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Bennet council awards maintenance building bid, OKs July 4 parade closure and $14,000 fireworks budget
Summary
At its Feb. 9 meeting the Bennet City Council awarded a $90,000 maintenance building bid to Sterup Construction pending engineered drawings, approved a Highway 43 closure for the July 4 parade, and authorized $14,000 for fireworks tied to the nation’s 250th birthday; the council also approved a Nemaha NRD grant intent-to-apply and briefly met in closed session on pending litigation.
Mayor Ryan Cheney called the Bennet City Council to order at 7:00 p.m. on Feb. 9, 2026, and the council moved through routine business before approving several action items including a building bid, event permits and a grant intent form.
The council voted unanimously to approve the consent agenda, which included approval of minutes from Jan. 19, claims for payment and the treasurer’s report. Mayor Ryan Cheney also signed a revised U.S. Postal Service lease that had been approved previously by Resolution 2026-1.2 and revised to an initial five-year term.
Utility Superintendent Zach Fergus presented five bids for a proposed maintenance building. The bids were Sterup Construction LLC at $90,000; Vasa Construction at $122,279; Morton Buildings at $124,218; Ebbers Construction at $125,526.01; and Elevate Construction LLC at $129,722.04. Council Member Dan Zieg moved and Council Member Jesse Schmidt seconded to award the contract to Sterup Construction LLC pending submission of the requested engineered drawings. The motion carried on a roll-call vote: Schmidt, Simmons, Zieg and Buck — all yes.
The council addressed several public-event items. Lillie Chambers asked the council to approve the 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 permit the temporary use of Highway 43 for the July 4 event; Council Member Dan Zieg moved to approve the resolution, and Council Member Pete Simmons seconded. The resolution passed unanimously.
Chambers also requested a fireworks budget tied to events marking the United States’ 250th birthday. The council approved a $14,000 fireworks budget on a unanimous vote after a motion by Council Member Pete Simmons and a second from Council Member Dan Zieg.
Kristin Nelson appeared to address the council regarding a block-party application submitted by BEDA for the Firefly Festival scheduled June 12–13, 2026. Nelson explained the request to close Garden Street beginning 10:00 p.m. Friday through midnight Saturday; after discussion the council limited the closure to Saturday, June 13, from morning until midnight and directed that a resolution be drafted for consideration at the March 9 meeting.
Mayor Cheney presented an opportunity to apply for funds through the Nemaha Natural Resources District. Council Member Dan Zieg moved to submit an intent-to-apply form for grant funding that could support the trail program or native grass planting at Whispering Pines Park; Council Member Josh Buck seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Fergus reported that a previously accepted candidate for the public works position resigned before starting, leaving the position open for new applications.
Late in the meeting the council voted to enter a closed session at 7:30 p.m. to receive legal advice concerning threatening or pending litigation; the motion to go into closed session was moved by Council Member Dan Zieg and seconded by Council Member Josh Buck, and passed unanimously. The council returned to open session at 8:12 p.m. and adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Items expected to return to the March 9 meeting include the Quincy Street right-of-way agreement and a resolution to formalize the Firefly Festival Garden Street closure.
