February 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM - Beatrice Regular City Council Meeting

Discussion:  Ted - L - how long does the plan take?  when will it be done?  TT - 18 months for grant, study 1 year.

Discussion:  TT - looking at study with HDR on engines, etc., what next steps are

JK - background - working with HDR, update numbers, look at specific items.  serve city capacity needs & partners, great gas access, perfect location, away from schools, etc., transmission
2 technologies looked at - RICE units   technology has improved.  these respond quickly & can generate for SPP quickly - or combustion turbine.  2 benefits, need capacity - expires in 2030; also have energy supply with AEP expiring.  this provides good energy hedge, if go high, start units & sell profit 50 megawatt to 200 watt project- looking at 20% savings - better interest from vendors, contractors, etc
HDR did good job outlining permitting needs 
opinino of probable costs - rice units - diesel units 100W; these costs are probably 15% higher than last study, weren't ready to move forward at that time, now have answers to some questions
combustion turbines - 20% of cost of project.  if go with combustion, most likely not put in SBRs?  will work on oil?  will get bids on both most likely & make decision later
Ted - cost goes down, if go down to 600?  levels out as add more units.  probably get most bang for buck going from 50-200 - based on interest from others, too big look at additional transmission line, rely on capacity that is here & not trigger big improvement.
rice units more expensive on upfront cost, less cost to run, less gas, some amount of kwh; until out for bids won't have good njumbers.  
CTs with SCR - not enough flexibility anyway. does justyf
200 MW - cts without SCR $154/mwh - not paying total, just for capacity supplying ______% - more expensive than paying now, but consistent with where market is at.  this with market will be less costly.  paying $3/kw month, just signed for capacity - $8kw/month.  SPP recently raised their capacity.  $7.25/month up to $12.00  
Hydo - more than [pyaing right now, but not later?  JK - yes, but not 30% higher than - recent RPF went up 60%.  
project priorities - accredited capacity - 50 megawatts to meet needs in summer of capacity, peak demand + margin - looking at with these projects, running on natural gas or diesel fuel.  Feb 2021 - biggest issue was lack of natural gas. having fuel hour on site, won't run on oil much, but when need it, they will look at how available our capacity is.  Flexibile resource - RICE can be online within a few minutes. starting less than 10 minutes.  CTs close.  both flexible will get gneeration
Additional partners - instrumental.  everyone benefits single project to benefit from
project challenges - staffing, operators, maintenance crews available - looking at 6-10 people depending upon which site & how often staffed.  may be city employees or joint ownership group.  gas supply - either one is capable to supply.  one across from property - lead time of equipment, biggest key
Schedule - meet December - partners on board, bid specs out, fall 2026 interconnection request to SPP, major equipemnet procurement within next 3 months.  October 2026 - have to know what kind - SPP changing, wil know cost likely upfront 15 months before study work is completed.  answer on costs by early 2027.
Potential project ownership - city could own, jointly owned; each structure has advantage or disadvantage, liek to have a stand-alone entity 
INterlocal stand-alone aentity - city through BPW to issue bonds, agree to pay bonds, build gneeration.entiy would buy land/rent, etc.best 
Gary - bonds?  JK - PTGA?  higher financial advisor, worked with bond counsel, $400 million bonds - they issue bonds, come obligations through
Gary - also potential to have wholesale customers?  JK - most likely  will go into SPP market place.excess caapity, sell capacity to 3rd parties if needed.  GB - ability to add?  JK - yes, 3-4 more if needed, easy to add on
Mayor - are revenue bonds, from our revenue, significant piece need to be clear on.  solely rates, not taxpayer
Eskra - city wasn't prepared & faced 60% increase and passed  JK - will have to raise rates some, they did have a sweetheart deal.  Eskra - increase in capacity from SPP, caught off guard. JK - yes, Feb 2021 & bigger driver is AI, data centers, etc.   25x the city - use almost that much every hear.  
Next steps - in general council be in agreement with taking this approach, provde more firm information to parterns, start working towards interlocal & PPA to issue bid documents for generation & commence - JK will be able to help with - HDR will take lead on bid documents & engineering.  JK - big deal, ineables us to control our destiny.  exciting project, putting in the project that will give an asset ot serve city 30-40 years.  not usually exciting, but very important step towards energy future.
gary - important to our community - nothing compares, real threat is what if we don't do it.  when public asks in future, real facts so we don't undersell what trying to do.  very good project
Mayor  taking a look that will set up this community - fresh water, wellhead protection, landfill 70 years, trifecta to protect generations to come & great place to be over the next 5 years.
Mayro - thank you - tt, PF, JK, property thanks for plowing ahead & being a forward thinker not going to find a lot of companies wanting to take on.  JK - will get there, comfortable schedule HDR will help guide through.
JK - been in contact with several potential partners, would like to set up meetings next week, onsite meeting, go through numbers, schedule, commitment next 2-3 weeks, provide more technical
Ted - important to support, east vote is no, capacity is paramount.  renting or owning - know what your costs are, simple terms.  capacity part - toured reservoirs 5 million gallons if today can't imagine what that would cost today.  thankgoodness someone had forethought to build.   
 

Discussion:  McLain - economic development in future, reliable power as well
mayor - rates continue to rise, not just nebraska
Jim Nelson, 1025 N 6th, 1 question, what is the cost that the city has paid so far today & anticipated cost to get to next level.  TT - study with Burns & Mac/HDR $250 - depending upon size & partners upwards to $400 million. JIm - what is the next cost? TT - that is what asking for tongith to see
Ted - how would mayor vote?  Mayor - yes, for future of community.  makes business sense.
Hydo - hired expert to tell us what to do, need to go forward
Mayo r- goign to have to go through engineer to work through to get this done. unfortunately this is the way it has to be done to get it done.  JIM - just wanting public ot know what has been 

Discussion:  Hoppe - south end of stoddard.  1 development, 2 separate hearings.  38 unites, 35 5 - similar to row hosing along Hwy 77 - further west of peach bldgs
$616,000 of TIF  Low income - in LIncoln $45,000 for single or %64,00 for family of 4 median in Gage county $67?
nothign set in stone.  38 units total

Discussion:  workfroce housing - 5 units market rate
wiating on final numbers from county assessors - $616,000 TIF

Discussion:  parcel 10.01 acres, just west of city lmiits & just west of industrial park, SW 32nd, applied for rezone from AG to GI - P&Z recommended approval

Discussion:  nothing

Discussion:  mayor - market rate housing whatever rent will fair, vs low income

Discussion:  after 20 months jUne 2024, received grant on thursday.  timelines very condensed to get done. final design done by 2028 - just over 2 years.  GB - state will tell us what to do?  TT - yes, State will work closely with Feds, similar to other trails, we are involved but administered by state. construction done by 12/15/2030.  looking at bid Aug 2028, obligate by 9 2028 total done by _______.  Ted - 153 things need to be done.  on 11
Ted - passenger in car, state will do work,
Hydo - case on once hwy is moved & working on court street corridor? Hydo 0 they know the highway, McLain - ice to have say about bumpouts, etc.  Hydo - 
JUne 2025 - APril 2027 for environmental review.
Ted - read Councilmember Doyle - statement on behalf thank for efforts.  decades recommended these downtown visions.  relocation of hwy 136 paramount to safety renovate court street.  congrats to mayor, city admin, council & dept heads. milestone achievement.
Hydo - lot to be proud of.  
Eckhoff - state done other projects like this?  TT - yahoo not unusual, not many moved just a block, but it has been done before.  TT _ one of things done, selecting engineer - April 2025 - JEO is the engineer, onboard & working on updating, state can sign tmorrow, feds sign & JEO.  Mayor - working with JEO on amended timeline.

Discussion:  first star recycling we take our recycling to.  they secured a grant from state.  large community, recyclables - part of the grant they received $95,682.85 - for us to purchase 6 new recycling trailers.  2 cardboard only 4 mixed use.  agreement - first star gives money - next three  years - out clause of 60 days

Discussion:  last week went over water park study.  formerly adopt plan.  includes all three plans.  sometimes when apply for grant, they want a master plan adopted.

Discussion:  rezoning talked about earlier

Discussion:  jim nelson, 1025 n 6th, within zoning limits that apply. don't get to chose electricity.  bill in legislature hope to support.  utility rates went up.  when public told going up 5 or 6%, then add surcharge, why rates went up 12% and would like an answer in the future.

celeb fioni - 1012 north 10th STreet, new Ngage directory, will be Gage development coalition.  in process of low hanging fruit done. meeting with county, tobias, getting aquaintend with Beatrice.  starting to get involved in Beatrice & Gage county. - agenda within next month.  tourism ideas - app as well as tourism, as well as resident of county, etc.people to know, city offices, happenings within county, public meetings, etc.
Mike - interviewed great ideas, exciting to have fresh look.   Caleb - also with state economic- get his bio - not flyover states - good push in regional economic development as well.  interim chair of education committee - member of advosry board - unitied states leadership coalition.  see what international trade looks, how does it effect the state.  congretional members.

Discussion:  tree inventory ongoing - JEO going faster than thought, all fits in grant so will get the entire town
heritage heights & crest drive - moving along.  
poured foundation for next building at crest drive on 3rd bldg - 2 are filled
landmark, scc addition, ot of staff time ready for construction to keep moving.