Chadron City Council approves audit, liquor license, infrastructure payments and bans fireworks for 2026

The Chadron City Council took a series of unanimous actions at its June meeting, approving the city's 2024'25 audit, recommending a retail class C on- and off-sale liquor license for C's and Bees LLC (doing business as The Roost on Maine), authorizing final construction payments, and amending a fireworks resolution to ban both sale and discharge of fireworks for the 2026 season.

The council formally accepted the audit after a presentation by Michael Hobec of AMGLPC, who said the auditors issued an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements. "An unmodified opinion means everything was presented fairly," Hobec told the council during the presentation. Council then approved Resolution 2026-46 to accept the audit on a roll call vote with Councilmembers Kevin Alexi, Lelay Anderson, George Klein, Jane Shepard and Mark Graves all voting yes.

During a public hearing the council recommended approval of a retail class C beer, wine and spirits license for C's and Bees LLC, which plans to operate as The Roost on Maine at 164 Main Street. Applicant Sheena Wright said the business is remodeling and expects to open around the July 4 holiday with a menu of hot sandwiches and a sports-bar atmosphere. Council passed Resolution 2026-45 recommending the license to the state; the local vote was unanimous.

On infrastructure and procurement, the council: approved Resolution 2026-49 (change order #1) that reduced the Fuller Construction contract for the Sixth and Maple Street repair by $2,192.38 after quantity adjustments; approved Resolution 2026-50 to pay the final application to Fuller Construction for $3,622.00; and approved Resolution 2026-48 to issue a request for proposals for replacement of the 911 dispatch console, following a presentation from communications supervisor Gail Catel describing a 20'25-year-old console and the need for more durable, serviceable workstations. The county will cover the equipment portion of the dispatch console replacement.

Council also approved Resolution 2026-51 to authorize bidding for interior recoating and structural repairs on the East Tank (water storage), with staff noting some work may be scheduled for 2027 because coatings require warm weather.

Amid multiple nearby wildfires and extended mutual-aid deployments, Fire Chief Brand Martins urged the council to restrict fireworks. "We've seen what one start can do," he said, referencing a lightning-caused wildfire near Crawford that generated multiple starts. The council voted unanimously to amend the existing fireworks resolution (2026-40) to ban both the sale and discharge of consumer fireworks in Chadron for the 2026 season.

The meeting also included presentations from the Northwest Nebraska Development Corporation (NNDC) about business and housing efforts, various routine claims approvals and a first reading of Ordinance 1448 (engine/Jake brake restrictions), which will return for second reading on July 6. The meeting adjourned after closing comments and thanks to local firefighters and volunteers.

Votes at a glance: Resolution 2026-45 (liquor license) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-46 (accept audit) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-47 (Railroad Park event use) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-48 (dispatch furniture RFP) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-49 (change order Sixth & Maple) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-50 (final payment Fuller) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-51 (East Tank plans/bid) ' passed unanimous; Resolution 2026-40 amended to ban fireworks (sale and use for 2026) ' passed unanimous.

The council scheduled the second reading of Ordinance 1448 (engine brake regulation) for July 6, 2026.