Council approves plans and sets bid date for downtown festoon lighting project

Andy Harder, Kearney's director of public works, presented phase 1 plans for a downtown festoon lighting project along Central Avenue from 21st through 24th streets, telling the council the project would install new 22-foot custom poles, string lighting and related infrastructure. He said the Downtown Improvement Board and GoodLife Architecture developed the concept and that local designer Steve Wolf contributed graphic designs.

Harder said the downtown traffic signals are technologically outdated and lack preemption for emergency vehicles; he told the council staff met with the fire department and believes converting those intersections to four-way stops will slow traffic and improve pedestrian safety. He described a procurement timeline: plans and specs would be advertised with a bid opening set for May 5, 2026 at 2:00 p.m., an award could be made as early as May 12, and construction targeted for completion by the end of November. The council voted to approve the plans and set the bid date; no contract award was made at the meeting.