Kearney City Council approves consent agenda, pays UNK invoice and moves into closed session on contract talks

The Kearney City Council voted to approve a 12-item consent agenda, authorize an open account claim to the University of Nebraska at Kearney and adjourn into a closed session to discuss contract negotiations at its meeting.

The consent agenda — described by the council as items 1 through 12 — was approved after a motion to adopt the entire consent package. The roll call recorded Mayor Nicola, Councilmember Schmidt and Councilmember Straatman voting "aye" on the motion (individual votes for other members were not captured in the transcript excerpt).

A separate motion to approve an open account claim to the University of Nebraska at Kearney passed with three recorded "aye" votes and two abstentions. The transcript records Mayor Nicola voting "aye," Councilmember Moore voting "abstain," Councilmember Schmidt voting "aye," Councilmember Straatman voting "abstain," and Councilmember Bush Cutter voting "aye." The claim amount and further invoice details were not specified in the meeting transcript.

Later in the meeting a motion was made to adjourn into closed session "at the hour of 5:39 p.m. for the protection of the public interest to discuss contract negotiations." The motion carried on a roll call in which Councilmembers Straatman, Bush Cutter, Moore and Schmidt were recorded voting "aye." The council announced it would reconvene if appropriate and may take formal action after the closed session.

The meeting packet and any supporting documents for the consent agenda and the UNK claim were referenced by staff as available for review with Peggy or Jake; the packet itself was not read in full during the meeting excerpted in the transcript.

The council noted the statutory basis for open meetings at the start of the meeting and advised that a copy of the Open Meetings Act is posted in the council chambers.