North Platte council approves airport levy, fireworks permit, Dewey Street improvements and sewer district

The North Platte City Council on a routine vote approved a set of budget, public-works and permitting items, including the North Platte Airport Authority's 2025-26 preliminary levy allocation, a one-time fireworks discharge permit for North Platte High School's homecoming, and agreements with the Nebraska Department of Roads for improvements on Dewey Street (U.S. Highway 83).

The actions consolidate planned construction and local assessments tied to state roadwork, formalize a new sanitary sewer connection district east of Buffalo Avenue and authorized warrants to two contractors to pay approved claims.

Mayor and council members passed the consent agenda and then approved Item 2, the North Platte Airport Authority 2025-26 preliminary levy allocation resolution. Lane, city staff, told the council the airport's request shows a small decrease in levy overall because a drop in debt service partly offsets a modest increase in the airport's general request. "It shows with debt service, a little decrease in debt service from last year for them, a little increase in their general ask," Lane said. The council voted to adopt the resolution.

The council also approved a one-time event permit to allow fireworks by a licensed technician during North Platte High School's homecoming parade on Sept. 10, 2025, at 8 p.m. Councillor Flanders moved the motion, which passed on the council floor.

On a related set of infrastructure items, council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign Nebraska Department of Roads agreements for project NH-83-(129), which will improve Dewey Street (U.S. Highway 83) from Leota Street to First Street. Brent, city staff, described the plan as effectively reproducing the work done on Jeffers Street and said construction is expected in the 2027 and 2028 construction seasons. "This is for the northbound portion of Dewey. . . . So it'd be '27 construction season, '28 construction season," Brent said. The state will assign most of the cost; the city is responsible for its share, which typically includes costs for an additional lane and certain water-main relocations.

Council then laid and adopted Ordinance No. 4219 on first reading to create Street Improvement District No. 365 for the NDOR project and adopted Ordinance No. 4217 on second reading to create Sanitary Sewer Connection District No. 23. Lane said the sewer district will install an 8-inch PVC sanitary sewer east of Buffalo Avenue extending roughly 1,575 feet; property owners are not charged unless they choose to connect, and connections require payment of the connection fee or frontage charge. "If it's installed, they're allowed to hook on to it. They just have to pay the connection fee," Lane said. The council passed both ordinances.

The council adopted a resolution authorizing issuance of two warrants: one to Van Kirk Brothers Contracting for $173,725.20 and one to Level LLC for $44,626.32, and then approved general claims. The warrant financing references Ordinance No. 3874, which governs the city's warrant financing terms.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (motion by Reeker; second by McNew). Items included approval of Aug. 5, 2025 minutes, a special designated license application for Las Menonitis at D and N Events Center, and an interlocal agreement between the City of North Platte and Lincoln County for emergency management services (item D removed for later clarification). - Item 2: Adopted the North Platte Airport Authority 2025-26 preliminary levy allocation resolution (motion by Reeker; second by Dai). - Item 3: Approved a one-time fireworks discharge permit for North Platte High School homecoming parade on Sept. 10, 2025, at 8 p.m. (motion by Flanders; second by Reeker). - Item 4: Adopted the resolution authorizing signing of NDOR agreements for project NH-83-(129) (motion by Reeker; second by Dai). - Item 5: Ordinance No. 4219 to create Street Improvement District No. 365: adopted on first reading (motion by Samara; second by McNeil). - Item 6: Ordinance No. 4217 to create Sanitary Sewer Connection District No. 23: adopted on second reading (motion by Reker; second by Flanders). - Item 7: Resolution authorizing issuance of two warrants to Van Kirk Brothers Contracting ($173,725.20) and Level LLC ($44,626.32): adopted (motion by Reker; second by McNew). - Item 8: Claims approved (motion by Reker; second by Flanders).

Council discussion and public engagement were procedural and limited to staff presentations and questions. Brent noted the Nebraska Department of Roads will host a public open house on Sept. 9 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Harvest Christian Church to present the Dewey Street plans and the alternatives for the Leota/Jeffers intersection. Lane and other staff clarified that the sanitary sewer connection district is optional for property owners and that annexation policy typically applies to users of city services who are outside the city limits.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.