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Bennet council awards maintenance building bid to Sterup, approves July 4 parade and $14,000 fireworks budget
Summary
At its Feb. 9 meeting the Bennet City Council awarded the maintenance building contract to Sterup Construction LLC pending engineered drawings, approved a temporary closure of Highway 43 for a July 4 parade and a $14,000 fireworks budget, authorized an intent-to-apply for a Nemaha NRD grant, and recessed to closed session for legal advice on pending litigation.
BENNET, Neb. — The Bennet City Council on Feb. 9 approved a slate of routine and event-related measures, including awarding a contract for a new maintenance building and setting plans for the city’s July 4 celebration.
Mayor Ryan Cheney called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. and a unanimous council voted to approve the consent agenda, which included the minutes from Jan. 19, claims for payment and the treasurer’s report. The council also recorded that Mayor Cheney signed the revised five-year USPS lease previously approved by Resolution 2026-1.2.
Utility Superintendent Zach Fergus presented five bids for a planned maintenance building. The lowest bidder, Sterup Construction LLC, submitted a $90,000 bid; other bids were Vasa Construction $122,279.00, Morton Buildings $124,218.00, Ebbers Construction $125,526.01 and Elevate Construction LLC $129,722.04. Council member Dan Zieg moved and Jesse Schmidt seconded a motion to award the contract to Sterup Construction LLC contingent on the company providing the requested engineered drawings; the motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.
Lillie Chambers requested a temporary closure of Highway 43 for the July 4 parade using the same route and times as prior years. Mayor Cheney introduced Resolution 2026-2.1 to authorize the closure; Dan Zieg moved and Pete Simmons seconded approval and the resolution passed unanimously.
Chambers also requested funding for a fireworks display tied to the United States’ 250th birthday. The council approved a $14,000 budget for fireworks after Pete Simmons moved and Dan Zieg seconded the motion; the vote was unanimous.
Kristin Nelson appeared for questions about a Block Party application from BEDA for the Firefly Festival scheduled for June 12–13. The council agreed to close Garden Street only on Saturday, June 13 from morning until midnight and will consider a formal resolution to finalize that closure at the March 9 meeting.
Mayor Cheney introduced an Intent-to-Apply for a Nemaha Natural Resources District grant to support trail work or native grass at Whispering Pines Park. Dan Zieg moved and Josh Buck seconded authorization to submit the intent form; the council voted unanimously to proceed.
Utility Superintendent Fergus told the council that an applicant for the Public Works position had accepted but then resigned before beginning work, leaving the vacancy open for new applicants.
At 7:30 p.m. the council voted unanimously on a motion by Dan Zieg, seconded by Josh Buck, to move into closed session to receive legal advice regarding threatening or pending litigation. The council returned to open session at 8:12 p.m. and adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
The council postponed action on the Quincy Street right-of-way agreement until the March meeting and will take up a resolution to finalize the Firefly Festival street closure on March 9.
