes, minibikes and other motorized recreational transportation and create penalties for violation of these sections. Unanimous Approved the Davis Estates Administrative Subdivision. Unanimous Approved the Dittmer West Estates Preliminary Plat. Unanimous Approved the Dittmer West Estates Final Plat. Unanimous Approved the Street Right of Way Dedication Plat. Unanimous Tabled to Amend Caselle Master Agreement. Unanimous Approved the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $100.72. Crisman: Aye, Frans: Aye, Newmyer: Aye, Strehle: Aye, Fitzgerald: Aye, Abstained: Papik Officer’s report Fire Chief Tod Allen stated the following: The Fire Department BBQ didn’t go as planned since they didn’t cool the meat. Working on the Rig specs Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked about the count for the Volunteer Fire Department and Allen stated that there are 38 volunteers with a possible 50 maximum. Allen stated they are having conversations with Lancaster county to have a strike team ready so if there is help needed in other communities they will have people ready. There is a rope rescue team that Farmers Cooperative is helping to equip and a couple members of the Crete Volunteer Fire Department are going to be training to be part of the team. Acting Chief of Police Jon Pucket stated the following: During these times of transition thanked the City for allowing people to take time off and thanked the Fire Department for their help during Chief Young’s funeral. Pucket also thanked the community for their support. Park and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated the following: Pool is closed for season; Coed softball season is here Flag football registration for players, coaches and referees until August 30th To replace trees removed along Oak Ave for paving improvements a Trees for Nebraska Towns Grant was submitted for 10 trees Thanked parks staff who have been with the City this season Groundskeeper position is currently open Building Inspector Trent Griffin shared the Administrative Action sign with the mayor and council. Finance Director Wendy Thomas introduced new Human Resource Director Rebekah Willoughby. City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that Willoughby used to work for the State of Nebraska HHS Dept. Council member Tom Crisman thanked Acting Police Chief Jon Pucket for his work and for handling the transition the Police Department is going through. Council members Ashley Newmyer, Dale Strehle, Dan Papik, and Anthony Fitzgerlad also thanked Acting Police Chief Jon Pucket and the Fire Department for their help. City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following: Started discussions on data centers with the Crete Planning Commission on the different types and will be delving into this at future meetings. He also had a conversation with the Saline County Attorney on this subject. Planning Commission Chair Dave Jurena added that he has attended a couple of different public meetings on data centers. Ourada spoke about the Civil Service process and that the Chief and Sergeant positions will be opening internally and externally. The Civil Service Commission does the preliminary vetting. Explained the postcards the City Council and Planning Commission Chair received about the yearly District 1 Program Hearing/Highway Commission meeting on August 14th, 2026 at 8:30 a.m. Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked if it would help to have council members present at the meeting to discuss the rehab and adding a sidewalk on the Blue River Bridge on highway 33. Ourada explained that would be a different and separate process, but it wouldn’t hurt to have elected officials present at the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:45 p.m. PAYEE, DESCRIPTION, AMOUNT CITY REVENUE FUND, SALES TAX, $1,077.87; CITY REVENUE FUND, AIRPORT, $83.78; KIDWELL, DUO ESSENTIAL SOFTWARE, $6.57; SEWARD COUNTY INDPNDNT, AIRPORT, $5.91; WASTE CONNECTIONS, UTILITIES, $96.71; AVFUEL CORPORATION, FUEL, $40,328.83; AIRPORT FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $41,599.67; CRETE POSTMASTER, UTILITY POSTAGE, $1,446.40; AQUA-CHEM INC, 42LB PAIL CS 335, $1,287.10; BENSON, WILLIAM, MEETING/TRAINING, $130.50; BLACK HILLS ENERGY, UTILITIES, $189.54; BW PLUS GRND ISLND INN & SUITES, MEETING/TRAINING BENSON, $321.00; CAPITAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC, SERVICE CONTRACT, $29.93; CASELLE, INC, CLOUD HOSTING - SUBSCRIPTN, $5,377.15; CITY HALL FUND, DEPARTMENT OFFICE RENT, $1,225.00; CITY HEALTH FUND, HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT, $535.00; CITY REVENUE FUND, SEWER REV, $16,264.11; CITY TAX FUND, ELECTRIC SURPLUS & FRANCHISE, $39,167.00; CORE & MAIN LP, FLG FF RR GSKT IMP 8 HOLES, $49.66; CRETE AUTO SUPPLY INC, PUNCH SET, $1,287.11; CRETE FOODMART, LAB SUPPLIES, $56.56; DITCH WITCH UNDERCON, BORING MACHINE REPAIR, $69.63; DUTTON LAINSON COMPANY, PROFILE LEVEL 2 POLYPHASE METER, $10,190.58; EAKES OFFICE SOLUTIONS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, $204.72; EXECUTIVE ANSWERING SERVICE, ANSWERING SERVICE, $99.05; FIBER PLATFORM LLC, ETHERNET INTERNET/PHONES, $392.01; HAMILTON EQUIPMENT CO, 2026 BC HB980 BREAKER, $5,535.00; JEO CONSULTING GROUP INC., SOLAR FARM ASSISTANCE, $8,581.00; KIDWELL, SERVICE AGMT, $1,660.65; MAX I WALKER UNIFORM & APPAREL, UNIFORMS, $171.20; NE PUBLIC HEALTH ENVRNMNTL LAB, LABS, $120.00; ONE CALL CONCEPTS INC, LOCATING SERVICE FEE, $226.35; QUADIENT LEASING USA INC, POSTAGE LEASE PMT, $329.43; SAPP BROS, INC, 7500 GAL BLENED DYED DIESEL, $28,740.32; SE MUNICIPAL SOLAR LLC, SOLAR ENERGY JULY 2026, $13,734.82; SID DILLON FORD, OIL & FILTER 2006 F-250, $66.12; TERRYBERRY, MISC. OPERATING, $459.49; USABLUEBOOK, SQUEEGEE WOOD HANDLE, $1,180.49; UTILITIES SECTION, MEMBERSHIP DUES 9/26 THRU 8/27, $4,858.00; WASTE CONNECTIONS, UTILITIES, $311.00; MEAN, WHEELING EXPENSE, $742,514.35; NE DEPT OF REVENUE, SALES TAX, $44,746.80; UPS, POSTAGE, $36.31; CITY PAYROLL FUNDS, WAGES, $115,330.55; UTILITY FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $1,046,923.93; DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY, 2026 2ND QTR TAX, $0.00; SALINE COUNTY SHERIFF, CI 26-340, $100.00; AKRS EQUIPMENT, AIR FILTERS, $1,423.39; AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES, DONATIONS, $1,520.21; AMERICAN FENCE CO OF LINCOLN INC, FRONT GATE REPAIR, $385.32; BEATRICE CONCRETE CO, 1-1/2 SCRN WEEPING ROCK, $792.48; BEATRICE YMCA, POOL RENTAL 5/19 - 5/22, $250.00; BECERRITAS, LB840 - BECERRITAS, $2,166.50; BENCHMARK GVRNMNT SLTNS LLC, MEALS NLETC ARBUCKLE, $630.40; BIBLIONIX LLC, RENEWAL 8-3-26 TO 8-2-27, $1,160.00; BLACK HILLS ENERGY, UTILITIES, $890.84; BLUE VALLEY DOOR CO INC, GARAGE DOOR REPAIR, $588.00; CAPITAL BUSINESS SYSTEMS INC, SERVICE CONTRACT, $209.26; CASELLE, INC, CLOUD HOSTING - SUBSCRIPTN, $2,982.85; CENGAGE LEARNING INC, DONATIONS-ALA GRANT, $1,106.37; CITY HALL FUND, DEPARTMENT OFFICE RENT, $375.00; CITY HEALTH FUND, HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT, $990.00; CITY REVENUE FUND, SALES TAX, $1,612.70; CITY REVENUE FUND, COMMUNITY ROOM, $18,960.70; CITY REVENUE FUND, WANEKS COMMUNITY ROOM, $546.88; CITY TAX FUND, LIBRARY BOND PAYMENTS, $21,000.00; CODY, LIZ, MILEAGE, $154.43; CRETE ACE HARDWARE, BLDG/GRND MAINT, $100.72; CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER, AMBULANCE LAUNDRY, $35.00; CRETE AREA MEDICAL CENTER, ALS PARAMEDIC FEE, $564.65; CRETE AUTO SUPPLY INC, HOSE CLAMPS/SWEEPER, $1,660.73; CRETE GLASS PROFESSIONALS LLC, NEW FRONT DOOR, $5,225.00; CRIST TOWING SERVICE, TOWING, $485.00; EAKES OFFICE SOLUTIONS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, $106.05; ENVIRO-TECH PEST SERVICES, PEST CONTROL, $105.00; EXECUTIVE ANSWERING SERVICE, ANSWERING SERVICE, $33.02; FIBER PLATFORM LLC, ETHERNET INTERNET/PHONES, $1,046.60; HAMILTON EQUIPMENT CO, 2026 BC HB980 BREAKER, $5,535.00; HAWKS PLUMBING AND HTNG LLC, A/C REPAIR, $115.00; HEARTLAND NATURAL GAS, UTILITY, $10.32; HOMETOWN LEASING, CNTRCT FEE & MNTHLY PYMNT, $157.00; KIDWELL, SERVICE AGMT, $5,151.78; LEXINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, REPLACEMENT FEE, $12.99; LIFE-ASSIST INC, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, $309.40; LITTRELL, MAXIMUS, RED CROSS CERTIFICATION, $230.00; MACQUEEN, OUTSIDE SERVICES, $1,969.75; MARVIN PLANNING CNSLTNTS INC, ZONING & SUBDIVISION REGS, $2,112.50; MCMASTER-CARR SUPPLY CO, RESISTANT MEDIUM DUTY CHAIN, $941.39; McMILLAN, KYLIE, RED CROSS CERTIFICATION, $235.00; MIDWEST ALARM SERVICES, INSPECT SERV, $390.00; NEBRASKA MACHINERY CO, CAT LOADER REPAIR, $278,323.61; NEBRASKALAND TIRE INC, TIRE - 42 MOWER, $108.26; NIPPON SANSO MATHESON INC, OXYGEN, $208.35; PAVERS INC, COLD MIX ASPHALT, $880.09; PENNYS PETWASH LLC, LB840 PENNYS PETWASH, $710.67; PITNEY BOWES GLBL FNNCL SRVCS, PD POSTAGE METER LEASE, $91.14; RAFA ROOFING & CONSTRUCTION, REFUND DUPLICATE PMT, $165.05; SAPP BROS, INC, ACCT, $429.59; SCHINDLER ELEVATOR CORP, INSPECTION SERVICE, $419.70; SECURITY EQUIPMENT INC, PCKLBLL CRT ACCSS CNTRL SYSTM, $3,305.33; SEEDLINGS BRAILLE BOOKS, DONATION - ALA, $1,502.00; SEWARD COUNTY INDEPENDENT, CLERK-SBSCRPTN RNWL 1YR, $1,564.14; SPECTRUM PAINT, YELLOW PAINT, $329.40; TERRYBERRY, MISC. OPERATING, $509.62; TRI STATE OIL RECLAIMERS INC, USED OIL PICKED UP, $75.00; VAN DIEST SUPPLY COMPANY, RANGER PRO 2X2.5, $342.00; WACKELS MACHINE SHOP, JD TRACTOR REPAIR, $400.00; WASTE CONNECTIONS, UTILITIES, $882.64; CANON FINANCIAL SERVICES, COPIER CONTRACT, $255.00; DEPT OF THE TREASURY, 2026 2ND QTR TAX, $107.57; NE DEPT OF REVENUE, GAMING TAX APR/MAY/JUN, $11,833.00; QUADIENT FINANCE USA INC, POSTAGE, $150.00; CITY PAYROLL FUNDS, WAGES, $167,786.16 TAX FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $554,755.55 ALL FUNDS, TOTAL, $1,643,279.15 CR — August 12, 2026 ZNEZ
