[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6573239,"mediaKeyId","3093094-ce7dce1622c9c47046410d682518088a","parentId",3093094,"title","2 Rivers Public Health begins public‑pool permitting in Kearney area; council asks about fees and chemistry checks","audioSeconds",327,"startMs",1894000,"endMs",2221000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093094-ce7dce1622c9c47046410d682518088a&start=1894&end=2221","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093094-ce7dce1622c9c47046410d682518088a/thumbnail_1894000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573239/Kearney-City/Buffalo-County/Nebraska/2-Rivers-Public-Health-begins-publicpool-permitting-in-Kearney-area-council-asks-about-fees-and-chemistry-checks","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573239-aaa439be5a33cf2b509175d87e3265a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186814&Signature=jWenQgyXY3GTGoh5S-W5kBqQyct-iwv5BO6J5771bRuXldbhbtAte5KdAcmpgLJcM-AH4l8T2r9J8tr8GY0yPPBZbhWKZJZ4WC5wK2zURyUNK1dIEUVa-IfVsZDeliUujsJ9FV6TS4p31s8G8Qv08Pn1WRxSMfQv6QT1gKj8LF84PktqW4GDDE7HJGPDXvV2h4oS5~2jCqieZjpic8FOBKdka9UAmbIdzrn7xdW4xw3CkumP9Z5aWM7Q29fMQuoLCxF0X0VevivZbdBnndQesmzV~92qrbl9EqqDrTuvEY~~qflAJ2qO6OMNNuHHLN7Y~yVVWocVoGJpABH73ve9uw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kearney","date","2025-04-22T17:30:00Z","article","2 Rivers Public Health representatives on April 22 briefed the Kearney City Council on a new public-pool permitting and inspection program that launched April 1. The program covers public pools — including hotel, motel, YMCA and municipally operated pools — and is intended to standardize safety inspections and local permitting previously handled by state staff.

Katie Mulligan and Jeremy (last names not provided) explained the program and answered council questions. Mulligan said the program focuses on ‘‘public pools. We're not talking a private backyard pool…’’ and emphasized the goal of public-safety inspections rather than punishment. Officials described the first-season approach, expected fees, staffing and typical inspection items.

Why it matters: Local permitting shifts day‑to‑day inspection responsibility and establishes local fees and a permitting process; it affects recreation operators, municipal facilities and pools that serve the public. City staff and council members raised questions about cost, testing frequency and what inspectors will check on site.

Program scope and schedule:
- Permits: 2 Rivers said there are about 77 permits in the jurisdiction; Buffalo County accounts for 47 permits and the majority are in Kearney. The Y (YMCA) holds separate permits for its pool and spa because they are treated as separate bodies of water.
- Start date and staffing: The jurisdictional program began April 1. 2 Rivers said its environmental‑health team currently includes four staff working on pool inspections; the agency plans to hire an additional inspector.
- Inspection frequency: 2 Rivers plans to visit each pool about two times this summer and has already completed inspections for most indoor pools in nearby counties; Buffalo County inspections began the prior week.
- What inspectors check: Inspectors will test water chemistry (free and combined chlorine, alkalinity and pH), verify circulation and filters, check safety equipment (buoys, shepherd’s crooks), and note lifeguard staffing where applicable. Inspectors will also look for basic safety items such as safe decking and an accessible phone for 911 calls.
- Training and outreach: 2 Rivers has met with local operators, developed an online permit application and intends inspections to be educational. Staff noted their nurses can provide free local CPR training to operators and community members.

Fees and legal context:
- State fee: Pools continue to pay the state permit fee (stated in the briefing as $40) to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE).
- Local fee: 2 Rivers described a local permit/inspection fee schedule with a discounted municipal rate (example cited: $200 for municipal pools). Representatives said inspection visits are not charged as penalties; the fee is for permitting and program support. Council members asked how the local fee compares with the prior state-managed process.

Council questions and staff responses:
- Chemistry and testing frequency: Council members asked how often city pools test chemistry; city staff said they test multiple times per day (the city reported testing five times a day at municipal pools). 2 Rivers staff said field testing and operator logs are used to corroborate results.
- ADA and other items: Council asked whether inspectors check ADA compliance; 2 Rivers said they do not perform ADA compliance inspections but do verify emergency phone availability and safety equipment.

Next steps: 2 Rivers will finish collecting permit applications and continue inspections through the summer. The council did not take formal action on the program at the April 22 meeting; questions were directed to 2 Rivers staff and the city’s recreation staff for ongoing coordination.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Kearney - City Council Meeting - Apr 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","2 Rivers Public Health told the Kearney City Council it began a public-pool permitting and inspection program April 1, will issue permits for hotels, YMCAs and municipal pools, plans two visits per pool this summer, and will not levy punitive inspection charges; city council members asked about fees and testing frequency.","taxTitle","Kearney City, Buffalo County, Nebraska","taxId",56920,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6573244,"Kearney council accepts annual audit, approves consent items, delays Good Samaritan hearings",695,1184000,1879000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3093094-ce7dce1622c9c47046410d682518088a&start=1184&end=1879","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3093094-ce7dce1622c9c47046410d682518088a/thumbnail_1184000.jpg","/articles/6573244/Kearney-City/Buffalo-County/Nebraska/Kearney-council-accepts-annual-audit-approves-consent-items-delays-Good-Samaritan-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573244-38cb48126729142db527994bd37ed3a8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771186814&Signature=NBiC94Az1XRUV~zrjDRnoqOnRhOooo-5gLoi3GzHHYam3FQC0yAVzwpA~EVfqPSjPMhpXkEmT8G9IrArglzZD6TNnNl7iAgraoIDtArIIr2i~40Jo8~YN-rmEEFAqa7ZDfuz0ITxfp9l2SGbPdR3CZ15fN0iX4Rt~ena8hp0v0WbwVU9eKc3OL95rjr3e21XAc8Jy3Uh0SC~fgr4QIV0a6NK8ZScQeESTrFMs0SkBBpMg2JTd3RUFERE-opNkpbtLMKldisrILsygSqGBcfU9fRMruuI7rOwB4nnjBdBOcrSXwKi3i68WKaOUoJk9RjM-0cIFcCTg-ZBZ5U8jw6nFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Kearney City Council on April 22 accepted the city’s annual financial report, approved a set of consent-agenda items, voted to postpone two public hearings related to the Good Samaritan Village development until May 13, 2025, and approved an open-account claim to UNL Market Place.

The actions were taken after a presentation of the draft audit by Tim Lehi, the CPA presenting on behalf of Burton KTV/Creative Planning. Lehi told the council the auditors issued an unmodified opinion on the financial statements and that ‘‘the financial statements as presented there are materially correct in accordance with standards.’’ The council voted to accept the report at the meeting.

Why it matters: Acceptance of the audit and the associated motions finalize the city’s reviewed financial statements for fiscal reporting and federal compliance and set the next procedural steps for the Good Samaritan Village development. The audit also identified internal-control items the council may use to guide follow-up oversight.

Votes at a glance:
- Postponement — Public hearings 1 and 2 (Good Samaritan Village, generally located at 2201 East 30th Street). Motion to further postpone the two public hearings until the May 13, 2025 council meeting. Mover/second: not specified on the record. Roll-call result: unanimous (6–0). Outcome: postponed to 2025-05-13. Note: the hearings were requested to be postponed by the applicant, Miller Associates on behalf of Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society (owner).

- Consent agenda postponement — Item 6 (amendment of a development constructed infrastructure agreement). Motion to postpone item 6 to May 13, 2025. Mover/second: not specified. Roll-call result: unanimous (6–0). Outcome: postponed to 2025-05-13.

- Consent agenda approval — Items 1–5 and 7–11. Motion to approve items 1–5 and 7–11 of the consent agenda. Mover/second: not specified. Roll-call result: unanimous (6–0). Outcome: approved.

- Acceptance of annual financial report — Motion to accept the City of Kearney annual financial report prepared by Creative Planning (presented by Burton KTV). Mover/second: not specified. Roll-call result: unanimous (6–0). Outcome: accepted.

- Open-account claim — Motion to approve the open-account claim to UNL Market Place. Mover/second: not specified. Roll-call result: unanimous (6–0). Outcome: approved.

Audit highlights and council follow-up:
Tim Lehi summarized the draft financial statements and related reports. Key figures presented in the meeting record include: net position where assets exceeded liabilities by about $365,000,000 (an increase of about $21,000,000 from the prior year); combined governmental funds ending fund balance of nearly $42,000,000 (a decrease of about $21,000,000, driven by spending on capital projects); and a general fund reserve consistent with the council’s policy (about 25% assigned). Lehi said the auditors issued two findings: a material weakness tied to material journal entries required to finalize the statements and a significant deficiency related to segregation of duties given staff size. Lehi said a single audit was required after the city expended roughly $20,000,000 in federal funds; the auditors tested two major federal programs (capitalization grants for clean water and drinking water state revolving funds, together about $14,400,000) and reported no material noncompliance for those programs.

Council members thanked the auditors and city staff. The postponed hearings on Good Samaritan Village were rescheduled by motion for the May 13, 2025 council meeting at the applicant’s request.

The council adjourned after routine reports and no additional public comment.","At its April 22 meeting the Kearney City Council accepted the city's 2024 audit, approved most consent-agenda items, postponed two public hearings on the Good Samaritan Village development to May 13 and approved an open-account claim to UNL Market Place.","actionData","errors"]

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2 Rivers Public Health begins public‑pool permitting in Kearney area; council asks about fees and chemistry checks

Kearney council accepts annual audit, approves consent items, delays Good Samaritan hearings