08/20/2013 Minutes CITY OF GRAND ISLAND,NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
August 20, 2013
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
August 20, 2013. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on August
17, 2013.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Councilmembers
were present: Vaughn Minton, Mike Paulick, Scott Dugan, John Gericke, Peg Gilbert, Mitch
Nickerson, Julie Hehnke, Chuck Haase, Linna Dee Donaldson, and Bob Niemann. The following
City Officials were present: City Administrator Mary Lou Brown, City Clerk RaNae Edwards,
City Attorney Robert Sivick, City Treasurer and Finance Director Jaye Monter, and City
Engineer and Public Works Director John Collins.
INVOCATION was given by Community Youth Council student Michael Cornelius followed by
the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
Mayor Vavricek introduced Community Youth Council member Michael Cornelius and board
member Kelsey O'Dea.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
Discussion Concerning the Grand Island Veterans Home. Mayor Vavricek commented on the
background of relocating the Veterans Home to Kearney and the request from the GI Home for
Our Heroes Committee for $5,000 to research options of retaining the Grand Island Veterans
Home in Grand Island. Mentioned was the support of Council by passing three resolutions with
regards to the Veterans Home.
Cindy Johnson, president of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce on behalf of GI Home for
Our Heroes Committee updated the Council regarding the activities of the committee relating to
the Veterans Home relocation. She stated there was an outcry from the community regarding the
decision to relocate the Veterans Home to Kearney. Mentioned were unanswered questions from
the community and the committee regarding the process. The request was for funding to hire a
law firm to look into the process and answer those questions. Funding would be used for
research, analysis and the evaluation.
Mayor stated Councilmembers on the Home for Our Heroes Committee were John Gericke, Bob
Niemann, and Chuck Haase. This item would come before Council on August 27, 2013 for
Council action regarding the funding request.
The following people spoke in support:
• Margaret Hornady, 2708 Arrowhead Road
• Ken Gnadt, 1610 Gretchen
Page 2,City Council Study Session,August 20,2013
__ • Pam Lancaster, 2809 Apache Road
• Linda Humrich, 425 Renee Road, Doniphan, NE
Mayor stated the decision of going forward with this action could be far reaching and he wanted
Council's input. Comments were made by Council to go forward and show unity in our
community. Mentioned was this should have been done sooner, this was about the Veterans.
Comments were made regarding the scoring process and the politics of the Governor's decision.
Finance Director Jaye Monter answered questions regarding the funding source. She stated this
would come out of the Non-Department contingency account. Ms. Johnson answered questions
regarding communicating with the Council regarding the information gathered through this
contract.
Mayor stated the Chamber of Commerce, Economic Development, and Hall County had agreed
to fund this request. Ms. Johnson asked what the Mayors position was on this subject. He said he
always supported the veterans and mentioned those events he was involved with. He was
supportive of this effort.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk