07/20/2026 Minutes CITY OF GRAND ISLAND,NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF JOINT HEALTH SPECIAL MEETING
July 20, 2026
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Special Joint Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Grand Island, Nebraska, the Hall County Board of Commissioners, the Hamilton County Board
of Commissioners, the Merrick County Board of Commissioners, and the Central District Health
Department was conducted at the Grand Island Police Department, 111 Public Safety Drive,
Grand Island, Nebraska on July 20, 2026.
Central District Health Department (CDHD) Board President Debb Niles called the meeting to
order at 6:00 p.m. Present for the meeting were: City Councilmembers Chuck Haase, Mitch
Nickerson, Mark Stelk, Jack Sheard and Doug Brown. City Administrator Patrick Brown and
City Clerk Jill Granere. Health Department employees: Karly Simonson, Jeremy Collinson, Liza
Thalken, Deb Niles, Andrew Hills and Dodi Ouderkirk.
Interim Health Director Karly Simonson gave an overview highlights from the year, including
the following:
• Accreditation Achieved
• Rural Health Transformation opportunities help expand their budget and services
• In the process of leadership transition with the retirement of Teresa Anderson.
The revenues mentioned from 2018 to present continually growing in large part due to federal
grants. Their largest expense was personnel costs, then operating and capital. City/County
funding has stayed at 3%.
Andrew Hills gave an update on lead projects. In 2024 CDHD received their first grant from
HUD of a 1 million grant for 3 years to establish the program. In 2025 they received another
grant for HUD for 1.8 million for 4 years. People that qualified had to be below the 80% area
median income, agree to a 3-year lien on the property, pregnant women and/or children in the
homes under the age of 6 and houses must have been built before 1978.
Mr. Hills mentioned since the program started they have achieved being fully staffed, have
received all state licenses, XRF equipment, community outreach, software launch and a certified
contractor.
Dodi Ouderkirk gave an overview of Healthy Families America Program which provided free
home visits for families with babies on the way or young children, giving them support on safe
and healthy start in life, building strong relationships, helping with any home chores or helping
parents with the children.
Liza Thalken reported on the Community Health Assessment asking to help push the assessment
111 out to more people. The data helps understanding what the community needs were, barriers and
strengths, concerns etc. They have this assessment available in four languages.
Page 2,City Council Joint Health Meeting,July 20,2026
Jeremy Collinson with CDHD reported on mosquitos being low right now with peak season
usually after a big rain or in September. Most mosquitoes right now are nuisance, and no West
Nile has been reported in our area at this time. Mr. Collinson mentioned they did spray at Stuhr
Museum prior to the 250th July 4th Celebration, Heartland Shooting Park Event and have sprayed
a couple times at Hall County Park.
Ms. Simonson gave an update from wastewater database which indicated no Influenza A, B or
RSV and very low numbers of COVID. No measles have been reported in the area.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:47 p.m.
Jil Granere
City Clerk