Council Minutes - Aug. 4 and 18, 2026
Individuals and media outlets are encouraged to contact the City Administrator for additional details or clarification on the following material. Regular meetings of the Crete City Council are held on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers on the second floor of City Hall; Council Standing Committees may meet prior. View a list of City Officials and current council and committee meeting agendas.
- Questions about agendas or meeting minutes should be directed to the City Clerk.
- Meeting minutes are published in The Crete News (local newspaper)
- Each regular city council meeting agenda also contains the minutes of recent council, committee, and board meetings
The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
Condensed Minutes for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Aug. 18:
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments, entire copy of minutes 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: August 4 City Council, August 4 Public Works Committee, August 4 Finance Committee, August 4 Legislative Development Committee, August 4 Public Safety Committee
- Treasurer’s Report
- Claims against the City $1,003,157.64
Held Public Hearing on an application for the Community Development Block Grant Program Infrastructure Grant to reconstruct 15th Street and construct sidewalk improvements from Boswell Ave to Fir Avenue. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Community Development Block Grant Program Infrastructure Grant to reconstruct 15th Street and construct sidewalk improvements from Boswell Ave to Fir Avenue. Unanimous
Approved the Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement Between the City of Crete and JEO Consulting Group, Inc. Project No. DPS-76(53) Control No. 13631 Crete Pedestrian Bridge Project. Unanimous
Approved the Contractor's Pay Estimate No 3 Application for Payment From JEO Consulting Group, Inc for NLC, LLC for the 2024 Crete Street and Alley Improvements Engineer's Project No: 240578.00 in the amount of $474,008.6. Unanimous
Approved the Lerma Way Addition. Unanimous
Approved the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $14,503.03. Crisman: Aye, Frans: Aye, Newmyer: Aye, Strehle: Aye, Fitzgerald: Aye, Abstained: Papik
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Robert B. Daugherty Foundation Grant. Unanimous
Approved to authorize he City of Crete to apply for 4imprint Grant. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Sisters in Crime Grant. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Burlington Capital Grant. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Entergy Grant Funds. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the U.S. Bank Foundation Grant. Unanimous
Approved to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Costco Grant. Unanimous
Enacted Ordinance 2281 amending administrative subdivision requirements. Unanimous
Approved the Crete Carrier Room Grant Application from the Southeast Library System to provide a summer reading workshop for librarians that are part of the Southeast Library System. Unanimous
Approved to amend the Master Fee Schedule amending mowing fees & residential plumbing permit costs. Unanimous
Approved the City donation Policy. Unanimous
Approved the City of Crete to apply for The Purina Foundation Grant. Unanimous
Approved to Amend Caselle Master Agreement. Unanimous
Approved forwarding Jennifer Parker's claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM). Unanimous
Approved the Agreement Between City of Crete and JEO Consulting Group, Inc. for Professional Services Crete Water Main Project No: 231835.00. Unanimous
Petitions - Communications - Resident Concerns:
- Michelle Faltin thanked the City Council for allowing her address them. Faltin addressed the Council about the Crete Riptide Swim team and to bring awareness as a parent and longtime supporter of the swim program of concerns related to communication and coaching structure as a parent. Faltin stated that her hope is to bring these concerns forward to work together to find solutions and find a path forward for the swim program.
- Mayor Dave Bauer thanked Faltin for the information that the City will address.
- City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that there is no vision to discontinue the swim team. The City wants the team to be as strong as ever. It isn’t accurate to say that we won’t have a team. The City wants a sustainable coach that is going to continue. The City started paying volunteer coaches and that model is going to continue so that it can keep operating at a high level.
- Faltin stated that it was concerning that other coaches were approached to take over swimmers so that there wouldn’t be a program. That was not fair and it left families feeling uncertain. Faltin further stated that she appreciated the City’s confidence that the program will be moving forward.
- Ourada stated that the solicitation of other coaches didn’t come from official channels in the City. Ourada explained that throughout all the budget discussions is was never mentioned that the swim team would stop. Mayor Dave Bauer stated that maybe sending something out so that families know the program is continuing.
Officers’ Reports
- Acting Chief of Police Jon Pucket explained that there are two grants that the Police Department would like to apply for before the end of the month. Pucket spoke with City Administrator Tom Ourada about submitting the grants. One of the grants is for tasers and the other grant is for a task force enforcement with priority counties that the Nebraska State Patrol will apply for. This is outside of the other grant that they get for overtime. Both of these grants are no match grants. Mayor Dave Bauer stated that there have been questions about how education will be provided on E-bikes, and minibikes and the first answer is that it is up to the parents to educate but he had spoke about School Resource Officer Noah Zach talking to the principal about putting on a seminar to talk about the new rules. Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked if the City is also making a digital pamphlet with this information and it was stated that the school is also doing somethings with that.
- Library Director Jessica Wilkinson passed around post cards with the summer reading statistics and also shared upcoming programming details. The summer reading goal was 3,000 books and children read over 14,000 books.
- Building Inspector Trent Griffin stated he will provide updated permit logs at the next meeting. In the last week 7 letters were sent out. With 4 of them being commercial design standards for tinted windows. There were 2 building violations and 1 zoning violation for a business in a residential district. In the last 5 days 20 weed letters were sent out. Griffin further explained they are working on vacant property registry with letters going out for 3 residential and 2 commercial properties.
- Park and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated the following:
- seeking applicants for an open groundskeeper position and part-time seasonal labor (mowing, etc.)
- variety of volunteer opportunities to Doane students and CPS students this fall.
- Thank you to Parks and Rec volunteers for attending council meeting tonight.
- The Lincoln Food Bank distribution will be held in Tuxedo Park on Thursday August 27
- IRA UCF Grant funds have allowed us to remove 4 large mature trees in Tuxedo Park overhanging park structures including the Beef barn enclosure, ticket booth, and city maintenance sheds. Additional grant funds will be used to remove Ash trees from Westwood Park and facilitate city access and maintenance of this park.
- Council member Kyle Frans thanked the Library and Parks and Recreation for all the programming opportunities that both children and adults can participate in.
- City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following:
- Working on the budget and going over the different department budgets and helping them allocate resources.
- There are four positions open and just onboarded the new Human Resources Director and she is now working on onboarding other people.
- The City of Crete Employee Recognition Dinner will be on Thursday, September 17
- Ourada is the Chairman of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) Board of Directors and he will be in Meetings in Kearney on Wednesday and Thursday
- There was a Railroad Transportation Safety District (RTSD) meeting last week and they voted on the helping with the match for the Railroad Safety Study grant. There are three representatives from the City Council and three representatives from the County Commissioners and all were very in favor of moving forward with this.
- Mayor Dave Bauer asked the City Council to please mark their calendars for Sunday, September 20 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.. A group of Hungarians will be in town and their will be a bus from that school that will take the group around town on a tour. The people that are coming are all professionals. Some mayors and council people and there will be a program at the VFW afterwards. Last year a group of Romanians came, and it was very enjoyable and very rewarding.
The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.
Condensed Minutes for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Aug. 4:
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments, entire copy of minutes 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 21 City Council, July 21 Public Works Committee, July 21 Finance Committee, July 21 Legislative Development Committee, July 21 Public Safety Committee
- 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 reports
- 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.