Meeting Agenda
1. Meeting was called to order by Mayor Rump.
2. Roll Call.
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
4. Approval of Consent Agenda - The following items are considered to be routine by the city council and will be enacted by one motion.  There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a city council member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from consent status and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
4.a. Approval of Minutes of the March 10, 2026, meeting.
4.b. Clerk report of Mayoral Action of March 10, 2026 meeting.
4.c. Claims as approved by the Finance Committee.
4.d. Resolution 2026-19 recommending approval of a Special Designated Liquor License for the American Legion Post 154, 103 S 12th St, Blair, for May 2, 2026, for a community car show.  
5. Mayor Rump opens a public hearing to consider receiving public comment on a blight and substandard study for an area located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction and Corporate Limits of the City of Blair, and to consider whether to designate such area as blighted, substandard and in need of redevelopment pursuant to the Community Development Law, Nebraska Revised Statutes, sections 18-2101, et seq.
6. Consideration of and possible action via Resolution 2026-20 approving the Blight and Substandard Study designation of East US Highway 30 Industrial Area.
7. Mayor Rump opens a public hearing to consider a Rezone application submitted by the City of Blair, 218 S 16th St, Blair, for Lots 19, 20 & 21, Block 56, in the City of Blair, Washington County, Nebraska, together with that part of vacated street right-of-way of Grant Street (1526 & 1516 Grant Street and the empty lot on the northwest corner of Grant and 15th Street), rezoning the lots from RMH – Multi-Family Residential High Density District to CCB - Central Business District.
8. Mayor Rump opens a public hearing to consider a Rezoning Application submitted by the City of Blair, 218 S. 16th Street, Blair, Nebraska, for Tax Lots 197, 199 & 200, Section 13, Township 18 North, Range 11, all East of the 6th P.M., Washington County, Nebraska, (10024, 10070 and the contiguous outbuildings on 10196, all on County Road P35), rezoning all lots from AG – Agricultural District to TA – Transitional Agriculture District.
9. Request to appear before the Mayor and City Council by Baylor Barrow seeking approval of his Eagle Scout Project on Public Property.
10. Presentation by the Blair Historic Preservation Alliance regarding improvements to the Depot.
11. Consider Resolution 2026-21 to accept a $5,000 gift from BHPA; to approve their request for $5,000 in matching Keno funds for use at the Depot; and to accept the recommendation from the Park, Recreation and Cemetery Advisory board to approve the Scope of Work and instruct staff to proceed with the bid for Depot floor repairs and the other capital projects and improvements presented by the BHPA for the Depot. 
12. Presentation on the proposed water tower location and design.
13. Consideration of and possible action to authorize staff to proceed with plans for the development of a second water tower in Blair.
14. Consider Resolution 2026-22 to accept and approve a bid for the Black Elk Pump Station Project pending SRF funding.
15. Consider Resolution 2026-23 to approve an engineering agreement with Houston Engineering for the Cauble Creek Trail repairs.
16. Consider Resolution 2026-24 to approve an agreement with Olsson Associates for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Study.
17. City Administrator Report
18. Motion and second by Council members to adjourn the meeting.
Agenda Item Details Reload Your Meeting
Meeting: March 24, 2026 at 7:00 PM - City of Blair Regular Council Meeting
Subject:
1. Meeting was called to order by Mayor Rump.
Subject:
2. Roll Call.
Subject:
3. Pledge of Allegiance.
Subject:
4. Approval of Consent Agenda - The following items are considered to be routine by the city council and will be enacted by one motion.  There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a city council member or citizen so requests, in which event the item will be removed from consent status and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by James Letcher, second by Brent Clark to to approve the Consent Agenda.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Subject:
4.a. Approval of Minutes of the March 10, 2026, meeting.
Attachments:
Subject:
4.b. Clerk report of Mayoral Action of March 10, 2026 meeting.
Subject:
4.c. Claims as approved by the Finance Committee.
Attachments:
Subject:
4.d. Resolution 2026-19 recommending approval of a Special Designated Liquor License for the American Legion Post 154, 103 S 12th St, Blair, for May 2, 2026, for a community car show.  
Attachments:
Subject:
5. Mayor Rump opens a public hearing to consider receiving public comment on a blight and substandard study for an area located within the extraterritorial jurisdiction and Corporate Limits of the City of Blair, and to consider whether to designate such area as blighted, substandard and in need of redevelopment pursuant to the Community Development Law, Nebraska Revised Statutes, sections 18-2101, et seq.
Attachments:
Subject:
6. Consideration of and possible action via Resolution 2026-20 approving the Blight and Substandard Study designation of East US Highway 30 Industrial Area.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by James Letcher, second by Frank Wolff to adopt Resolution No. 2026-20 as presented.
  • Gary Banner: Nay
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
7. Mayor Rump opens a public hearing to consider a Rezone application submitted by the City of Blair, 218 S 16th St, Blair, for Lots 19, 20 & 21, Block 56, in the City of Blair, Washington County, Nebraska, together with that part of vacated street right-of-way of Grant Street (1526 & 1516 Grant Street and the empty lot on the northwest corner of Grant and 15th Street), rezoning the lots from RMH – Multi-Family Residential High Density District to CCB - Central Business District.
Action(s):
Motion 1 Passed:
Motion by Brent Clark, second by Gary Banner to move the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended for consideration of said ordinance.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Motion 2 Passed:
Motion by Brent Clark, second by James Letcher to adopt Ordinance 2607 as presented.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
8. Mayor Rump opens a public hearing to consider a Rezoning Application submitted by the City of Blair, 218 S. 16th Street, Blair, Nebraska, for Tax Lots 197, 199 & 200, Section 13, Township 18 North, Range 11, all East of the 6th P.M., Washington County, Nebraska, (10024, 10070 and the contiguous outbuildings on 10196, all on County Road P35), rezoning all lots from AG – Agricultural District to TA – Transitional Agriculture District.
Action(s):
Motion 1 Passed:
Motion by Rick Paulsen, second by James Letcher to move the statutory rule requiring reading on three different days be suspended for consideration of said ordinance.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Motion 2 Passed:
Motion by Rick Paulsen, second by James Letcher to adopt Ordinance 2608 as presented
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
9. Request to appear before the Mayor and City Council by Baylor Barrow seeking approval of his Eagle Scout Project on Public Property.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by Gary Banner, second by Kevin Willis to approve Baylor Borrow to move forward with his Eagle Scout Downtown Beautification and Recycling Project.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
10. Presentation by the Blair Historic Preservation Alliance regarding improvements to the Depot.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by Kevin Willis, second by Frank Wolff to receive and place on file the bid received by the Blair Historic Preservation Alliance to refinish the floor on the west side of the Depot.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
11. Consider Resolution 2026-21 to accept a $5,000 gift from BHPA; to approve their request for $5,000 in matching Keno funds for use at the Depot; and to accept the recommendation from the Park, Recreation and Cemetery Advisory board to approve the Scope of Work and instruct staff to proceed with the bid for Depot floor repairs and the other capital projects and improvements presented by the BHPA for the Depot. 
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by Kevin Willis, second by Brent Clark to adopt Resolution No. 2026-21 as presented.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
12. Presentation on the proposed water tower location and design.
Attachments:
Subject:
13. Consideration of and possible action to authorize staff to proceed with plans for the development of a second water tower in Blair.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by James Letcher, second by Kirk Highfill to to authorize staff to proceed with plans for the development of a second water tower in Blair.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Subject:
14. Consider Resolution 2026-22 to accept and approve a bid for the Black Elk Pump Station Project pending SRF funding.
Action(s):
Motion 1 Passed:
Motion by Kevin Willis, second by Brent Clark to receive and place on file the bids for the Black Elk Pump Station Improvements.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Motion 2 Passed:
Motion by James Letcher, second by Rick Paulsen to adopt Resolution No. 2026-22 as presented.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
15. Consider Resolution 2026-23 to approve an engineering agreement with Houston Engineering for the Cauble Creek Trail repairs.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by Rick Paulsen, second by James Letcher to adopt Resolution No. 2026-23 as presented.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
16. Consider Resolution 2026-24 to approve an agreement with Olsson Associates for a Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Study.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by Rick Paulsen, second by James Letcher to adopt Resolution No. 2026-24 as presented.
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
Attachments:
Subject:
17. City Administrator Report
Subject:
18. Motion and second by Council members to adjourn the meeting.
Action(s):
Motion Passed:
Motion by Gary Banner, second by Kent Long to adjourn the meeting 8:50 pm
  • Gary Banner: Yea
  • Brent Clark: Yea
  • Kirk Highfill: Yea
  • James Letcher: Yea
  • Kent Long: Yea
  • Rick Paulsen: Yea
  • Frank Wolff: Yea
  • Kevin Willis: Yea
 

Web Viewer