City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this is a Public Hearing for the Community Development Block Grant Program Infrastructure Grant to reconstruct 15th Street and construct sidewalk improvements from Boswell Ave to Fir Avenue. Nargis Jahan with Southeast Nebraska Development District was also present and stated that there would be a sign in sheet for attendees and if anyone had anything they would like to ask during the hearing about this grant application. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this agreement is part of the Reconnecting Communities Grant Program and the State of Nebraska Departement of Transportation Infrastructure HUB has helped with the grant management. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this is a progress payment for the 2024 Crete Street and Alley Improvements project. 

Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that this grant would be for $5,200 for Stories that Spark Discovery: A Community Literacy & STEM Initiative. Including an Omaha Children's Museum "Seuss-sational Science: Program and "Pete the Cat's Science Show" and STEM kits for checkout. 

Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that they are applying for 199 cow-shaped stress relievers to hand out during community outreach events and programs throughout the year. 

Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that this grant is up to $500 for "Mysteries at Crete Public Library: Bringing Readers Together Through Suspense, Stories, and Community." 

Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that this is a $7,500 grant for Bridging Generations: Library Outreach for Seniors. This would help with large print collection expansion, audiobook/cd player equipment and other outreach supplies. 

Library Director Jessica Wilkinson stated that this grant is up to $25,000 to add musical instruments for the north side of the building. 

This grant is for up to $684 to help take different age groups to the Lincoln Children's Zoo, Henry Doorly Zoo, Lincoln's Children's Museum, Nebraska State Museum and Lauritzen Gardens. 

Library Director Jessica Wilkinson Stated that this grant is to request support for a new Early Literacy Kit initiative designed to help young children develop critical school readiness skills through hands-on learning experiences at home. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this amendment is for the subdivider to submit an original, two Mylar copies, one paper copy and a digital copy of the plat. This also went to the Planning Commission and they approved to recommend it to the City Council. 

This application is for the Southeast Library System to provide a summer reading workshop for librarians that are part of the Southeast Library System on November 20th, from 8am to 4pm. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this went to the Public Works Committee and it is to amend mowing fees and residential plumbing permit costs. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this policy is to establish a formal process for acceptance and documentation of donations made to the City of Crete. This would be a general policy across the City. This item also went to the Finance Committee. 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this grant is for park-related projects. 

City Administrator stated that this is the agreement that governs our relationship between us and the major software provider. We recently went to a cloud-based system and this is a modification to that and it was reviewed by our City Attorney. This went to the Public Works committee. 

Mayor Dave Bauer stated that this was a minor fender bender and the City forwards claims to the City's insurance, the League Association of Risk Management (LARM) 

City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that this is an agreement and supplement to the agreement with JEO Consulting Group, Inc with the water main and water well and this does water main rehabilitation in the area that wasn't covered in the water project when it was implemented in the 2000's. This went to the Public Works Committee. 

Michelle Faltin thanked the City Council for allowing her address them. Faltin addressed the Council about the Crete Riptide Swim team and to bring awareness as a parent and longtime supporter of the swim program of concerns related to communication and coaching structure as a parent. Faltin stated that her hope is to bring these concerns forward to work together to find solutions and find a path forward for the swim program.
Mayor Dave Bauer thanked Faltin for the information that the City will address.
City Administrator Tom Ourada stated that there is no vision to discontinue the swim team. The City wants the team to be as strong as ever. It isn’t accurate to say that we won’t have a team.  The City wants a sustainable coach that is going to continue. The City started paying volunteer coaches and that model is going to continue so that it can keep operating at a high level.
Faltin stated that it was concerning that other coaches were approached to take over swimmers so that there wouldn’t be a program. That was not fair and it left families feeling uncertain. Faltin further stated that she appreciated the City’s confidence that the program will be moving forward.
Ourada stated that the solicitation of other coaches didn’t come from official channels in the City. Ourada explained that throughout all the budget discussions is was never mentioned that the swim team would stop. Mayor Dave Bauer stated that maybe sending something out so that families know the program is continuing.
 

• Acting Chief of Police Jon Pucket explained that there are two grants that the Police Department would like to apply for before the end of the month. Pucket spoke with City Administrator Tom Ourada about submitting the grants. One of the grants is for tasers and the other grant is for a task force enforcement with priority counties that the Nebraska State Patrol will apply for. This is outside of the other grant that they get for overtime. Both of these grants are no match grants. Mayor Dave Bauer stated that there have been questions about how education will be provided on E-bikes, and minibikes and the first answer is that it is up to the parents to educate but he had spoke about School Resource Officer Noah Zach talking to the principal about putting on a seminar to talk about the new rules. Council member Anthony Fitzgerald asked if the City is also making a digital pamphlet with this information and it was stated that the school is also doing somethings with that.
• Library Director Jessica Wilkinson passed around post cards with the summer reading statistics and also shared upcoming programming details. The summer reading goal was 3,000 books and children read over 14,000 books.
• Building Inspector Trent Griffin stated he will provide updated permit logs at the next meeting. In the last week 7 letters were sent out. With 4 of them being commercial design standards for tinted windows. There were 2 building violations and 1 zoning violation for a business in a residential district. In the last 5 days 20 weed letters were sent out. Griffin further explained they are working on vacant property registry with letters going out for 3 residential and 2 commercial properties.
• Park and Recreation Director Liz Cody stated the following:
  • Parks and Recreation is seeking applicants for an open groundskeeper position and part-time seasonal labor (mowing, etc.)
  • We are excited to offer a variety of volunteer opportunities to Doane students and CPS students this fall.
  • Thank you to Parks and Rec volunteers for attending council meeting tonight. 
  • The Lincoln Food Bank distribution will be held in Tuxedo Park on Thursday August 27^th
  • IRA UCF Grant funds have allowed us to remove 4 large mature trees in Tuxedo Park overhanging park structures including the Beef barn enclosure, ticket booth, and city maintenance sheds.  Additional grant funds will be used to remove Ash trees from Westwood Park and facilitate city access and maintenance of this park.

• Council member Kyle Frans thanked the Library and Parks and Recreation for all the programming opportunities that both children and adults can participate in.

• City Administrator Tom Ourada stated the following:

• Working on the budget and going over the different department budgets and helping them allocate resources.
• There are four positions open and just onboarded the new Human Resources Director and she is now working on onboarding other people.
• The City of Crete Employee Recognition Dinner will be on Thursday, September 17^th, 2026
• Ourada is the Chairman of the Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) Board of Directors and he will be in Meetings in Kearney on Wednesday, August 19^th, 2026 and Thursday, August 20^th, 2026.
• There was a Railroad Transportation Safety District (RTSD) meeting last week and they voted on the helping with the match for the Railroad Safety Study grant. There are three representatives from the City Council and three representatives from the County Commissioners and all were very in favor of moving forward with this.

• Mayor Dave Bauer asked the City Council to please mark their calendars for Sunday, September 20^th, 2026 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.. A group of Hungarians will be in town and their will be a bus from that school that will take the group around town on a tour. The people that are coming are all professionals. Some mayors and council people and there will be a program at the VFW afterwards. Last year a group of Romanians came, and it was very enjoyable and very rewardable.

The meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.