SeDonna Manfull, general manager of Jackrabbit Run Golf Course, spoke May 27 at the Grand Island City Council meeting to oppose granting a conditional use permit for a concrete crushing business near the golf course, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – Grand Island’s City Council took no action May 27 on a request for a conditional use permit to operate a concrete crushing site at 2678 Shady Bend Road.
The request died for the lack of a motion.
The Jackrabbit Run Golf Course manager, two nearby residents, and Hall County Commissioner Gary Quandt spoke and opposed granting the permit.
In a memo to City Council, Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity said the request was for two-year temporary use. The property is zoned Heavy Manufacturing because of its proximity to the airport.
“The zoning is maintained around the airport to protect the airport from residential development,” Nabity wrote. “Most residential in this area is limited to farm related dwellings on 20 acres or more.
Nabity’s memo then listed 10 conditions for operation of the business.
“It appears that this application and proposal will meet or exceed the established conditions as proposed,” Nabity wrote.
“A majority of the material to be processed at this facility will be generated by city projects. It is possible that if this is not approved, there will be additional transport costs associated with crushing this material at another site possibly as far away as Aurora,” Nabity wrote.
SaDonna Manfull is General Manager of Jackrabbit Run Golf Course.
“I feel I have to advocate for Jackrabbit Run,” Manfull said.
She estimated that the distance between the golf course and the proposed facility was 660 feet.
She was concerned about the impact of noise and dust on the golf course, and said that the dust can pose a health risk.
She said that the dust could potentially damage the golf course’s turf, because it could change the pH balance of the soil.
She asked at what wind level would operations cease.
“Who do we contact if there are noise impacts,” she said.
She said that grass on the greens is less than an eighth of an inch tall. She said growth of grass on the greens could be affected by long-term exposure to concrete dusk.
Dennis Edwards of Grand Island said he owns property directly across from the golf course.
“I’ve got some concerns. One thing is the dust,” he said.
It was mentioned that there is another concrete crushing business in Grand Island just north of the north half of the Grand Island City Cemetery.
Edwards said he worked in a janitorial position at Gates Elementary School, located west of that facility, and that staff struggled to keep the school clean because of dust from the concrete crushing business.
Edwards said that some “prework” had been done at the site. He wondered how did that happen, because no permit had been yet granted.
Edwards said that there was a swimming pool on his property that could be affected by the dust.
Edwards said that he has asbestosis. He said the health issue doesn’t emerge immediately.
“It shows up down the road,” he said.
Edwards noted that a new house was being constructed near his house.
He said if he was associated with Jackrabbit Run Golf Course, “I would be mighty upset.”
Hall County Commissioner Gary Quandt said he was appearing to oppose granting the conditional use permit.
“This plant will kill Jackrabbit Run Golf Course,” Quandt said. “Those motors are so loud.”
“We’ve got good taxpayer money that’s going into the golf course,” Quandt said. “This isn’t the place to put this.”
Quandt asked the City Council to consider the long-term effects that the business would have on the community.
Tommy Ummel Jr. spoke briefly about the proposed business and said that it would not operate when it was windy.
After the testimony, the City Council did not discuss the matter. No City Council member made a motion concerning the request. Mayor Roger Steele then said that the issue had died for the lack of a motion.
In another matter, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brown gave a financial presentation and an FY2026 budget update.
“We’re tracking well on our investments,” Brown said. “Food and beverage (tax) is also tracking well.”
He noted that an monetary advance had been given to the Heartland Event Center, which is under private management, “to get it up and running.”
In a memo to City Council, Brown discussed local, regional and national economic trends.
“Grand Island has demonstrated strong economic performance, ranking 58th nationally in the Milken Institute’s 2025 Best-Performing Cities index – leading all Nebraska cities,” Brown wrote.
He said that the city has secured an additional $1.2 million in rural workforce housing funds, bringing the total to $6.4 million.
“In response to federal economic uncertainties, the city administration is adopting a conservative approach to budgeting for the 2025-2026 fiscal year,” Brown wrote.
He said the state has a low unemployment rate of 3 percent, outperforming the national average of 4.2 percent. He noted that the Creighton University Mid-American Business Conditions Index indicates a decline in regional manufacturing jobs, with 11,900 positions lost over the past 12 months.
Nationally, core inflation has slowed to 2.8 percent over the 12 months through March 2025, down from a post-pandemic peak of 6.6 percent in September 2022, Brown wrote.
“Recent tariff policies have led to increased input costs and supply chain disruptions. Approximately 65 percent of supply managers report higher input prices due to rising tariffs and supply chain interruptions, Brown wrote.
“The national economic faces uncertainties, including potential stagflation scenarios characterized by slowing growth and persistent inflation,” Brown wrote.
In conclusion, Brown wrote that “it is essential to remain vigilant amid regional and national uncertainties.”
City Council member Mitch Nickerson asked if there were any concerns with state or national funding.
City Administrator Laura McAloon said that if someone makes a mistake with Community Development Block Grant funding, it could have severe consequences.
Meetings with department heads concerning the next fiscal year budget will start June 2.
An item was pulled from the consent agenda concerning approving an interlocal agreement between the City of Grand Island and the Nebraska State Fair for 2025. City Communications Manager Spencer Schubert and Nebraska State Fair Executive Director Jaime Parr gave brief presentations regarding the agreement.
Schubert said that this would be the second year for an agreement between the two entities. This year, the city would have a sponsored day on Aug. 24. The day would be titled “Welcome to Grand Island Day.”
Last year, “we had a blast,” Schubert said.
In a memo to City Council, Schubert and City Attorney Kari Fisk wrote that on Aug. 24, city staff and city partners would greet fairgoers at the front entrance and would provide marketing materials including logo branding and public address announcements.
“The Nebraska State Fair will also provide and install hydration station decals (where people can fill drinking water containers) promoting the city of Grand Island,” the memo said.
The city would provide a custom photo booth frame near the Family Fun Zone where people could pose within the frame for photos.
The agreement would not only allow the city to promote itself to thousands of fairgoers, but city partners like the Grand Island Area Economic Development Corp., Grow Grand Island and Grand Island Tourism would also benefit from the one-year agreement.
Parr said that the collaboration was mutually beneficial. Since the State Fair moved to Grand Island, 45 million people have attended it, she said.
She said that the effort will encourage visitors to come back to Grand Island.
“We’re grateful for you and for Spencer’s participation,” Parr said.
The City Council voted 9-0 to approve the agreement. City Council member Jason Conley was absent from the May 27 meeting.
Another item that was pulled from the consent agenda regarded general governmental and utility insurance services.
In a memo to City Council, Chief Financial Officer Patrick Brown wrote that the city “does not have a contract in place for General Governmental and Utility Insurance Services and/or an Insurance Agent.”
On March 31, the city issued a Request for Proposal for General Governmental and Utility Insurance Services. The City received four proposals on April 24. The four proposals were scored by seven staff members using a matrix.
After interviewing three of the four proposers, the City had two “highly qualified candidates.”
The whole group agreed on pursuing an agreement with Alliant Insurance Services.
City Administration recommended that the City Council move forward with negotiations and enter into a contract with Alliant Insurance Services. The motion was approved by a 9-0 vote.
Brown wrote in his memo that the city hopes to lower the total premiums the city pays for Property, General Liability, Workman’s Compensation, and other insurance coverages which is currently $1,764,414.
The approved contractor would have access to insurance including Property and Casualty, Contractor’s Equipment, Workers’ Compensation, Automobile, General Liability, Water Park General Liability, Law Enforcement Liability, Crime – Employee Dishonesty, Linebacker Policy, Excess markets, Fiduciary Liability. Cyber Liability. And Power Generation Insurance Companies.
In another matter, the City Council voted 9-0 to approve creation of a sanitary sewer district. In a memo to City Council, Public Works Director Keith Kurz wrote that the district would serve the south side of Stolley Park Road between Bellwood Drive and the entrance to Fonner Park.
Currently, the Public Works Department is working “on the design for the reconstruction of Stolley Park Road from Locust to Stuhr,” Kurz wrote. It was decided to reach out to residents in the area to see if there was interest in creating a sanitary sewer district. Because the road has been torn out in that area to complete the reconstruction, creating a sanitary sewer district “because more feasible as the district would not have to bear the cost of roadway reconstruction.”
On April 17, Public Works Department staff hosted an open house for property owners in this area to communicate information. Seven property owners attended, and several others that could not attend called city staff and asked questions.
There are 14 properties in this area that would be served by the district. Seven of the property owners have expressed interest in creation of the sanitary sewer district.
The proposed district boundary would eliminate approximately 11 septic tanks. The project is estimated to cost $292,000 to $347,000. Each lot would be assessed between $22,000 and $25,000.
In another matter, the City Council approved by an 8-1 vote declaring a blighted and substandard area for 49 acres of property south of Capital Avenue and east of North Road. Council member Doug Lanfear voted against the motion.
In a memo to City Council, Regional Planning Director Chad Nabity wrote that once the area was designated as blighted and substandard, the Community Redevelopment Authority can accept redevelopment proposals for the area.
Included in the City Council packet was a Substandard and Blight Study prepared for Starostka Development and SGRE Communities.
“They are interested in redeveloping this property for residential uses, and the property is currently zoned for residential uses,” Nabity wrote.
