Bennet City Council approves maintenance-building bid, $14,000 fireworks budget and July 4 street closure

The Bennet City Council met Feb. 9, 2026, at Bennet City Hall and approved a series of routine and event-related actions, including awarding a maintenance-building contract, approving a fireworks budget tied to the nation’s 250th birthday and authorizing a temporary street closure for the July 4 parade.

Mayor Ryan Cheney called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Jan. 19 regular meeting, claims for payment and the treasurer’s report. Mayor Cheney also signed the revised USPS lease previously approved by Resolution 2026-1.2, which changes the lease term to an initial five-year period.

Utility Superintendent Zach Fergus presented five bids for the city’s planned maintenance building. Bids received were: Sterup Construction LLC, $90,000; Vasa Construction, $122,279; Morton Buildings, $124,218; Ebbers Construction, $125,526.01; and Elevate Construction LLC, $129,722.04. After discussion of contract requirements, the council voted unanimously to award the contract to Sterup Construction LLC, conditional on Sterup providing the requested engineered drawings.

The council approved a $14,000 budget for a fireworks display tied to the United States’ 250th birthday. Lillie Chambers presented the request and the motion to fund the display passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

Council members also discussed the BEDA Block Party Application for the Firefly Festival (June 12–13, 2026). Kristin Nelson answered questions about the application; the council decided to limit the requested Garden Street closure to Saturday, June 13, from morning until midnight, and directed that a resolution be presented for approval at the March 9 meeting.

Mayor Cheney introduced an intent-to-apply for a grant from the Nemaha Natural Resources District. Council voted unanimously to submit the intent-to-apply form, with potential grant uses described as trail program work or establishment of native grass at Whispering Pines Park.

The council noted a personnel update: an applicant for the Public Works position accepted the offer but resigned before starting, leaving the position open again.

Citing legal advice related to threatening or pending litigation, the council voted to enter closed session at 7:30 PM; it returned to open session at 8:12 PM and adjourned at 8:14 PM.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (approval of Jan. 19 minutes, claims, treasurer’s report): Simmons moved, Zieg seconded. Roll call: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — YES. Motion carried. - Award maintenance-building bid to Sterup Construction LLC (pending engineered drawings): Zieg moved, Schmidt seconded. Roll call: Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck — YES. Motion carried. - Approve Resolution 2026-2.1 (temporary use/closure of Highway 43 for July 4 parade): Zieg moved, Simmons seconded. Roll call: Simmons, Zieg, Buck, Schmidt — YES. Motion carried. - Approve $14,000 fireworks budget: Simmons moved, Zieg seconded. Roll call: Zieg, Buck, Schmidt, Simmons — YES. Motion carried. - Firefly Festival/Garden Street closure modification (direction to present resolution at March 9 meeting): Council consensus to close Garden Street on Saturday, June 13; resolution to be presented March 9. - Submit Nemaha NRD intent-to-apply (trail program or native grass at Whispering Pines Park): Zieg moved, Buck seconded. Roll call: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — YES. Motion carried. - Enter closed session for legal advice re: threatening or pending litigation: Zieg moved, Buck seconded. Roll call: Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — YES. Motion carried.

The meeting record shows routine council business and several event- and capital-related approvals. The council tabled the Quincy Street Right-of-Way Agreement until March and set a March 9 agenda item for the Firefly Festival street-closure resolution.