REGULAR MEETING Crete City Council Meeting City Hall January 20th, 2026, (Condensed, entire copy 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 Papik Absent: Anthony Fitzgerald The following actions were taken at the meeting: Approved the Consent Agenda items: Unanimous Meeting Minutes January 6th, 2026 City Council Minutes January 6th, 2026 Public Works Committee Minutes January 6th, 2026 Personnel Committee Minutes January 6th, 2026 Finance Committee Minutes January 6th, 2026 Legislative/Development Committee Minutes Treasurer’s Report Claims against the City $581,960.40 Approved Melanie Sawtelle as new volunteer member of the Fire Department Approved Donavin Viger as new volunteer member of the Fire Department Approved Landon Widick as new volunteer member of the Fire Department Approved Mikalynn Wylie as new volunteer member of the Fire Department Approved Nathan Cochnar as new volunteer member of the Fire Department Adjourned the City Council to a meeting of the Community Development Agency (CDA). Unanimous Approved the Cardinal Ventures Second Amendment to the Redevelopment Agreement. Unanimous Approved the Cardinal Ventures Certificate of Completion. Unanimous Adjourned the Community Development Agency (CDA) to the City Council. Unanimous Adopted Resolution 2026-03 master fee schedule. Unanimous Approved the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $1,688.25. Crisman: Aye, Frans: Aye, Newmyer: Aye, Strehle: Aye Abstained: Papik Approved the purchase of a 2025 Mack MD6 Dump Truck Stock# N076841 in the bid amount of $125,000. Unanimous Enacted Ordinance 2264 Amending 2-1204 authorizing the appointing authority to appoint members of the commission. Unanimous Tabled Ordinance 2265 Amending Section 5-402 of Bureau of violations process. Unanimous Tabled Ordinance 2266 Amending 2-1514 Dead or hazardous tree removal. Unanimous Approved to authorize to apply for the Tree City Application. Unanimous Approved amending the Waste Connections Agreement adding 2 carts and 3 carts. Unanimous Approved the Crete Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department By-law concerning EMT requirements. Unanimous Approved the Keno Audit. Unanimous Officers' Reports Chief of Police Gary Young and Human Resource Coordinator Jody Fiehtner introduced the following employees: John Hensel as temporary Police Officer. He has experience working with Thayer County Sheriff’s Office and Saline County Sheriff’s Office and Jail Administrator Experience. Hensel is going through the hiring process with the Civil Service Commission. Asbel Barrientos as the new part-time Administrative Assistant at the Police Department. Fire Chief Tod Allen introduced the following as new volunteer members of the Fire Department; Melanie Sawtelle, Donavin Viger, Landon Widick, Mikalynn Wylie, and Nathan Cochnar. Phil Oelschlager is teaching EMT classes at the fire department. February 7th, 2026 is the Fire Department’s Dinner Dance A citizen donation was used for radiant heat in the department. Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated the following: The Crete Public Library and Doane University are offering free state and federal tax assistance through the VITA program on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. beginning January 31st, 2026. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated the following: The Lion Fountain was damaged due to high wind. Met with Ag Society to recruit their help in notifying PD in the event of vandalism or damage in the park. Youth soccer registrations opens on January 26th, 2026. The Tree City USA & Growth Award recognizes the City’s annual community forestry work 2025 IRA Urban Community Forestry Grant will begin in February and assist with this work. Building Inspector Trent Griffin explained the December 2025 Permit Log and the 2025 Calendar Year Permit Log. Trent explained that he is working on getting nuisance structure letters mailed out. City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following: Had a discussion with another town about the City of Crete helping with a part-time building inspector. There will be a board of adjustment meeting in February. The Railroad Transportation Safety District didn’t meet due to not having quorum. The president position rotates from a City representative to a County Representative for 2026. The City is advertising for the Police Officers The City Audit is done and just got the draft. Continuing to apply for grants. One of the railroad crossing study grant match will be lower to around $135,000 and Burlington will be putting an equal amount. Currently getting letters of support. The Housing Study is done and will be presented soon. There were some comments with some things that were not accurate and those changes were made. The paving district preconstruction meeting is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, January 29th, 2026. The contractor was going to start June 1st but they are wanting to come in this week and that can not be done since people have to be notified first. Got competitive quotes for the City Park pavilion and restrooms. The Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) is one grant the City of Crete will be applying for matching funds up to $385,000. There is also a generous benefactor a local LLC that is also willing to contribute. Mayor Dave Bauer stated that once there is notification on this grant they will bring ideas on the project at City Park. There are stipulations on the donation that is being made for City Park. The meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m. Payee, Description, Amount; CITY REVENUE FUND, AIRPORT-PROPANE, $70.62; CLINE WILLIAMS LLP, GENERAL BUSINESS, $2,796.00; KIDWELL, 365 MIGRATION, $559.62; QTPOD, BASE ACCESS PLAN, $1,195.00; SEWARD COUNTY INDEPENDENT, AIRPORT, $19.55; VERIZON WIRELESS, CELL PHONE, $39.94; WASTE CONNECTIONS, UTILITY, $96.71; NPPD, UTILITY, $1,195.28; AIRPORT FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $5,972.72; CARDINAL HOLDINGS INC, CONSUMER DEPOSIT REFUND, $90.00; CITY REVENUE FUND, CONSUMER DEPOSIT APPLIED, $1,695.24; REGION V SYSTEMS, CONSUMER DEPOSIT REFUND, $150.00; SCHRADER, SARA, CONSUMER DEPOSIT REFUND, $124.76; ZAJICEK, SHERRY, CONSUMER DEPOSIT REFUND, $150.00; CONSUMER DEPOSIT FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $2,210.00; BNSF RAILWAY COMPANY, CRETE 2025 NEW WELL & TRANMSSN MN, $2,000.00; BOK FINANCIAL, COP 2016 LEASE REV, $1,250.00; CASELLE, INC, CONTRACT SUPPORT & MAINT, $2,102.62; CITY REVENUE FUND, 1 CASE OF PAPER TOWELS, $35.21; CLINE WILLIAMS LLP, GENERAL BUSINESS, $4,295.50; CRETE ACE HARDWARE, NUTS/BOLTS BLOWER REPAIR/BATTERIES, $473.90; CRETE AUTO SUPPLY INC, BATTERIES-LIFT STATION GENERATOR, $511.98; CRETE LUMBER & FARM SUPPLY CO, CONCRETE MIX, $26.88; EAKES OFFICE SOLUTIONS, OFFICE SUPPLIES, $396.02; EXECUTIVE ANSWERING SERVICE, ANSWERING SERVICE, $88.16; GRAINGER, GEN #7 MAINT, $684.33; HEARTLAND NATURAL GAS, UTILITY, $245.51; JEO CONSULTING GROUP INC., CRETE WELL & TRANSMISSION MAIN, $1,675.00; KIDWELL, 365 MIGRATION, $6,528.90; MAX I WALKER UNIFORM & APPRL, UNIFORMS, $165.34; NE DEPT OF WATER, ENERGY & ENVIR, OPERATOR LICENSE - BH AND EC, $230.00; OLSSON, CRETE CORE INGREDIENTS, $233.01; ONE CALL CONCEPTS INC, LOCATING SERVICE FEE, $22.14; SID DILLON FORD, OIL & FILTER 2015 F-250, $56.63; UNION BANK & TRUST, HSA FEES, $44.00; VERIZON WIRELESS, CELL PHONE, $389.56; WASTE CONNECTIONS, UTILITY, $43,861.48; DHHS, UTILITY OVERPAYMENT, $440.87; DEPT OF ENERGY, PURCHASED POWER WAPA, $28,329.10; NE DEPT OF REVENUE, SALES TAX, $35,909.15; NPPD, ELECTRICITY, $10,231.16; QUADIENT FINANCE USA INC, POSTAGE, $550.00; UPS, POSTAGE, $23.30; CITY PAYROLL FUNDS, WAGES, $120,616.75; UTILITY FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $261,416.50; AKRS EQUIPMENT, NUTS & BOLTS - JD GRADER, $169.95; AMAZON CAPITAL SERVICES, FRIENDS DONATIONS, $1,516.89; ARMOR EQUIPMENT, GUTTER BROOM 4-SEG F / 435, $487.30; AXLINE LANDSCAPING & TREES, TREE PLANTING - CITY PARK, $300.00; BARCO MUNICIPAL PRODUCTS INC, 5/16 CORNER BOLTS , $448.40; BEATRICE CONCRETE CO, CONCRETE, $258.02; CASELLE, INC, CONTRACT SUPPORT & MAINT, $1,166.38; CAVMAC ACTUARIAL CNSLTNG SRVCS, CONSULTING FEES, $2,000.00; CITY REVENUE FUND, PARK&REC, $4,206.23; CITY REVENUE FUND , SALES TAX, $87.53; CLINE WILLIAMS LLP, CARDINAL VENTURES REDEV PROJ, $19,458.36; CRETE ACE HARDWARE, PICNIC TABLE RPRS/MAINT/SUPP, $1,214.35; CRETE AUTO SUPPLY INC, SHOP SUPPLIES, $1,558.26; CRETE VETERINARY CLINIC, BOARD - DOG, $271.50; CRIST TOWING SERVICE, TOWING, $165.00; CULLIGAN OF CRETE, WATER COOLER RENTAL, $52.00; DEMCO INC, OFFICE SUPPLIES, $311.11; EAKES OFFICE SOLUTIONS , BLACK INK/BAGS/CONTRACT, $810.11; EMS TRAINING ZONE, EMT COURSE, $1,850.00; ENGINEERED CONTROLS INC, BLDG & GRND MAINT, $140.00; EXECUTIVE ANSWERING SERVICE, ANSWERING SERVICE, $29.39; GOLD STAR MARTIAL ARTS, REIMBURSE FOR KICK-IT PROGRAM, $515.00; HEARTLAND NATURAL GAS, UTILITY, $345.85; JEO CONSULTING GROUP INC., 2024 STREET & ALLEY IMPROVEMENTS, $2,000.00; KIDWELL, 365 MIGRATION, $11,565.48; KURITA AMERICA INC, PROJECT PG, $1,968.60; MACQUEEN, FIRE EQUIP-TURN OUT GEAR, $24,754.38; MID-STATES ORGANIZED CRIME, MOCIC MEMBERSHIP 2026, $150.00; NE SUPREME COURT, PUBLICATIONS, $350.00; NPPD, UTILITIES, $10.09; PLAINS TREE FARM INC, REDPOINTE MAPLE, $180.00; PRESTO-X, PEST CONTROL SERV, $155.19; ROSE EQUIPMENT LLC, ASPHALT CRACK SEALING MACHINE, $64,238.00; SAPP BROS, INC, ACCT, $1,061.14; SEWARD COUNTY INDEPENDENT, ORD 2263, $696.80; SID DILLON FORD, OIL CHANGE UNIT #7, $87.79; SIEDHOFF TOWING, TOW CEO PICKUP TO SID DILLONS, $135.00; SPEECE LEWIS, A BOWMAN COMPANY, 2025 BRIDGE INSPECTION, $1,549.90; THE RADAR SHOP, RADAR REPAIR, $156.50; TRUCK CENTER COMPANIES, DRIVE SHAFT PART - UNIT #7, $65.06; UNION BANK & TRUST, HSA FEES, $76.00; UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, BIRD NESTS KIT, $60.00; VERIZON WIRELESS, CELL PHONE, $568.42; WASTE CONNECTIONS, UTILITY, $814.75; NE DEPT OF REVENUE, MOTOR FUEL TAX, $188.00; ONE BILLING SOLUTIONS, CRETE AMB SERV, $4,722.55; QUADIENT FINANCE USA INC , POSTAGE, $450.00; QUADIENT LEASING, POSTAGE LEASE PMT, $379.70; SPECTRU , DIGITAL CABLE BOX, $11.20; CITY PAYROLL FUNDS, WAGES, $158,605.00; TAX FUNDS, SUBTOTAL, $312,361.18; ALL FUNDS, TOTAL, $581,960.40 CR — January 28, 2026 ZNEZ
