The Osmond City Council met Monday, March 9, beginning with a hearing on new planning and zoning regulation updates.
Recently, the Planning and Zoning Commission has been working with Heather McWhorter to revise the planning and zoning regulations for the City of Osmond. McWhorter stated that the commission board had meetings to revise the drafted copy, and now that it has been completed, the City can amend the regulations as time passes. Mayor Kuhl asked for public comments on the matter; however, there were none. The city council then adopted the planning and zoning regulations as presented.
During the regular meeting, City Clerk Brittney Timmerman suggested that, with the recent changes in planning and zoning regulations, the city step away from the outdated building permits and begin using more detailed permits, with the council approved.
In addition to the new permits, council also needs to appoint a building inspector. Council members agreed it should be someone from the city’s maintenance crew. After some short discussion, members decided that maintenance employee Bert Wattier would be appointed as building inspector.
The council also approved placing a Planning and Zoning Board ad for two vacancies in the newspaper for three weeks.
Update on 6th Street Project Given
An update on the 6th Street project was given by Councilman Doug Schmit. He stated that if the city does the labor for this concrete street project, it’ll be less expensive. An open bid was held over the winter, and with the rising oil prices, asphalt could get very expensive; not to mention the heavier traffic since more residents are moving in along that street and the heavy machinery that travels through the area.
Councilman Schmit said that price isn’t all that’s important. If the city uses concrete, it can be layered to last longer and maintenance on the concrete would be easier. After some discussion, Councilman Schmit believed it would be best if council and 6th street residents wait to vote on the matter until the April meeting.
Summer Youth Sign-up Begins Alli Aschoff was present to inform council on Summer Youth activities. She stated sign-ups have begun and some age groups will be short on players. It’s possible that those age groups will need to co-op with Plainview to make a full team.
Aschoff also asked if any renovations could be made to the baseball field concession stand since it has been having electricity issues. Since the concession stand is in the floodplain zone, council asked for more time to look into renovating it and that a possible grant could help with those costs.
Aschoff informed the council that the Chrome and Smoke show falls on the same weekend as a tournament that brings in necessary funds for the next year. If the team wins the tournament, Osmond Summer Youth would then host the tournament on Osmond's field the following year.
Aschoff asked if the council could help create a plan to manage both events on the same weekend if it were to occur. Council said they would put some thought into it, and see what plan they could come up with.
Stech Donates Land
Ron Stech was present to offer a donation; a parcel located west of town along the creek and Highway 20 that is home to the Osmond welcome sign. Stech stated that the land would need to be surveyed, but the city maintains the parcel already. After a short discussion, council decided they would move forward with accepting the parcel.
Flood Reduction Discussed
Kurt Becker with Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District (LENRD) was present to discuss the flood re duction. The plan documents were approved by LENRD; now the city must wait 30 days for the final docu ment check, and two to three weeks for a sign-off in Washington at Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) headquarters.
Becker expects the plan documents to be returned in late April or early May. Becker presented three projects to council and the ways NRCS can help build and fund the projects.
Council agreed something needs to be done to protect residents from future flooding. Council asked Becker to figure out if the city can do one of
the projects, but not the other two, or if completing the projects on city time is possible.
Becker stated the city could move forward, but it will likely require an engineer to do a study, otherwise he will inform council when he has the information.
Black Hills Franchise Renewed Jennifer Peters, senior public affairs manager with Black Hills Energy, was present to renew ordinances for the franchise service agreement and franchise fee. The franchise renewal will be in effect for a period of 25 years and the franchise fee remitted annually.
Ordinance 2026-4, an ordinance establishing a franchise fee on energy providers operating in the City of Osmond, was adopted by the council.
Ordinance No. 2026-5, an ordinance granting Black Hills Nebraska Gas, LLC the authority to construct, operate, maintain, and extend a natural gas distribution plant and system, and granting the right to use the streets, alleys, and other public places within the present or future corporate limits of the City of Osmond, was also adopted by the council. Both ordinances are printed in full on Page 4 of this issue.
Colonial Life Information Shared Nick Antrobus with Colonial Life explained that Colonial Life is an in- crease in benefits without increasing the costs for the city. The Wellcard offers discounts for pet/vet care, theme parks, malls, and more.
Kofe provides financial coaching, online tools for budgeting, and webinars on a wide variety of topics. Finally, Law Assure helps employees create their legal documents like writing a will or planning an estate.
The Wellcard, Kofe, and Law Assure are all free perks of Colonial Life even if the employee decides they don’t want the health insurance policy. Colonial Life offers policies that include accident, dental, or on the more serious side of life, cancer CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PLANNING, ZONING and life insurance.
Council will provide employees with the information.
Other Agenda Items
Recently, American Legion Post 326 approached the city office with the request of an alley security light on the utility pole placed in the northwest corner of the lot owned by Lind-Gubbels, Inc. The Legion asked if the city would pay for the cost. The council approved installation of the light onto the existing pole.
The Osmond Post Office has changed the mail-out pick up time from 3 p.m. to 10 a.m. With the sudden change, billing is difficult to complete before 10 a.m. A change in billing due date, from the 10th of the month to the 11th, was requested and approved.
Ordinance 2026-3, an ordinance to repeal, void and nullify the existing water service rates and establish new rates, was adopted and is printed in this week’s issue of the Osmond Republican.
Councilman Neil Wattier advised he has 11 lifeguard applications. He did not want to set wages until the April council meeting. The employment ad will not be run again.
The city office is still having phone issues. Eakes discussed the phone options with Clerk Timmerman as allowed per last council meeting. Clerk Timmerman received a quote for a three-year contact with four lines that would require internet to use. Council members decided to leave it up to Clerk Timmerman.
The citywide Cleanup Day is set for the week after graduation.
Mayor Dennis Kuhl read correspondence from Nebraska Rural Water Association (NRWA) thanking the city for a donation to their equipment fund and a resignation letter from Paul Reineke to resign from the Planning and Zoning Commission. Council thanked Paul for his time with the commission and City.
Police Chief Tyler Wells presented a report on recent activity within the city, including one civil dispute, one dog welfare check, one question on abandoned motor vehicle, one traffic complaint, one assist Wayne Police Department on domestic violence, one camera review for a lost item, one report of an open door, and more.
In other business, the council: — reviewed the General Checking account statement and reconciliation for February 2026.
— heard Mayor Kuhl state that city sales tax for December 2025 was a total of $22,781.03 (of that amount $2,548.60 is from motor vehicle tax).
