New Grant mayor and council member take office

Mayor Lisa Schmitt, and Council members Edward Dunn and Andrea Brueggemann were sworn in during the City of Grant council meeting on Dec. 11.

Outgoing Mayor Mike Wyatt took a moment to thank everyone for their support during his time serving as mayor and councilman. 

Upon swearing in the new mayor and council, Philip Pierce vacated his position as city attorney. 

Schmitt’s first order of business as mayor was reorganization of the council.

All council members remained overseeing their current committees, with Dunn taking over outgoing councilman Darrell Pierce’s. The council president serves on the Board of Health. 

Dunn: city hall, economic development and parks and recreations;

Kimberly Bishop: airport, cemetery and planning/zoning; 

Brueggeman: library and tree;

Matt Greenwood: public works and Community Redevelopment Authority.

Greenwood nominated Brueggeman for council president, with Bishop seconding. Perkins County Sheriff Jim Brueggeman, who serves on the Board of Health, questioned if it would be a conflict of interest for Andrea to also serve on that board since they are married.

Greenwood said he could not serve as council president due to health reasons. 

Schmitt asked if the council president has to serve on the board of health. City Clerk/Treasurer Jessie Faber said that would be a question for the attorney, but she thought it was a state statute. 

Andrea Brueggeman said they both served on the board when she was council president 10 years ago, and it wasn’t a problem then. 

Schmitt said they would move forward with a vote and have their new attorney check, and changes could be made if necessary.

Brueggeman was unanimously appointed council president.

The council unanimously appointed West Central Nebraska Development District (WCNDD) as the city’s nuisance officer. 

No bids were received for the sale of the garbage truck.

CJ Poltak with West Central Nebraska Development District said a structural review was completed on 844 Logan house and the reports state the house is structurally unsound. She said they are planning another meeting with the Board of Health to determine how to proceed and will then report back to the council.