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.

The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 14

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Oct. 7
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council Sept. 16, Public Works Committee Sept. 16, Public Safety Committee Sept. 16, Legislative/Community Development Committee Sept. 16, Personnel Committee Sept. 16, Finance Committee Sept. 16, City Council Special Meeting Sept. 24
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City 
• Mayor's appointment of Veronica Ortiz to the LB840 Advisory Board.

The Council voted 6-0 to table the following item to the next meeting: adopting the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program. City Administrator Tom Ourada said this is a federal requirement to get federal aid. City Attorney Alison Janecek Borer said the comment period ended this week and the resolution can be drawn up.

The Council voted 6-0 to waive required reading and adopt Ordinance 2260 - Creating Street Improvement Project Nos. 2024-1, 2024-2, 2024-3, and 2024-4.Ourada explained this includes paving projects on the north side of town that were petitioned, a paving district in an alley also petitioned in, and the Pinnacle Bank alley.

The Council voted 6-0 to set a Bid letting date of Thursday, Nov, 6 at 10 a.m. for Crete Street & Alley Improvements.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Saline County Area Transit (SCAT) request for Crete's share of the local matching funds for fiscal year 2026. Crete’s share of county service is $11,650 and the city service cost is $23,197 for a total of $34,847. Mayor Dave Bauer said there is nothing different from past years. It’s important to have this service in town and we have budgeted for it.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-25 ratifying the votes of the City's LARM Representative, Nancy Tellez at the September 24th, 2025 Annual Members' Meeting of the League Association of Risk Management, including the election of nominees to the LARM Board of Directors.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the LPA Program Agreement between the City of Crete and Nebraska Department of Transportation. Ourada said this is a planning grant specific to an elevated walkway joining the north and south parts of town.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve Resolution 2025-24 Signing of Program Agreement -BL2515 City of Crete and the Nebraska Department of Transportation NDOT Project Number DPS-76(53)

The Council voted 6-0 to approve items in which Crete Public Library will apply for the following grants: Nebraska Library Commission’s 1) Continuing Education & Training Grant, 2) Internship Grant, 3) Youth Grant for Excellence, and 4) Library Improvement Grant, Walmart Grant for Memory Care Items, American Library Association’s Libraries Transforming Communities Grant. Library Director Jessica Wilkinson provided the following grant information:

• first grant requires a 25% match and will send a staff member to the AMA (American Library Association) annual conference in Chicago; The Friends of the Crete Public Library will pick up the matching amount; 
• Internship grant does not require a match and provides $1,000 for intern wages;
• Youth grant requires a 25% match;
• Library improvement grant requires a 25% match to apply for new shelving - staff is growing the book collection and will not need a lot of the specific DVD shelving due to weeding that collection;
• Walmart grant has no match required and the library has never applied for this; purchases would include items for Outreach Librarian Laura Renker to take to her stops at local care facilities;
• Transforming communities grant has no match and the request is $19,475 to help grow the collection for visually impaired patrons - Braille materials cost a little more; materials for kids, adults, and large print books for all age groups, and more shelving;

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the LB840 Application from Heath Sports in the amount up to $35,000 for a new automatic screen-printing machine. Ashley Newmyer, Legislative and Economic Development Committee chair, said the committee discussed the application and recommended approval.

The Council voted 6-0 to table the following item: LB840 Application from Saline Medical Specialties for a loan guarantee for up to $500,000 for equipment, employee recruitment and job training. Newmyer said the committee tabled this item to the next council meeting for more information.

The Council voted 6-0 to authorize the City of Crete to apply for the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Community Forestry Infrastructure Grant. Parks and Recreation Director Liz Cody said this grant is for funds for the next three years to conduct tree pruning, planting, and removals in parks and public spaces; some funding for green infrastructure, which includes trees adjacent to park spaces.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve amending the Master Fee Schedule.Kyle Frans said the Finance Committee recommended these changes, which involved the Building permit fees.

The Council voted 6-0 to table the following item to the next meeting: Waste Connections draft agreement.

The Council voted 6-0 to authorize deviation from City specifications from Timothy Circle and Iris Ave. Ourada explained the original sidewalk was constructed during a federal aid project which is to NDOT (Nebraska Department of Transportation) specifications, differing from city specs; the developer is requesting to use the existing state specs to complete connected sidewalks.

The Council voted 6-0 to authorize of deviation from City specifications for sidewalk placement at 15th Street and Kingwood Ave. Ourada explained the building inspector worked on this with the developer; the plan is pushing the parking toward the building to accommodate 19.5 foot parking spaces instead of 18.5 foot spaces.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the Bid Proposal for Weed Control and Snow Removal Services from Will Wenz with Lawn Kings. Ourada said the city released an RFP (request for proposals) through the Downtown Business Improvement District; the first bid was rejected and the bidder decided not to resubmit; the board recommended this second bid. He met with this provider and found they could meet all the requirements. Mayor Bauer said this is a test project for the downtown area and is funded by the businesses in that two block district; hopefully it works well and could be expanded over time.

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern:

Officer Reports:

• Lt. Dawn Jonas:
  • thank you for allowing us to apply for recent grants; highway safety grant is $110,000 to use during the fiscal year to pay for officer overtime for traffic safety events; 
  • second grant was a car seat grant for $2,500 to purchase car seats for families in need; Officer Noah Zach attended training to certify as a car seat technician; the department helped host an event where Zach, Public Health Solutions, and Crete Public Schools had a car seat inspection site - 12 vehicles came through and 20 seats were installed or inspected, and 16 seats provided; at the event only 4 were installed correctly or were the right seat for the child at the time; once completed the department can be approved for another $2,500 and up to $10,000;
  •  introduced Hermes Trujillo is the new Code Enforcement Officer;
• Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director: 
  • flag football and coed softball seasons are done; thanks to our department for all the work with the pumpkin festival;
  • new mulch at North Ward Park and new edging, and new mulch at Library Park, trimming trees at Tuxedo Park;
  • Ourada said the tree grants can free up funds for other activities; Mayor Bauer said on walks around town there are still some limbs broken and hanging from recent storms; if on city right-of-way the city can take it down and outside of that the property owners need to take care of these;
• Trenton Griffin, Building Inspector:
  • master fee schedule changes will better reflect our permit/building numbers; we also turn data in to the census bureau;
  • new apartment units will have the permit coming; two new single family home permits, about 30 total permits issued this month;
• Tom Crisman: all department heads are doing an excellent job on grants.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • airport fuel issue - more important to attract business and not try to make a profit;
  • meeting with Burlington Railroad and management agency out of Washington State on grants, one for a possible quiet zone in town, the vehicle and pedestrian overpass project, crossing improvements; they said they would look for federal grants and help facilitate, some would require matches - Burlington said they would do the match;
  • new budget form for this year - all other first class cities submitted it like Crete;
  • JEO on water improvements - plans are almost done and will need to go out for bid; may be about $2.5M and we have $1.2M in grants for this along with a low interest loan;
  • SENDD (Southeast Nebraska Development District) - working on EPA award we received to look at area on South Main;
  • Looking at a Blue Acres paving project;
  • Would like to look at an animal shelter project; we euthanize animals and have to pay for it and that money could be spent on adopting out; the Capital Humane Society is a no-kill shelter and are more selective on which animals they will take and the Beatrice Humane Society will take some; some grant work and effort on our part could make this possible;
  • tarring schedule was emailed to city officials;
  • we extended an offer to a potential police officer but still need background checks, etc.; looking at a second officer as the department has three openings;
  • Alison is here from Cline Williams and Anna is on leave with her new baby boy;
• Mayor Dave Bauer said the community had another successful pumpkin festival which involves a lot of people and city staff who were involved with booths, cars, as well as crews from street and electrical departments; he thanked everyone for the parts they played.

Meeting adjourned.

Check out these upcoming events at Crete Public Library. (specific age groups or pre-registration where noted.) Contact library staff for more information. (Click the gallery for more images)

Upcoming Programs:

• Literary Pumpkin Contest, the entire month of October: From October 1–24, kids, teens, and adults are invited to decorate a pumpkin inspired by a beloved book, character, or author. Paint it, dress it up, or give it some googly eyes—the only rule is to let your imagination run wild. (Please, no cutting or carving your pumpkin.)
• Spring Creek Prairie Birding Adventure, Tuesday, Oct. 14. Bus rides will leave the library at 9:30 a.m. for a morning of bird watching at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Denton. Call the library to reserve a spot.
• Adult Craft Night - Soy Candle Making, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 5:30 p.m. Limited spots available. $5 fee and call the library to register.
• Library Fall Festival, Saturday, October 18, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Enjoy pumpkin painting, an exciting scavenger hunt, festive crafts, and delicious seasonal treats. This family-friendly event is free and open to all ages—come make memories, get creative, and celebrate fall at the library.
• Home Safety Program with Crete Fire & Rescue and Crete Police Department, Wednesday, Oct. 22, 1 p.m. Learn home safety tips from local fire and police personnel.
• Musician Dan Holtz, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 1:30 p.m. Celebrate and commemorate people, places, and events in Nebraska history through original songs; a Nebraska Humanities presentation.

• Dinosaur Tea Party Saturday, November 15, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Families are invited to enjoy a dino-mite morning filled with fun activities and prehistoric surprises. Sip on warm apple cider and munch on snacks while you dig into hands-on fun—literally. Try your hand at breaking open fossils to uncover hidden treasures, and create your very own dinosaur friend to take home. It’s the perfect mix of science, creativity, and cozy fall fun.

Recurring events:

• Mommy & Me Art Cafe, Mondays through April, 10-11 a.m. Join other new moms for a relaxing hour of art, conversation, and connection—no art skills (or clean shirts) required. Each session lasts one hour. Come meet fellow moms, get inspired, and enjoy a little “you” time—with baby in tow. For moms with babies 12 months & under. 
• Maker Mondays, 1st Monday of the month through April, 4-5 p.m. No registration required. Ages: 5–11 years old. Drop in and explore hands-on science, technology, engineering, and art activities at your own pace! We’ll have plenty of supplies and a variety of exciting activities for kids to choose from—experiment, build, create, and discover.
• Teen Nights, Tuesdays at 5 p.m. For teens ages 12-17. Each week, teens can drop in for a variety of fun activities—movies, crafts, science nights, game nights, and more! Come hang out, try something new, and connect with friends. No registration or sign-up required. 
• Tea and Threads: Tuesdays at 10 a.m.; Laid-back atmosphere, friendly conversation, and creative inspiration for those who crochet, from seasoned pros to beginners.
• Tai Chi Classes for Adults 55+, Wednesdays, 9 a.m. Tai Chiu is gentle, low impact exercise, perfect for enhancing mobility, reducing stress, and connecting with others in a welcoming environment. $2 per class. Call the library to sign-up.
• All Ages Chess Club, Wednesdays at 4 p.m. All ages and skill levels are welcome—whether you’re a beginner just learning the moves or an experienced player looking for a good match. Two of our chess-loving librarians will be there to teach, play, and share the fun.
• Story Times start in September for the school year (schedule may be adjusted for holidays): Toddlers (ages 0-2) on Wednesdays and Preschool (ages 3-5) on Thursdays; both at 10 a.m.

Check out the library's book clubs:

• Thursday night Murder Club, Flights of Fantasy, Timeless Tales, Whispered Pages (silent book club)

Current library hours:

• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday - 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• (Monday-Friday - Drive-thru window opens 8:30 a.m.)
• Saturday - 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Crete Public Library
1515 Forest Ave.
Crete, NE 68333
Phone: 402.826.3809
crete.library@crete.ne.gov

Crete Recreation program signup for "Kickin' It" with Gold Star Martial Arts is open through Friday, Oct. 24. No late registrations are accepted.

Registration forms are available online (RecDesk) or in the Recreation Office at City Hall.

"Kickin' It" with Gold Star Martial Arts, in cooperation with Crete Parks and Recreation, is an introductory martial arts program. During the five week program, participants will be exposed to the fundamental elements of martial arts. An emphasis will be placed on having fun while learning self defense and bullying prevention skills. Current liability waivers are required.

• dates: Sunday afternoons - Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
• class time 3:30 p.m.; 45 minutes classes
• ages 5 & up
• location: Gold Star Martial Arts, 142 West 13th St
• Cost - $45

Parks & Recreation Department 
402.826.4315

Crete Police Department 
Police Station - 1945 Forest Avenue
Business Hours: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Records Office: 402.826.6422

Mary Klahn, Police Administrative Assistant
mary.klahn@crete.ne.gov

The Crete Police Department is Crete’s Animal Control Authority and enforces Chapter 6, Article 1 of the City Code. The key to animal control is owner responsibility. The city asks residents to: Please keep your animals under your control and make sure your domestic dogs and cats have appropriate identification tags.

(Information on impounded pets is at the end of this article.)

Owning and/or Keeping Animals

Owners are responsible for their animal(s).  Anyone who provides food, water or shelter to a stray or feral animal becomes its owner and is responsible for the animal and any offspring; this includes ensuring proper vaccinations, licensing, control, etc. (§6-103 [24], [29], [30]). City Code - Chapter 6, Article 1, Animals Generally

• Permitted Animals: The city allows the following animals within city limits: domestic dogs and cats and other domestic animals limited to aquarium fish, domestic amphibians, domestic birds (parrot, cockatoo, parakeet, canary, mynah, or lovebird), domestic rabbits, domestic reptiles (nonvenomous, non-constricting snakes less than four feet in length), domestic rodents, and domestic ferrets.  Possession of other animals is prohibited. (§6-103[14], [34]; §6-104 to §6-107) 
• Collar and Metallic Tags: Every domestic dog and cat and every service animal must wear a collar and have a rabies certification tag (issued by the owner’s veterinarian). On a separate tag (or on the reverse of one of the other tags) the city requires the owner’s name.
• Owner’s Control/Animals Running At-Large: Owners are responsible for controlling their domestic dogs and cats. These animals may not run-at-large in Crete regardless of where an owner or the animal may reside. ((§6-105, §6-108.09, §6-110 to §6-110.03)
• Service Animals: The City supports the lawful use and care of service animals recognized by state law. Owners of animals which do not receive such recognition must adhere to all City Codes which pertain to such animals. (§6-112 to §6-112.02)
• Pet Recreation in Crete
  • Crete Waggin’ Tail Dog Park is on 3 acres at the corner of East 13th Street (West Sprague Rd.) and County Road 2400. Two large fenced areas each have a water hydrant and bowls, benches, and a shade pergola with table. The park is open from dawn to dusk and patrons are asked to adhere to the rules posted at the entrance. 
  • Wildwood Pool’s last day of the season in early August includes a Pooch Pool Party where owners are welcome to bring their dogs for an hour of swimming.

Impounded Animals & Animal Violations

At times, the city will impound or even hold animals. Owners wishing to retrieve their animal must do so within a short period of time, five business days. Before an impounded animal can be released, owners must 1) present a valid rabies vaccination certificate or pay for their animal to be properly vaccinated; 2) pay all associated impound fees and costs. Animals not claimed after the holding period are transported to the Capital Humane Society in Lincoln where further inquiries should be made.

• Visit or call the police station administrative assistant at 402.826.6422 to determine the proper fines/fees and to confirm the animal’s current rabies vaccination. If records are unavailable, the owner must provide proof of rabies and/or license the animal prior to release.   
• Upon receipt of the proper fines/fees (or proper fees w/ referral for prosecution), confirmation of current rabies vaccination and confirmation of animal license (if appropriate), the Administrative Assistant will arrange a time for the owner to retrieve the animal from impound. 

• Please call or email if you need assistance with this process.

• City Master Fee Schedule: A comprehensive list of all city fees for services, permits, utilities, and programs across all departments and offices. View the Master Fee Schedule

• If completing this process over the phone, fees may be paid online: The administrative assistant will provide a reference number to the animal owner. This number is necessary to ensure the proper tracking of payments. 
• Go to Payment Options for releasing an impounded animal held by the Crete Police Department.

Owners who are in violation of other Animal Regulations may receive a citation and appear in court, should they desire. In most circumstances, owners may be permitted to pay the applicable fines. The city does not retain these fines. By law, these are passed to other governmental agencies.

• Owners of an animal who has inflicted injury or damaged property may pay fees but will not be allowed to pay fines. In these circumstances, the owner will be referred for prosecution so that the court may consider possible restitution.  

• Animals that have bitten someone or caused an abrasion to the skin may be held for a 10 day observation period if no proof of current rabies vaccination is available. 

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.

The next Crete City Council regular meeting will be on Tuesday, Oct. 7

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Sept. 16
View this Meeting Agenda and attachments.

Council members Kyle Frans and Anthony Fitzgerald were absent.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council budget hearing and meeting Sept. 2, Public Works Committee Sept. 2, Finance Committee Sept. 2, Legislative/Community Development Committee Sept. 2
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City 

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Application for the Crete Carrier Room Grant from Abby Rogers with the Girl Scout Troop 20770. City Administrator Tom Ourada said this is the mini grant than enables free use of the room. Ashley Newmyer, Legislative/Community Development Committee chair, said the troop is going to do a project with Parks and Recreation.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Application for the Crete Carrier Room Grant for the Guatemalan Consulate. Ourada said the consulate is shutting down their Omaha office for the day and holding operations in Crete to meet with Guatemalan nationals.

Mayor Dave Bauer read the 2025 Welcoming Week Proclamation. Welcoming Week is Sept. 12-21. Bauer reminded everyone about the Celebrate Crete event in City Park on Wednesday, Sept. 17 from 5-8 p.m.

The Council held a Public Hearing to hear testimony for or against the amendment to the PWR & DWD Rental Properties LLC Liquor License. Bauer said this is an extension of the establishment’s liquor license to accommodate new spaces after renovations are complete.

The Council voted 4-0 to recommend to the Liquor Control Commission the amendment to the PWR & DWD Rental Properties LLC Liquor License. 

The Council voted 4-0 (Papik abstained, Mayor Bauer voted) to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2254 - amending Food Truck regulations. Ourada said some changes give finite terms for occupying in commercial and residential zones; provide a fining mechanism and allows 60 continuous days with 14 days offsite in commercial zones with 1 day allowed in residential zones; changes follow what has been proven in other communities. Mayor Bauer said the council did not want to start seeing food trucks pop up as permanent businesses as most local businesses establish roots and make an investment in the community with permanent structures. Newmyer said there was discussion on where is a good place to start on these guidelines and this is modeled after other cities in the state.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve Resolution 2025-16: A resolution setting the amount of property tax request for fiscal year 2025-2026. Ourada said this is a procedural step in sending the budget to the state.

The Council voted 4-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2259 - adopting the budget statement as the annual appropriation bill.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Application for Special Event Permit SE25-09 for Crete's Great Pumpkin Festival. This is a similar request to last year’s event.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Application for Prohibited Animal Exception PA-03 for the Pumpkin Festival Petting Zoo. This will allow animals in the event that are normally prohibited by city code.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve authorizing the Crete Police Department to apply for the Highway Safety Step Grant application. Chief Gary Young said this grant allows the department to do a number of events and programs while incorporating a traffic safety message; the application requests $140,000. Council member Dan Papik said he appreciates the work the department does on this as they set an example for the programs that can be done.

The Council voted 4-0 (Papik abstained, Mayor Bauer voted) to approve the claims from Crete Ace Hardware in the amount of $3,077.56.

The Council voted 4-0 (Strehle abstained, Mayor Bauer voted) to approve the Pumpkin Festival right-of-way painting downtown. Dale Strehle said this request is from Russ Sears to paint the pumpkins on the four sidewalk corners at 12th and Main Ave.

The Council voted 4-0 to waive three readings Ordinance 2257 Setting Salaries and Wages for FY25-26. Ourada explained this sets wages for this year; salaries are increased 2% which includes 1% cost-of-living and 1% for an additional retirement contribution; some employees are eligible for an additional raise from the third year of market rate study raises.

The Council voted 4-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2258 - amending Ordinance 2250 increasing camping days at Tuxedo Park to 10 days. Ourada explained this was a correction on this item when it was originally passed in July.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve amending the Master Fee Schedule. This is a clarification on the disconnect fees for regular hours and after hours.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve Resolution 2025-20 - Highway 33 (from Crete to Dorchester) Havlat Memorial Highway. Mayor Bauer said this was requested by individuals in Dorchester for the city to join a recommendation in naming the portion of the highway and will be forwarded to the state.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the 2025-2026 FOP agreement. Ourada said the negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police union went well, as in not everyone got what they wanted but walked away happy with the results.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Cline Williams Engagement Agreement for Legal Services. Mayor Bauer explained this agreement will cover the city’s attorney services while City Attorney Anna Burge is on scheduled leave.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve authorizing the City of Crete to apply for the Innovative Finance and Asset Concession Grant Program. City Clerk Nancy Tellez explained this grant can help the community pursue research in one identified project.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve advertising for Bids for City of Crete Municipal Airport farm land. Ourada said the city does this every five years; there are several tracks with multiple parcels.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve Resolution 2025-21 prohibiting parking on the south side of  11th Street between Forest and Boswell Ave. 

The Council voted 4-0 to approve the Crete, NE Zoning Proposal from Marvin Planning Consultants. Ourada said the city has been trying to get a zoning project going for a while and this firm has the capabilities.

The Council voted 4-0 to approve Resolution 2025-22 4-way stop at the intersection of West 13th Street and Tuxedo Park Road. Strehle said the lines of sight with a new storage building at this intersection make this necessary for safety concerns.

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern:

Officer Reports:

Reports may be given by Officers, Departments, Committees, or Council members concerning the current operations of the City. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

• Gary Young, Police Chief thanked the council for the grant application approval. Lt. Dawn Jonas had a panel meeting with highway safety officials from across the country - people had heard of what we do in Crete. He credited Jonas for all the work she does on this; we are already used as an example within the state and NDOT. She does the work that makes us successful in this area and to secure the grants.
• Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director: 
  • North Ward Park is undergoing renovations with help from the Street Department - playground area with new mulch; neighbors have commented and been appreciative;
  • Kickin’ It Martial Arts registration opens soon with Gold Star ATA;
  • held a successful event with a local Girl Scout group and they will join at a later date for a park cleanup event;
  • LARM grant was awarded for safety equipment;
• Tom Crisman: 
  • have seen movement on railroad crossing - repaired sidewalk crossing;
  • question about the use of the former Schwann’s building on Highway 103 South;
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • Jenn Lampila and Emerson Aschoff pulled off the auction, with other city help;
  • spent the day with site-visit group from Washington and Boston for a survey of the highway and pedestrian interaction on the highway and Iris Ave and cross-streets; learned a lot about the traffic flow;
  • lighted sign on the brick barrier next to City Hall will be installed tomorrow;
  • Lincoln paper covered a story from News21 out of Arizona State - with coverage of Crete;
  • kart racing event this weekend, the Brian Carnes memorial race, will honor another young man from Eagle - big event for the park and the community; Mayor Bauer said he was invited out last year and many people don’t realize what all goes on out there and it is one of the best-kept secrets.

Meeting adjourned.

Summary for Crete City Council regular meeting - Tuesday, Sept. 2
View this Meeting Agenda, Budget Hearing agenda and attachments.

Council member Dale Strehle was absent.

City Council Budget Hearing:

Public Hearing for testimony in support of and/or opposition to the proposed budget and property tax request for fiscal year 2025-2026.

• City Administrator Tom Ourada explained items in the prepared 2025-2026 budget sheets: operating budget is down 10% and property valuations went up 17%; fundamentally the levy lowered by 7 instead of 11 due to valuations and the operating budget; the city’s tax request is $1,604,890,000; interlocal agreements on insurance and dispatch, etc. are not included in the lid limit; this budget anticipates capital outlay and while some of those projects may happen, others will not, however the council will vote on all those projects as they come up for approval; the city’s levy rate with bonds is 0.303863 (4 cents lower than last year); property valuations: 2024 - $450,968476 and 2025 - $528,163,016;
• Mayor Dave Bauer thanked Tom and Finance Director Wendy Thomas for all the work on their budgets as well as department heads who were asked to lower their budgets; the council has gone through this budget line by line and we take this work seriously.

The council approved the Consent Agenda items:

• Minutes of the following meetings: City Council Aug. 19, Public Works Committee Aug. 19, Legislative/Community Development Committee Aug. 19, Parks and Recreation Committee Aug. 19, Personnel Committee Aug. 19., City Council Special Meeting/Work Session, Aug. 27
• Treasurer’s Report
• Payment of claims against the City 
• Mayor's appointment of Thomas Reeves to the Historic Preservation Commission

The Council voted 5-0 to table, pending further discussion, Ordinance 2254 amending food truck regulations.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2025-17 Amending Resolution 2025-12, setting proposition language for November 4, 2025 election - local option municipal sale and use tax and economic development. Ourada said there was a change in the order of the two ballot issues; 1) asks voters if they want economic development; and 2) asks if voters if they want a sales tax for economic development.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2025-18 Signing of the Municipal Annual Certification of Program Compliance 2025. Ourada explained this is an annual requirement to keep the state road funds the city receives annually.

The Council voted 5-0 to waive three readings and adopt Ordinance 2256 Amending Board of Adjustment. Ourada explained a new legislative act gives cities of the first and second class and villages the ability to have council members serve as the Board of Adjustment; other reasons include non-elected officials on a Board of Adjustment could overturn laws passed by a council, who are elected officials. It is also difficult to get members to serve on the board and find those without special interests.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve Resolution 2025-19 removing the appointed board of adjustment.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve the Application for Special Event Permit SE25-07 for the Halloween Festival from TJ Sokol on Oct. 11. Xochitl Boughtin, a Sokol volunteer, said they have added several activities for kids during the day and others at night for adults; they had about 350 people last year and are hoping for 500 this year. Mayor Bauer said Chief Gary Young said everything went well last year and Bauer commended Sokol organizers for the work they are doing on this event.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve the Application for Special Event Permit SE25-08 for the Homecoming Parade from the Crete High School on Sept. 19. Mayor Bauer commended the school for changing their location last year; they had wanted the parade on Main Street during Smithfield shift change and the city and police department were not in favor of that. They are applying for the route they used last year which used the streets around the intermediate, middle, and high schools. Chief Young said it worked well last year and was a safe event for kids.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve amending the Master Fee Schedule. Kyle Frans, Finance Committee chair person, said there are a couple minor changes to library rates for copying and faxing and the 3D printing hourly rate.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve the Department of Public Works Utility account write-offs in the amount of $18,115.34. Ourada explained these are accounts that are at least 5 years old and deemed uncollectible on advice of the city attorney and auditor. Mayor Bauer noted the city does not easily write off these accounts. There is a lengthy process on how the city tries to collect on past due accounts.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve forwarding Roger Braden's claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM). Mayor Bauer said the city’s procedure is to first turn the claim into the insurance carrier for their opinion.

The Council voted 5-0 to approve forwarding Jose Tapia's claim to the League Association of Risk Management (LARM).

Petition - Communication - Citizen Concern:

Officer Reports:

Reports may be given by Officers, Departments, Committees, or Council members concerning the current operations of the City. No action can be taken on matters presented under this title except to answer any questions or to refer the matter for further action.

• Gary Young, Police Chief:
  • he gave a tremendous thanks for the fire department today for their help in a death investigation;
  • school is in session and Officer Noah Zach is our new School Resource Officer; he has some different ideas and thoughts on how to jump right in; Mayor Bauer said when Zach was  interviewed he really stressed he wanted to work in that area eventually.
• Liz Cody, Parks and Recreation Director: 
  • staff is mowing to keep up with the rain;
  • Parks and Rec has a Doane University student intern, Angelo Franco, who will complete about 40 hours for the semester;
  • community groups have reached out on how to work with Parks and Recreation;
  • flag football registrations are up from last year;
  • we are getting estimates for tree removal with a tree grant and the city received Tree City USA honors;
• Trenton Griffin, Building Inspector shared the permit log for August shows a couple new houses approved in Burlington Estates;
• Jody Fiehtner, Human Resources Coordinator, introduced Doug Harms as the new Street Operator; he is originally from Crete and has lived out of state.
• Council members Ashley Newmyer and Dan Papik thanked those who worked on the budget.
• Council member Anthony Fitzgerald had some park and pool questions answered.
• Tom Ourada, City Administrator:
  • attended NDOT infrastructure meetings last week and this week with Federal Highway; with our Connected Communities grant there is a lot of the work we would do in-house and NDOT said they could do it for the city; $300k planning grant for elevated walkway to connect north and south sides of town over Walnut Creek, the railroad, and highway;
  •  we’re talking about updating the speaker system for the council chambers;
  • the city’s partner on another grant will be here Monday-Wednesday; we worked with them in Washington D.C. to help with the planning grant on an elevated walkway, two roundabouts, and a pedestrian underpass by the schools; usually people getting these projects get the program money too, which in the city’s case could be $15 million;
  • we’re partnering with Doane University engineering students again for early design on some projects such as the electric substation and traffic routes;
  • we’re working on zoning with the Planning Commission, however we’re looking for a new consultant to replace someone who left;
  • the city auction is Saturday, Sept. 6; 
• Mayor Dave Bauer talked about a recent JEO housing study meeting with about 15 community members; they gathered information and will put some things together for ideas. We talked about how to grow Crete and the current housing situation. A lot of it comes down to money in terms of affordability and financing. Information will come back to the council.

Meeting adjourned.

Departments of Public Works
Trenton Griffin, Municipal Building Inspector

City Hall - Crete, Nebraska
243 East 13th Street
P.O. Box 86
Crete, NE 68333
Phone: 402.826.4312
trenton.griffin@crete.ne.gov

City Hall is open Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Municipal Building Inspector’s Office is located on the first floor. An elevator is accessible from the ground floor entrance on the south side of the building.

The International Building Code (IBC) 2018, International Residential Code (IRC) 2018, International Property Maintenance Code 2009, Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) 2018 - with Lincoln Amendments, National Electric Code 2014, International Mechanical Code 2018, and National Fire Code (NFPA), as adopted in City Code, are enforced within the city limits of Crete and the two mile zoning jurisdiction. Enforcement of the provisions of the municipal Code pertaining to building construction and repair and collection of fees is the responsibility of the Municipal Building Inspector, Trenton Griffin.

Building Permits & Inspections

The City of Crete, Nebraska requires building permits if you plan to construct, erect, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or dwelling. Applications for the appropriate building permit and applicable fees are filed with the building inspector. Each application for permit must be in writing and include the following:

• Legal description of the land on which the construction, relocation or demolition is to occur
• Nature of the use or occupancy of the building
• Dimensions
• Estimated cost
• Names of owner, architect, and contractor

The Building Inspector will inspect, as often as necessary, any building which is being constructed, altered, repaired or relocated to determine if the work being done is in conformity with all Municipal building and housing regulations.

• The City Building Inspector can write citations for building code violations.

• Homeowners and property owners/occupants should make sure contractors working on their property are licensed and additionally licensed (specifically plumbing) to work in the City of Crete, through the Building Inspector's Office. Unlicensed contractors risk being cited and removed from projects.

Click on the links below to download forms (pdf):

• Building Permit Form - Commercial
• Building Permit Form - Residential
• Certificate of Zoning Compliance
• Plumbing Permit Form
• Plumbers License Renewal 2025
• Mechanical Permit Form
• Fence Permit Form   |   Fence Constuction Brochure
• City of Crete Pool Safety Requirements
• Sign Permit
• Curb Cut Permit
• Street Closure Application
• Demolition Application
• Well Permit Form
• Right-of-way Permit
• Septic System Permit
• House Moving Permit
• Mobile Home Placement Permit
• Application For Variance
• Floodplain Development Permit Application
• Sidewalk Cafe Permit application and checklist (For more information on the this permit, see City Clerk's section.)
• Land Development - Planning and Zoning Application
• U.S. Department of Energy - Building Energy Codes Program
  • Residential - REScheck
  • Commercial - COMcheck

For Business Registrations and these local permits see the City Clerk's Office:

• City business registration - annually and new businesses
• Fireworks sales permits
• Mobile Food Vendor permits
• Itinerant sales permits (door-to-door sales, peddler's permit)
• Liquor license - special events permits
• Special Event Permit
• Prohibited Animal Permit
• ATV and UTV use in city limits
• Additional permits related to city ordinances

The City of Crete Department of Public Works, in partnership with its wholesale electric power supplier, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, is continuing to provide five energy efficiency programs to assist in lowering energy costs for local utility customers through energy efficiency improvements.

All five programs offer cash incentives to make energy efficient upgrades in the areas of insulation, cooling systems, home thermostats, high efficiency heat pump, and commercial lighting. Here is a rundown of the four programs:

• High Efficiency Heat Pump Program: The program provides cash incentives from $400 to $3,000 to residential homeowners who are installing a new heat pump system to their residential single-family dwelling.
• Smart Thermostat Program: Provides a cash incentive of up to $100 paid directly to residential customers to help cover the cost of installing a qualifying smart thermostat. 
• Attic Insulation Program: Provides cash incentives of $0.15 / per square foot with a maximum incentive of $300 per existing residential dwelling for attic insulation. 
• Cooling System Tune-Up Program: Provides a $30 cash incentive to residential homeowners who have their cooling system tuned up by a HVAC contractor, regardless of what type or age of cooling system (air conditioner/air or water source heat pump).
• Commercial LED Lighting Program: Provides cash incentives paid directly to commercial customers to help cover the cost of interior lighting upgrades and replacements.

These programs are available to customers of the City of Crete through its wholesale power partnership with the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska. For more information on these programs, contact the Utility Office at City Hall, 402.826.4312, or go online to download program guidelines and application forms.

City Hall - 243 East 13th Street
(Utility Office ground floor main entrance on south side)
Crete, NE 68333
Phone: 402.826.4312

Q.  When do I need a building permit?

A.  The City of Crete requires building permits if you plan to construct, erect, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or dwelling. Some examples would be replacing a water heater, furnace or air conditioner.      

Q.  Where do I get a building permit?

A.  Permits are issued through the Building Inspector's office on the 1st floor of Crete City Hall at 243 East 13th Street. City Hall is open Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. An elevator is accessible from the ground floor entrance on the south side of the building. Permits can be downloaded from this site and returned to City Hall.

Q.  Why get a building permit?

A.  The Building Inspector will do inspections to make sure construction codes are adhered to for the health and safety of the owner and the general public.

Q.  How long does it take to get a permit?

A.   Simple permits like a fence or shed usually can be issued immediately. Permits for homes and larger commercial projects need to be reviewed and could take from 1 to 10 days.

Q.  What do I need to bring to get a building permit?

A.   A plan showing the 4 corners of your lot and the location you are putting the building or addition. If it’s a new home or commercial building we need 3 copies of the plan with construction details. You’ll also need to fill out a building permit form, which can be obtained online or in the Building Inspector’s office. 

Q.  Do I need a permit to build a fence or a garden shed?

A.   Yes, there are building codes that determine where you place them and the size they can be.

Q.  Do I need a permit for a sign?

A.   Yes, the city has regulations on sign placement, types and sizes.

Q.  Can I have construction or landscaping materials placed on my street, sidewalk or in the alley during a project?

A.   City code states rock, gravel, dirt, construction material, litter, and/or containers thereof cannot be placed upon any street, alley, right-of-way, or sidewalk without prior permission from the Department of Public Works.

Q.  Where can I find information on local energy efficiency programs?

A.   Currently, the City of Crete in partnership with its wholesale electric power supplier, the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska, is continuing to provide five energy efficiency programs to assist in lowering energy costs for local utility customers through energy efficiency improvements.

City Hall is open Monday - Friday, from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Municipal Building Inspector’s Office is located on the first floor. An elevator is accessible from the ground floor entrance on the south side of the building. Find more information from the Building Inspector's Office