Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor, 

Regarding Sam Sims’ article about the city, there were some facts that were omitted. He stated that the city budget has decreased 4.26 million dollars since 2021 and that is good. He forgot to tell you that your real estate taxes for the city increased every year but one. My City of Grant taxes increased approximately 18.5% in 2020, 18.75% in 2021, 5% in 2022, 4.75% in 2023 and decreased 3% in 2024. He did not mention that the budget in 2021 was inflated due to the construction of a new swimming pool. It stands to reason that they would not need to budget 4.26 million in the following years because the pool had been completed. If you own property in the City of Grant, get out your tax receipts for the past five years and see for yourself. He also said not all professional fees for the city go to the City Attorney. This referred to the letter to editor a week earlier by Marlin Wendell discussing Legal Services in various towns and cities. Near the end of Mr. Wendell’s article, he explained he obtained all the “Legal Services” figures with Legal Nebraska Public Records Requests. This should eliminate accounting, engineering, land surveyor, website services, professional consultants, and other such fees. Mr. Wendell’s letter to editor showed that the City of Grant spent $109,498.75 for Legal Services in 2024-2025. 

The same publication included a letter to the editor from City Attorney Tawna J. Holmstedt, who supported the high legal fees by noting that the city was without a city superintendent for an extended period. However, this situation did not occur in 2007, when then-Mayor Adam Uehling served without a superintendent and legal fees remained within reasonable limits. Similarly, between 2011 and 2014, then-Mayor Mike Wyatt also managed city affairs during periods without a superintendent, without excessive legal expenses. In those instances, the mayors oversaw city operations until a new superintendent was appointed. In my opinion, this does not appear to be the current case under Mayor Schmitt. City Attorney Holmstedt noted concerns about the substantial number of public record requests. However, if you go to a City of Grant Council Meeting and speak at public comment, the council just sits and stares at you and offers you no information. I have been there, done that. 

I was attending the Tuesday, October 14th meeting and during public comment, I asked if the council would use their microphones, as those in attendance could not hear the conversation of the council. The microphones were sitting three feet from them and turned toward the ceiling. Mayor Schmitt replied that they had paperwork in front of them and that there was no room for both. Mayor Schmitt, Council Members Andrea Brueggeman, Tierney Petersen, and Kimberly Bishop appeared to make no effort to correct the problem. Council Member Sam Sims was absent. There were 11 or 12 people in attendance, and I assume they could not hear as well. Four people told me after the meeting they could not hear either. From the audience’s perspective, it appeared the issue was ignored. Around 7:20 PM, the mayor and council started to leave, so we assumed the meeting was adjourned and left without answers. It is interesting to note that upgrading the sound system in the council chambers was among Mayor Schmitt’s initial undertakings after she took office, but surprisingly, the system is not being utilized.

Darrell Pierce

Grant, NE