[{"_1":2,"_136":-5,"_137":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112,124],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",5975583,"mediaKeyId","5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85","parentId",5841163,"title","Council moves to closed session for city manager search","audioSeconds",24,"startMs",3256000,"endMs",3280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85&start=3256&end=3280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85/thumbnail_3256000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5975583/Nebraska/Council-moves-to-closed-session-for-city-manager-search","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975583-b307917e01d38f7af34b6e7a82a64edd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677145&Signature=KUQbFK1ijajUpxCN47jse8cX~rfafHoxvglirYSwr3ZyUqAEKoiu3AxvXvXSbNx9BCm6ecVzV-ZhX2nPp-~pchfzlDa5H8oMUYX8NBZkugkWYCmtIMSpLyKpRVR60rD9ilzRppI0gpIYVyXcA8RymgYSh9pKZwmb0URbEs6oiRvTXEm0hLkpKlx2FMUCTClnno7Oa8gb94KZJ44OXGnZg0PvQw~GqFVxmiRFfrEWIzrbUz0EtjtcgVqYLaSx3NCAlmPCIbs2sbpuqHDDyIbB26ek14jwN7EI56ezSYv0Cp810O6cBkZ2--LWv2n1Bb6uhB-JWIHFDrpZrdAUigWW5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sidney, NE","date","2025-09-24T00:00:00Z","article","At the end of the Sept. 23 meeting the City of Sydney council voted to go into a closed session to discuss personnel related to the city manager search.
A council member moved to enter closed session \"for the purpose of personnel—city manager search\"; the motion was seconded and the council recorded affirmative votes before adjourning the open portion of the meeting.
Under Nebraska open-meetings rules, personnel deliberations about specific candidates are permitted in closed session; the council provided no additional details in the public portion of the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting 9-23-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council voted to enter closed session to discuss personnel matters related to the city manager search; the motion passed by council vote and no details were released in open session.","taxTitle","City Council Meetings, City of Sidney, Cheyenne County, Nebraska","taxId",69877,"location","Nebraska","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975589,"Council approves $3,560.73 reimbursement for downtown storefront door under CDBG revitalization grant",87,2558000,2645000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85&start=2558&end=2645","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85/thumbnail_2558000.jpg","/articles/5975589/Nebraska/Council-approves-356073-reimbursement-for-downtown-storefront-door-under-CDBG-revitalization-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975589-d95f8281513149ead6975fe2be248857/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677145&Signature=EIeT9L~lUDO3Q5DNv45pJXG-gc50XwEJd6Pdy5E2h1ZeemXXluY-G6LGaRZZkvxq7csBKE80C51a39svysFNCBDKr1RTrVFZSc3~CmUjZDZEHLN0BqCeBnqg2d40fx~ydEZyra~bfl5gW~6uAhLS-1o28t78j78EKuPdMFV77rT~lMAALiSllA-S8jlZOWJ3VqjSjvfSMiskZWKi-9hChkfqb~QcGvQWCxzLZTK7aj5ZWs2wCs-tA7Yw039pyueMxk8-aOwYvUexiupBPpHNLa9BuyHzlDvoYBaZL1w61oL4QwcOgW-KRfk77X6FjdTJ1-gcH8zglKZoVUX0YlV2CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sydney council approved reimbursement of $3,560.73 to Spring Creek Cleaning for storefront door replacement under the city’s downtown revitalization Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Staff told council the city received a $435,000 CDBG award in February 2023 for downtown revitalization; the award’s end date is May 14, 2026, and the city has spent $89,154.21 to date with $345,845 remaining for eligible projects.
Under the program, storefront work is generally eligible for reimbursement at 75 percent. Staff recommended the council approve the Spring Creek payment of $3,560.73; council approved the reimbursement by motion.
Staff noted most CDBG funds for this program are used for storefront facades and code‑related work on building fronts; the grant requires reimbursement after owners complete eligible work and submit documentation.","The council approved reimbursement to Spring Creek Cleaning for storefront door work under a 75% reimbursement provision of a downtown revitalization Community Development Block Grant. The CDBG award totals $435,000 and must be spent by May 14, 2026.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975595,"Council confirms Amber Fields to historic preservation board",108,1908000,2016000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85&start=1908&end=2016","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85/thumbnail_1908000.jpg","/articles/5975595/Nebraska/Council-confirms-Amber-Fields-to-historic-preservation-board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975595-c1e7c2a64407c4eb7bfbf11aa8266667/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677145&Signature=TSivjrEBLlqBEGbuIRSNceQKYIhWTTQdSyCCupkn~Q002qecpM-zGJs0OLGK1Esm4ZKL2FV0eiY4BW0BBpbb-VstsmkzSUzEZEf5v9Fj0rsvj0Xf79hyUsOCuDU2myRCtablJTeOnKKy4hxrEaYY0f0NX88kaBONac3u8kQObF6iQq7WT5wpKC1VwbmWZWQpTduPEMp5HRP-KHy9No~926cgh8Cz4775guGUbgYmDrNNZTqHKXoozjH562HNvOZsqJLmroaHwKHTLnhJbURVIp6fmpFck~ibylAA2n-cQGUSN-WEgNL7lOmlwdSztDlYBLyu-g8MIVD071nj~22MvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The council confirmed Amber Fields as the seventh member of the City of Sydney Historic Preservation Board at the Sept. 23 meeting.
Josh Hanson, interim city manager, said Fields was recommended for the vacant term ending Oct. 2027 and noted she has experience as a business owner and in past historic-preservation work.
Fields told council she owns three downtown buildings that she has renovated and said she wants to see empty buildings updated and corners made more inviting. “I would like to see some of the empty buildings get changed and updating,” she said.
Council members approved her appointment by motion and welcomed her to the board; the historic preservation board advises on designation, protection and enhancement of structures in the city’s historic district.","Amber Fields was appointed to the city’s Historic Preservation Board to fill a vacant seat through October 2027; she owns downtown properties and said she wants to encourage building updates and active downtown uses.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975600,"Council approves revisions to Sydney Small Business Advancement Program, doubles annual cap",310,2113000,2423000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85&start=2113&end=2423","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85/thumbnail_2113000.jpg","/articles/5975600/Nebraska/Council-approves-revisions-to-Sydney-Small-Business-Advancement-Program-doubles-annual-cap","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975600-bd79e623b2e3deccfad0a744782cc473/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677145&Signature=dEY-vVeO3RCXMpNFL-vGpm4TAJ-AfOgLL7GgOZgHk-VKw7NeXJ1oxD6b2YAcj4HbVkwa5JO6tXUccEKFu1jih3cN3Twh~xAfsqqJNYPXUi69OhATVM6S~tdQa7I7GO2mYoH6equqwZpN26vI--3a-2mLQnfaUIIBjqv7kgtFHXCWWi7YklTb1Am6ostfbklaR1bxmX6iOF3jUJ3FPsaRJH5K1DlybmRV4wp-Yly7-HmKppTVyW3FZBzjwgkbxf6CEd2hpnjKSZwFg4PF63~cFI8hBtl51or83cHFRpkSGP-OeFb836L2A7xTzmj-lkJmM30ISn4F8azkZrPz5jtAFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sydney council voted to revise the Sydney Small Business Advancement Program, increasing the program’s annual cap from $50,000 to $100,000 and updating eligibility and repayment terms.
Interim City Manager Josh Hanson presented the proposed revisions on behalf of the Economic Development Citizens Advisory Committee, which approved edits at public meetings in August and October 2025.
Hanson said the program is funded through LB840 (local option sales‑tax) funds and that proposed changes include adding application criteria and clarifying how startup grants must show community benefit and coordination with other funding. For the existing-business forgivable loan program, the revisions specify that an applicant business must be at least two years old and must create at least one full-time position or retain two positions; a 2% interest-bearing loan would apply if a business fails to meet job commitments in the contract.
Hanson told the council the Grow Nebraska grant (created under state legislative action in recent years) has been repealed and defunded at the state level, increasing the importance of local tools to support startups and expansions. He also provided historical figures that from 2022 to 2025, 26 applicants from Sydney applied for the Grow Nebraska program and 15 received awards ranging from $12,000 to $25,000.
The council approved the recommended revisions by motion; Hanson said final award decisions will remain at the advisory committee’s discretion and that submission does not guarantee funding.","The council approved changes to the Sydney Small Business Advancement Program, increasing the annual cap from $50,000 to $100,000 and tightening eligibility and repayment terms for startup grants and forgivable loans funded by LB840 dollars.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975605,"City appoints electrical superintendent as MEAN director; Josh Hanson named alternate",257,1559000,1816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85&start=1559&end=1816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85/thumbnail_1559000.jpg","/articles/5975605/Nebraska/City-appoints-electrical-superintendent-as-MEAN-director-Josh-Hanson-named-alternate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975605-fad84bbccefc34d402a5da77fc129474/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677145&Signature=D04R-HJ2yxQo6Zuakbd7~BlSimbqZniOxPyHA04rZzpivKRw1cpoOuUQirQfuX8MhCLT5VKrcz591QtElHP2u5w5hyNKELxKpjloHEx3IxTg5Tbf5s7QsIQYu15ri5RzqJfJADFiLqa7A0YFKgg3eJO9EtvFaRNHJD9dzO9KQAJ3N2Y5nx7DrtXQnafPPxDeg7gBzek2ayUKL4VH3Sb5apQtdib2qs3QmtJLZ8lkmJhiCYUVtcP24eY4PZ6nAqS5k70VIv~MshOIm2-s7R8Uu~ZgX4g7y~r9ywoMAlavoC8bQ-5tEUocHyM9dpO-5HFhix~QfEzb1bXh1n4Wp1i5zw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sydney council appointed Electrical Superintendent Tom Athal to serve as the city's director on the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska board and designated Josh Hanson as the alternate.
Athal told the council MEAN is the city’s wholesale power supplier and that participation on its board gives the community a voice in power-supply and rate decisions. He said MEAN represents roughly 50 municipalities across multiple states and that each town typically sends a representative.
“I'm trying to think — the last meeting was when they decided to vote for an increase in rates,” Athal said. “We were the only town that voted no out of all 50 of them.”
Athal said he has attended past MEAN meetings with the outgoing representative, Mike Palmer, and that if appointed he would report key updates back to council. The appointment was made by resolution (20250904) and approved by council vote.","The council appointed the city’s electrical superintendent to serve as the City of Sydney representative on the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) board and named Josh Hanson as alternate; the appointee said Sydney has been active and vocal at MEAN meetings.",{"_33":125,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":126,"_41":127,"_43":128,"_45":129,"_47":130,"_49":131,"_51":132,"_53":133,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":134,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":135,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},5975607,"Sydney adopts FY2025-26 budget after public hearing; levy reduced, projects funded",1065,134000,1199000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85&start=134&end=1199","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5841163-f2675cb0772324231600edb3b6b3eb85/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/5975607/Nebraska/Sydney-adopts-FY2025-26-budget-after-public-hearing-levy-reduced-projects-funded","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5975607-866b814cd21d4323bcec447bcf0d18ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677145&Signature=O2bsjN9~MudogjbymfwfZ3bDI5ZSoTZ7uis4Iv9~q20koM2IBKxoLkeC8q8uwUnSeu~lRLS9s~1K0pIVvYUXmpW69mLXNe2fkOYTSMv26Vt7M8Qff~75uuvJZA0OvpeIMML-IAv-McVs7oiyQIKwUqSpvAgl6nsPzglWoQ3OXU0Ko79z6iG9sOUPQEwoxPNirs6iFx2RUCwO6lAx22xHE47R2nEVJOcXdRM9fzkZj~fLx6LR3NjH9q7nh2Gwcb9AFK-HoMsTwKSTE0umHx8hY6FlO0BEw7VWbJ9jFLj7nMFEt5TB24aA0KhXRwsZ2fy2fZW70wWJT3PjugLKnJhboA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Sydney council adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget at its Sept. 23 meeting following a public hearing and passage of Ordinance 18-82.
Finance Director Kegan Carwin said the adopted budget includes nearly $14 million in General Fund expenditures and total city revenues of about $33.5 million, but it also reflects a small projected shortfall that the city plans to cover from reserves.
Carwin said, “This budget presents forecasted expenditures that’ll exceed forecasted revenues,” and noted state economic-development sales-tax chargebacks are expected to reduce local option sales-tax receipts by about $400,000.
The budget includes funding or set-asides for several capital items: the Northside Park project (estimated at a little more than $1.5 million), an allocation of $1 million for potential industrial-park street work, continued work on the city’s electric undergrounding and generation projects, a wastewater plant upgrade, and a planned landfill expansion with new cells.
Carwin told the council the city budgeted $100,000 for a new chlorinator for the water department and listed an $11 million-plus program of street renovation work, including planned work on 11th, 12th, Hickory and King streets. He said the Safe Streets for All grant design is complete and the city has applied for $5.3 million for implementation; if awarded, roughly $2.5 million would appear in next year’s budget.
On revenues, Carwin said the General Fund is budgeted at $13,578,624 and non‑General Fund/enterprise revenues are about $17.8 million, with debt service around $2,048,533. He summarized those figures on the council’s revenue-and-expense slides and said, after projects and anticipated chargebacks, the overall net position shows a negative balance of about $46,566 that would be covered from reserves.
The council also discussed property-tax and levy figures included in the packet. Carwin said the levy will decrease to 0.475645 and that 0.339796 of that is appropriated for the General Fund; the packet shows $721,216.19 appropriated for bond indebtedness.
Councilors moved to waive three readings and passed Ordinance 18-82, the annual appropriation bill adopting the budget statement. Council members voting affirmative as recorded during roll calls included Vandegard, Radcliffe, Lee and Kirkman; the ordinance was adopted and will be published as required.
The council opened and closed the public hearing on the budget before taking final action; no substantive public testimony was recorded in the hearing segment.","After a public hearing, the City of Sydney council adopted the fiscal year 2025-26 budget and ordinance 18-82. The plan includes capital projects such as Northside Park and landfill expansion, reflects a modest projected shortfall to be covered from reserves, and accounts for state sales-tax chargebacks.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves to closed session for city manager search

Council approves $3,560.73 reimbursement for downtown storefront door under CDBG revitalization grant

Council confirms Amber Fields to historic preservation board

Council approves revisions to Sydney Small Business Advancement Program, doubles annual cap

City appoints electrical superintendent as MEAN director; Josh Hanson named alternate

Sydney adopts FY2025-26 budget after public hearing; levy reduced, projects funded