Broken Bow City Council approves appointment, Conditional Use Permit and lot split; adopts $581,731.97 in bills

Broken Bow, Neb. — The Broken Bow City Council on Sept. 26 approved several routine and land-use items, including the appointment of Ryan Jones as the city’s Water/Sewer Superintendent and a Conditional Use Permit allowing storage containers at 1407 North C Street.

Mayor Rod Sonnichsen called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Broken Bow Municipal Auditorium. Councilmembers Chris Myers, Russ Smith and Paul Holland were present; David Baltz was absent and his absence was excused by motion.

The council approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Sept. 12 budget hearing and the Sept. 12 council meeting, and a list of bills to date totaling $581,731.97. The bills list includes a $171,169.00 insurance payment and a $62,985.90 bi-weekly payroll entry; the consent motion passed on a roll call vote with Myers, Holland and Smith voting aye.

The council then voted to appoint Ryan Jones as Water/Sewer Superintendent. The appointment motion was moved by Councilmember Chris Myers and seconded by Councilmember Russ Smith; the roll call vote was Myers, Smith and Holland voting aye and the motion carried.

At 6:03 p.m. the council opened a public hearing on a Conditional Use Permit application from Luke Wassom for 1407 North C Street. Zoning Administrator Jacob Holcomb told the council Wassom plans to place a pair of large storage containers to hold equipment and lumber to keep the property cleaned up; Holcomb said the permit is renewed annually, that neighbors raised no concerns, and that the Planning Commission recommended approval. The public hearing was closed at 6:08 p.m., and the council approved the Conditional Use Permit (motion moved by Paul Holland, seconded by Russ Smith; roll call: Holland, Smith and Myers voted aye).

The council also opened and closed a public hearing on a lot split for Lot 3, Pamida Addition in Broken Bow and approved Resolution 2023-14 to accept the Custer County lot split. Zoning Administrator Holcomb told council members the Planning Commission recommended the split. The resolution was approved on a motion by Russ Smith, seconded by Paul Holland; roll call vote: Smith, Holland and Myers voting aye.

The meeting adjourned at 6:16 p.m. after a motion by Paul Holland and second by Russ Smith carried on roll call.

Votes at a glance: appointment of Ryan Jones — moved by Chris Myers, seconded by Russ Smith; vote aye 3-0. Conditional Use Permit (Luke Wassom, 1407 North C Street) — moved by Paul Holland, seconded by Russ Smith; vote aye 3-0. Resolution 2023-14 (Custer County lot split, Lot 3, Pamida Addition) — moved by Russ Smith, seconded by Paul Holland; vote aye 3-0. Consent agenda including bills to date — moved by Chris Myers, seconded by Paul Holland; vote aye 3-0.

The council announced the availability of the open meetings law at the start of the meeting and recited the Pledge of Allegiance earlier in the session.