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Bennet council approves water-rate change, revises Board of Adjustment and buys sewer camera
Summary
At its Oct. 13 meeting the Bennet City Council approved a second-reading amendment to water usage rates, amended Board of Adjustment membership (waived three readings), authorized purchase of an Iris HD sewer camera and adopted consent-agenda items including Planning Commission reappointments.
Mayor Ryan Cheney called the Oct. 13, 2025 regular meeting of the Bennet City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. at the City Office, 685 Monroe Street, and announced compliance with the Nebraska Open Meetings Act.
The council approved a set of consent-agenda items — including approval of the Sept. 23 special meeting minutes, claims for payment, the treasurer’s report, Resolution 2025-10.1 re-appointing Planning Commission members, Van Kirk payment #5, and a request from Larry Kramer to place a banner over Monroe Street advertising a community Christmas event — on a motion by Councilmember Dan Zieg, seconded by Josh Buck. Roll call vote: Yes — Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg. Motion carried.
On separate motions, the council took up two ordinances. Mayor Cheney introduced Ordinance 2025-8.1, which amends City Code 52.02 to adjust water usage rates. Councilmember Pete Simmons moved and Councilmember Schmidt seconded approval of the ordinance’s second reading; the motion carried on a roll-call vote recorded as Yes — Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck.
The council also considered Ordinance 2025-9.1, amending Board of Adjustment membership provisions in City Code 32.02. Councilmember Dan Zieg moved to waive the three-reading rule; Pete Simmons seconded and the waiver passed on the roll-call vote recorded in the minutes. Zieg then moved to approve Ordinance 2025-9.1 and Simmons seconded; that motion carried on a roll-call Yes vote recorded as Zieg, Buck, Schmidt, Simmons.
City Utilities Superintendent Zach Fergus presented competing quotes for three sewer cameras, explained the advantages and drawbacks of each unit and recommended purchase of an Iris HD sewer camera. Councilmember Dan Zieg moved and Josh Buck seconded approval to purchase the Iris HD camera; the minutes record a roll-call Yes vote — Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg — and the purchase was authorized.
City Attorneys David Solheim and Matt Blaser reviewed a United States Postal Service lease renewal with the council. Attorney Blaser led the discussion and answered council questions about lease terms; the minutes record the review but no formal council action on the lease.
The council opened and reviewed two sealed bids received in response to the city’s solid-waste services RFP and discussed differences in terms and conditions; the minutes do not record an award or vote on the solid-waste bids.
During public comment, Larry Kramer provided additional details about the Monroe Street banner request; that banner was listed on and approved through the consent agenda earlier in the meeting.
Late in the meeting Councilmember Dan Zieg moved and Josh Buck seconded a motion to go into closed session at 8:29 p.m. to discuss potential litigation. The council reconvened from closed session at 9:07 p.m.; the minutes record times but do not provide further details of the closed-session discussion.
Votes at a glance — key motions recorded in the minutes: • Consent agenda approval (minutes, claims, treasurer’s report, Resolution 2025-10.1, Van Kirk payment #5, banner request): mover Dan Zieg; second Josh Buck; vote Yes — Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg; outcome: approved. • Ordinance 2025-8.1 (Amend City Code 52.02 — water usage rates) — second reading: mover Pete Simmons; second Schmidt; vote Yes — Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg, Buck; outcome: second reading approved. • Ordinance 2025-9.1 (Amend City Code 32.02 — Board of Adjustment membership): waiver of three-reading: mover Dan Zieg; second Pete Simmons; vote recorded as Simmons, Zieg, Buck, Schmidt; outcome: waiver approved. Final adoption: mover Dan Zieg; second Pete Simmons; vote Yes — Zieg, Buck, Schmidt, Simmons; outcome: ordinance approved. • Purchase of Iris HD sewer camera: mover Dan Zieg; second Josh Buck; vote Yes — Buck, Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg; outcome: purchase authorized. • Motion to enter closed session (potential litigation): mover Dan Zieg; second Josh Buck; motion recorded as entered at 8:29 p.m. and ended at 9:07 p.m.; vote tally not specified in minutes.
What the council did not decide: the minutes record a review of a USPS lease renewal and the opening of two sealed bids for solid-waste services but do not record a lease action or an award of the solid-waste contract.
The council adjourned after returning from closed session; the minutes were signed by City Clerk Sue Biltoft and Mayor Ryan Cheney.
