Broken Bow council approves separating deputy clerk duties into distinct office

The Broken Bow City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 1250 on Jan. 11, creating a separate office for the deputy clerk to provide additional administrative support.

City Administrator Dan Knoell told the council the change is intended to avoid the more time‑consuming process of creating a new position while ensuring office continuity; the new deputy position would be cross‑trained in city office duties. Councilmember Larry Miller introduced the ordinance and moved to suspend the statutory rule requiring readings on three different days; the council voted to suspend the rule and then adopted the ordinance by roll call (Ayes: Miller, Myers, Holcomb, Schmidt; Nays: None).

The measure was read by title and adopted during the meeting after the public hearing. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen presided; the Deputy Clerk recorded the vote. The ordinance amends Section 31.03 regarding merger of offices and will take effect as provided in the ordinance text.

By adopting the measure, the council authorized the administrative change; implementation details such as job classification and placement in the city pay plan were addressed subsequently through the related wage ordinance amendment adopted the same night.