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Bennet council awards maintenance-building bid, approves $14,000 fireworks budget and grant application
Summary
At its Feb. 9 meeting the Bennet City Council awarded a maintenance-building bid to Sterup Construction pending engineered drawings, approved a $14,000 fireworks budget for July 4, agreed to submit an intent-to-apply for a Nemaha NRD grant and approved a temporary Highway 43 special-event resolution.
The Bennet City Council met Feb. 9, 2026, at Bennet City Hall and approved several items affecting city facilities, community events and grant-seeking. Mayor Ryan Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.; a quorum of council members Josh Buck, Jesse Schmidt, Pete Simmons and Dan Zieg was present.
The Council awarded the Maintenance Building contract to Sterup Construction LLC for $90,000.00, pending the contractor’s submission of engineered drawings. Utility Superintendent Zach Fergus presented five bids: Sterup Construction LLC $90,000.00; Vasa Construction $122,279.00; Morton Buildings $124,218.00; Ebbers Construction $125,526.01; and Elevate Construction LLC $129,722.04. The motion to award to Sterup was made by Dan Zieg, seconded by Jesse Schmidt, and passed on a roll-call vote.
The Council also approved a $14,000 budget for a fireworks display tied to the United States’ 250th birthday. The motion to approve the fireworks budget was made by Pete Simmons and seconded by Dan Zieg; the vote carried. Lillie Chambers introduced the fireworks request and the related special-event plans.
Mayor Cheney introduced Resolution 2026-2.1 to permit temporary use and closure of Highway 43 for the July 4 parade; the Council approved the resolution (motion by Dan Zieg, second by Pete Simmons). Separately, Kristin Nelson responded to questions about a Block Party application from BEDA for the Firefly Festival (June 12–13). After discussion the Council agreed to close Garden Street on Saturday, June 13 from morning until midnight; a formal resolution on that closure will be presented at the March 9 meeting.
The Council voted to submit an intent-to-apply form to the Nemaha Natural Resources District for grant funds that could support the trail program or native-grass plantings at Whispering Pines Park. Dan Zieg made the motion to submit the intent-to-apply; Josh Buck seconded, and the motion passed.
Utility Superintendent Zach Fergus reported that a candidate had accepted the Public Works position but resigned before starting; the City will reopen recruitment for that role. The Council then voted to enter closed session at 7:30 p.m. to receive legal advice regarding threatening or pending litigation; the meeting returned to open session at 8:12 p.m. With no further business the Council adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Votes at a glance: approve consent agenda (motion: Pete Simmons; second: Dan Zieg) — yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — carried. Award maintenance-building bid to Sterup Construction LLC (motion: Dan Zieg; second: Jesse Schmidt) — yes: Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck — carried. Approve Resolution 2026-2.1, temporary use of Highway 43 for July 4 (motion: Dan Zieg; second: Pete Simmons) — yes: Simmons, Zieg, Buck, Schmidt — carried. Approve $14,000 fireworks budget (motion: Pete Simmons; second: Dan Zieg) — yes: Zieg, Buck, Schmidt, Simmons — carried. Submit Nemaha NRD intent-to-apply (motion: Dan Zieg; second: Josh Buck) — yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — carried. Motion to enter closed session for legal advice (motion: Dan Zieg; second: Josh Buck) — yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — carried. Motion to adjourn (motion: Dan Zieg; second: Pete Simmons) — yes: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — carried.
Next steps: Council will present a formal resolution for the Firefly Festival / Garden Street closure at its March 9 meeting and will reopen recruitment for the Public Works position.
