Bennet City Council approves consent agenda, OKs curb cut and well-access waiver

Bennet — The Bennet City Council met March 9, 2026, at Bennet City Hall and approved its consent agenda, including RESOLUTION 2026-3.1 authorizing a block party for BEDA’s Firefly Festival. The meeting opened at 7:02 p.m. and was held in compliance with the Open Meetings Act, council records show.

Councilor Dan Zieg moved to approve the consent agenda; Councilor Pete Simmons seconded the motion, which passed on a unanimous roll-call vote (Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg). The consent agenda included routine items such as minutes, claims and the treasurer’s report and the festival resolution.

The Council heard a request from resident Brandon Garvin for a curb-cut waiver. The Council approved a curb cut not to exceed 12 feet in width with a paved approach (motion by Dan Zieg; second by Jesse Schmidt). The vote was recorded as YES — Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck; the motion carried.

Separately, the Council approved a limited waiver of the relinquishment of direct vehicular access to Saltillo Road to allow maintenance access to the shared well serving Hunter’s Ridge Addition. Josh Buck moved the waiver and Pete Simmons seconded. The motion passed with Simmons, Buck and Schmidt voting yes; Dan Zieg recorded an abstention with a conflict.

Councilor Jesse Schmidt asked the body to pursue funding through the Civic and Community Center Financing Fund (CCCFF) administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development and reintroduced the Bennet Palmyra Childcare Foundation for grant consideration. Schmidt said he will begin work on the grant application process with assistance from partner organizations; no final application or funding decision was made at the meeting.

City Attorney David Solheim presented a draft Quincy Street right-of-way agreement and told the Council he would amend the draft and return it for consideration at the April meeting.

Public-works and city operations updates focused on maintenance and staffing. Resident Kristi Sittner raised concerns about a drainage issue on Fir Street between Monroe and Madison; City Engineer Brian Schuele and Utility Superintendent Zach Fergus reported an inspection and recommended an inlet repair similar to one completed near the city office, with an estimate to be included in the city’s street plans later in the year. The Council set the annual Clean Up Day for April 25, 2026, from 8 a.m. to noon.

Fergus reported the hiring of Ricky Skillett as a Public Works Worker I (started end of February) and said all recent water and wastewater lab tests were approved. He also provided an estimate of about $300 to address removal of roosting turkey vultures on the city’s water tower.

Mayor Ryan Cheney opened the floor for public comment. Later, the Council voted to enter a closed session at 7:52 p.m. to receive legal advice; the motion to enter closed session was made by Dan Zieg and seconded by Jesse Schmidt and passed on a roll-call vote. The Council returned to open session at 8:09 p.m. and, with no further business, adjourned at 8:10 p.m.

Actions taken at the meeting included approval of the consent agenda and permits/resolutions listed on it, approval of a curb-cut waiver for an applicant, approval of a limited vehicular-access waiver to service the Hunter’s Ridge well, and authorization for staff to pursue grant application work related to childcare funding. No ordinances or funding appropriations were adopted during the session.