Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Actions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Broken Bow council approves resolution to explore sale of Armory, delays vote on trash assessment ordinance
Summary
At its May 12 meeting the Broken Bow City Council voted to authorize exploring sale of the Armory property and postponed final action on Ordinance 1308 (mandatory trash assessments) pending contract review; the council also postponed an interlocal agreement review and approved routine consent items.
The Broken Bow City Council on May 12 approved a resolution authorizing the city to pursue offers for the property locally known as “the armory” and delayed final action on a proposed trash-assessment ordinance to allow staff time to gather contract details.
Moved by Joe Wamsley and seconded by Travis Kleeb, the council passed Resolution 2026-08 to begin a sale process for parcel ID 001236600. City Administrator David Schmidt said the city has examined several reuse ideas but determined renovation and ongoing maintenance costs would place an “unjust” burden on taxpayers; City Attorney Jason White clarified the resolution authorizes exploring a sale and is not final approval of a transfer. Joe Linder, a resident, asked the council to delay consideration to consult the YMCA in Kearney about pool costs; Schmidt said any sale process would take roughly two months and would not be immediate.
On Ordinance 1308 — a proposal to establish mandatory monthly trash assessments on utility bills — council opened a public hearing at 6:02 p.m. and heard from Joseph Roach of S&L Sanitation, who explained the company is requesting a $2-per-month increase for residential service and $4-per-month for small, medium and large businesses. Roach attributed the request to increases in tipping fees at the Custer Transfer Station and higher fuel costs; Schmidt said he would have the city attorney review the current contract to determine whether tipping-fee increases can be passed through. The council voted not to waive the ordinance’s three readings to allow additional review and information gathering; City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse performed the first reading.
The council also voted to postpone action on an Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with the Custer County Communications Center after Administrator Schmidt said he received late county comments that require review. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen encouraged a decision at the next council meeting to allow the county to include figures in its budget.
Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (minutes and bills): Moved by Russ Smith, seconded by Travis Kleeb; roll call aye: Smith, Kleeb, Wamsley, Holland — motion carried. (Bills list: Grand Total $308,073.38.) • Open public hearing on Ordinance 1308: Moved by Paul Holland, seconded by Travis Kleeb — motion carried. • Close public hearing on Ordinance 1308: Moved by Paul Holland, seconded by Travis Kleeb — motion carried. • Do not waive three readings of Ordinance 1308: Moved by Russ Smith, seconded by Joe Wamsley — motion carried; first reading performed by City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse. • Postpone Interlocal Cooperative Agreement with Custer County Communications Center: Moved by Paul Holland, seconded by Travis Kleeb — motion carried. • Approve Resolution 2026-08 (authorize exploring sale of Armory): Moved by Joe Wamsley, seconded by Travis Kleeb — motion carried. • Adjourn: Moved by Paul Holland, seconded by Joe Wamsley — motion carried.
The council set follow-up steps: the city attorney will review contract language related to sanitation tipping fees and staff will return additional information at a future meeting. The council adjourned at 6:38 p.m.
