06/09/2026 Minutes CITY Ot
GRAND' ISLAND
City Council Meeting Minutes
Council Chambers
City Hall
100 East First Street
June 9, 2026
7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Roger G. Steele called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
3.
The following City Officials were present, City Clerk Jill Granere, City Attorney Kari Fisk,
Finance Director Chelsey Steinke and Public Works Director Keith Kurz.
The following City Council Members were present: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley,
Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug
Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick.
4. SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
5. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS
6. PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
6.a) Recognition of Grand Island's Individual State Track& Field Champions
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6.b)Audit Presentation of City Financials by Creative Planning
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2025 City of Grand Island
2025 Grand Island- Electric
2025 Grand Island - Water
Tim Lens from Creative Planning presented on the City Audit.
7. CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Ryan O'Neill to approve CONSENT AGENDA excluding item
7e. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown,
Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion
adopted.
Page 2 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
7.a) Approving Minutes of the May 26, 2026, City Council Regular Meeting
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Minutes
7.b)Approving Minutes of the June 2, 2026 City Council Study Session
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Minutes
7.c) Approving Payment of Claims for the Period of May 26, 2026 through June 9, 2026
in the total amount of$7,552,863.14
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Claims
7.d) #2026-142 - Approving Fire Department Assistance to Firefighters Grant
Application
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Resolution
7.e)#2026-143 - Approving Loan from State Revolving Fund Loan for Lead Service
Line Replacement
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Resolution
Utilities Director Ryan Schmitz reported the State Revolving Fund (SRF) had been set up by the
Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDWEE) to allow for up to 60%
forgivable and a 30 year payback at 0% interest. An additional 10%bonus grant remains that was
100%forgivable for discovery. $21,500,000.00 would be requested of which$7,740,000.00 would
need to be repaid for the remaining 1,750 service lines estimated to be replaced. The exact loan
amount offered would be dependent on SRF funds available. Discovery would continue to be
completed using a hydro vacuum and a crew of two water maintenance workers. The verification
was considered discovery work and would fall into the additional 10%that is 100%reimbursable.
Motion by Doug Brown, second by Jack Sheard to approve 7e. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard,Mark
Stelk,Jason Conley,Mitchell Nickerson,Doug Brown,Maggie Mendoza,Ryan O'Neill and Doug
Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick.Noes: Chuck Haase. Motion adopted.
7.f)#2026-144 - Approving Temporary Construction Easement for State Street/Diers
Avenue Improvements; Project No. 2026-P-1 (Neelkanth Hospitality, LLC and Pathway
Bancorp)
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Resolution
Neelkanth TE Exhibit
Pathway TE Exhibit
Payment to the affected property owner totals $27,494.93.
Page 3 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
7.g) #2026-145 - Approving Supplemental Agreement No. 2 to the Preliminary
Engineering Services Agreement with JEO Consulting Group, Inc. for Grand Island West
Connector Trail
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Supplemental Agreement No. 2
Resolution
Exhibit
An increased amount of$15,515.84 for a revised agreement amount of$240,983.37.
7.h) #2026-146 -Approving Temporary Construction Easement for 13th Street Sanitary
Sewer Main Extension- Engleman Road to 60th Road; Project No. 2025-S-6 (T & E Cattle
Company and Terjak)
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Resolution
T&E Cattle Tract C TE Exhibit
T&E Cattle Tract E TE Exhibit
Terjak TE Exhibit
Payment to the affected property owner totals $2,907.20.
7.i) #2026-147 - Approving Change Order No. 1 for Grand Island Regional Landfill Cell
4 Construction; Project No. 2025-LF-1
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Change Order No. 1
Resolution
With S Lazy B Land Development for an increased price of$48,800.00 for a revised total of
$1,062,399.95.
7.j) #2026-148 -Approving Bid Award for Sanitary Sewer Manhole 75-20 Repair; Project
No. 2026-S-4
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Contract- 2026-S-4
Resolution
With The Diamond Engineering Company in an amount of$78,694.07.
7.k) #2026-149 - Approving Agreement with NDOT for the Grand Island Area
Metropolitan Planning Organization(GIAMPO) for the 2027 Fiscal Year Transportation Planning
Program
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Federal Planning Funds Agreement
Resolution
The local 20% funds would be the City's obligation estimated at$52,148.34.
7.1) #2026-150 - Approving Bid Award for 13th Street Sanitary Sewer Main Extension-
Page 4 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
Engleman Road to 60th Road; Project No. 2025-S-6
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2025-S-6 Contract- Midlands Contracting, Inc.
Resolution
With Midlands Contracting, Inc. of Kearney,Nebraska in an amount of$1,672,352.45.
7.m) #2026-151 - Approval of Internet Service Contract with OPTK Networks
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Agreement
Resolution
For a monthly cost of$27,900 payable in regular monthly installments of$775.00.
7.n) #2026-152 - Requesting permission for the Police Department to apply for a FY25
Bureau of Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) De-escalation and Crisis Response Training Program
Grant.
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Resolution
8.) PUBLIC HEARINGS
8.a)Public Hearing on Acquisition of Permanent Easements for State Street/Diers Avenue
Improvements; Project No. 2026-P-1 (Neelkanth Hospitality, LLC)
#2026-153 - Approving Acquisition of Permanent Easements for State Street/Diers
Avenue Improvements; Project No. 2026-P-1 (Neelkanth Hospitality, LLC)
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Resolution
Neelkanth PE Exhibit
Public Works Director Keith Kurz reported a permanent easement was needed to accommodate
the improvements to the State Street/Diers Avenue area. All property acquisitions and negotiations
were handled by a third party, Olsson, Inc. of Grand Island, Nebraska, who worked with the
affected property owner to sign the necessary documents to grant the property. Payment to the
affected property owner totals $1,776.00.
Motion by Doug Brown, second by Doug Lanfear to approve 8.a) #2026-153 - Approving
Acquisition of Permanent Easements for State Street/Diers Avenue Improvements; Project No.
2026-P-1 (Neelkanth Hospitality, LLC). Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley,
Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug
Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
8.b)Public Hearing on Acquisition of Permanent Utility Easements for 13th Street Sanitary
Sewer Main Extension- Engleman Road to 60th Road; Project No. 2025-S-6 (T & E Cattle
Company and Terjak)
Page 5 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
#2026-154 -Approving Acquisition of Permanent Utility Easements for 13th Street
Sanitary Sewer Main Extension- Engleman Road to 60th Road; Project No. 2025-S-6 (T
& E Cattle Company and Terjak)
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Resolution
T&E Cattle Tract C PE Exhibit
T&E Cattle Tract E PE Exhibit
Terjak PE Exhibit
Public Works Director Keith Kurz reported permanent utility easements were needed to
accommodate the 13th Street Sanitary Sewer Main Extension- Engleman Road to 60th Road;
Project No. 2025-S-6. All property acquisitions and negotiations were handled by a third party,
Midwest Right-of-Way of Omaha, Nebraska, who worked with the affected property owners to
sign the necessary documents to grant the property. Payment to the affected property owners total
$86,751.33.
Motion by Ryan O'Neill, second by Doug Lanfear to approve 8.b) #2026-154 - Approving
Acquisition of Permanent Utility Easements for 13th Street Sanitary Sewer Main Extension-
Engleman Road to 60th Road; Project No. 2025-S-6 (T & E Cattle Company and Terjak). Roll
Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck
Haase,Maggie Mendoza,Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear.Absent:Mike Paulick.Motion adopted.
9.) ORDINANCES
9.a)#10,075 - Consideration of Approving Rezoning Lot 2 of Sterling Estates Ninth
Subdivision from RD Residential Development Zone to an amended RD Residential
Development Zone to reconfigure the buildings and units permitted on the lot (Second and Final
Reading)
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Sterling Future Land-use Map
Prelim Site
Shive Elevations
Phase 2 Development plan
Sterling Rezone App
Ordinance
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported an application had been made to amend
the development plan for Lot 2 of Sterling Estates Ninth Subdivision. This property was located
south of Capital Avenue and west of the Moore's Creek Drainway. Changes approved in 2016
altered the original plan were as follows: changes to the development plan would combine the two
(10 unit) buildings on the northeast side of the lot into a single building with 30 units. This would
allow for the creation of an additional 46 parking spaces on the property. The number of units in
the second phase of this development changed from 140 as originally approved to 150 units. Sixty
units of these approved with second phase (2016) were built and are in the building on the west
side of the property. The central portion was approved for 90 units in 7 buildings in 2016. All of
Page 6 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
the proposed changes were in this central portion on lot 2. The new proposed plan would include
4 building on lot 2 with 30 apartments in each unit. These buildings could be substantially similar
to the Sterling apartment buildings immediately to the east (Phase 1 of this development).
Motion by Doug Lanfear, second by Ryan O'Neill to suspend the rules 9.a) #10,075 -
Consideration of Approving Rezoning Lot 2 of Sterling Estates Ninth Subdivision from RD
Residential Development Zone to an amended RD Residential Development Zone to reconfigure
the buildings and units permitted on the lot (Second and Final Reading). Roll Call: Ayes: Jack
Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie
Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Motion by Jason Conley, second by Jack Sheard to approve 9.a) #10,075 - Consideration of
Approving Rezoning Lot 2 of Sterling Estates Ninth Subdivision from RD Residential
Development Zone to an amended RD Residential Development Zone to reconfigure the buildings
and units permitted on the lot (Second and Final Reading). Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark
Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan
O'Neill and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
9.b) #10,076 - Consideration of Approving Water Cost of Service Based Rates (Second
and Final Reading)
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Graph
Attachments A-H
GIUD 2026 Water COS Report
Ordinance
John Krajewski with JK Energy Consulting reported on a cash basis, projected deficit in FY2026
was approximately $1.2 million, increasing to $2.4 million by FY2030. The water system was out
of compliance with minimum cash reserve policy without additional rate increases.
The proposed rate plan were as follows:
• FY 2027- 8.0%
• FY 2028- 8.0%
• FY 2029- 8.0%
• FY2030—5.0%
The increased service fee for meters of 1: or less were as follows: (Service fee would increase for
larger service by similar percentage)
Existing FY2027 FY2028 FY2029
$7.30/month $7.67/month $8.28/month $8.94/month
Mr. Krajewski mentioned Grand Island was still the lowest compared to neighboring cities.
Motion by Doug Lanfear, second by Doug Brown to suspend the rules 9.b) #10,076 -
Consideration of Approving Water Cost of Service Based Rates(Second and Final Reading).Roll
Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck
Haase,Maggie Mendoza,Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear.Absent:Mike Paulick.Motion adopted.
Page 7 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Jason Conley to approve 9.b) #10,076 - Consideration of
Approving Water Cost of Service Based Rates (Second and Final Reading). Roll Call: Ayes: Jack
Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan
O'Neill. Absent: Mike Paulick.Noes: Chuck Haase and Doug Lanfear. Motion adopted.
9.c)#10,077 - Consideration of Approving Salary Ordinance
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Ordinance
Human Resource Director Aaron Schmid reported the proposed amendment transferred the Water
Distribution Crew Chief classification from the Non-Union employee group to the bargaining unit
represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Utilities collective
bargaining agreement. This change aligns the Water Crew Chief classification with the Electric
Distribution Crew Chief and Electric Underground Crew Chief classifications,which are currently
covered under the IBEW Utilities collective bargaining agreement. The amendment promotes
consistency in the administration of similarly situated supervisory and crew leadership positions
within the Utilities Department.
Motion by Ryan O'Neill, second by Doug Lanfear to suspend the rules 9.c) #10,077 -
Consideration of Approving Salary Ordinance. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason
Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and
Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Motion by Jack Sheard, second by Jason Conley to approve 9.c) #10,077 - Consideration of
Approving Salary Ordinance. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell
Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear.
Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
10.) OTHER ITEMS
10.a) #10,074 - Consideration of Approving Rezoning 40 acres west of Hwy 281 and
south of Guenther Road from TA Transitional Agriculture to CD Commercial Development
Zone
#2026-139 - Approving the preliminary and final plat for Guenther SID Subdivision in the Grand
Island ETJ
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Proposed Aerial Map
Proposed zone change map
Guenther SID Preliminary Plat
Final Plat
Development Plan
Building Design
Building Site Plan
Guenther Rezoning CD Final App
Guenther Subdivision Agreement
Page 8 of 7,City Council Regular Meeting June 9,2026
Ordinance
Resolution
Community Development Director Chad Nabity reported an application had been made to rezone
40 acres west of Hwy 281 and south of Guenther Road from TA Transitional Agriculture to CD
Commercial Development Zone and Consider the preliminary and final plat for Guenther SID
Subdivision in the Grand Island ETJ. The stated purpose of this rezoning was to allow the applicant
to subdivide the property for commercial development such as retail and lodging. The applicant
was in the process of creating a Sanitary and Improvement District (SID) to finance the cost of
infrastructure improvements.
Motion by Ryan O'Neill, second by Jack Sheard to suspend the rules 10.a)#10,074-Consideration
of Approving Rezoning 40 acres west of Hwy 281 and south of Guenther Road from TA
Transitional Agriculture to CD Commercial Development Zone. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard,
Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza,
Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Ryan O'Neill to approve 10.a) #10,074 - Consideration of
Approving Rezoning 40 acres west of Hwy 281 and south of Guenther Road from TA Transitional
Agriculture to CD Commercial Development Zone. Roll Call: Ayes: Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk,
Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill
and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
Motion by Chuck Haase, second by Jack Sheard to approve 10.a) #2026-139 - Approving the
preliminary and final plat for Guenther SID Subdivision in the Grand Island ETJ. Roll Call: Ayes:
Jack Sheard, Mark Stelk, Jason Conley, Mitchell Nickerson, Doug Brown, Chuck Haase, Maggie
Mendoza, Ryan O'Neill and Doug Lanfear. Absent: Mike Paulick. Motion adopted.
12). ADJOURMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
&("1-4KC
C ty Clerk
Jill Granere