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Tecumseh council adopts annual appropriation, approves CDBG steps and funds local projects
Summary
At its Sept. 2 meeting the Tecumseh City Council unanimously approved the annual appropriation ordinance, authorized a CDBG application and program guidelines, approved a $25,000 GRID resiliency agreement with SENDD and awarded a $58,710 pool repainting contract; the property tax request amount was not specified in the minutes.
The Tecumseh City Council on Sept. 2 unanimously approved the city's annual appropriation ordinance and a slate of related budget and development measures, and authorized city staff to pursue a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for downtown commercial façade rehabilitation.
Mayor Jesse Grof presided over the 5:00 p.m. meeting. City Clerk Janelle Moran reported that the city is finalizing its budget filing with the state and that audit work for fiscal 2024-25 will begin shortly. During departmental reports utility staff member Davison said crews ran engines with Omaha Public Power District after a recent outage damaged transformers and that new fuses were ordered. Parks staff reported work will begin this week on new tennis and pickleball courts.
The council approved an agreement with the Southeast Nebraska Development District (SENDD) for a NDEE GRID Resiliency Project and allocated $25,000 to support the effort. Council Member Brian Britt moved to approve the SENDD agreement; Council Member Lorie Topp seconded. Voting aye were Lance Beethe, Brian Britt, Travis Goracke, Tyler Speckmann and Lorie Topp; Alicia Brommer was absent.
On CDBG matters, Brittany McCullough of SENDD restated the city's application terms during a publicly noticed hearing. The council then adopted CDBG Downtown Revitalization (DTR) program guidelines, passed a resolution authorizing the Mayor to sign the CDBG application for commercial rehabilitation, and appointed the Economic Development Board to serve as the CDBG DTR Committee. All votes on those items were recorded as unanimous among members present.
Budget-related actions included approval to increase the Restricted Funds Base in the 2025-26 budget by 1% over the allowable growth percentage, and approval of a resolution setting the 2025-26 property tax request at a different amount than the prior year; the minutes do not state the specific tax request amount. The council introduced and then gave final passage to the ordinance adopting the annual appropriation (the city's budget), waived the three-reading rule and ordered the ordinance published in pamphlet form. Final passage votes were unanimous among members present.
The council also approved several local items: authorization for an Economic Development Lot Transfer Agreement with Louis Keim and for the Mayor to execute the deed; and award of a $58,710 contract to Miller Painting and Decorating to sandblast and repaint the municipal swimming pool. The consent agenda, which included approval of the Aug. 18, 2025 meeting minutes and payment of city bills, was approved by unanimous vote of members present. The meeting adjourned at 5:29 p.m.
Votes at a glance: - SENDD NDEE GRID Resiliency Agreement ($25,000): Passed 5-0 (Beethe, Britt, Goracke, Speckmann, Topp; Brommer absent). - CDBG DTR program guidelines: Passed 5-0. - Resolution authorizing Mayor to sign CDBG application: Passed 5-0. - Appoint ED Board as CDBG DTR Committee: Passed 5-0. - Increase Restricted Funds Base (2025-26) by 1% over allowable growth: Passed 5-0. - Resolution setting 2025-26 property tax request: Passed 5-0 (amount not specified in minutes). - Ordinance adopting annual appropriation (final passage, published in pamphlet form): Passed 5-0. - Economic Development Lot Transfer with Louis Keim (authorize deed execution): Passed 5-0. - Miller Painting and Decorating pool sandblast and repainting contract ($58,710): Passed 5-0. - Consent agenda (minutes and bills): Passed 5-0.
What happens next: The CDBG application will proceed to the Nebraska Department of Economic Development as authorized; the adopted budget ordinance will be published as required. Further action on the tabled Downtown Blight and Substandard Study was deferred to the Planning Commission for review.
